The 101 Strings Orchestra Q & A What You Need to Know About the 101 Strings Orchestra

What is the 101 Strings Orchestra?
The 101 Strings Orchestra is the name of a musical ensemble that has produced hundreds of records. Its "easy-listening" style has won over millions of people, making it one of the most successful musical groups in symphonic history.
When was the 101 Strings Orchestra founded?
The 101 Strings Orchestra was founded in 1957 by producer/engineer Dick L. Miller. Miller founded the orchestra as a way to achieve the same sound as the "big name" orchestras conducted by the best conductors at a fraction of the cost. Miller's search lead him to hire relatively unknown musicians from all over Europe. As long as the music stayed the same, musicians were easily interchangeable given they were able to perform in similar style as the ensemble.
What makes the 101 Strings Orchestra so famous?
Much of the 101 Strings Orchestra's success came from the arrangement of songs, usually based on popular television/movie themes, Top 40 radio songs, etc... It's trademark sound is based on rich melodies and ambient relaxing atmospheres (something everyone can appreciate).
What makes the 101 Strings Orchestra different from other orchestras?
The main differences between the 101 Strings Orchestra and other orchestras are the styles of music played and the instruments involved in creating it. The 101 Strings Orchestra prominently features the use of stringed instruments, though a handful of their albums focus on brass, guitar, piano, rock'n'roll rhythms, among others.
Where can I find released albums of the 101 Strings Orchestra?
Albums released by the 101 Strings Orchestra can be found in many major retailers around the world. Recently, under its newest label, Madacy Entertainment, a 12 CD Collectors Edition has been released.
Interesting Facts About the 101 Strings Orchestra
# In 1964, Miller sold the 101 Strings Orchestra to the Alshire Label, and for the next 30 years, Alshire and the orchestra produced large quantities of albums. In 1995, Madacy Entertainment bought the Alshire label, and began repackaging and re-releasing music by the 101 Strings Orchestra.
# When it was founded The 101 Strings Orchestra was actually made up of 124 stringed instruments.
# With over 2,000 titles from which to choose, many marketing and advertisement agencies regularly use the 101 Strings Orchestra's music in their ad campaigns. To make the process of licensing their music easier, the 101 Strings Orchestra has added an online application to their website.

source
About.com

top 10 most tasty cuisine in the world

For all the food fanatics out there, traveling is essential, if you want to taste everything the world has to offer. That is why we have rounded up the most resounding symphonies of flavor, the most colorful dishes and the tasties bites. Here is your guide to the fascinating, international cuisines.



Lebanese Cuisine
10. Lebanese Cuisine
The Lebanese cuisine is the place where you can taste all the goodness the Middle East has to offer. Foods are generally Mediterranean, high on vegetables, little meat and full of flavors. Perhaps the most famous dish worldwide is the appetizer mezze - a selection of dips, pickles, salads and nibbles with Arabic bread. It also includes an abundance of fruit, fresh fish and seafood and little animal fat. The country is also famous for the Arabic sweets, Tripoli being referred to as the “Sweet Capital” of Lebanon. [Lebanese Recipes]



Greek Cuisine
9. Greek Cuisine
With a significant influence from the Turkish and Italian cuisine, the Greek cuisine is a focused around olive oil, vegetables and herbs specific to the Mediterranean region. Eating in Greece is a different experience from Greek restaurants in other countries - gyros for example is considered by Greeks junk food. Restaurants now offer an authentic eating experience, being up to date with the latest culinary trends and stocked up with regional specialties. The Taverna and Estiatorio are widespread, being the places where you can find affordable authentic cuisine. [Greek Recipes]


Spanish Cuisine
8. Spanish Cuisine
For a lighter approach on food, we turn to the Spanish cuisine, containing a variety of meat and fish, as well as vegetables. It is also influenced by the seafood available from the surrounding waters. Spanish cuisine uses the most oil among all Western and Central European cuisines. One of the most popular drinks in Spain that goes perfectly with its national dishes is sangria, a drink made of wine and fruits. [Spanish Recipes]


Japanese Cuisine
7. Japanese Cuisine
Known for its seasonality of food, aspect and quality of ingredients, the Japanese cuisine is rapidly becoming a trend worldwide. White rice and soybeans are the ingredients you should expect to find in almost any dish. According to Michelin Guide that ranks cities worldwide for their restaurants, Tokyo is the most delicious city, with 150 top-ranked restaurants, as opposed to Paris and London that have 148. Apart from its capital, it is fascinating to uncover the local cuisine throughout Japan. [Japanese Recipes]



Mexican Cuisine
6. Mexican Cuisine
Known for its varied flavors and spices, Mexican Cuisine is a result of the Spanish conquistadores’ interaction with the Aztec culture. Most of the Mexican food we eat today is a delicious combination of ancient traditions, Aztec, Mayan and Spanish. The French also had their part in the story, adding baked goods such as sweet breads and the bolillo. You can easily choose the restaurant you are going to eat in by popularity: restaurants with good food usually attract all the customers. There are also exotic options for your menu, such as iguana, insects, rattlesnake, deer and even spider monkey. [Mexican Recipes]



Thai Cuisine
5. Thai Cuisine
Many people say Thai food alone, with its balanced mix of hot, sour, bitter and sweet, is a good enough reason to visit the country. The foods are characterized by the use of fresh herbs and flavors, such as lime juice, lemon grass and fresh coriander. Similar to many Asian cuisines, rice is the main component in Thai foods as well. You will often come across nam pla, a strong fish sauce, shrimp paste and noodles. If you’re looking to get a kick of out your lunch, you should try the raw beef, fermented fish paste or deep fried insect larvae mostly present in the Northeast, where eating insects in fairly common. [Thai Recipes]



Indian Cuisine
4. Indian Cuisine
One of the world’s most sophisticated and diverse cuisines, only one part of the Indian cuisine is known to the world. The Indian food served in restaurants worldwide is North Indian, also known as Mughlai or Punjabi. There are other 3 categories of Indian cuisine: South, East and West. The foods are mostly vegetarian, but many include lamb, goat, chicken meat and even fish. Indian cuisine is usually very spicy so in order to enjoy the food, start slowly and in a few weeks you’ll get accustomed to the flavors. Meals are usually eaten without cutlery, while seated on the floor, but these traditions are starting to change for the restaurants oriented to the Europe or the US. [Indian Recipes]



Chinese Cuisine
3. Chinese Cuisine
Originated in various parts of China and now spread throughout the world, Chinese cuisine is now eaten by a third of the world’s population every day. The cuisine is easy to create, economical and tasty. Most of the food is prepared in bite-sized pieces because the Chinese culture regards knives and forks as weapons. Usually, every person at the table is given a bowl of rice while the other dishes are shared by everyone at the table. Some dishes are cooked from endangered species, such as facai moss while others from meat you would want to avoid such as dog. [Chinese Recipes]



Italian Cuisine
2. Italian Cuisine
Perhaps one of the oldest in the world, the Italian cuisine can be traced back to the 4th century BC. It became what is today along with the discovery of the New World, that brought potatoes, tomatoes pepper or maize on the list of ingredients. An Italian meal is structured into several sections: antipasto (the appetizer), primo (pasta or rice dish), secondo (meat course), dolce (dessert). Italy is also famous for over 400 kinds of cheese, including the famous Parmigianino Reggiano, and 300 types of sausages. [Italian Recipes]

French Cuisine
1. French Cuisine
Starting with the Middle Ages that brought rich banquets to the French Revolution, where refined techniques were used, French Cuisine can be called in the 21st century “haute cuisine”. It is as popular as the poetry or French arts, a meal at a restaurant comparing to “a sort of theatre you can eat”. Pastries are a large part of French cooking. Cheese and wine are also a major part of the cuisine, being perhaps the most famous of all. The modern restaurant has its roots in French culture so restaurants are bountiful, but as for recommendation before deciding on one. In Paris alone, there are over 5,000 places to eat, with prices and menus to suit anyone’s taste. [French Recipes]

source
http://blog.hotelclub.com/top-10-international-cuisine/

Thanks Giving Qoutes

There are innumerable quotes by famous personalities, signifying the importance of thanksgiving. Here are some of the most famous Thanksgiving quotations from some of the well-known writers of our times. Relish these quotes on Thanksgiving Day and enjoy the spirit of the occasion.

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.
Meister Eckhart
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He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart.
J.A. Shedd
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For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and new.
Will Carleton
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Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.
W.J. Cameron
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“Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men, but be careful that you do not take the day and leave out the gratitude.”
E.P. Powell
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“So once in every year we throng
Upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song
In thankfulness of heart.”
Arthur Guiterman, The First Thanksgiving
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“Remember God's bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude!”
Henry Ward Beecher
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“Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.”
Edward Sandford Martin
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“There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.”
O. Henry
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“Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings.”
J. Robert Moskin
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“Numberless marks does man bear in his soul, that he is fallen and estranged from God; but nothing gives a greater proof thereof, than that backwardness, which every one finds within himself, to the duty of praise and thanksgiving.”
George Whitefield
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"We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter what may be the burden of our wants, or the special subject of our petitions."
Albert Barnes
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"But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you,
as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting,
but rather giving of thanks."
Apostle Paul - Ephesians 5:3, 4
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"Some people complain because God put thorns on roses,
while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns."
Anonymous
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"You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
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"Gratitude is not a spiritual or moral dessert which we may take or push away according to the whims of the moment, and in either case without material consequences. Gratitude is the very bread and meat of spiritual and moral health, individually and collectively. What was the seed of disintegration that corrupted the heart of the ancient world beyond the point of divine remedy...? What was it but ingratitude?"
Noel Smith
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"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him,
and bless his name. For the Lord is good..."
Psalm 100:4, 5a

Happy Thanks Giving day....

Origin of Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is America's preeminent day. It is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday in the month of November. It has a very interesting history. Its origin can be traced back to the 16th century when the first thanksgiving dinner is said to have taken place.

Journey of Pilgrims
The legendary pilgrims, crossed the Atlantic in the year 1620 in Mayflower-A 17th Century sailing vessel. About 102 people traveled for nearly two months with extreme difficulty. This was so because they were kept in the cargo space of the sailing vessel. No one was allowed to go on the deck due to terrible storms. The pilgrims comforted themselves by singing Psalms- a sacred song.

Arrival in Plymouth
The pilgrims reached Plymouth rock on December 11th 1620, after a sea journey of 66 days. Though the original destination was somewhere in the northern part of Virginia, they could not reach the place owing to winds blowing them off course. Nearly46 pilgrims died due to extreme cold in winter. However, in the spring of 1621, Squanto, a native Indian taught the pilgrims to survive by growing food.

Day of Fasting and Prayer
In the summer of 1621, owing to severe drought, pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer to please God and ask for a bountiful harvest in the coming season. God answered their prayers and it rained at the end of the day. It saved the corn crops.



First Thanksgiving Feast
It is said that Pilgrims learnt to grow corn, beans and pumpkins from the Indians, which helped all of them survive . In the autumn of 1621, they held a grand celebration where 90 people were invited including Indians. The grand feast was organized to thank god for his favors. This communal dinner is popularly known as “The first thanksgiving feast”. There is however, no evidence to prove if the dinner actually took place.

While some historians believe pilgrims were quite religious so, their thanksgiving would've included a day of fasting and praying, others say that the Thanksgiving dinner did take place.

Turkey and First Thanksgiving Feast
There is no evidence to prove if the customary turkey was a part of the initial feast. According to the first hand account written by the leader of the colony, the food included, ducks, geese, venison, fish, berries etc.

Pumpkin and Thanksgiving Feast
Pumpkin pie, a modern staple adorning every dinner table, is unlikely to have been a part of the first thanksgiving feast. Pilgrims however, did have boiled pumpkin. Diminishing supply of flour led to the absence of any kind of bread.

The feast continued for three days and was eaten outside due to lack of space. It was not repeated till 1623, which again witnessed a severe drought. Governor Bradford proclaimed another day of thanksgiving in the year 1676. October of 1777 witnessed a time when all the 13 colonies joined in a communal celebration. It also marked the victory over the British.

After a number of events and changes, President Lincoln proclaimed last Thursday in November of thanksgiving in the year 1863. This was due to the continuous efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor. She wrote a number of articles for the cause.



When is Thanksgiving Day?
Date of Thanksgiving Day varies every year and several countries celebrate it in different time of the year. Given here is information on Thanksgiving Day date in US and Canada for the past, present and coming years.

When is Thanksgiving Day in US?
Thanksgiving Day finds its roots in America. It is celebrated with lot of fervor and euphoria on the fourth Thursday in the month of November. For the people in US Thanksgiving is a time for merrymaking, shopping, family reunion, feasts and family dinners. People also take time to thank God for his constant grace and for all the material possessions man enjoys. For many Thanksgiving is also the time to thank near and dear ones and being grateful for their kindness.

Thanksgiving Day in 2009 - November 26
Thanksgiving Day in 2010 - November 25
Thanksgiving Day in 2008 - November 27
Thanksgiving Day in 2007 - November 22
Thanksgiving Day in 2006 - November 23

When is Thanksgiving Day in Canada?
Thanksgiving Day in Canada is, however, celebrated on the second Monday in the month of October every year. Canada celebrates Thanksgiving Day a month earlier because autumn season starts early in Canada than in America.

Thanksgiving Day in 2009 - October 12
Thanksgiving Day in 2010- October 11
Thanksgiving Day in 2008 - October 13
Thanksgiving Day in 2007 - October 8
Thanksgiving Day in 2006 - October 9



Thanksgiving Day Tradition
Thanksgiving Day is a communal celebration marked as a sense of gratitude people feel for all the good things in life. This is done by offering prayers, gifting your near and dear ones. The fourth Thursday in the month of November is marked for the yearly celebration. The tradition of Thanksgiving continues till date in the form of

Family Reunion and Feasting
Family feast is an important tradition during Thanksgiving. The entire family sits at the table during dinner and offer prayer to the Lord Almighty for his continuous grace. It is also a time for relatives living in different places to come together and celebrate.

Tradition of Turkey
The traditional stuffed turkey adorns every dinner table during the feast. Pumpkin pie, Cranberry sauce, Corns are some of the dishes cooked everywhere to mark the day. Though historians don't have an evidence to prove that turkey was eaten during the first Thanksgiving dinner, but the thanksgiving celebration will be incomplete without it.

Parades
The traditional Thanksgiving parade probably started with President Lincoln proclaiming it an official day. The full- dress parade is a way to display the country's military strength and discipline. The main aim of such parades is to lift the spirits of the spectators, provide them with wholesome entertainment. In the present day, parades are accompanied with musical shows and celebrities.

Football Games
Watching NFL football during Thanksgiving is a popular tradition. The traditional game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers continues. One of the most memorable games having been played on this day.



First Thanksgiving Day Feast
The famous 'First thanksgiving feast' is said to have taken place in autumn, in the year 1621. The pilgrims organized the feast right after the first harvest. It was a gesture to thank God to help them survive the bitter winter. It was also celebrated as a display of gratitude towards Indians. The feast took place in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The traditional 'First feast' formed the basis for the modern 'Thanksgiving Day', celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November every year.

According to historians, the first thanksgiving feast was eaten outside, as the colonists didn't have sufficient space to accommodate everyone. Native Indians were invited to the feast as they were the ones who taught pilgrims how to grow food. The feast was held to rejoice their fruits of labour.

The feast is described in a firsthand account presumably written by a leader of the colony, Edward Winslow. According to him, the governor had sent four men to kill as many fowls. The feast was attended by 90 people including Indians (Native Americans). The food included, ducks, turkeys, geese, swan and venison, fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, and plums. The feast continued for three days. It was accompanied by lots of dancing and merry-making.

The feast was not repeated for the next few years. The next thanksgiving day was celebrated in the year 1676. The year witnessed a severe drought, which was eventually followed by rains due to prayers.

George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789. The idea attracted mixed reaction. After campaigning for nearly 80 years, in 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.



Thanksgiving Day Around the World
Thanksgiving is essentially a harvest related festival. It celebrates communal harmony. Though it is said to have been originated in America, a number of other countries celebrate harvest related festivals. They are observed with different names and in different seasons.

Harvest related festivals, all the over the world are characterized with lot of fun and merrymaking. Each region has its unique customs and traditions to jubilate the occasion.

Canada celebrates thanksgiving on the second Monday in the month of October. India also has a number of harvest related festivals in different regions. Popular regional festivals are Pongal, Baisakhi, Lohri, Onam etc. Though the underlying principle behind each of them is same, every festival is exclusive and different from the other.

Other Asian countries such as China, Malaysia, Korea celebrate the festival on different dates. Each festival has a folklore attached to it. Harmony, peace, feeling gratitude is the underlying theme of the celebration all over.

source
http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/origin-thanksgiving-day.html

The Japanese traditional flute...

The biwa is the Japanese teardrop lute used in court music or to accompany epic poems. The biwa originated from the Chinese pipa and came to Japan as a gift from the Chinese Tang court (618-907 AD). These original Chinese instruments are still preserved at the Shoso-in Imperial Repository in Nara, Japan. With either four or five strings, there are five main varieties of biwa, each with its own history, function, shape, and techniques. These are the Gaku biwa used in Gagaku or court music, the Moso biwa used by blind monks, the Satsuma biwa originally used by samurai, the Heike biwa used for reciting the epic poem of Heike, and the Chikusen biwa, which is the most modern and common. The Moso biwa style has effectively disappeared.

Country: Japan
Region: Asia
Type: lute
Collection: Randy Raine-Reusch
Groups: Randy Raine-Reusch

source
http://www.asza.com/ibiwa.shtml

WHITE TIGER.....my favourite animal's...:p

Scientific Name: Panthera tigris

The white tiger (also known as the Bengal tiger) is about 3 meters long, and weighs approximately 180-285 kg (400-569 LB). It’s coat lies flatter than that of the Siberian tiger, the tawny color is richer and the stripes are darker.

White tigers are white colored bengals, they are not albinos and they are not a separate subspecies of tigers.

They have blue eyes, a pink nose, and creamy white furr covered with chocolate colored stripes. White tigers are born to tigers that carry the unusual gene needed for white coloring. Wild white tigers are rare species.

They are usually located on the Mainland of Southeastern Asia and in central and southern India. Those living on islands have almost disappeared, most now live in zoos or special wildlife parks.

Even though it is illegal, white tigers are hunted by poachers in many Asian countries.





WHITE TIGER FACTS

White tigers are born to Bengal tigers that carry an unusual gene needed for white coloring. The White Tiger is a good swimmer, but a very poor climber.

They may be slow runners, but they are stealthy enough to catch any prey in their sights. Because they are solitary animals, they mostly hunt at night.

The other four sub-species of tiger are Siberian, South China, Indochinese, and Sumataran. There are only approximately 5,000 to 7,400 tigers left in the wild.

It is belief that if you are born in the Chinese year of the tiger you are unusually lucky. Let’s hope that some of this luck rubs off on the white tiger before it’s too late. Let's try to protect and preserve their existence on earth.

source
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/siberian-tiger.html

CONVALLARIA or LILY OF THE VALLEY......

Botanically known as Convallaria, but also known as May lily, May bells, Our Lady's tears, Convall-lily, Lily Constancy, ladder-to-Heaven, Jacob's Ladder, male lily, muguet. The Lily of the Valley signifies a "return to happiness". Lily of the valley is much used in bridal arrangements for their sweet perfume. Traditionally associated with May 1st, especially in France where the "muguet" is handed out at special events.

The leaves of this small herb, arising from a slender creeping rootstock, are 10-15cm long with sheathed stalks; the leafless flowerstems support a one-sided spike of drooping, bell-shaped, white, sweet-scented flowers. It is found in woodlands throughout Europe and Asia from the Mediterranean to the Arctic circle, and is cultivated and naturalised throughout the world.

First cultivated in 1420, and is mainly available in April and May.

The fresh leaves have the most powerful action. Convallaria is a valuable heart remedy with an action similar to Digitalis but without its potential toxic effects, and was used to treat victims of gassing during the First World War as it reduces blood pressure. Although a word of caution, these leaves shouldn't be used unless by a qualified medical practitioner as they can have very harmful side effects if not treated correctly.

The flowers are also used in perfumery. In Chinese medicine, related species are used as a tonic. The red fruits are also highly poisonous.

Read more: Facts About Lily of the Valley Flowers | A to Z of Lily of the Valley Flowers | History of Lily of the Valley Flowers

source
http://www.arenaflowers.com/facts/flowers/a_to_z_of_flowers/lily_of_the_valley_flowers

French Composer : Claude Debussy

Born: August 22, 1862. St. Germaine-en-Laye, France
Died: March 5, 1918. Paris, France


In his own words...

"A symphony is usually built on a melody heard by the composer as a child. The first section is the customary presentation of a theme on which the composer proposes to work; then begins the necessary dismemberment; the second section seems to take place in an experimental laboratory; the third section cheers up a little in a quite childish way, interspersed with deep sentimental phrases during which the melody recedes, as is more seemly; but it reappears and the dismemberment goes on... I am more and more convinced that music is not, in essence, a thing which can be cast into a traditional and fixed form. It is made up of colors and rhythms."

French composer and critic. Debussy's music is often associated with the contemporary impressionist movement in painting, and his approach shares some characteristics of this style.

"The primary aim of French music," Claude Debussy wrote in 1904, "is to give pleasure." Debussy, more than anything, was interested in the sensuous quality of music. Even as a student he let his concept of sound override many of the rules he was so assiduously taught by his teachers (much to their consternation). From this he developed a style that was wholly his own, but that also owed much to a wide variety of disparate influences. He also was a passionate champion of a purely French style, and he proudly referred to himself as "Claude Debussy, musicien français."

Debussy was educated at the Paris Conservatory, and in 1885 he won the coveted Prix de Rome. His period in Rome, however, was not pleasant for Debussy and he longed to return to Paris. His early works show his desire to break the constraints of Western harmony and form (he especially disliked sonata-allegro form, which he came to see as overly Germanic and not fitting for a French composer). His Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun departs from any sense of development, relying instead on a series of free repetitions and variations of the basic themes.

As a student and a young composer, Debussy was also an ardent Wagnerite, seeing in the German composer the future of music, specifically musical drama. He later turned away from Wagner, describing him as "a beautiful sunset mistaken for a dawn." Yet his one completed opera, Pelléas et Mélisande, owes much of its conception to this influence, even if the musical language is markedly different. The other strong influences on Debussy at this time were the symbolist and decadent movements in poetry, with their concern for sound and abstract meaning. While Pelléas was his only opera, he worked on various subjects by Edgar Allan Poe, one of his favorite writers and a strong influence on the symbolist writers.

Debussy's interest in the exquisite and sensual also led him to an appreciation of the music of other cultures, and his use of various scales beyond the traditional major and minor ones shows the influence of Oriental and Russian music. A decisive influence was the Paris Exhibition of 1889, where he first encountered the music of the Indonesian gamelan orchestra. The different scales, as well as the floating qualities of form and rhythm, would find their way into his work, especially his piano music.

Late in his life, Debussy turned his interests to abstract forms, producing three remarkable sonatas (he had originally conceived of six for various instruments, with the final one planned for all the instruments of the previous five). In these works, Debussy's rich melodic and harmonic language found a new and intriguing expression. Sadly, this endeavor was cut short by the composer's death at the height of World War I. The conflict of German and French civilization was for him a violent reflection of the musical conflict he dealt with his entire life.

Works:

* Orchestral music, including Prelude à L'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun, 1894), Nocturnes (1899), La Mer (The Sea, 1905), Images (1912), incidental music
* Dramatic works, including the opera Pelléas et Mélisande (1902) and the ballet Jeux (Games, 1913)
* Chamber music, including a string quartet (1893) and various sonatas (cello, 1915; violin, 1917; flute, viola and harp, 1915)
* Piano music, including Pour le piano (For the Piano, 1901), Estampes (Prints, 1903), 2 books of preludes (1909-1910, 1912-1913)
* Songs and choral music; cantatas, including L'enfant prodigue (The Prodigal Son, 1884



source
http://www.essentialsofmusic.com/composer/debussy.html

GUSTAV MAHLER (1860 - 1911)

Background
Gustav Mahler was born in Kalist, Bohemia, in 1860. He was the second child, and the first of fourteen to survive. After his birth, his family moved to Jihlava, where his father ran a tavern and distillery. He began learning the piano at age 6, giving his first public recital in 1870. He studied briefly in Prague, before entering the Vienna Conservatory in 1875.

The Vienna Conservatory
While at the Conservatory, he studied piano under J. Epstein, harmony under R. Fuchs, and composition with Franz Krenn. He became one of the earliest supporters of Anton Bruckner, declaring his music the most original to have appeared in many years. During his stay at the Conservatory, Mahler composed and played in performances of his piano quintet and violin sonata.

Early conducting success
After leaving the Conservatory, Mahler began his career as a conductor in 1880 in a series of provincial opera houses. During his post at Kassel in 1883-5 he had an unhappy love affair recorded in his song-cycle 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen' (Songs of a Wayfarer). He moved to Prague in 1885, and in the next year to Leipzig, where he became second conductor to the great conductor Artur Nikisch. During his period at Leipzig, he accepted an invitation from Weber's descendents to reconstruct Weber's unfinished opera 'Das drei Pintos'. The opera was a resounding success when it was first performed in 1888.


The Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Curro
In 1888, he became principal conductor of the Budapest Opera, where he displayed his genius as a conductor and administrator. In 1888 he became chief conductor of the Hamburg Opera, where he acquired and trained many fine singers, and introduced many new works. He took the company to London in 1892 for performances of Wagner's Ring and Tristan, and Beethoven's Fidelio.

Triumphs and downfall
After his conversion to Roman Catholicism, he became conductor of the Vienna Court Opera in 1897. He revolutionized the way opera was staged, and under his directorship, the Vienna Court Opera reached unprecedented heights of excellence.

In 1902, in what was to be an infamous mismatch, he married Alma Schindler, a musician twenty-two years his junior, daughter of the painter Anton Schindler and a composition pupil of Zemlinsky. They had two daughters, the eldest dying in 1907, aged 4.

Mahler described himself as 'three times homeless: a Bohemian amongst Austrians, an Austrian amongst Germans, and a Jew throughout the world', and indeed, his enemies in the anti-semetic press eventually led to his resignation from the Vienna Court Opera in 1907.

From 1907 onwards, a heart ailment cast a shadow over his activities. On January 1, 1908, he made his American debut conducting Wagner's Tristan and the New York Metropolitan Opera. He was appointed conductor of the New York Philharmonic in 1909. A severe blood infection in 1911 lead to his death on 18th May.

Compositional career
Mahler's conducting career was mainly concerned with opera, but his main compositional output consists of Lieder, song-cycles, and ten monumental symphonies, the last left uncompleted at his death. He accomplished most of his composition during his summer holidays spent at a villa he had built at Maiernigg on the Worthersee.

In 1889 he conducted the first performance of what is now known as his Symphony No. 1 - 'The Titan' - then described as a 'symphonic poem'. His 2nd Symphony, 'The Resurrection', was completed in 1894, and first performed in Berlin in 1895. During the years 1896-1907 he composed the Symphonies 3 to 8, and the song-cycle 'Kindertotenlieder' (Children's Death Songs). His massive song-symphony 'Das Lied van der Erde' (Song of the Earth) was first performed under Bruno Walter in Munich 1911. Walter also premiered the 9th symphony in Vienna 1912.

Although Mahler left his 10th symphony unfinished, he left extensive sketches and formal outlines for the work, allowing it to be completed by Deryck Cooke in 1960.

Mahler's symphonies were greeted with hostility at first, but thanks to the early advocacy of conductors such as Mengelberg and Walter, are now recognized as the very height of the Austro-German symphonic tradition. His genius lies in his ability to draw together wildly disparate elements - intense post-Wagnerian harmony, Austrian rusticism, child-like innocence, and a morbid fascination with death - into totally compelling musical structures. He championed the music of the younger generation of composers, and had a profound influence on modernist composers such as Shostakovich and Schoenberg. In Mahler's music, the 20th century has found expression of its hopes and fears.

My favourite flower.....Sweet William

Sweet William

Sweet William is a traditional English Garden plant, native to the mountains of southern Europe from the Pyrenees east to the Carpathians and the Balkans. It is also called Dianthus barbatus and Indian Carpet.



It is a biennial and has a two-year life cycle. It grows from 6 inches to 2 foot (15 to 60 cms) long.



Sweet William has simple flowers with serrated petals. They have clusters of deliciously clove scented flowers with notched petals and quite broad leaves with entertaining whiskery tufts poking through the flowers. They come in all shades of lilac, pink, white and red; there are single or double varieties; a selection of markings and eyes. It has green, blue-green tapered leaves which are 4-10 cm long and 1-2 cm broad.



The plant is very easy to grow. It grows best in cool areas and is not suitable for tropical zones. It flowers from late spring through to summer. They need a sunny spot and a well drained soil. It should be watered regularly. Plant them where you want them to flower. They grow well in containers on a balcony or patio as well as in the garden.



They are excellent as cut flowers so grow some for show in your borders or containers and some just for cutting. Sweet William has been a favorite in the flower border for generations



Did you know?

·Sweet Williams are particularly useful for attracting Large Skipper butterflies.

·It is an ideal spring flower often blooming 60 to 90 days after planting under ideal environmental conditions.

·It has - 437,000 average seeds per pound.

·It is named after Saint William of York, William the Conqueror, or Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland.


The gift of a Sweet William indicates yearning, a wish for a smile! This fragile blossom is a garden pink, scientifically named Dianthus barbatus, with bearded petals. Sweet William is a pink plant having clusters of small, variously coloured flowers. It is also referred to as bunch pink.

Famous for its spicy fragrance, this blossom belongs to the popular group of ornamental pinks. Of course, even flower experts differ in their interpretation of the ‘true meaning’ of this flower. A gift of sweet William requests, “SWEET LADY,GRANT ME ONE SMILE!"


source
flower Encyclopedia

Haggis recipe and ingredient...

So what is haggis and where can you find one?

Haggis gets a somewhat mixed reaction, even here in it's country of origin. It always puzzles me that when people find out what ingredients make up a haggis recipe they screw up their faces in digust yet will quite happilly stuff their faces with some of the muck from multi-national fast food chains!

There are many ways to enjoy haggis~~

* Boiled - the traditional way.
* Baked - the contents removed and baked in an oven. Purists will hve a contract out on me for including this but it just so happens to be my favourite method.
* Fried - dipped in a batter and deep fried - another one the foodie snobs will have me for, buit many people happen to like it this way and who am I to judge?
* Stuffing - haggis is also very versatile as a stuffing for poultry. Try chicken or turkey stuffed with haggis - delicious!

OK, what's in it and how do you make one?

There are numerous recipes with every butcher and granny claiming to have their own secret ingredients which makes theirs just that little bit different - different blend of spices, perhaps some smoked or game meat.

Haggis though, was created by poverty, need and the necessity to use every bit of meat and food available even if they were the "nasty bits"! Primarily a peasants dish.

Take one sheep ............
Haggis is a sausage (Great Chieftain o' the Pudding Race) encased in the sheep's stomach although many butchers will now use synthetic materials. This part is not actually eaten (Well, I don't anyways!) but for for some reason it's the ingredient in the recipe that wrinkles the noses.

I'm sure you'll eventually find a butcher or manufacturer who does you favorite recipe and that, my friend, is by far the easiest way to go. Just take it home boil, bake, fry or whatever and you're done.

Sheeps 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced (ground) with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally encased in the animals stomach and boiled.

* Sheep stomach cleaned, turned inside out and soaked overnight in cold salted water.
* Heart and lungs of one lamb
* 1lb or lamb
* 2 large onions, finely chopped
* 8oz oatmeal
* salt (about a a tablespoon)
* ground black freshly ground pepper (teaspoon)
* Stock (the water the meat has been boiled in is best)
* Water

The next three are recent optional ingredients:

* dried coriander (teaspoon)
* cinnamon (teaspoon)
* nutmeg (teaspoon)

Method

* Boiled all the meat until cooked through (Save the stock)
* Mince the meat
* Mix it all together with the seasoning and stock
* Pack it into the stomach bag and seal
* Chuck it into a big pan of cold water, bring to the boil and then simmer for 2 hours

Haggis, neeps, tatties by wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Gveret_TeredHaggis is traditionally served with bashed neeps and chappit tatties. That's mashed turnip or swede and potatoes to the uninitiated. And it's even more fun with good company and a little alcoholic refreshment ....

source
http://www.obanargyll.com/haggis-recipe.htm

7 things to do in Hokkaido, Japan

Hokkaido, Japan is the northernmost island of Japan. It was the last to be developed by the mainland Japanese. Most people who go to Japan usually only go to Tokyo or Kyoto and sometimes Osaka. The island of Hokkaido has a lot of interesting things to offer.

1. Watch some glass-blowing and see some canals in Otaru.

Think that Venice is the only city with canals? This small city a 25 minute drive from Sapporo is considered one of the most picturesque Japanese cities. It is also famous for it’s glass industry. See workers make glass objects the old-fashioned way, by heating and blowing blobs of glass into beautiful art. Shop at the many glass-art stores and buy pretty souveniers

2. Ride a swan boat on lake Shikotsu.

This beautiful lake within driving distance of Sapporo was formed from the crater of a volcano. Rent out a swan-shaped paddle boat or visit the historical centre for a Free English DVD for tourists. This lake is one of the only places in the world where you can find a creature called a marimo. Marimo are small spheres of moss that grow on the bottom of certain lakes.

3. Eat Jingisu Kan (Gengis Khan).

Jingisu Kan, a dish named after Gengis Khan, is a delicacy unique to Hokkaido. If you order Jingisu Kan, you will receive a plate of raw lamb meat and vegetables. Don’t worry, though the Japanese have a certain fondness for raw fish, it does not extend to lamb as well. In the middle of the table will be a cast iron barbeque. You cook the lamb meat and vegetables on this. If you have ever had the desire to barbeque indoors, here is your chance.

4. Drink Sapporo beer in Sapporo.

The worldwide headquarters of the Sapporo Beer Brewing Company. You can go to the Sapporo Beer Museum. Even if you don’t like museums, you get beer at the end of this one.

5. Eat Ramen.

Hokkaido is famous for its quality ramen noodles. These are not to be confused with the instant cups of noodles available in the west. These are big bowls of steaming noodles, topped with things like pork, vegetables or even seafood.

6. Play around in Moerenuma Park.

Located in Sapporo, this park was designed to be as much a work of sculpture as it was a functional outdoor space. High points include the Tetra Mound, a giant stainless steel pyramid, a man-made mountain with a spectacular view of the surrounding area, and a giant fountain.

7. Visit the Gods at Hokkaido Temple.

No trip to Japan would be complete without visiting at least one temple. Hokkaido Temple is one of the largest and oldest on Hokkaido. Buy a wooden plate, write your wish on it and hang it on a frame for your wish to come true. Make an offering to the gods or buy a charm to ward against evil. If you’re not worried about evil, buy one for safety in travel.




source
http://factoidz.com/experts-in/japan/

final exam is coming...

I'm so nervous about the final exam......and afraid that I would flunk all subject
I should study hard...for my mother

The top 10 countries for 2010

El Salvsdor
El Salvador sneaks up on you: in lefty lounge bars in San Salvador, at sobering war memorials and museums, and along lush cloud-forest trails; it’s a place of remarkable warmth and intelligence, made all the more appealing for being so unexpected. Travellers tend to skip El Salvador, wooed by marquee destinations such as Guatemala and Costa Rica, and unnerved by stories of civil war and gang violence. But the war ended almost 20 years ago, and crime, while serious, is almost exclusively played out between rival gangs; tourists are virtually never involved. And though El Salvador has fewer protected areas than its neighbours, you get them practically to yourself – including pristine forests, active volcanoes and alpine lakes.

Germany
Some countries are simply allowed to be, but Germany has had to reinvent itself more times than Madonna. And it has done so again since 1990, when reunification brought an end to nearly three decades of division. In year 20 after its latest rebirth, Germany is still a country where you can witness history in the making. Head to Hamburg, where an entire new quarter is being wrested from the detritus of a 19th-century harbour. Or to Dresden, where the domed Frauenkirche church is once again the diamond in the shining tiara that is the city’s famous skyline. And, of course, to Berlin, whose climate of openness spawns more creative experimentation than a Petri dish on Viagra.

Greece
Seldom does a travel destination satisfy the blurbs that shout ‘has something for everyone’ - but Greece truly does. Whether you’re there to poke around ancient ruins, soak in the sun on idyllic beaches, or party till you drop, Greece will leave you clamouring for more. It’s guilt-free travel – a slice of history served alongside a healthy slice of hedonism – and everyone seems happy. You get to marvel at the dazzling clarity of the light and the waters, the floral aromas that permeate the air, the pervading sense of spirit – and then sit down to contemplate it all while consuming that great Greek combination of ouzo and octopus!


Malaysia
Malaysia often gets criticised as being mild in comparison with its grittier neighbours, Thailand and Indonesia. It’s true, natural disasters and coups only seem to happen across its borders, the roads don’t have too many potholes, buses and trains have air-con and plush seats, and hotels are of international standard. While troubles are few, visiting Malaysia lets you leap into the jaws of one of the most interesting parts of Southeast Asia’s roaring cultural smorgasbord – and not be too worried about it. Cheap connections to Europe and great exchange rates mean that you won’t get eaten up by your wallet either.

Morocco
‘Hello, bonjour, salaam alaykum, labes?’ Street greetings sum up everything you need to know about Morocco in a word: it’s Berber and Arab, Muslim and secular, Mediterranean and African, worldly wise and welcoming. Morocco sees how the Middle East is portrayed via satellite news and the internet, and is as concerned with violent threats and abuses of power as anyone else in the modern world. But as you’ll see, most Moroccans are plenty busy working to get by, get their kids through school and greet the king’s planned 10 million visitors by 2010 with the utmost hospitality. Every visitor helps Moroccans realise these goals by creating new economic opportunities, and can make a Moroccan’s day by returning the greeting: ‘Hello, good day, may peace be upon you, are you happy?'


Nepal
But for the Himalaya, Nepal would probably be stuck in the shadow of India – but it’s hard to cast a shadow on a country that includes the highest point on earth, the summit of Mt Everest. Over the last decade, Nepal has seen its share of troubles, but 2008 was a watershed year – the rebels became the government, the kingdom became a republic and the king became a civilian. With the fall of the monarchy, the sound of temple bells has replaced the stomp of army boots and peace has returned to Shangri-La.

New Zealand
Recommending New Zealand’s too obvious, right? You’re looking for something a bit edgier, under the radar or further off the beaten track. But there’s wisdom in the old saying, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fi x it’, and last time we checked the land of Maori and hobbits certainly didn’t need repairing. NZ’s checklist of essential experiences remains as strong as ever. Spectacular landscapes abound, from sea-level rainforests to plunging glaciers, geothermal springs and barren volcanic plains. Add a hearty pinch of lens-friendly wildlife, proud Maori culture, and fine food and drink, and it’s easy to see why the natives are so chilled.

Portugal
Skirting along the southwestern edge of the Iberian Peninsula, the once-great seafaring nation of Portugal today straddles two very different worlds. For purists, this is a land of great tradition, of saints-day festivals where ox-drawn carts still lumber through flower-strewn streets, and ancient vineyards bring sleepy medieval villages to life during the annual harvest. Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, something decidedly more modern is transpiring. Old city centres, long ago abandoned by the young and upwardly mobile in favour of the suburbs, are slowly being revitalised. A new wave of boutiques, art galleries and cafes are finding new homes in once crumbling old buildings, and locals are beginning to rediscover the allure of vibrant downtown areas.

Suriname
South America’s smallest country, both in area and population, is easily one of its most diverse. Some three quarters of Suriname’s people are descended from Chinese, Javanese and Indian labourers that arrived in the 18th century, and West African slaves in the 17th. Add indigenous Amerindians and Lebanese, Jewish and Dutch settlers, and you have the makings for a lot of ethnic tension, right? Fortunately, wrong. Suriname is known for its peacefully coexisting cultures, most emblematically represented by the country’s biggest mosque and synagogue situated side by side in the capital Paramaribo. With everyone speaking different languages, celebrating different holidays and worshipping in different temples, visiting Suriname is really like hitting several countries at once.

USA
Suddenly the USA is cool again! Be it from Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday last year, or just tightened budgets during the recession, but more Americans (even hipsters) are looking backwards – and foreigners too – and taking in traditional American historical sites, beginning with Washington DC’s freebie zone of museums and heroic monuments.

THE BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA...

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is internationally recognized as having achieved a preeminent place among the world's most important orchestras. Acclaimed for its uncompromising pursuit of artistic excellence, the Baltimore Symphony has attracted a devoted national and international following while maintaining deep bonds throughout Maryland through innovative education and community outreach initiatives.

The BSO made musical history in September 2007, when Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra's 12th music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra. With her highly praised artistic vision, her dynamic musicianship and her commitment to accessibility in classical music, Maestra Alsop's directorship has ushered in a new era for the BSO and its audiences.

Year Established: 1916, as a branch of the Baltimore municipal government; reorganized as a private institution in 1942.

Mission: To make music of the highest quality, and to enhance Baltimore and Maryland as a cultural center of interest, vitality and importance.

Music Director: Marin Alsop
Music Director Emeritus: Yuri Temirkanov
Principal Pops Conductor: Jack Everly
BSO Assistant Conductor and League of American Orchestras Conducting Fellow: Mei-Ann Chen
BSO-Peabody Conducting Fellow: Ilyich Rivas
Concertmaster: Jonathan Carney
Chairman of the Board: Michael G. Bronfein
President & CEO: Paul Meecham

Musicians: 94
Administrative Staff: 58
Board Members: 40

Operating budget: $26.3 million

Annual attendance: 400,000

BSO concerts in 2009-2010: 173, including classical and SuperPops series, Family Series and performances in Wye Mills and Frederick, Md.

World premiere performances since founding: 87, including 40 commissioned works

Local & National Broadcasts: Throughout its history, the BSO has attracted a devoted nationwide following as a result of its prominent radio presence. An avid proponent of using new technology to reach new audiences, Maestra Marin Alsop has partnered with iTunes to produce and host a series of free podcasts directed towards classical music newcomers. Titled Clueless About Classical, these podcasts demystify classical music by taking novice listeners behind-the-scenes with the BSO, exploring repertoire, composers, musical concepts and orchestra life.

Recordings: The Grammy Award-winning BSO has achieved critical success for its prolific discography on such major labels as Naxos, Argo/London, Telarc and Sony Classical. The Baltimore Symphony, under the direction of Music Director Marin Alsop recorded Dvorák's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World" and Symphonic Variations on the Naxos label in February 2008. BBC Music Magazine nominated the album as the best new classical CD of the year, praising, "…there's no sentimentalising or excessive deference to the lyrical moments to rob the work of its essential freshness… It is rare to be able to say that a performance forces one to listen to a work anew, but this is exactly what Alsop's reading achieves. Excellently recorded… this is a superb issue all around."

BSO-Peabody Conducting Fellowship: Beginning in Fall 2007, the BSO partnered with the renowned Peabody Institute and the League of American Orchestras to sponsor the BSO-Peabody Conducting Fellowship, a two-year, master's-level program which affords an aspiring young conductor the opportunity to study intensively at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and with Marin Alsop and the BSO. Born in 1993, Ilyich Rivas, a talented young Venezuelan-born conductor will be the program's second recipient.

Education and Outreach: The BSO presents regular daytime educational concerts for area school children throughout Maryland. In addition to these programs and the BSO's Family Concerts Series, BSO on the Go brings small groups of BSO musicians into local schools for free, interactive music education workshops. The BSO also presents annual "Side by Side" concerts with local students from public schools, giving aspiring musicians an opportunity to perform and study with professional musicians. OrchKids is the BSO's after-school music education and life-enrichment initiative, designed to bring social change to Baltimore communities.

Volunteers: The 220 members of the Baltimore Symphony Associates (BSA) use their time, energy and financial support to benefit the education programs of the BSO. Among the BSA's programs are the Symphony Store, the Symphony Decorators' Show House, the Youth Concert Usher program and Symphony Homes for the Holidays.



THE JOSEPH MEYERHOFF SYMPHONY HALL
Opening: September 16, 1982, The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Sergiu Comissiona, conductor, and Leon Fleisher, piano

Capacity: 2,443

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in the 2007-2008 season, the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall has been the home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since opening on September 16, 1982. Ground was broken for the hall in November 1978 in order to provide the BSO with a world-class concert hall befitting of a world-class orchestra. The building was made possible through the financial and administrative support of the late Joseph Meyerhoff.

THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE
Opening: February 5, 2005, The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Yuri Temirkanov, conductor; Yo-Yo Ma, cello; and Janice Chandler-Etemé, soprano.

Capacity: 1,976

With the opening of the Music Center at Strathmore (N. Bethesda, Md., Montgomery County) in February 2005, the Baltimore Symphony became the nation's first orchestra with year-round venues in two metropolitan areas. As a founding partner and resident orchestra, the BSO presents more performances each year than any other partner on campus.

The BSO also performs outdoor concerts each summer at Oregon Ridge in Cockeyesville, Md.

Good thing about swimming

Swimming is good exercise (that's obvious). Swimming is a lifetime sport that benefits the body and the whole person! But what is it that makes swimming good, specifically? That depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

Swimming is a healthy activity that can be continued for a lifetime - and the health benefits swimming offers for a lifetime are worth the effort it takes to get to the pool.

Why do you swim? For the health benefits to your heart and lungs? For the chance to be with some of your friends at the pool? Because, in your case, running everyday hurts? Because you like the feeling of floating and sliding through the water? Or is it something else?If you are looking for a break from the heat of the summer, then a dip in the water is exactly what you need; swimming is a way for you to cool off. It fills a wonderful recreational need for individuals and families, from beach and pool fun to water parks.

Maybe you are a runner, training on a regular basis, and want to find an activity that keeps your heart rate up but takes some of the impact stress off of your body. Perhaps you have been doing some other form of land exercise, and now an injury prevents you from putting weight on a knee or ankle. Swimming can help you. Kicking workouts, water aerobics, pool running, or a regular swimming workout can all give you a great exercise session without the weight of your body pounding you with each move.

Regular swimming builds endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness. It can serve as a cross-training element to your regular workouts. Before a land workout, you can use the pool for a warm-up session. Swimming with increasing effort to gradually increase your heart rate and stimulate your muscle activity is easily accomplished in the water. After a land workout, swimming a few laps can help you cool-down, move blood through your muscles to help them recover, and help you relax as you glide through the water.

Swimming does burn calories at a rate of about 3 calories a mile per pound of bodyweight. If you weigh 150 lbs. and it takes you 30 minutes to swim one mile (1,760 yards or 1,609 meters), then you will be using about 900 calories in one hour. However, many swimmers do not swim that quickly, and many cannot swim for that distance or duration.

Spending time in a group workout, whether water aerobics or a master's swim practice, is a great social outlet. Exchanging stories, challenging each other, and sharing in the hard work make swimming with others a rewarding experience.

There are other psychological benefit to swimming, if you allow it to occur. Relax and swim with a very low effort. Let your mind wander, focusing on nothing but the rhythm of your stroke. This form of meditation can help you gain a feeling of well-being, leaving your water session refreshed and ready to go on with the rest of your day. Many swimmers find an in-direct benefit form swimming. They develop life skills such as sportsmanship, time-management, self-discipline, goal-setting, and an increased sense of self-worth through their participation in the sport. Swimmers seem to do better in school, in general terms, than non-swimmers as a group.

source
About.com

MUSIC QUOTES....

“Music is what feelings sound like.”

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.”

“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul”

“Music is love in search of a word.”

“Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.” E. Y. Harburg quotes

“Music is the harmonious voice of creation; an echo of the invisible world.”

“Without music, life would be an error.”

“Music and silence combine strongly because music is done with silence, and silence is full of music.”

“Music is the art of thinking with sounds.”

“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without”

The Hotel Kakslauttanen, Finland

The Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finland is in fact an Igloo Village, at which you can have your pick of 20 unique glass and snow igloos for your stay. They aren’t ice houses, but 31 well-maintained log cabins – built from a very special thermo glass that keeps them warmth and comfortable. Because of that, the temperature inside the Igloos is always a normal room temperature and the igloos inhabitants won’t feel any of the polar cold.

The Igloo Village Kakslauttanen boasts a World’s Largest Snow Restaurant. You can enjoy a drink at the Ice Bar, or visit the Ice Gallery for local art, or try the world’s largest smoke sauna if you get a chance, or throw the most memorable wedding or christening at the Ice Chapel.




The surrounding Finnish Lapland scenery is incredible – it’s a prime spot for marveling at the northern lights throughout the winter. When sleeping in the glass igloos you are able to for viewing the amazing natural phenomena – Aurora Borealis and the millions of stars in the sky. The experience is also unforgettable when there is a snowstorm…





source:
http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/07/30/the-hotel-kakslauttanen-finland/#more-11631

Bordeaux, France.

Bordeaux has been around since Roman times when it was capital of Aquitana Secunda, in around the 3rd century BC. Bordeaux has had two great financial booms in its time. The first was when Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry II of England in 1152, thus beginning a 300-year period of English rule and kick-starting the export wine trade (the English were very fond of the red wine they called claret)

Then in the 18th century colonial trade brought riches to Bordeaux and paid for the central architecture. The centre is attractive and quite small, so even if you are just stopping off here on the way somewhere else, you could easily discover Bordeaux's charms in a day. The 18th-century town stretches from the western banks of the River Garonne to the cathedral in the west and the place de la Comédie in the north. Any Roman remains are further north in the Jardin Public, but there is not much to speak of.

Top 10 countries to visit in 2009

The travel gurus at Lonely Planet have come up with what they say is the definitive list of what to do and where to go in 2009, and in a condensed format for today's time-strapped travellers.

The Best in Travel 2009, published this month, is a compilation of lists of 850 destinations, journeys and experiences recommended by the guide book publishers. And the longest entry is two pages long.

"We want people to open the book, point their finger and come up with something different every time," said Ben Handicott, Lonely Planet associate publisher.

"We want people to be able to dip in and out of content, to basically be able to get some ideas and plan their trip on the plane. I guess it's the effect of the internet."

As well as lists such as "Most Spine-Tingling Commutes" and "Best Places for Deadly Sins", the guide book includes the top 10 countries, and top 10 regions, travellers must visit next year. There is also a month-by-month trip planner, as well as country profiles and statistics.

Unlike more in-depth guides, there are no restaurant or hotel recommendations.

One of the highlights of the book is a section dedicated to water, aimed at today's more environmentally conscious travellers, Handicott said.

"Climate change is an issue affecting all of us and water is such a major issue everywhere these days," he said. "Water is also just a great traveller. Some of the first significant travel of humanity took place over water."

Tony Wheeler, Lonely Planet's co-founder, introduces the book with his own list, which includes visiting a country whose name ends in "-stan" such as Afghanistan or Kyrgyzstan, finding a trip that involves sailing, such as a transatlantic cruise, staying for a long time in one place to soak up the atmosphere or going on a long trip, such as a trek across the Sahara or a Cairo-to-Capetown bicycle ride.

Here are Lonely Planet's list of top 10 countries to visit:

1. Algeria

2. Bangladesh

3. Canada

4. Georgia

5. Greenland

6. Kyrgyzstan

7. Oman

8. Peru

source
http://www.mindfood.com/at-top-10-countries-visit-2009-travel-tips-trip.seo

Winnie The Pooh : The Pooh Poems

Furry Bear
If I were a bear,
And a big bear too,
I shouldn’t much care
If it froze or snew;
I shouldn’t much mind
If it snowed or friz —
I’d be all fur-lined
With a coat like his!

For I’d have fur boots and a brown fur wrap,
And brown fur knickers and a big fur cap.
I’d have a fur muffle-ruff to cover my jaws,
And brown fur mittens on my big brown paws.
With a big brown furry-down up to my head,
I’d sleep all the winter in a big fur bed.



(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
On snowing.

And nobody knows
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.

The more it snows
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
On snowing.

And nobody knows
(Tiddly Pom)
How gold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.


It's a very funny thought that, if bears were bees,
They'd build nests at the bottom of trees.
And that being so (if the bees were bears)
We shouldn't have to climb up all these stairs.

source
http://www.winniethepooh.co.uk/storiesandpoems.html

Lewis Carroll Quotes: Alice in Wonderland

When you read Alice in Wonderland, you will find yourself trying to make sense of an illogical story. Alice, the key character, also experiences similar frustrations. But in the end, she emerges wiser with the learning involved in each situation. Everyone faces absurd choices in life. If you shrug off these choices as anomalies to your perfect life, you gain nothing. But if you try to learn from these absurdities, you will gain a lot of wisdom.
The Caterpillar and Alice: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
The Caterpillar: What size do you want to be?
Alice: Oh, I'm not particular as to size, only one doesn't like changing so often, you know.



Alice and the Cat: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to
Alice: I don't much care where.
The Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.
Alice: …so long as I get somewhere.
The Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.

Alice and the Cat: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
The Cat: By-the-bye, what became of the baby? I'd nearly forgotten to ask.
Alice: It turned into a pig.
The Cat: I thought it would.

March Hare and Alice: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
March Hare: Have some wine.
(Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea.)
Alice: I don't see any wine.
March Hare: There isn't any.
Alice: Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it.
March Hare: It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being invited.

Alice and March Hare: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
March Hare: …Then you should say what you mean.
Alice: I do; at least - at least I mean what I say -- that's the same thing, you know.
Hatter: Not the same thing a bit! Why, you might just as well say that, 'I see what I eat' is the same as 'I eat what I see'!
March Hare: You might just as well say, that "I like what I get" is the same thing as "I get what I like"!
The Dormouse: You might just as well say, that "I breathe when I sleep" is the same thing as "I sleep when I breathe"!

Alice and the Hatter: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
Alice: What a funny watch! It tells the day of the month, and it doesn't tell what o'clock it is!
The Hatter: Why should it? Does your watch tell you what year it is?
Alice: Of course not, but that's because it stays the same year for such a long time together.
The Hatter: …which is just the case with mine.

The Duchess and Alice: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
The Duchess: You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you forget to talk. I can't tell you just now what the moral of that is, but I shall remember it in a bit.
Alice: Perhaps it hasn't one.
The Duchess: Tut, tut, child! Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it.

The Duchess and Alice: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
The Duchess: Be what you would seem to be -- or, if you'd like it put more simply -- Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.
Alice: I think I should understand that better, if I had it written down: but I can't quite follow it as you say it.

Alice and the Dormouse: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
The Dormouse: You've got no right to grow here.
Alice: Don't talk nonsense. You know you're growing too.
The Dormouse: Yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace, not in that ridiculous fashion.

Alice and the Duchess: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
Alice: I didn't know that Cheshire cats always grinned; in fact, I didn't know that cats could grin.
The Duchess: You don't know much; and that's a fact.

Alice and the Pigeon: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
Alice: But I'm NOT a serpent, I tell you! I'm a -- I'm a --
The Pigeon: Well! WHAT are you? I can see you're trying to invent something!
Alice: I -- I'm a little girl.
The Pigeon: A likely story indeed! I've seen a good many little girls in my time, but never ONE with such a neck as that! No, no! You're a serpent; and there's no use denying it. I suppose you'll be telling me next that you never tasted an egg!