Evaporation

Evaporation is a type of vaporization of a liquid that occurs only on the surface of a liquid. The other type of vaporization is boiling, which, instead, occurs on the entire mass of the liquid. Evaporation is also a part of the water cycle.

On average, the molecules in a glass of water do not have enough heat energy to escape from the liquid. With sufficient heat, the liquid would turn into vapor quickly (see boiling point). When the molecules collide, they transfer energy to each other in varying degrees, based on how they collide. Sometimes the transfer is so one-sided for a molecule near the surface that it ends up with enough energy to 'escape' (evaporate).

Liquids that do not evaporate visibly at a given temperature in a given gas (e.g., cooking oil at room temperature) have molecules that do not tend to transfer energy to each other in a pattern sufficient to frequently give a molecule the heat energy necessary to turn into vapor. However, these liquids are evaporating. It is just that the process is much slower and thus significantly less visible.

Evaporation is an essential part of the water cycle. Solar energy drives evaporation of water from oceans, lakes, moisture in the soil, and other sources of water. In hydrology, evaporation and transpiration (which involves evaporation within plant stomata) are collectively termed evapotranspiration. Evaporation of water occurs when the surface of the liquid is exposed, allowing molecules to escape and form water vapor, this vapor can then rise up and form clouds.


http://www.blogger.com

What car repairs should I consider doing myself rather than paying for them?

It really depends on your background and training. I recommend a minimum of a six-week community or vocational/technical college course if you’re going to do repair work. If nothing else, that experience will teach you the basic safety information that can help you avoid getting hurt while working on your car. With that type of training under your belt and with the right tools, you should be able to change spark plugs, replace belts and hoses, and change vital fluids and filters. You should also be able to replace some emission-control components (depending on the type and age of your vehicle), rotate tires, and replace headlights or tail lights.

Keep in mind, however, that if you do change vital fluids, you’ll need to find an environmentally safe place to dispose of the used fluids. Dumping engine oil down drains or storm sewers can pollute ground water. Coolant is extremely poisonous and its sweet taste attracts animals; less than a tablespoon can kill a cat. Call local repair shops and dealerships to find a responsible recycling center. There may be a fee involved.


http://www.blogger.com

American Heroes

However, not all heroes conquered the frontier with force. Johnny Appleseed, or John Chapman (his proper name), settled the frontier by growing trees, not chopping them down. His hard efforts helped provide essential vitamins and liquids in the harsh frontier. Our common myths state that he wandered the frontier, befriending settlers, Native Americans, and animals along the way. While travelling, he randomly scattered apple seeds, letting food and hope grow for the settlers. What is not as commonly known is that he was a shrewd businessman. He grew orchards all over the frontier, wandering orchard to orchard, and donated his profits.
John Chapman was born on September 26th, 1774 in Massachusetts, right before the American Revolution. At the age of 23, he ventured out west, and planted his first orchard near the Allegheny River, near Warren, Pennsylvania. From there, he attempted to predict where the settlers would head next. After asking around for prospective locations, he headed there, along with a canoe full of apple seeds. He planted an orchard, and by the time the settlers arrived, the trees were a few years old. John Chapman would sell the trees for a low price, and slowly began to establish his business. He would spend some of the earnings, but would give the rest to the church and the needy. As his business grew bigger, he recruited a few local settlers to tend for the orchards. In the end, John Chapman died a wealthy man, with many orchards spread across the frontier.John Chapman was a sight of strangeness to the settlers who welcomed him into their homes as well. Stories say that he wore a sack for clothes, sticking his arms and legs through holes. For a hat to cover him from the elements, a tin pot served Chapman well. Another chararacteristic that astonished the settlers was Chapman's shoes, or lack of them. Sun or rain, summer or winter, Chapman traveled barefoot. The children he saw were amused by Chapman touching hot coals with his heavily calloused feet without flinching.

In addition to his looks, his habits were an anomaly to the frontier as well. Unlike most of the settlers, who depended on meat from game to survive, Chapman was a strict vegetarian. He attempted to be kind to animals, even saving a wolf from a trap. After nursing the wolf back to help, Chapman gained a lifelong companion.Not only was he a friend of animals, but he befriended the Native Americans as well. Unlike the classic stories of Americans and Native Americans viciously killing each other, Chapman traveled back and forth in peace between the two peoples. In fact, he placed blame on the settlers for the hostilites based on the mistreatment of Native Americans. However, during the War of 1812, when the Native Americans allied with Britain in order to attack American settlers, Chapman sided on the side of the settlers. One account states that he ran 30 miles in order to warn Americans of a planned massacre. As a result, John Chapman saved countless lives.

http://www.blogger.com

begin learning to swim from your couch

Knowing how to swim means knowing how to rely on yourself for your safety rather than on the bottom or the side of the pool. It means feeling safe and being safe in the shallow and deep ends of a pool, in lakes and in the ocean. To learn to swim, you need to build trust in yourself in the water. You need to know you won't inhale water, that the water holds you up, and that you can remain in control with ease. Have you believed you’d “lose it” in deep water?  Have you been told you should float horizontally? To blow bubbles before you were comfortable putting your face in water? Learn how your body and the water work together. The key to confidence in deep water is understanding how the water works, not learning strokes. Strokes come after confidence. That may be the first learning.
Innovation? This is it! Our 4000 students and 35 instructors worldwide ask, “Why isn’t this the way all swimming is taught?” Unlike other swimming books, Dash breaks down confidence-building—therefore conquering fear—into its smallest steps. They make sense. Finally, success can be yours. Take the easy, fun way. With the basics of confidence and myth-busting games to teach you what your swimmer friends and neighbors know about swimming, you’ll learn to swim the natural way. Get the answers to all your learn-to-swim questions in our book for less than the cost of your next swimming lesson. The book can be bundled with the DVD for savings. $22 + $38, plus save on s/h.













http://www.blogger.com

Prodotti di alta qualità e affidabilità nella consegna

Lars Peter Christiansen sottolinea che, naturalmente, anche i prodotti erano importantissimi. Danfoss ha testato una lunga serie di prodotti MASCOT e i dipendenti di tre reparti hanno indossato gli abiti da lavoro per due mesi per garantire che fossero comodi e durevoli. Infine, ma non meno importante, la logistica efficace e l’affidabilità nella consegna hanno contribuito alla scelta di MASCOT. “In MASCOT abbiamo trovato un fornitore con un’ampia gamma standard, quindi non è stato necessario far produrre indumenti appositamente. Abbiamo dipendenti con molte funzioni di lavoro diverse e sia gli autisti che i dipendenti di produzione hanno trovato gli indumenti da lavori adatti presso MASCOT”.


continue effort

The Modern Lantern Festival

While the Lantern Festival has changed very little over the last two millennia, technological advances have made the celebration moreand more complex and visually stimulating. Indeed, the festival as celebrated in some places (such as Taipei, Taiwan) can put even the most garish American Christmas decorations to shame. They often sport unique displays of light that leave the viewer in awe.
Master craftsman will construct multicolored paper lanterns in the likeness of butterflies, dragons, birds, dragonflies, and many other animals; these accentuate the more common, red, spherical lanterns. Brilliantly-lit floats and mechanically driven light displays draw the attention of the young and old alike. Sometimes, entire streets are blocked off, with lanterns mounted above and to the sides, creating a hallway of lamps. Some cities in North China even make lanterns from blocks of ice! And just as in days gone by, the billion-watt background sets the scene for dragon and lion dances, parades, and other festivities.



read more free article please vist continue efforts

The Maple Tree

Trees have played a meaningful role in the historical development of Canada and continue to be of commercial, environmental and aesthetic importance to all Canadians. Maples contribute valuable wood products, sustain the maple sugar industry and help to beautify the landscape. Maple wood, which varies in hardness, toughness and other properties, is in demand for flooring, furniture, interior woodwork, veneer, small woodenware, and supports several flourishing industries in eastern Canada. Maple is also highly prized in furniture building and cabinet-making.

Since 1965, the maple leaf has been the centrepiece of the National Flag of Canada and the maple tree bears the leaves that have become the most prominent Canadian symbol, nationally and internationally. Maple leaf pins and badges are proudly worn by Canadians abroad, and are recognized around the world.

Although the maple leaf is closely associated with Canada, the maple tree was never officially recognized as Canada's arboreal emblem until 1996.

Many Canadians in the forest sector have long requested that the Government select the maple tree as Canada's arboreal emblem. They now enjoy the use of the maple tree as an official symbol when promoting Canada as a world leader in sustainable forest management.

It is the generic maple species that is being proclaimed as Canada's arboreal emblem. Of the 150 known species of maple (genus Acer), only 13 are native to North America. Ten of these grow in Canada: Sugar, Black, Silver, bigleaf, Red, Mountain, Striped, Douglas, Vine and the Manitoba. With the exception of four species, native maples are large trees. At least one of the ten species grows naturally in every province.

All provinces have established arboreal emblems and this emblem is an important element within the family of national symbols.

The maple tree was officially proclaimed national arboreal emblem of Canada on April 25, 1996. It was published in the Canada Gazette on May 15, 1996.




continue efforts

Tropical Storm Ophelia strengthens in Atlantic

Miami (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Ophelia changed little as it moved west over the central Atlantic, but posed no immediate threat to land, forecasters said.

Ophelia's maximum sustained winds were shy of hurricane strength, at 60 mph, as of late Wednesday. Its strength was not expected to change much over the next 48 hours, said the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.

The storm was about 1,065 miles east of the Leeward Islands. It was moving west at about 15 mph, forecasters said. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect.

Tropical storm-force winds of at least 39 mph extended outward up to about 230 miles from Ophelia's center, the Hurricane Center said.

Composer

A composer (Latin com+ponere, literally "one who puts together") is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media[clarification needed]. The level of distinction between composers and other musicians varies, which affects issues such as copyright[specify] and the deference given to individual interpretations of a particular piece of music.[citation needed] In the development of European music, the function of composing music initially did not have much greater importance than that of performing it.[citation needed] The preservation of individual compositions did not receive enormous attention and musicians generally had no qualms about modifying compositions for performance. Over time, however, the written notation of the composer came to be treated as strict instructions from which performers should not deviate without good practical or artistic reason. Performers do, however, play the music and interpret it in a way that is all their own. In fact, in the concerto form, the soloist would often compose and perform a cadenza as a way to express their individual interpretation of the piece.

Inasmuch as the role of the composer in western art music has seen continued solidification, in alternative idioms (i.e. jazz, experimental music) it has in some ways become increasingly complex or vague. For instance, in certain contexts - the line between composer and performer, sound designer, arranger, producer, and other roles - can be quite blurred.

The term "composer" is often used to refer to composers of instrumental music, such as those found in classical, jazz or other forms of art and traditional music. In popular and folk music, the composer is usually called a songwriter, since the music generally takes the form of a song. Since the mid-20th century, the term has expanded to accommodate creators of electroacoustic music, in which composers directly create sonic material in any of the various electronic media. This is distinct from instrumental composition, where the work is represented by a musical score to be interpreted by performers.

Causes

In the month of July pakistan received below normal monsoon rains, however in August and September the country received above normal monsoon rains. A strong weather pattern entered the areas of Sindh from Rajasthan and Indian Gujarat in August and gained strength with the passage of time and caused heavy downpours. The four weeks period continuous rains have created unprecedented flood situation in Sindh.

The District Badin in Sindh province received record breaking rainfall of 615.3 millimeters (24.22 in) during the monsoon spell breaking earlier recorded 121 millimeters (4.8 in) in Badin in 1936. The area of Mithi also received record rainfall of 1,290 millimeters (51 in) during the spell, where maximum rainfall was recorded 114 millimeters (4.5 in) in Mithi in 2004. The heavy cloudburst during last 48–72 hours displaced many people besides destroying crops in the area. The Met Office had informed all district coordination officers, Provincial Disaster Management Authority, chief secretaries and chief ministers about the heavy monsoon rain-spell two days ago to take precautionary measures.

Dr. Qamar uz Zaman Chaudhry, Director General Pakistan Meteorological Department said: the rains in Sindh are the highest ever recorded monsoon rains during the four weeks period of August and September, 2011. Before the start of these rains in the second week of August, Sindh was under severe drought conditions and it had not received any rainfall for the last 12 months. The last severe rainfall flooding in Sindh occurred in July 2003, he said and added, but this time the devastating rains of Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Diplo, Parker, Nawabshah, Badin, Chhor, Padidan, and Hyderabad etc during the four weeks period have created unprecedented flood situation in Sindh. According to Dr. Qamar, the total volume of water fallen over Sindh during the four weeks is estimated to be above 37 million acre feet, “which is unimaginable.[4] The August monsoon rainfall, over province of Sindh (271 % above normal) is the heaviest recorded during the period 1961–2011.

Where do we Stand in the Field of Education? (India)

The words from one of our eminent women leader late Mrs. Indira Gandhi addressing in her speech 'What educated women can do' at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations Of The Indra prastha College For Women New Delhi, India November 23, 1974, "An ancient Sanskrit saying says, woman is the home and the home is the basis of society. It is as we build our homes that we can build our country. If the home is inadequate, either inadequate in material goods and necessities or inadequate in the sort of friendly, loving atmosphere that every child needs to grow and develop; then that country cannot have harmony and no country which does not have harmony can grow in any direction at all" .Its 65 years now since India has got its independence, if we look back into women achievements there are women who are now coming up in flying colors in businesses, academics, politics, media etc, women have created there space in society now, having an identity not only at home but also outside the home. But the general question is how far the marginalized group has able to reach the main stream of the society? By marginalized I mean the tribal women group here. The women in tribal society are less literate to reach to the chord of the main stream today, whereas it is less hassle for urban women. This is because she is avail with well equipped resources and massive awareness where gates are open for her to fly and get her an identity. The tribal women are less oriented and lack of resources to reach to the level where she should have been today. I was illusioned by this thought when I saw the 'Kanya Ashram' at Gonasika G.P of Keonjhar district. Gonasika G.P is tribal dominated vicinity where ITDA (Integrated Tribal Development Agency) does most of the developmental activities. One of the contemporary initiatives by the ITDA is the preface of Kanya ashram (a residential school for girl child) in Juang Primitive tribal areas.

I was fortunate to visit the Kanya ashram on one of my field visit. The moment we reached their, the entire place was appearing muted. It must be the rain drizzle which was obstructing the children to enjoy the huge play ground in front of the school premises says my conscious mind. As we walked through the school premises large crowd ran towards me. I was stunned by seeing the small girls running towards me to touch the feet. The more I wanted to stop them all they were all seems to be in competition to touch my feet. Was it a way to welcome us? I asked the Juang special development officer, yes madam says the head master of the school. The officer was sitting in a room (a very Bureaucracy manner!!) having two people standing next him, carrying the attendance file and other project related files. He appears to be patronizing in character talking in a very admonishment and horrified manner to the people there. The scene went on for nearly 5-6min till he realized that some visitors are waiting to talk to him. 'Yes sir how can I help' says the Juang special development officer to us. As the conversation went further on issues related to forest right and the development in juang pidha, he gave a very sarcastic remark about the Juang tribes 'no matter how much we make them educate and create development, they will remain addicted to alcohol' says the officer raising his eyebrow. I was not much convinced to such kind of statement about the Juangs, because to me the development and education programs are not implemented in correct procedure by the JDA for the empowerment of the Juangs. As we walked through the class rooms, I saw a dark room containing 15-20 children sitting three each on the bunk-bed, children half bend and the teacher teaching them. This was something unusual to me I felt so uncomfortable seeing the children studying in such atmosphere. All most all the room was appearing dark having no current and some girls were seen taking rest. When we walk towards the toilet area there were 4-5 toilets having no water facilities. 'The children here are too stubborn, they don't listine to us and try to run away from the school when they get angry' says the care taker. I was not surprise to the care taker reply because I could see the sign of distress on children faces staying away from their community. Our visit to the ashram was coming to the end, when we were to leave; the children came to wish us back. I felt there is a vacuum in the residential school, with lack of lively and friendly upbringing. While coming back the cheerless faces of the small girls were trying to tell me 'Ohh stranger take us along with you, so that we could able to enjoy the fresh air, the wet mud, and the rain outside, Ohh Stanger listen to our suffocation inside the dark room and the cemented walls, make us free to breath, take us to our village, yes the village where we have the hut, manda ghar, grama debi, pet animals, we miss our family and the shouting neighbors.'

Medieval Church: St Macrina the Younger’s Day, July 19

One of the most saintly families in Christian history was that of St. Basil the Elder of Caesarea in Cappadocia (now Turkey) and his wife St. Emmelia. Basil the Elder, a layman of piety as well as means, had the good fortune to be the son of St. Macrina, one of the great matriarchs of early Roman Christianity.
Basil and Emmelia begot ten children, of whom Macrina the Younger was the eldest. Emmelia (herself the daughter of a martyr) coached her firstborn well in piety and practical skills. She learned to read, and chose as her favorite readings the Book of Wisdom and the Psalms; but she also mastered the talents of housekeeping.

When Macrina was twelve, her parents betrothed her to a promising young man. Unexpectedly, the fiance died before the marriage could be solemnized. She could have had many other suitors after that, but she decided to remain single. This was quite all right with her mother, who found her very helpful in raising the younger members of the family.
Basil, for instance, became "St. Basil the Great" only gradually. When he returned home from college as a youth, he was pretty cocky. His sister, therefore gave him a course in humility, and it totally changed his outlook. Then when her baby brother Peter lost his father shortly after birth, Macrina had to be his "father, teacher, guide, mother, giver of good advice." He, too, turned out well, hailed as a saint by the flock he governed as archbishop of Sebaste. His older brother, the brilliant St. Gregory of Nyssa, likewise proved a credit to his heritage.

It was St. Macrina who first enkindled in St. Basil an interest in the monastic life, in which he was to become an important leader. After her father’s death she and her mother started a sort of convent on one of their family estates. Other devout women www.kedleston.org.uked them there.

Once St. Emmelia died, Macrina gave all her remaining possessions to the poor, supporting herself thereafter by her own labor. Nine months after the death of St. Basil in early 379, "Big Sister" entered her own last illness. Brother Gregory, who had not seen Macrina for eight years, hastened to her side. He found her lying on a bed of two boards, serenely awaiting her last hour. She died in peace one dusk: "at the hour of the lighting of lamps". Her only remaining possessions at death were an old hood and a coarse veil so St. Gregory found a linen robe to serve as a shroud. He and the local bishop and two priests carried her body to the place of burial. The psalms chanted by the choirs in the funeral procession were almost drowned out by the wailing of the crowd that accompanied the remains to the cemetery.

It is principally to St. Gregory of Nyssa that we are indebted for what we know of his admirable sister. In a panegyric on her he mentions two miracles: one in which St. Emmelia cured a growth that Macrina was suffering, by a simple sign of the cross; one in which Macrina herself healed the eye disease of a little girl. Gregory states that many other cures had been attributed to her intervention, on good grounds. The picture he gives of her is that of an exceptionally able and endearing woman with a secure set of values, possessed of that refreshing calmness of spirit that comes from close union with God. As he said of her, she "reached the highest summit of human virtue by true wisdom."
Macrina had doubtless also been a positive influence for good in the lives of her six married sisters. I can think of no saint who illustrates better the constructive role that a good person can have in the sanctification of his or her own family.

Bastille Day

Bastille Day is a National holiday in France. It is very much like Independence Day in the United States because it is a celebration of the beginning of a new form of government.

At one time in France, kings and queens ruled. Many people were very angry with the decisions made by the kings and queens.

The Bastille was a prison in France that the kings and queens often used to lock up the people that did not agree with their decisions. To many, it was a symbol of all the bad things done by the kings and queens. So, on July 14, 1789, a large number of French citizens gathered together and stormed the Bastille.

Just as the people in the United States celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence as the beginning of the American Revolution, so the people in France celebrate the storming of the Bastille as the beginning of the French Revolution. Both Revolutions brought great changes. Kings and queens no longer rule. The people rule themselves and make their own decisions.

Bastille Day The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believed that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man were the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments.

As a result, they determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, in order that this declaration, being constantly before all the members of the Social body, shall remind them continually of their rights and duties. Therefore the National Assembly recognizes and proclaims, in the presence and under the auspices of the Supreme Being, the following rights of man and of the citizen:

1 Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.

2 The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.

3. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body nor individual may exercise any authoritywhich does not proceed directly from the nation.

4. Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law.

Bastille Day 5. Law can only prohibit such actions as are hurtful to society.Nothing may be prevented which is not forbidden by law, and no one may be forced to do anything not provided for by law.

6. Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents.

7. No person shall be accused, arrested, or imprisoned except in the cases and according to the forms prescribed by law. Any one soliciting, transmitting, executing, or causing to be executed, any arbitrary order, shall be punished. But any citizen summoned or arrested in virtue of the law shall submit without delay, as resistance constitutes an offense.

Bierborse (Beer Festival)

The Bierborse is an open-air event devoted to the art of brewing throughout the world. It is composed of two thirds beer-serving businesses and one third accompanying snack specialities. The range is supplemented by participants offering products typical of beer. That may be not only the local beer club but also the beer-mat seller or a tankard stand.

The German Munchener Oktoberfest goes back to an event in October 1810 and then developed into an annual event organised by the breweries and entertainment businesses in Munich. The German Munchener Oktoberfest very quickly acquired the reputation of being the largest public festival on Earth and, as a result of imitators all over the globe, became a festival form welcome everywhere. In 1810, nobody could have anticipated this meteoric development.

The Opladener Bierborse goes back to 1987, i.e. 177 years later, when Herbert Sondermann, a native of Opladen, had the idea of introducing a beer event and put this into effect in the form of a small event with seven beer stands in the pedestrian precinct in Opladen. At that time as well, nobody anticipated what a wonderful event was to develop from these beginnings. Today, Herbert Sondermann wears the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Order of Merit) of the Federal Republic of Germany for his services to Opladen; because the small beer event in the pedestrian precinct in Opladen has now become the largest open-air event in the history of the city of Leverkusen and the largest event of this kind anywhere in the world.
Bierborse
Only the large number of beer types from all over the world allow the visitors to sample even unusual varieties.

In more than ten years of development work, the Bierborse has been developed, according to stringent rules and numerous selection criteria, into one of the most successful German public festivals without any blending with other types of event such as funfairs or even junk markets. This also illustrates how it differs from the Munchener Oktoberfest.

Only the large number of beer types from all over the world allow the visitors to sample even unusual varieties. These include, for example, San Miguel from Spain, Efes from Turkey or Corona from Mexico which revive memories of past holiday trips.

The small house breweries whose beers are not often offered on draught outside their brewing locations are also regular guests at the BIERBORSE events. The range on offer is rounded off by the well-known German brands which form the foundation of the Bierborse. This is presented in a cosy beer-garden atmosphere.

The Feast of the Assumption

The Feast of the Assumption is an important day in the Catholic religion. It is the principal feast of the Blessed Virgin, the mother of Jesus Christ. This feast commemorates two events: the departure of Mary from the soul life and the assumption of her body into heaven.

In 1950, Pope Pius XⅡdefined that Mary "after the completion of her earthly life...was assumed body and soul into the glory of Heaven." Her body wasn't allowed to corrupt nor was it allowed to remain in a tomb.

The Feast of the Assumption In the early Christian centuries relics  of saints and those who gave their lives for the faith were jealously guarded and highly prized. Many cities claim the mortal remains of saints, both famous and little-known. But there are no records of Mary's bodily remains being venerated  anywhere.

In the Celtic lands, mid August was harvest time. The festival of Lughnasa was the harvest celebration in honor of  the God of the harvest Lugh who was responsible for the bounties of the harvest. There was singing and drinking and dancing and story telling in gratitude for the harvest and the promise of food to eat during the winter months. In Christian times it became the festival of Mary at Harvest Time because Mary reflected the life giving, life nurturing love of God.

As the Feast of the Immaculate Conception  proclaims the grace of Christ in Mary before he was born, so the Feast of the Assumption points to the fulfillment of that grace, when Mary was taken, body and soul, into heaven to share in the glory of her Son's Resurrection .

Like the mystery of her Immaculate Conception, the Assumption of Mary is significant for all humanity, since she anticipates our resurrection with Christ in glory.

Background of International Youth Day

Celebrate YOUth! On August 12th, 2006, youth around the world will celebrate their achievements, accomplishments, and aspirations by planning and participating in International Youth Day (IYD) activities. This is a day to stand out and be counted as passionate and energetic youth that are creating a better world for all. Use IYD as an opportunity to remind key decision-makers and influential persons of the key role young global citizens play in affecting global change.

This year's theme is "Tackling Poverty Together", tackling commemorating the contribution youth make in our societies, and highlighting the importance of including youth in decision-making. The World Youth Report 2005 states that over 200 million young people, or 18 percent of all youth, live on less than one dollar a day, and that over 88 million youth are unemployed. Although we have some statistics of young people living in poverty, they are frequently overlooked in national poverty reduction strategies.

Moundville Telephone Selects ADTRAN adds Moundville Telephone to customer list

ADTRAN Inc., (NASDAQ:ADTN) says that Moundville Telephone Co., an independent service provider serving West-Central Alabama, will use a range of ADTRAN broadband equipment, including its Total Access 5000 Multi-Service Access and Aggregation Platform (MSAP), to enhance its triple-play and high-speed Internet access service delivery. Moundville will use the Total Access 5000 to expand both its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and DSL infrastructure. The service provider also will leverage the platform for mobile backhaul applications.

ADTRAN says that Moundville selected the Total Access 5000 for its flexibility and its ability to support an evolution from legacy to next-generation services. The platform’s pseudowire aggregation feature also will aid in the support of mobile backhaul applications, the systems supplier adds.

“The Total Access 5000 offers outstanding efficiency and scalability,” said Larry Taylor, general manager, Moundville Telephone. “As one of the most flexible platforms on the market, we will be able to quickly and continuously redefine our access architecture to meet the demands of our customers for a wide variety of applications such as FTTH, broadband, and mobile backhaul.”

Welcome to Father's Day on the Net A Celebration In Honor of All Fathers

Father's Day is a day of commemoration and celebration of Dad. It is a day to not only honor your father, but all men who have acted as a father figure in your life - whether as Stepfathers, Uncles, Grandfathers, or "Big Brothers."

Here for your entertainment are fun Holiday things for you, your dad and your family. We've got some stories to read, holiday craft gift ideas, pictures for the kids to color, and recipes to make!

Father's Day is celebrated in the US on Sunday, June 19, 2011. Other Countries celebrate throughout the year.

The 15th day of the 8th lunar month

The joyous Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth moon, around the time of the autumn equinox（秋分）. Many referred to it simply as the "Fifteenth of the Eighth Moon".
This day was also considered as a harvest festival since fruits, vegetables and grain had been harvested by this time and food was abundant. Food offerings were placed on an altar set up in the courtyard. Apples, pears, peaches, grapes, pomegranates（石榴）, melons, oranges and pomelos（柚子） might be seen. Special foods for the festival included moon cakes, cooked taro（芋头）and water caltrope（菱角）, a type of water chestnut resembling black buffalo horns. Some people insisted that cooked taro be included because at the time of creation, taro was the first food discovered at night in the moonlight. Of all these foods, it could not be omitted from the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The round moon cakes, measuring about three inches in diameter and one and a half inches in thickness, resembled Western fruitcakes in taste and consistency. These cakes were made with melon seeds（西瓜子）, lotus seeds（莲籽）, almonds（杏仁）, minced meats, bean paste, orange peels and lard（猪油）. A golden yolk（蛋黄） from a salted duck egg was placed at the center of each cake, and the golden brown crust was decorated with symbols of the festival. Traditionally, thirteen moon cakes were piled in a pyramid to symbolize the thirteen moons of a "complete year," that is, twelve moons plus one intercalary（闰月的） moon.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festivity for both the Han and minority nationalities. The custom of worshipping the moon can be traced back as far as the ancient Xia and Shang Dynasties (2000 B.C.-1066 B.C.). In the Zhou Dynasty(1066 B.C.-221 B.C.), people hold ceremonies to greet winter and worship the moon whenever the Mid-Autumn Festival sets in. It becomes very prevalent in the Tang Dynasty(618-907 A.D.) that people enjoy and worship the full moon. In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 A.D.), however, people send round moon cakes to their relatives as gifts in expression of their best wishes of family reunion. When it becomes dark, they look up at the full silver moon or go sightseeing on lakes to celebrate the festival. Since the Ming (1368-1644 A.D. ) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911A.D.), the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival celebration becomes unprecedented popular. Together with the celebration there appear some special customs in different parts of the country, such as burning incense（熏香）, planting Mid-Autumn trees, lighting lanterns on towers and fire dragon dances. However, the custom of playing under the moon is not so popular as it used to be nowadays, but it is not less popular to enjoy the bright silver moon. Whenever the festival sets in, people will look up at the full silver moon, drinking wine to celebrate their happy life or thinking of their relatives and friends far from home, and extending all of their best wishes to them.
Moon Cakes

There is this story about the moon-cake. during the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to the foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Backed into each moon cake was a message with the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attached and overthrew the government. Today, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this legend and was called the Moon Cake.
For generations, moon cakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates（枣子）, wrapped in a pastry. Sometimes a cooked egg yolk can be found in the middle of the rich tasting dessert. People compare moon cakes to the plum pudding and fruit cakes which are served in the English holiday seasons.
Nowadays, there are hundreds varieties of moon cakes on sale a month before the arrival of Moon Festival.