Wednesday, July 31, 2013

SONOMA COUNTY FAIR 2013

I LIKED THIS WEEKEND AT SONOMA COUNTY FAIR BOTH DAYS.  I FOUND SOME GOOD EXHIBITS AND DISPLAYS.  ONE WAS ABOUT ALL THE CRAFTS AND PAINTINGS.  THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO MADE SOME EXHIBITS IN THE HALL OF FLOWERS LOOK VERY ORIENTAL WITH WATERFALLS AND AND THEY WERE VERY DECORATIVE WITH FOREIGN PLANTS.  ONE OF THE 11 SMALL EXHIBITS THERE HAD A SMALL TRAIN GOING THROUGH SOME UPPER LEVEL TUNNELS!.  IN TH E CENTER OF THE HALL THERE WAS A LARGE WATERFALL.  THE ENTIRE HALL HAD DEHUMIDIFIERS AS THERE WERE SO MANY WATERFALLS THERE.

I SAW SOME EASTERN INDIANS IN THE INTERACTIVE CHILDREN'S AREA WHERE THEY ALSO TAUGHT A BOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.  THEY SAID THEY  BELIEVED IN REINCARNATION.  I STILL DID  NOT SEE ALL THE EXHIBITS!  IT WAS JUST A BIG FAIR.  I SAW SMALL A SMALL MEN'S CHOIR AND A MUSICAL GROUP BY THE MILKING BARN.

ONE LADY MADE PANCAKES FROM ZUCCHINI , FLOUR AND ORANGE JUICE AND HAD US SAMPLE SOME.  IT WAS PRETTY GOOD.  I LOVED THE BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT HOUSE WHERE WE GOT TO SEE AND FEED MONARCHS AND SOME  AND SOME AMERICAN BUTTERFLIES.  THEY LET A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE WHERE 800 BUTTERFLIES  WERE ON PLANTS.  WE VIEWED THEIR PROBISCUS -TONGUE AS THEY SUCKED UP FRUIT JUICE.  I ALSO LIKED THE PETTING ZOO. AND WATCHING CHILDREN FEED THE SMALL FARM ANIMALS AND THEY HAD A NICE SMALL BABY MARSUPIAL FROM AUSTRALIA.

I ENJOYED THE MEXICAN DANCING AND WATCHING THE RODEO HORSES AS WELL AS THE MILKING OF COWS.  I HAD A GOOD TIME SITTING IN A LUXURIOUS MASSAGE CHAIR.  THE SELLERS ARENA HAD A CHEF TRYING TO SELL SOME EXPENSIVE COOKWARE AND HE FED US WELL.  HE DESCRIBED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE USE OF STELL COOKWARE AND ALUMINUM AND IRON POTS.  THE LAST TWO CAUSE SOME EXCESS MINERALS YOUR BODY DOES NOT NEED.

THEY ALSO HAD SOME LOUD SINGERS IN THE MAIN OUTDOOR ARENA.

I HOPPED OVER TO SEE THE GROUP OF MEXICAN DANCERS ALL DRESSED UP ON ONE STAGE DANCING TO THE HISPANIC CHEERFUL MUSIC.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

GREECE CULTURE

GREECE IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ATTRACTIONS IN THE WORLD.  THERE ARE 60 ISLANDS WITH A POPULATION HERE FOR OVER 4 MILLENIA.  EVEN DESPITE THE OLDEST DEBT CRISES, GREECE IS AS POPULAR AS EVER.

MOUNT ATHOS IN NORTHERN GREECE HOUSES 1400 MONKS IN 20 MONASTERIES. THERE ARE MEDIEVAL RUINS IN ANCIENT SPARTA NEARBY AND THE SITE WAS ABANDONED  IN 1832,  IT IS IN A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT. 

LINDOS IS A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE ON RHODES ISLAND MADE UP OF COBBLED STREETS AND WHITE WASHED HOUSES.  A NET ABOVE THE TOWN OFFERS VIEWS OF SURROUNDING HARBORS AND COASTERS OFFERS SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF SURROUNDING HARBORS AND COASTLINE.  LINDOS BEACH IS NEARBY THE TOWN CENTER.

SAMARIA GORGE IS A 10 MILE LONG CANYON SOUTHWEST OF CRETE.  WALKING THE GORGE IS POPULAR AS A QUARTER MILLION TOURISTS DO EACH YEAR. IT TAKES 4 TO 7 HOURS OF AND PASSES THROUGH FORESTS OF ANCIENT  CYPRESS AND PINES.  THE GORGE HAS VERTICAL CLIFFS THROUGH MOUNTAINS. 

MYRTOS BEACH IS WORLD FAMOUS FOR MAGICAL COLORS OF THE WATERS.  THE  BLUE AND TURQUOISE COLORS OF THE SEA CONTRAST SHARPLY WITH THE BRIGHT MARBLE PEBBLES OF THE BEACH.  THERE ARE TALL CLIFFS BY  MYRTOS BEACH AND IT HAS BEEN VOTED AS GREECE'S BEST BEACH.

THE ANCIENT DELPI THEATRE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SITE IN ANCIENT GREEK RELIGION.  THIS IS HOME TO A SANCTUARY OF APOLLO.  IT IS WITH AN ARC WITH SEATING OF 5000  FOLKS.   TODAY IT IS ONE OF THE TOP ATTRACTIONS HERE.

METORA IN CENTRAL GREECE IS A COLLECTION OF 6 MONASTERIES IN SEVERAL ROCK PILLARS.  THE FIRST MONASTERY IN METORA WAS FASCINATED IN THE 14TH CENTURY.  ACCESS TO THE MONASTERIES WAS DIFFICULT WITH LONG LADDERS OR LARGE NETS USED TO HAUL UP BOTH GOODS AND PEOPLE  THIS REQUIRED  A LEAP OF FAITH - THE ROPES WERE REPLACED WHEN THE LORD  LET THEM BREAK.

THE PARTHENON ON TOP OF THE ACROPOLIS IS A FAMOUS GREEK TOURIST TOURIST ATTRACTION. IN ATHENS.  MOST FOLKS UNDER 40 YEARS OLD SPEAK GREECE HERE.  THE PARTHENON  WAS BUILT IN 447 B.C.  REPLACING OLDER TEMPLES THAT WERE DESTROYED BY PERSIANS.  IT SERVED AS A TEMPLE FORTRESS , CHURCH, MOSQUE, AND POWDER MAGAZINE. 

SANTATORINI IS A  VOLCANIC ISLAND IN THE CYCLADES GROUP OF GREEK ISLANDS.  IT IS FAMOUS FOR IT'S STUNNING VIEWS.  IT IS THE MARRIAGE  OF THE WHITE COBBLESTONE STREETS.  GREEK SHOPS AND CAFES CLING TO THE EDGE OF 400 METER HIGH CLIFFS.

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VIENNA AUSTRIA

VIENNA IS THE CAPITAL OF THE LARGEST CITY IN AUSTRIA.  IT HAS 20% OF THE AUSTRIAN POPULATION.  UNTIL 1900'S IT WAS THE LARGEST GERMAN SPEAKING  CITY IN THE WORLD.

THE CITY LIES NEAR BRATISLAVA AND IT IS CALLED THE CITY OF MUSIC.  HISTORICALLY THE CITY HAS ROOTS IN CELTIC AND ROMAN SETTLEMENTS.  THE CITY HAS NICE ARCHITECTURE AND BAROQUE CASTLES AND GARDENS.  IT IS KNOWN AS A GREAT CITY WORLD WIDE.  IT IS VERY INNOVATIVE CITY AND HOSTS URBAN PLANNING CONFERENCES AND IS USED AS A CASE STUDY BY URBAN PLANNERS FOR CONFERENCES.  VIENNA IS FROM THE CELTIC NAME WREN MEANING BRIGHT OR FAIR.

THE CITY WAS SETTLED BY THE CELTS ON THE DANUBE  RIVER  IN 500 B.C.  IN 1485 TO 1490 HUNGARY OCCUPIED THE CITY.  THEN IN 1680 A PLAGUE KILLED 1/3 OF THE POPULATION. 

DURING THE LATE 1800'S IT BECAME A CITY OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.  DURING LATE 1900'S THE CITY POPULATION GREW DRAMATICALLY.  IT BECAME A CENTER OF HIGH CULTURE AND MODERNISM.  IT BECAME A CENTER OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.  DURING THE LATE 1900'S THE CITY POPULATION GREW DRAMATICALLY.  IT BECAME A CENTER OF HIGH CULTURE AND MODERNISM.  BY1919 IT WAS A REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA.

AFTER WORLD WAR II VIETNAM WAS  PART OF  SOVIET OCCUPIED EASTERN AUSTRIA.  THE GOVERNMENT LAID DOWN METAL LANDING MATS AT SCHIOENBERG.  FINALLY BY 1955 THE RUSSIANS RELINGUSHED OCCUPATION ZONES IN EASTERN AUSTRIA JUST.  THE CITY IS JUST EAST OF THE ALPS AND HAS MUCH WINTER SNOW.

VIENNA HAS MANY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.  THE POPULATION OF THE CATHOLICS DROPPED TO ONLY 40% IN 2012.  MUSIC IS ONE OF VIENNA'S  LEGACIES WITH MANY HISTORIC FAMOUS MUSICIANS.  THEY HAVE MANY OPERA HOUSES AND 100'S OF MUSICIANS.

THEY HAVE BUILT HUGE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE BUILDINGS TO MODERN ARCHITECTURE.  ONE OF THEIR MOST POPULAR ATTRACTIONS IS HUNDERTAUTASSERHAUG.  THE NUMBER OF HIGH RISE  BUILDINGS  IS KEPT LOW FOR PRESERVING GREEN AREAS AS WELL AS WORLD CULTURAL SITES.

VIENNA IS WELL KNOWN FOR SCHITZEL, VEAL CUTLETS THAT IS SCHITZEL, VEAL CUTLETS THAT ARE COATED AND FRIED  IN BUTTER .  THEY EAT HEAVY MEALS OF BEEF AND POTATOES.  VIENNA HAS HAS A LONG TRADITION OF PRODUCING FINE CAKES AND DESSERTS.  THEY OFTEN PRODUCE SAUSAGES ALSO.  THEY DRINK MUCH WINE AND BEER.

THE COFFEE SHACKS ARE FIXTURES OF VIENNA.  THESE ARE PLACES OF SOCIALIZING WHERE AUSTRIAN BEER AND WINE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 700 B.C.

THE COFFEE SHACKS ARE A FIXTURE OF VIENNA WHERE PEOPLE SOCIALIZE.  AUSTRIA BEER AND WINE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 700 B.C.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE THE IMPERIAL PALACES AND THE WORLDS OLDEST ZOO.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Friday, July 26, 2013

KEY WEST AS A VACATION SPOT

OUR FAMILY TRAVELED TO SEE OUR RELATIVES IN FLORIDA.  WE DECIDED TO GO TO KEY WEST AND STAY FOR SEVERAL DAYS.  ONE OUTSTANDING ATTRACTION WAS THE KEY WEST BUTTERFLY AND NATURE CONSERVATORYWHERE THEY RAISED 100'S OF BUTTERFLY TYPES.  THEY HAD ALSO SOME SMALL BIRDS.  THEIR PICTORIALS DEFINE HOW REPRODUCE BUTTERFLIES.  WE TOOK MANY PHOTOS.

WHEN WE TRAVELLED THERE THE WINDS WERE STRONG AND IT WAS TOO COLD TO SWIM AT MOST BEACHES.  OUR HOTEL ALSO GAVE US SOME BIKES SO WE BIKED AROUND THE TOWN AND WENT TO SEVERAL BEACH TOWNS NOT TO FAR AWAY FROM OUR HISTORIC BED AND BREAKFAST.

IT RAINED ONE DAY AND TOOK PHOTOS WHERE WE WENT.  WE MISSED THESAINT MARY STAR OF THE SEA.  IT IS A BIG BEAUTIFUL CATHOLICCHURCH ON THE ISLAND.  SOME FOLKS SAY IT IS THE PRETTIEST CHURCH THEY HAVE SEEN. THE GARDENS ARE WELL KEPT AND PRETTY NICE.

IN KEY WEST THEY ALSO HAVE DRY TORTUGAS  NATIONAL PARK, THAT IS THE 4TH GREATEST ATTRACTION HERE.  IT IS 100 SQUARE MILE PARK OPEN WITH 7 SMALL ISLANDS.  YOU MUST BOAT THERE.  WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT .  IT IS WORLDWIDE KNOWN AS FORT JEFFERSON WITH CORAL REEFS AND MARINE LIFE.  

IT IS 70 MILES WEST OF KEY WEST AND WAS AN 1800'S FORT.  IT WAS USED BY SPANISH EXPLORERS AND MERCHANTS TRAVELING ALONG THE GULF COAST.  THEY HAVE SNORKELING AND VERY CLEAN WATERS.  THE CITY HAS MANY TOURIST ATTRACTIONS THAT OUR FAMILY MISSED.  THEY HAVE MANY UNIQUE THEATRES.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG 

JAMAICA CULTURE

THE ORIGINAL TAINO SETTLERS WERE FOLLOWED BY SPANISH SETTLERS.  THEY DIFFERED AND BLACKS AND SLAVES DOMINANT CULTURE AND THEY SUFFERED HARSH CONDITIONS OF FORCED LABOR.  CHINES AND INDIAN MIGRANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE ISLAND AS INDENTURED WORKERS.  THEIR LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH WITH PATOISE SPOKEN.  ARAWAKS WERE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS.  THEY SERVED THE INHABITANTS OF THE  ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPEANS.  THERE ARE NO ARAWAK COMMUNITIES LEFT IN JAMAICA WHO RECOVERED TRACES OF THEIR ORIGINAL CULTURE.

THE LARGEST RELIGION IN JAMAICA IS THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.  THEY HAVE A BAPTIST SECTOR.  80% OF THE POPULATION SEEK  THE SERVICES OF TRADITIONAL AFRICAN RELIGIOUS HEALERS.

JAMAICAN CELEBRATION IS CALLED NINE NIGHT.  IT IS A COMMENDATION OF THE DEAD SO THEY DON'T HARM THE LIVING IN EVIL.

THE BAHAI FAITH IN JAMAICA BEGAN IN IN 1942 WHEN MALCOLM KING CAME HERE.  THEY ALSO HAVE BUDDHISM, HINDUISM, AND ISLAM.

RASTAFARIAN BELIEF IS BASED ON THE OLD TESTAMENT AND BOOK OF REVELATION.  THEY BELIEVE IN THE DIVINITY OF THE EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE OF ETHIOPIA.  THE MOST POPULAR RASTAFARIAN WAS BOB MARLEY WHO EXPRESSED HIS BELIEF THROUGH REGGAE MUSIC.  IN THE 1970 -2004.  THEIR COMMUNITY IS SHARED THROUGH SONG AND CHANTS .  CANNABIS IS PROHIBITED IN JAMAICA MAKING RASTAS IN A STATE OF TENSION WITH POLICE.

JAMAICA CUISINE INCLUDES MANY MIXES OF COOKING - SPANISH, BRITISH, AFRICANS, INDIANS, AND CHINESE INTO THE ISLAND.  ITS BY THE TROPICAL FRUITS AND MEATS ARE AVAILABLE.  MANY DISHES INCLUDE CURRY AND GOAT, COD, RICE, AND PEAS.  THEY MAKE MANY BREADS AS WELL AS FRUIT BEVERAGES AND RUM.

DANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT FROM COLONIAL TIMES TO PRESENT.  FOLK RHYTHMS AND MOVEMENT ARE ENHANCED TO CHRISTIAN RHYTHMS. AND CELEBRATIONS.  THE DANCES ARE IMPORTANT HERE.  AFTER 1800'S THEY ABOLISHED SLAVERY.  THEN THE JAMAICANS FUSED MUSIC AND FOLKLORE.  SOME OF THEM EVOLVED INTO TALES OF SEXUAL INNUENDOS.

JAMAICA IS HOME TO MANY EXCELLENT FURNITURE FACTORIES DATING FROM COLONIAL TIMES

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

CALIFORNIA INDIAN BURNING

THE CALIFORNIA INDIANS HAD A METHOD  OF SMALL UNDERSTORY BURNING IN ORDER TO CONTROL DUFF AND SMALL LIMBS AND CONTROL INSECTS AND PATHOGENS TO OTHER TREES.  BY CONTROLLED SMALL FIRES THEY DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE LARGE WILDFIRES THAT HAVE SPREAD THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA IN RECENT TIMES.

SOME ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE STUDIED HOW THE PREHISTORIC BASKETS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH STRAIGHT WILLOW WITHS AND SEDGES WHICH FORMED ONLY BY UNDERSTORY BURNING,  THROUGH BURNING THEY ALSO ALLOWED THE DEER  TO COME INTO THEIR NEARBY VILLAGES SO THEY COULD WALK ON THE DEER TRAILS AND BE SEEN BY HUNTERS.  THE FIRES ALSO INCREASED NATIVE SEEDS AND WILDFLOWERS THAT THEY USED FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE.   BURNING ALSO OPENED UP SOME TREE SEED CONES SO THEY COULD REPRODUCE .  APPARENTLY SUGAR PINE GROWS NICELY WITH UNDERSTORY BURNS.  INDIANS COLLECTED NUTS FOR FOOD AND JEWELRY.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

MY FORTUNES

I HAVE BEEN TO MANY CHINESE RESTAURANTS  AND I HAVE GOTTEN SOME GOOD FORTUNES THAT SAY I WILL MAKE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY SOON; I WILL BE ABLE TO FIND FRIENDS WHEN I NEED TO; AND HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH MY WORK; I WILL ATTRACT CULTURED AND ARTISTIC PEOPLE TO MY HOME!.

PARIS AS A TOURIST SPOT













PARIS IS THE CAPITOAL OF FRANCE AND IS ON SIENE RIVER.  IT IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CITIES IN THE EUROPE WITH 12 MILLION CITIES IN EUROPE WITH 12 MILLION FOLKS.

IT IS THE FACAL POINT FOR THR FRENCH REVOLUTION IN 1848   IT IS THE A HEADING .  IT IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GLOBAL CITIES.  THE EIFFEL TOWER AND THE PYRAMID OF THE LOUVE ARE FAMOUS HERE.  THIS CITY HAS MANY MUSEUMS AND END.

THEY ARE KNOWN FOR GYPSY JAZZ AND ACCORDIAN MUSIC.  THEY HAVE OVER 9000 RESTAURANTS.  SOME SERVE FRENCH CUISINE AND MANY CHEFS TRAIN HERE IN BECOMING WELL KNOWN CHEFS/  THEY ALSO HAVE VERY GOOD ART THEATRES AND A TALENTED POOL OF ARTISTS.  IN MANY BUILDINGS AND MUSEUMS THEY HAVE CLASSIC FASHOIONABLE LOOKING ARCITECTURE.  PARIS HAS BEEN A HUB OF FASHION AND HAS AS THE INTERNATIONAL CAPITSL STYLE.  THEY HAVE GREAT UNIVERSITIES OF PARIS AND MANY OTHERS.  PARIS COMES FROM THE GAULISH TRIBE KNOWN AS THE "PARISIL".  DURIN THE ROMAN ERA IT WASN'T CALLED PARIS, BUT BY 360 A.D. IT WAS RENAMED.  IN 1   






BARBADOS AND CARIBBEAN VACATION

THERE ARE 1000'S OF ISLANDS THAT ARE PART OF THE CARIBBEAN.  MY HUSBAND AND I TRAVELED TO BARBADOS IN THE LATE 80'S.  IT WAS A VERY HOT ISLAND WITH VERY WARM WATERS.  BOTH OF US GOT SUNBURNT.  WE STAYED AT SEVERAL NICE HOTELS.  THE COMPANY MY HUSBAND WORKED FOR GAVE US THIS FREE TRIP.  WE WERE GIVEN SMALL CARS AND WERE ON AN EXPEDITION OF THE ISLAND WITH ALL OTHERS TO EXPLORE VARIOUS SITES AND FIND SPECIAL CLUES.  SOME FOLKS GOT FLAT TIRES AND WE WERE ALL QUITE TIRED AFTER THAT.  THEY DRINK A LOT OF COCONUT JUICE AND THEY PLAY BOARD GAMES.  RASTAFARIANS ARE ALWAYS AT THE BEACH SELLING THEIR SHELL JEWELRY AND OTHER TRINKETS.  THEY HAD UNUSUAL FLYING FISH THAT WE STARED AT ON A CATAMARAN TRIP.

MEXICO, NICARAGUA, U S, VENEZUELA, BELIZE, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, COSTA RICA, AND PANAMA OWN SOME OF THESE ISLANDS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 700 ISLETS  OR 41  CARIBBEAN ISLANDS.  MANY FOLKS COME HERE.

BARBADOS IS A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY.  THIS ISLAND WAS INITIALLY VISITED BY SPANISH AROUND THE LATE 1400'S.  THE PORTUGUESE LEFT IT UNCLAIMED WITH THEIR ONLY REMNANTS BEING THE INTRODUCTION OF WILD PIGS.  THE ENGLISH SAILED HERE IN 1641 AND THEY CLAIMED IT.  IT HAS @ 284,000 FOLKS.  BY 1966 BARBADOS BECAME THE LEADING TOURIST DESTINATION IN CARIBBEAN.  THEIR ETHNIC GROUP IS COMPOSED OF MESTIZOS.

IN 1994 THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF CALIFORNIA LED BY ROLLO BECK STAYED HERE COLLECTING MATERIAL. TOURS AND SMALL HOTELS.

THE FIRST PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION FOR THE ISL;ANDS WAS IN THE 1930AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE 1950'S THAT POSITIVE ACTION CONTROLLED NATIVE FLORA.  BY 1990  THE ISLANDS BECAME A WHALE SANCTUARY. AND A WORLD HERITAGE SITE.

INTRODUCED PLANTS AND ANIMALS WERE BROUGHT ACCIDENTALLY OR WILLINGLY TO THE ISLANDS.  THERE ARE SPECIES OF NONNATIVE PLANTS.  THEY HAVE MANY MORE NON NATIVE ANIMALS THAT DESTROY NATIVE ANIMALS.  WE DID NOT NOTICE THIS ISLAND TO BE VERY CROWDED WITH TOURISTS AT THE TIME IN THE 1980'S.

TODAY IT IS VERY POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION.  I REMEMBER BEING IN A A ROOM WHERE THEY WANTED US TO BUY INTO A CONDO SHARE - E SAID NO.  THE NATIVES LIVE IN SMALL VERY COLORFUL SHACKS AND TAKE IT EASY MOSTLY. 
OUR FLIGHT THERE TOOK QUITE A LONG TIME I WAS THANKFUL NOT TO HAVE GOTTEN TOO MUCH OF A SUNBURN.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

YESTERDAY I WENT TO CHURCH WHEN A VISITING MINISTER, MICHAEL GOTT, WAS A SINGER AND A MINISTER FROM HOUSTON.  HE SPOKE ABOUT HOW PEOPLE GO THROUGH DIFFERENT PHASES OF HEALING.  HE MENTIONED HOW AA FOLKS HAD GONE THROUGH RECOVERY .  APPARENTLY HE WAS FROM A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY .  HE MENTIONED HOW THE FUNCTIONAL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY  HAVE TO COMPENSATE TO THE ALCOHOLIC.  THEY TYPICALLY GO TO AL ANON MEETINGS TO SHARE THEIR FEELINGS.  THEY FIND LOVE IN DEEPENING THEIR LOVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.  HE PLAYED AND LED US IN MANY FRIENDLY SONGS THAT GAVE US A NICE FEELING OF FRIENDSHIP.  ONE FELLA LOOKED LIKE A PERSON I KNEW FROM MY PREVIOUS WORK WITH STATE PARKS.  I SAW SEVERAL FOLKS WHO WERE ALCOHOLICS AS WELL.  I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY IN THIS COMMUNITY WHERE WE LIVE.  THIS MINISTER HAS WRITTEN A BOOK AND WAS SELLING IT.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS BELONGS TO ECUADOR AND THEY ARE VOLCANIC IN ORIGIN.  IT IS A BIOLOGICAL MARINE RESERVE AND NATIONAL PARK.  THEIR MAIN LANGUAGE IS SPANISH WITH A  A POPULATION OF 25,000.

THEY HAVE BEEN A TOURIST DESTINATION AS THEY WERE STUDIED BY CHARLES DARWIN BY NATIONAL SELECTION. BEFORE 1500'S.  A NAVIGATION CHART WAS MADE BY PIRATE, AMBROSE COUNTY IN 1684.  THE ISLANDS HAVE SPANISH  AND THE LARGEST IS ISABELLA.  THERE ARE 107 ISLETS, AND 18 MAIN ISLANDS.

THE ISLANDS FORMED 8 - 90 MILLION.YEARS AGO.  SOME ARE STILL BEING FORMED.  IN 2009 A VOLCANIC ERUPTION FORMED ON FERNANDINA.   THE ISLANDS ARE VERY ARID WITH SALT BRUSH, PRICKLY CACTUS  AND SANTO TREES.  THE ISLAND'S HAVE 2 AIRPORTS.  THEY HAVE A CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH CENTER HERE.  AS OF 1997 SCIENTISTS FOUND 97 IGUANAS THAT HAD BECOME EXTINCT BECAUSE OF A  BREADING PROJECT.

BARTOLOMA ISLAND HAS A SPECIAL  PENGUIN AND A GREEN TURTLE THAT LIVES ON THE EQUATOR. AT DARWIN ISLAND THERE ARE SEALS, FRIGATES, IGUANAS, GULLS, SEA LIONS, WHALES AND MARINE MAMMALS.

THE OLDEST ISLAND IS ESPANOLA  THAT IS 3.5 MILLION YEARS OLD AND HAS MANY ENDEMIC SPECIES FOUND HERE- ALBATROSSES, LAVA LIZARD, TORTOISE, AND MOCKINGBIRD.  IT IS A REMOTE ISLAND.  IT HAS A GOOD SNORKELING SPOT.

ISABELLA ISLAND HAS PELICANS, CORMORANTS, CRABS AND IGUANAS AND GALAPAGOS DOVES.  THEY HAVE  A HUMAN TOWN HERE ON THE SOUTH TIP.
ON NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND THIS ONE HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION OF FRIGATE BIRDS.  THE WATERS ARE SOMEWHAT COLD WITH DRIZZLES.  IN JUNE  TO NOVEMBER THE TEMPERATURE IS 72 DEGREES WITH DENSE FOG.  DURING DECEMBER TO MAY NO WIND IS HERE.  PRECIPITATION VARIES FROM 5 TO 9 INCHES.  SPANIARDS DISCOVERED THE ISLANDS AS THEY SAILED TO PERU AS HIS VESSEL DRIFTED HERE IN 1535.  THOR HEYERDAHL STUDIED POT SHERDS AND ARTIFACTS HERE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL BY SPANISH.  THEY FOUND NO PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS.

IN1793 SPANISH  AND ENGLISH EXPLORERS DESCRIBED THE FLORA  AND FAUNA.  WHALERS AND FUR TRADERS AT THAT TIME KILLED 1000'S OF TORTOISES ON THEIR TO EAT ON THEIR SHIPS AS WELL.

DARWIN CAME IN 1835 AS A GEOLOGIST AND LIKED THE VOLCANIC CRATERS.  HE EXPLAINED HOW VOLCANIC FORMATIONS AND TUFF FORM OVER 5 WEEKS AS  HE STAYED HERE OVER 5 WEEKS.

BY THE 1920'S AND 1930'S EUROPEANS RECEIVED 20 HECTARES FREE, INCLUDING A RIGHT TO HUNT AND FISH.  MAJOR TOURISM STARTED AT 1959.  THIS ATTRACTED FISHING AND FARMING  FROM MAINLAND ECUADOR .  THE ISLANDS HAVENO INDIGENOUS CULTURE.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

SWEDISH CULTURE

SWEDISH CULTURE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A SELF RELIANT ASPECT OF ASSOCIATED SWEDISH MENTALITY.  THEY HAD ABOLISHED SLAVERY BY THE 14TH CENTURY.  ABOUT 40% OF THE POPULATION WAS PEASANTS.

DENMARK, NORWAY AND ENGLAND IN THE MIDDLE AGES INFLUENCED SWEDEN  THEY HAVE 25 PRINCES EACH WITH A SPECIFIC HISTORY.  EACH HAS DIFFERENT DIALECTS.  SOME HAVE BEEN PART OF ANOTHER COUNTRY

SWEDISH FOOD IS PRACTICAL AND SUSTAINING WITH POTATOES A MEAT OR FISH  AND VEGETABLES  THEY LIKE COFFEE.  THEY MAKE VARIOUS CIDERS AND THEY ALSO ENJOY BEER.  THEY HAVE A MONOPOLY ON ALCOHOL HOWEVER.

SOME CINEMAS IN SWEDEN ARE WIDELY KNOWN.  INGMAR BERGMAN WAS A WELL KNOWN FILMMAKER IN THE 1950'S.  THEY HAD A VARIETY OF FAMOUS ACTRESSES AND ACTORS.

SINGING IS POPULAR IN SWEDEN AND 6000,000 FOLKS BELONG TO CHOIRS.  THEY SING MOSTLY POPULAR JOYFUL SONGS SOME BANDS PLAY " OR HEAVY METAL.  THEY ALSO ENJOY OPERAS.

THEIR MEDIEVAL BUILDINGS ARE OF STONE FROM THE 11TH CENTURY.  IN PREHISTORIC TIMES THE HOUSES WERE OF WOOD.  BRICKS WERE MADE IN THE LATE 13TH CENTURY.   MANY CHURCHES ARE OF LUND.  SOME CATHEDRALS TOOK `145 YEARS TO BUILD.  BY THE 1500'S THE KING HAD A PROGRAM OF BUILDING LARGE MANSIONS TO REPRESENT HIS MONARCHY.  CASTLES WERE INCLUDED AS WELL. 

TRADITIONAL SWEDISH CLOTHING IS VERY INTERNATIONALLY INFLUENCED  BUT TRADITIONALLY THEY DRESSED LIKE OUR PILGRIMS WITH .  THE WOMEN WOPRE LONG SKIRTS  AND MEN HAD TOP HATS AND SHORT OR LONG PANTS AND BOOTS AND LEATHER SHOES..

THEIR OLDEST ART IS FOUND IN CHURCHES- FRESCOES, ALTAR PIECES, AND MOTIFS.  THEY REPRESENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

POLAND CULTURE

THE POLISH HISTORY IS ROOTED IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE SLAV'S WHO FINALLY  PERMANENT SETTLEMENT ON POLISH LANDS.  CHRISTIANITY WAS ADOPTED  IN 996 A.D.  THIS 1000 YEAR HISTORY WAS INFLUENCED BY A RESULT OF  CONTRIBUTIONS TO EUROPEAN CONTRIBUTIONS.  THESE FOLKS WERE HOSPITABLE TO ARTISTS FROM ABROAD  AND THEY FOLLOWED CULTURE AND ARTISTIC TRENDS.

THEIR INTRICATE ARTS ARE HIGHLY DEVELOPED AND FOLLOW THEIR TRADITION.  ALMOST EVERYONE SPEAKS POLISH.

THE POLISH FOODS ARE KIEBAS, PYZY, AND SOUPS WITH MEAT FILLED DOUGHBALLS.  THEY HAVE LARGE MEALS. SOME REGIONS BECAME NOTED FOR THEIR SAUSAGES AND CARRY THEIR ORIGINAL NAMES.

THEIR IMPORTANT DRINK IS VODKA WHICH ORIGINATED IN RUSSIA.  POLAND PRODUCED MUCH BEER.  ONE POLISH PERSON DRINKS 94 LITRES PER YEAR.  WINE TODAY IS GETTING MORE POPULAR.  THEY MAKE UNUSUAL FRUIT DRINKS WITH SUGAR.  THEIR HOLIDAY MEALS ARE FEASTS AND INCLUDE CAKES AND SWEETS.

THEIR TOWNS TODAY HAVE MANY ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS.  MANY ANCIENT CASTLES AND CHURCHES ARE UNIQUE TO POLAND  SOME WERE DESTROYED IN WWII AND WERE RECONSTRUCTED.  THE CAPITAL KRAKOW IS BEST PRESERVED IN GOTHIC COMPLEXES.

POLISH ART HAS ALWAYS REFLECTED TRENDS WHILE MAINTAINING A GOOD TRADITION. OF UNIQUENESS.  THEY HAD TYPES OF ART TRENDS LIKE AVANTE GARDE.  THEY ENJOYED DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY AND SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE INTERNATIONALLY  KNOWN.

POLISH MUSIC WAS FIRST FOUND AS FAR BACK AS 13TH CENTURY.  THERE MUSICIANS WROTE WALTZES AND VARIOUS ROCK BANDS AND HEAVY METAL TUNES.  ONE OF THEIR GREATEST  POETS  WAS ADAM  MICFKAIEWICS IN KRACKORE.  OTHERS WERE W. REYMONT, AND C. MILOSIZ.

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SPAIN CULTURE

SPAIN CULTURE IS BASED ON ANCIENT ROME AND A PRE ROMAN CELTIC AND AN IBERIANCULTURE FROM 700 A.D.  MUSLIM INFLUENCES WERE STRONG DURING THE MIDDLE AGES.  SPANISH LANGUAGE DERIVES FROM LATIN AND IBERIAN AND CELTIC.  THEY ALSO HAVE JEWISH POPULATIONS HERE.  THE MUSLIMS WERE DEFEATED BY 1492 AND SPAIN BECAME ALMOST ENTIRELY ROMAN CATHOLIC.  THIS WESTEN PLAYED AN IMPORTYANT ROLE IN SHAPING ITS CULTURE.

BY THE END OF 19TH CENTURY THEY HAD CENTERED EASIER THAN IT HAD BEEN FOR THE LAST 7 CENTURIES.  SPAIN WAS DRAWN INTO A DIVERSEINTERNATIONALCULTURE.  THEY HAVE 44 HERITAGES.  IT MAY INCLUDE SPANISH AND LATIN AMERICAN LITERAATURE AND POETRY.

THEY HAVE ONE OF THE OLDEST SPANISH BOOKS PUBLISHED.  CELESTINA IS A BOOK PUBLISHED  IN 1000 IN MEDIEVAL SPAIN'S GREATEST WERE DURING THE GOLDEN AGE AND SOME WERE WORLD REKNOWN.  SPAIN'S BEST KNOWN ARTIST IS WAS IN THE CENTURY-  HIS NAME WAS PABLO PICASSO AND OTHER ARTISTS ARE FAMOUS FOR SCULPTURE, CERAMICS, AND PAINTINGS.

DURING THE PREHISTORIC PERIOD AND MEGALITHIC AND IBERIAN PERIODS SPAIN HAD PEOPLE LIVING IN CAVES.  DURING THE ROMAN PERIOD THE ARCHITECTURE  FLOURISHED.  ONE EXAMPLE WAS THE WAS BASED ON ISLAM BELIEFS,  ISLAM DID NOT ALLOW PAIRING OF FIGURES OF PEOPLES.  THEY MADE NICE FLOORS FLORAL PATTERNS.  THEY HAD MANY STYLES OF ARCHITECTURES IN SPAIN  THOUGHOUT 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY. 

THEY HAD MANY SPAINISH CINEMAS AND HIGH MARKS OF RECOGNITIONRECOGNITION FOR CREATIVE AND TECHNICALELLENCE THROUGHOUT HIDSTORY.  BY THE 1980'S THEY SAW INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS IN THIS MEDIA. THEY HAVE MADE MANY FILMS.

SPANISH IS A ROMANCE LANGUAGE ORIGINALLY FROM THE NORTHERN AREA OF SPAIN.  THEY USED CASTLIAN LANGUAGE AND IT EVOLVED AS  THEIR MAIN LANGUAGE.  TODAY 21 NATIONS USE THIS LANGUAGE IN LATIN AMERICA AND EUROPE.  SOME FOLKS SPEAK GALICIAN AND ARANESE.  ABOUT 79% ARE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARE NOT RELIGIOUS.AND IMPORTANT HOLIDAY AS SEMANA SANTA OR HOLY WEEK.  THESE FOLKS DECORATE THE STREETS WITH LARGE THE STREETS WITH LARGE PARADES  AND FIREWORKS AT EASTER.  IN JULY BULLS ARE RELEASED IN THE STREETS WHILE FOLKS RUN IN FRONT OF THEM.

A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEIR FOODS ARE ROMAN JEWISH OR ARAB TRADITIONS. THE MOORISH TRADIONS WERE A STRONG  INFLUENCE  IN SPAIN FOR MANY CENTURIES.  PORK IS POPULAR WITH MUSLIMS.  PORK IS COMMON FOR CHRISTIANS HERE AS CLEANLINESS OF BLOOD.  SOME U.S. NATIVE FOODS WERE INTRODUCED.  MODERN SPAIN USES POTATOES, TOMATOES, PEPPERS AND BEANS.  THEY SHARE MANY DISHES  WITH MEDITERRANEAN  FOLKS.   SPAIN GROWS  44% OF THE WORLD'S  OLIVES.  MANY OF THEIR MEALS ARE MADE FROM HAND WITH INGREDIENTS. FRESH FROM MARKETS.  LARGER CITIES HAVE LARGE SUPERMARKETS INTRODUCED V.S. OPEN AIR MARKETS.  ONE POPULAR DRINK IS TAPA OR WINE OR BEER.  THEY LIKE HOT CHOCOLATE.  THEY USE OLIVE OIL AND AND GARLIC IN MANY LANGUAGES.  THERE ARE MANY LANGUAGES IN SPAIN SUCH AS IN SPAIN SUCH AS BASQUE OR ENSKARA, CALALAN AND GALICIAN.

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MONTE RIO EXPERIENCE

THIS WEEKEND I WENT TO A 4TH OF JULY FAMILY EVENT THAT WAS A BUNCH OF FUN.  I MET SOME EASTERN INDIANS AND SOME CHINESE WHO HAD CHILDREN WHO WERE SWIMMING.  I ONLY BROUGHT FLIP FLOPS AND THE RIVER HAD ROCKS IN IT.  THE RIVER WAS SOMEWHAT COOL.  I BROUGHT SOME FOOD, SPOKE WITH MANY PEOPLE.  THEN I SAW THEY HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT FOOD BOOTHS.  I TRIED MY LUCK AT PLAYING HORSESHOE, BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT AS THE POLES WERE FAR AWAY.  I PRACTICED ANYWAY.

I SPOKE WITH MANY FOLK WHO WERE OF FOREIGN DECENT - SOME CHINESE AND A NUMBER OF EASTERN INDIANS.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

COTATI FESTIVAL

LAST WEEKEND I WENT TO THE ENTERTAINMENT IN THE SQUARE AT COTATI.  IT GOT CROWDED AND I BROUGHT SOME OF MY FOOD.  I MET SOME INTERESTING LADIES FROM MY CHURCH WHO WERE HEALING AND DID SOME LASER TREATMENT TO MY NECK.  IT WAS AN INTERESTING DAY.  I PLAYED BALL WITH THE KIDS AS SOME ENTERTAINERS THROUGH  BALLS INTO THE CROWD.  COTATI CELRBRATED THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY.  THEY HAD AN OLDER LADY LEAD A HISTORY HUNT AROUND THE SIX SIDED PLAZA PARK.  THIS AREA WAS SETTLED BY COAST MIWOK 5000 YEARS AGO.  THEN THE ANGLOS STARTED RAISING CHICKENS HERE IN 1857 FROM A SPANISH LAND  GRANT.  THEY HAD A LOUD SINGING GROUP CALLED PRIDE AND JOY THERE.  I STAYED UNTIL I GOT VERY HOT AND TIRED OF THE LOUD CROWD.  

FRANCE CULTURE

THE CULTURE OF FRANCE IS SHAPED BY GEOGRAPHY BY PROFOUND EVENTS.  PARIS HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS A CENTER OF HIGH CULTURE.  THEIR DECORATIVE ARTS ARE IN THE 17TH CENTURY.  FRENCH CULTURE IS MARKED BY BOTH GREAT REGIONAL DIFFERENCES.  THEY HAVE REGIONAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES BY STRONG UNIFYING TENDENCIES.  LATE 18TH CENTURY  FRANCE HAD A PATCHWORK OF CUSTOMS AND REGIONAL DIFFERENCES WITH UNIFYING AIMS OF THE ANCIENT REGIME.  THE IMPORTANCE OF FRENCH CULTURE HAS WAXED  AND WANED OVER IMPORTANT ROLE OF DECORATIVE ARTS.  THEY HAVE HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE OVER THE CENTURIES,.

CULTURE CONSISTS OF EVERYTHING WE LEARN FROM YOUNG CHILDREN.  FRENCH CULTURE IS COMPLEX AND HAS BEGUN TO CHANGE.  IN RECENT TIMES THEY HAVE  PROMOTED MULTICULTURALISM.  THEY HAVE FOREIGN PRODUCTS.  THEIR FRENCH REVOLUTION  CLAIMED UNIVERSALISM FOR DEMOCRACY POPULATIONS FROM EUROPE AND THEY HAVE  A MELTING POT.  FRANCE HAS MANY LANGUAGES SUCH AS ROMAN, BASQUE, BRETON, AND ALSATAN.

FRANCE HAS FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND RELIGION.  THE ROMAN CATHOLIC FAITH IS NO LONGER THE MOST POPULAR.   THEY ALSO HAVE ISLAMS AS WELL AS AS MUSLIMS AND JEWISH BUDDHIST'S.  THE NOTRE DAME DE RUMS IS A GREAT CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FRENCH STATE HAS LED TO A LESSER EXTANT OF INDUSTRY AND ABOUT 50% OF FOLKS TODAY FARM THE LAND FOR A LIVING.  THEY HAD MANDATORY MILITARY SERVICE.

THE FRENCH HAVE INTEGRATED THEIR PRESERVATION OF FRENCH CUISINE TRADITIONS AND MOVIES AND CULTURAL FASHIONS.  THEY VALUE EDUCATIONAL POSSIBILITIES.  THEIR CULTURE CONSISTS OF EVERYTHING WE LEARN FROM YOUNG CHILDREN.  FRENCH CULTURE IS COMPLEX AND HAS BEGUN TO CHANGE.  IN RECENT TIMES THEY HAVE PROMOTED MULTICULTURALISM.  THEY BURNT BURNT FOREIGN PRODUCTS.  THEIR FRENCH  REVOLUTION CLAIMED UNIVERSALISM FOR DEMOCRACY.

TODAY THERE IS MUCH BLENDING OF POPULATIONS FROM EUROPE AND THEY HAVE A MELTING POT.  FRANCE HAS MANY LANGUAGES SUCH AS ROMAN, BOSQUE BRETON AND ALSATAN.

FRANCE HAS FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND RELIGION.  THE ROMAN CATHOLIC FAITH IS NO LONGER THE MOST POPULAR.  THEY ALSO HAVE ISLAMS, AS WELL AS MUSLIMS. ANF JEWISH AND BUDDISTS.  THE NOTRE DAME DE RUMS IS A GREAT CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FRENCH HAS LED TO A LESSER EXTANT OF INDUSTRY ANS ABOUT 50% OF FOLKS TODAY FARM THE LAND FOR A LIVING.  THEY HAD MANDATORY MILITARY SERVICE.

THE FRENCH HAVE INTEGRATED THEIR PRESERVATION OF FRENCH CUISINE, TRADITIONS, AND MOVIES ANDS CULTURAL FASHIONS.  THEY VALUE EDUCATION AND INCLUDE PARTAKING IN SOCIETY VS BEING INDEPENDENT AS U.S. STRESSES.

THE GOVERNMENT MANAGES THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND VARIOUS CULTURAL PROGRAMS.  THEY TYPICALLY EAT A SIMPLE BREAKFAST THAT CONSISTS OF COFFEE OR TEA.  THEY EAT MANY CHEESES AND WINE AND HAVE DINNER AS A MAIN ROLE.  THEY HAVE 4 COURSE MEALS.  THEY FRENCH EAT MODERN FOOD AND HAVE GRAVITATED TOWARD FAST FOODS.  TEENS ARE EATTING MORE OF THESE  AND GETTING FATTER.  THEY PROMOTE  ORGANIC FARMING AND OPPOSE GMO'S.  THEY ARE THE OLDEST WINE PRODUCING REGIONS IN THE EUROPE.  TODAY THEY BAN SMOKING IN ALL PUBLIC PLACES. MANY OF THEIR DISHES HAVE BECOME REGIONALIZED AND HAVE A HIGH PRIORITY.  THEY HAVE VARIOUS REGIONAL DISHES SUCH AS BASQUE CUISINE.  THEY HAVE MANY CHEESE AND WINES.  THEY HAVE SPECIAL CATTLE.

BY 1860 FRANCE RENEWED ITS COMMAND OF THE HIGHER FASHION INDUSTRY IN 1860'S  THEY HAD GREAT FASHION SHOWS AND MANY NEW LOOKS.  BY 1900'S THE FRENCH YOUTH BECAME INTERESTED.

THEY HAVE CAVE PAINTINGS FROM LASCAUX DATING 10,000 YEARS AGO.  CLASSIC FRENCH PAINTERS BECAME ESTABLISHED IN THE 17TH CENTURY.  THEY BUUILT THE LOUVE IN PARIS AS A LARGE ART MUSEUM.  IT HAS SOME ANCIENT WORKS FROM GREEK AND EGYPT.

THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY WAS EXTENDED TO EVOLVE FROM AFTER WORLD WAR I.  THEY HAVE MANY EXTENDED FAMILIES .  SINCE THE 1960'S MARRIAGES HAVE DECREASED AND DIVORCES HAVE INCREASED.  LEGAL FAMILIES HAVE EVOLVED TO REFLECT SOCIAL CHANGES.  SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES HAVE INCREASED FROM 3 TO 7%.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN  FRENCH AND CULTURE IS AN OLD ONE.  DURING 14TH CENTURY JEAN BAPTIST BROUGHT LUXURY INDUSTRIES LIKE TEXTILES AND PORCELAIN, ARCHITECTURE, FASHION AND A MODEL OF NOBLE CULTURE IN FRANCE.

THE UNIFYING EFFECT BROUGHT THE FRENCH THIRD REPUBLIC AND SUPPORTED STRICT SEPARATION OF CHURCH FROM STATE AND PROMOTED NATIONAL IDENTITY.  THEY CONVERTED PEASANTS TO FRENCHMEN.  THEY HAVE A FEAR OF FRENCH IDENTITY IN THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM.

THEIR EDUCATION IS ORGANIZED.  THEY HAVE 3 STAGES.  PRIVATE SCHOOLS EXIST IN A STRONG STAGE OF NATIONWIDE NETWORKING.  OVER 84% OF THE FOLKS PASS THEIR EXAMS FOR A B.A.

THEY HAVE MANY TRENDS IN MATH AND SCIENCE BY 1995.  BY 1998 75% OF HEALTH CARE WAS PAID FOR HERE.

FRANCE HAS A LOT OF MUSIC INCLUDING INDIGENOUS FOLK MUSIC PLAYED BY IMMIGRANTS.  THEY ALSO PRODUCE A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, HURDY GURDY, THAT CRANKS AND SOUNDS LIKE AN ACCORDIAN.  I HEARD ONE PLAYED AT  SMALL CONCERT.

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Friday, July 12, 2013

CHANGING OUR LIVES ON THIS PLANET

TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED CULTURES DISMISS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES.  I BELIEVE OUR CONTRIBUTIONS CAN DRAMATICALLY CHANGE EVERYONE'S LIFE ON THIS PLANET.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE SEPARATE REALITY OF NATIVE PEOPLES AND THE REST OF SOCIETY.

DOUGLAS CARDINAL, CANADIAN ARCHITECT, WRITER AND ARTIST

CONFUCIUS POEM

TO PUT THE WORLD IN ORDER, WE MUST FIRST PUT THE NATION IN ODER
TO PUT THE NATION IN ORDER WE MUST PUT THE FAMILY IN ORDER;
TO PUT THE FAMILY IN ORDER WE MUST FIRST CULTIVATE OUR PERSONAL LIFE.
AND TO CULTIVATE OUR PERSONAL LIFE WE MUST SET OUR HEARTS RIGHT.

EARTH TEACH ME

EARTH TEACH ME QUIET AS THE GRASSES ARE STILL WITH NEW LIGHT
EARTH TEACH ME SUFFERING AS OLD STONES SUFFER WITH MEMORY
EARTH TEACH ME CARING AS MOTHERS NURTURE THEIR YOUNG.  EARTH TEACH ME COURAGE AS A TREE THAT STANDS ALONE
EARTH TEACH ME LIMITATIONS AS THE ANT CRAWLS ON THE GROUND EARTH TEACH ME FREEDOM AS THE EAGLE THAT SOARS  IN THE SKY.
EARTH TEACH ME ACCEPTANCE AS THE LEAVES THAT DIE EACH FALL  EARTH TEACH ME RENEWAL AS THE SEED THAT RISES IN THE SPRING.EARTH TEACH ME ACCEPTANCE AS THE LEAVES THAT DIE EACH  FALL.  EARTH TEACH ME RENEWAL AS THE SEED THAT RISES IN THE SPRING.  EARTH TEACH ME TO FORGET  MYSELF AS MELTED SNOW FORGETS ITS LIFE.  EARTH TEACH ME TO REMEMBER KINDNESS AS DRY FIELDS WEEP WITH RAIN.

AN UTE PRAYER

JULY 4TH, 2013

YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE FIREWORKS AND MET A FIGIAN WHO CAME WITH BOYFRIEND.  THERE WAS A HAIRDRESSER THERE TOO. PEOPLE WERE GATHERED IN THE PARKING LOT AND WE CHEERED AS THE FIREWORKS BEGAN TO START.  THE GLITTER LASTED ONLY 1/2 HOUR AND WE COULD NOT HERE THE NOISE.  THEY HAD A LARGE CROWD THERE AND SOME PEOPLE WERE EATING ALL KINDS OF THINGS FROM THEIR COOLERS AND THEY BOUGHT ICE CREAM.  IT WAS QUITE A WEIRD EXPERIENCE WITH THE CHILDREN WITH ALL THE FAN FARE.  IT WAS STILL VERY HOT.  I WASHED MY CAR BY HAND THERE.

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING LAST WEEK SAID TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND I NEED TO BE KIND TO PEOPLE.  SO I WENT TO THE MINISTER TO SEE IF I COULD VOLUNTEER WITH VETERANS AS HE SAID THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING AND HE FOUND THIS ARTICLE IN A PAPER.  SOME FOLKS SAID I COULD TALK WITH FOLKS.  THE OTHER FOLKS SAID THERE IS NO VOLUNTEERING TODAY THERE.  SO I DECIDED TO VOLUNTEER AT A THRIFT STORE INSTEAD.  IM GLAD I'LL BE GETTING BACK WITH MY FAMILY SOON.

SERVING THE COMMUNITY CAN TAKE YOU OUT OF YOUR DILEMMAS AND REALIZE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE GREATER NEEDS.  IT GIVES ME SATISFACTION TO CLARIFY MY POTENTIAL WITH TRUE RAPPORT WITH  OTHERS.

VOLUNTEERING JOBS I HAVE HELPED WITH INCLUDE
; SEWING QUILTS, CLEANING UP THE CREEK, CLEANING UP THE LARGE HALL, AND HELPING CLEAN UP ART SHOW.

A TYPE OF FREELANCE POET EXPERIENCE

YESTERDAY I WENT TO A INTERESTING BOOK AND TEA SHOP IN SEBASTOPOL.  HE MAY BE ON A RADIO SHOW CALLED KOWS.  I HEARD OF THE MANY RIVERS STORE BEFORE.  THE POET WAS PHIL LAWRENCE WHO ABOUT 12 OR SO POEMS.  ONE OF HIS POEMS WAS ABOUT ALL TYPES OF FRUITS SHAKING THE GROUND AND RIVETING OFF EACH OTHER.  HE LIKED TO SPEAK VS. JUST WRITE.  ANOTHER ONE WAS ABOUT A LION WHO WAS A TEACHER OR A HIGHER SELF.   

PHIL WAS QUITE SOFT SPOKEN AND HIS POEMS WERE4 ABOUT NATURE AND REMINDED ME OF KENNETH REXROTH, ANOTHER BEAT POET WHO HAS PASSED.  HE WROTE AT A STATE PARK WHERE I FOUND SOME OLD REMAINS OF HIS CABIN.  PHIL ALSO LIKES TO BE QUIET.  HE LOOKED KIND OF FRAIL.  HIS TONE WAS NOT VERY FLEXIBLE AND LUCKILY THERE WERE 2 MUSICIANS WHO MADE IT INTERESTING!

THIS EVENT WAS IN A MEDITATION ROOM THAT HAD MOST PEOPLE SLEEPING, MEDITATING OR CLOSING THEIR EYES..  SOME FOLKS WERE INTERESTED IN REPLYING TO SOME OF HIS POETRY.  ONLY IN ONE OF HIS LAST POEMS ABOUT CELEBRATION DID HE SHOW SOME LIGHTER POSITIVE EMOTION.  HIS MUSICIAN SAID SHE WOKE UP SOME NIGHTS AND WROTE SOME MUSIC OF SOME SORT.

Monday, July 8, 2013

CULTURE OF TURKEY

TURKEY'S PEOPLE ARE FROM MANY ETHNIC PLACES - BYZANTINE, EUROPEANSAND MID EASTERN, CENTRAL ASIA, LIBYAN TO ITALY.

TURKEY LOST IN 1912 UNTIL TURKEY WAS MODERNIZED IN 1923 FROM A RELIGIOUS DRIVEN EMPIRE INTO A MODERN NATION STATE WITH A STRONG SEPARATION OF STATE. 

TURKEY HAS EVERY EXTREME  OF EASTERN AND WESTERN CULTURES IN MANY COMPROMISES.  WESTERN CULTURE'S OF MANY TO MIX WITH OTHERS.  AFTER THE FALL OF OF THEIR EMPIRE IN WW I, THEY ADAPTED A UNITARY APPROACH TO MIX WITH WITH EACH OTHER WITH THE AIM OF PRODUCING A SEPARATE CULTURAL IDENTITY.  THIS RESULTED IN SHADES OF GREY AS COSMOPOLITAN ISTANBUL.  FOLK POETRY WAS VERY FAMOUS TO MODERN TURKEY.  THEY DEVELOPED SONG.  THEIR POETRY WAS RITUALIZED AND HAD A SYMBOLIC  ART.  THEY HAD MANY POETS AND GREAT WRITERS.

TURKEY'S ARCHITECTURE BEGAN IN 1300 - 1453 WHEN THEY BUILT A VARIETY OF MOSQUES.  THEIR MOSQUES WERE DOMED AND THE DOMED ONES CONVERTED TO A NEW CAPITAL, ISTANBUL.  THEY BUILT PALACES AS WELL..

DURING 1700'S THEIR ARCHITECTURE WAS INFLUENCED BY ROCCO STYLES THAT WERE POPULAR IN EUROPE.  THEY HAVE A WORLD HERITAGE SITE.  IN THE 1700'S THE TURKS HAD A PERIOD OF PLACE.  SOME TURKS HAD A PERIOD OF PALACE BUILDING.  THE OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTS ARE KNOWN WORLD WIDE WITH ST. PETERS BASILICA THAT WAS DESIGNED BY DONATA BRAMAMTA IN EARLY 1500S.  SOME OF THEIR ARCHITECTS ARE KNOWN WORLD WIDE.

DURING THE CLASSICAL PERIOD, MOSQUE INCLUDED OUTER COURT YARDS.  THE INNER COURTYARD AND MOSQUE AND WERE PART OF THE EUROPEANS AND LIFE BAROQUE.

THEIR WERE MANY PERIODS OF ARCHITECTURE FOR THE TURKS THROUGH THE 1930'S.  STARTING IN THE 1950'S TURKEY WAS ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD.  THEIR STYLE WAS A PERIOD IN THE 1930'S THAT STARTED TO DIFFER FROM TRADITION.  AFTER WW II THEIR ARCHITECTURE HAD A PERIOD OF ISOLATION AGAIN WITH INSUFFICIENT FUNDS. 

BY 1900'S THEIR FILMS WON NATIONAL AWARDS.  TURKISH CUISINE INCLUDED EUROPEAN DISHES  AND PIECES OF VARIOUS OTTOMAN DISHES.  THE BLACK SEA HAS CORMORANTS AND ANCHOVIES.  THEY ALSO HAVE BAKLAVA AND KUNEFE.  THEY HAVE DOUGH BASED ON DESSERTS.  THEY MAKE KEBOBS OR GARLIC DESSERTS.  OLIVE OIL IS USED FOR COOKING.  MOST OF COOKING IS MEDITERRANEAN WITH VEGETABLES AND WHITE RICE.  PORK IS TABOO AND FORBIDDEN TO MUSLIMS.  EVEN THOUGH THE KORAN ALSO FORBIDS ALCOHOL, MANY DRINK VARIOUS LIQUORS.  SOME FOLKS  REGARD SOME FOODS AS TABOO.  SOME FOLKS FAST AND THEN HAVE A FEAST WITH A SPECIAL MEAL,  THEY MAKE A RICH MEAL OF LAMB MEAT.  THEY HAVE MANY FISHERS, FARMERS,  AND ANIMAL WORKERS WITH A VARIETY OF VEGIS AND FRUITS.  VERY FEW FARMERS ARE SELF SUFFICIENT.  MANY LARGE FARMS HAVE CONVERTED TO MODERN AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY.  THE TRADE WITH THE U.S., RUSSIA, GERMANY, ENGLAND AND ITALY.

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Wednesday, July 3, 2013

ITALY CULTURE

FROM ANTIQUITY UNTIL THE MID 17TH CENTURY, ITYAL WAS CONSIDERED AS CENTRAL PLACE OF WESTERN  CULTURE.  IT WAS UCYS POINT OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.  ITALY GAVE BIRTH TO A FAMOUS PAINTERS, SCULPTURES, POETS, MUSICIANS AND ARCHITECTS.

ITALY WAS HOME TO WELL KNOWN INFLUENTIAL AND CIVILIZATIONS., INCLUDING GREEKS AND ROMANS.  FOR 2000 YEARS  ITALY EXPERIENCED MIGRATIONS, INVASIONS, ANND WERE DIVIDED INTO MANY INDEPENDANT     TRADITIONS.  POPULAR TSTES IN DRAMA IN ITALY HAVE LONG FAVORED COMEDY. IMPROVE STYLE  IS PERFORMED. 

ROME IS THEIR ANCIENT CAPITAL IN THE SEAT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.  FLORENCE WAS HOME TO MANY ARTISTS.  THEY MADER MANY ACHIEVEMENTS.  VENICE IS A CITY WITH INTRICATE CANAL SYSTEMS AND RICH CULTURAL HISTORY.  PEOPLE VISIT FROM ALL COUNTRIES. ITALY HAS 49 SITES AND 1/2  OF THE WORLDS ART TRESURES.  THEY HAVE 5000 MUSEUMS AND 216 ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES.  THEY HAVE 10,000 CHURCHES, 40,0000 CASTLES, AND OVER 4,000 GRADENS.  MOST STUDENTS STUDY THEIR PAST HISTORY.

THE ITALIAN FASION INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE MOST  IMPORTANT SECTORS.  ROME IS ONE OF THE FASION CAPITALS.  MANY DESIGNERS ARE BASED HERE.  IT IS A VENUE FOR THEIR COPLLECTIONS THAT ARE SHIPPED A5ROUND THE WORLD.  JEWELRY LABELS ARE ALSO MADE HERE.

ITALY HAS PROMINENT ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN. AS WELL AS FURNITURE PIECES.  ITALY HAS PRODUCED MANY MANY KNOWN FILMS.

THEIR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT WAS ST. PETERS BASILICA, DESIGNED BY DON BRAMANTE IN THE 1500'S.

ITALIAN COMICS WERE PUBLISHED IN 1908.  MANY OTHERS FOLLOWED.  SOME COMICS ATTEND ACADEMICS OF ART.  SOME OF THEIR BOOKS AAAAARE 100 PAGES!  IN THE EARLY 1900'S FUTURISM, A MOVEMENT IN ITALY, INFLUENCED THEIR LITERATURE IN EARLY 1900'S.  ITALY'S FILM AGENCY BECAME INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN FOR  HISTORICAL SPECTACLES.

MUSIC WRITING BEGAN IN ITALY.  THEIR MUSIC USED ITALIAN WORDS.  FLORENCE PLAYED A CRUCIAL  ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.  MUSIC HAS ALWAYS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART OF ITALIAN CULTURE.  THE STILL STANDING BATHHOUSES, AQUADUCTS AND BRIDGES WERE ENGINEERING FEATS.DUIRNG THE MIDDLE AGES LARGE SCULPTURE S WERE LARGELY RELIGIOU.  MANY MADESULPTURES FOR BIBLES AS DECORATION FOR PARTS OF CHURCH ALTARS.  THEY INCLUDED MICHALANGELO WHO CREATED OTHERS WHO MADE SCULPTURES OF BIBLICAL PEOPLE.  OTHERS MADE BRONZE SCULPTURES IN 1400'S.  THERE WERE MANY OTHER SCULPTORS FROM ITALY.  BY 1900'S FOLKS CREATED LEADING ROLES AND MADE OBJECTS IN MOTION.

THEATRE ALSO BECAME INFLUENCED BY ROME AND GREECE DRAAAAAAAAAAMATISTS.  THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ACTED OUT PIECES OF THE BIBLE.  DRAMATISTS PRODUCED PIECES FROM EASTER, CHRISTMAS, AND THANKSGIVING, ETC.  OTHER PLAYS WERE REVIVALS.

PAINTINGS HAD MANY STYLES INCLUDING MANNERISMS, BAROQUE, AND MACHIOLI.  IN 1900 MONA LISA BY DE VINCI WAS FAMOUS IN ITALY AND IN THE WORLD.FLORENCE WAS THE PLACE FOR RENNAISSANCE ART.  THEY HAVE 3000 MUSEUMSFROM THE 4TH CENTURY.

ITALIAN FOODS HAVE EVOLVED.  ONE DISH, RISOTTO, IS NOODLES, BEANS, RICE, AND CARROT SOUP.  CHEESE AND WIONE ARE A MAJOR PART OF ITALY.  THEY HAVE OVER 9 TYPES OF NOODLES.  ITALY PRODUCES THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF WINE IN THE WORLD, AND SOME HOMES HAVE THE OLDEST VINEYARDS! COFFEE AND EXPRESSO  HAS BECOME HIGHLY IMPORTANT TO THE CUISINE IN ITALY.  MACHIATO IS A STRONGER PORTION OF MILK.  THEY HAVE A CHOCOLATE POWDER THAT IS DRUNK AT BREAKFAST.

ITALY HAS FREE EDUCATION AND IS DIVIDED INTO FIRST GRADE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.  THEY ALSO HAVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND A RANGE OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

ITALY HAS SOME OF THE BEST BUISENESS SCHOOLS.  THERE WERE SEVERAL TRADITIONAL GLOBAL BUISINESS SCHOOLS SOME UNIVERSITIES HAVE RECIEVED IMPORTANT RECOGNITION.

THEHISTORY OF ITALY IS CONTINUOSLY  CHANGINGING FROMFROM 10,000 OR MORE YEARS AGO.  THE ROMANS BECAME THE CHIEF POWER OF THE MEDITERRANEAN WORLD FROM IRAQ, TO SCOTLAND.  ITALY HAD A GREAT EFFECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIANITY.  LIKE THE OTHER WORKS OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY, THE CARE OF SICK WAS FROM THE BEGINNING.  A SACRED DUTY FOR EACH OF THE EACH OF THE FAITHFUL.  HOSPITALS HERE WERE UNKNOWN BEFORE CHRISTIANITY.

ROME FELL IN A.D. 400.  THEN THEY HAD MANY RULERS.  DURING AD 400 - 1400 THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH  REPLACED ROMAN EMPIRE AS THE UNIFYING FORCE IN EUROPE.  IN THE MIDDLE AGES LEARNING THEOLOGY OR THE STUDY OF OR THE STUDY OF GOOD OR SCOLASTICISM.  COMMUNES WERE PART OF THEIR MODERN DEMOCRACY.  THEN THEIR WAS AN INTELLECTUAL REVIVL STIMULATED IN PART BY THE DISCOVERY OF ANCIENT GREEK WRITINGS., AND GAVE RISE TO THE RENNAISSANCE .  THIS PERIOD HADD A REBIRTH IN ARTS.  AND CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CAME FROM HERE TO THE U.S. IN 1492.  GALLILEO FORMULATED PLANETARY MOVEMENTS .

ITALY HAD MANY IMPORTANT POETS AND PAINTERS AND MUSICIANS AQND PHILOSOPHERS

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MY INTEREST IN SAVING CARBON FOOT PRINTS

I HAVE BEEN NOTICING HOW MANY FOODS IN OUR GROCERIES COME VARIOUS COUNTRIES INSTEAD OF FROM THE USA.  IF YOU LOOK AT VARIOUS PRODUCTS AND LABELS CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE THAT COMMON FRUITS LIKE GRAPES COME FROM CHILI OR MEXICO.  IF YOU CAN IMAGINE ALL THE PRODUCTS THAT PEOPLE BUY IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IT CAN BE ASTOUNDING TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH TRANSPORTING ALL THESE FOODS TO US HAS INCREASED THE CARBON FOOT PRINT.  CARBON FOOTPRINTS ARE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY USED TO TRANSPORT THE FOODS FROM VARIOUS .  THESE COSTS EQUAL MONEY AS WELL AS EFFECTS TO INCREASE CARBON AND FUEL USE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT,

EATING SEASONAL LOCAL FOODS MAKES MUCH MORE SENSE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY.

DESIGNING MEDITATION GARDENS

SACRED GEOMETRY IS USED TO DESIGN A GARDEN THE SHAPE OF A NAUTILUS OR SPIRAL IS USED  TO DESIGN A PERFECT MEDITATION GARDEN  EMOTIONS ARE PART OF YOUR DESIGN YOU SHOULD WORK WITH THE LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS OF THE YARD SQUARE.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THE SPIRAL GEOMETRY IN YOUR ENTIRE GARDEN.  IT CAN BE USED IN JUST PART OF THE YARD.  CREATE YOUR PLANTING PLANS AND DETAILS FOR HARDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION PROJECTS.  ONCE YOU START INSTALLING YOUR PLANTS YOUR PLAN MAY TWEAK A LITTLE. 

THE PLAN CAN TWEAK A LITTLE.  YOU CAN SELF TEST YOUR BY PUTTING A SAMPLE FROM THE ROOT ZONE AND ADD SOAP TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH CLAY, SILT, AND SAND IS IN YOUR SOIL.  ADD AMENDMENTS AS NECESSARY.