Excitement N Net

Sky Scraping Buddhist Statues : Laykyun Setkyar - Myanmar

2018-04-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

Laykyun setkyar - the second tallest standing statue in the world is located in the village of Khatakan Taung, in Myanmar. Considered as the biggest standing Buddha image it is said to enclose 7350 relics and other holy materials.

Standing tall at 116 m (380ft) on a 13.5 m throne and painted bright yellow, it is not exactly a subtle present. This colossus was completed on February 21, 2008. There are 32 storeys, twelve or more of them dedicated to detailed displays of hell.

The opening ceremony took place in February 2008. Since then the statue has become one of the main tourist attraction in Myanmar.

Sky Scraping Buddhist Statues : Ushiku Daibutsu - Japan

2018-04-26T12:23:00.001-07:00

Ushiku Daibutsu located in Ushiku, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan depicts Amitabha Buddha or "Buddha of Infinite Light" and is considered as a Celestial Buddha, as described in the Mahayana scriptures. This statue is authorized by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest standing Buddha figure in the world and you can enter the inner chambers of the giant statue by elevator.

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Sky Scraping Buddhist Statues : Guan Yin of the Sea of Sanya - China

2018-04-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

The Guan Yin of the South Sea of Sanya is a 108-metre (354 ft) statue of the bodhisattva Guan Yin, sited on the south coast of China's island province Hainan near the Nanshan Temple of Sanya.The statue has three aspects; one side faces inland and the other two face the South China Sea, to represent blessing and protection by Guan Yin of China and the whole world. One aspect depicts Guan Yin cradling a sutra in the left hand and gesturing the Vitarka Mudra with the right, the second with her palms crossed, holding a string of prayer beads, and the third holding a lotus. This is currently the fourth tallest statue in the world (many of which are Buddhist statues) and the tallest statue of Guan Yin in the world.

The statue took six years to build and was enshrined on April 24, 2005, with the participation of 108 eminent monks from various Buddhist groups in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China, and tens of thousands of pilgrims. The delegation also included monks from the Theravada and Vajrayana traditions.

Sky Scraping Buddhist Statues : Sendai Daikannon - Japan

2018-04-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Sendai Dikannon, a large statue depicting "Avalokiesvara" or buddha or fompassion.

Located in japan, is the sixth tallest statue in the world at 100m (328ft). An elevator takes tourists to the top of the statue, which depicts the Japanse Buddhist.Bodhisattva Kannon. There are 12 floors inside and visitors can take and elevator to go the upper floors where they can see the great view of the city and the Pacific Ocean through observation windows.

Christmas Symbols

2014-01-17T21:13:00.001-08:00

There are many Christmas symbols which pops up all around the world at the time of Christmas. Below describes the some of the symbols and description of them.

Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath, or Advent crown, is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. The liturgical year, also known as the church year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches that determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read either in an annual cycle or in a cycle of several years. Distinct liturgical colours may appear in connection with different seasons of the liturgical year.

Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming".

Advent is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday. The Eastern churches' equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs in both length and observances and does not begin the church year, which starts instead on September 1. At least in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Moravian, Presbyterian and Methodist calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December, which is the Sunday between November 27 and December 3 inclusive.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ from two different perspectives. The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming.In Christianity, the Second Coming of Christ, the second advent, sometimes called the parousia, is the anticipated return of Jesus to Earth.

The Second Coming, Icon, Greek, c. 1700, the bosom of Abraham lower left, the "Good Thief" in lower right.

The Advent Wreath is traditionally a Lutheran practice, although it has spread to many other Christian denominations.

Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German monk and theologian.

Martin Luther

Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Roman Catholic Church launched the Protestant Reformation in the mid 16th century in Germany. Beginning with the 95 Theses, first published in 1517, Luther's writings were disseminated internationally, spreading the early ideas of the Reformation beyond the influence and control of the Roman Catholic Curia(an council in which public, official or religious issues are discussed decisions made) and the Holy Roman Empire.(The Holy Roman Empire was a multi-ethnic complex of territories in central Europe that lasted from the coronation of Otto I as emperor in 962 until Francis II dissolved the imperial title in 1806. The largest territory within the empire was the Kingdom of Germany, and at its peak the empire included the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Kingdom of Burgundy.)

Advent Wreath is usually a horizontal evergreen wreath with four candles and often, a fifth, white candle in the center. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading and prayers where the Advent wreath is placed at the altar. An additional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit. Many Advent wreaths include a fifth, Christ candle which is lit at Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The custom is observed both in family settings and at public church services. Most Advent wreaths use three colors – purple, pink, and white. However, some may use blue in place of the purple.

In Catholic churches, the most popular colours for the Advent candles are violet and rose, corresponding with the colors of the liturgical vestments for the Sundays of Advent. In the Western church, Violet is the historic liturgical color for three of the four Sundays of Advent: Violet is the traditional color of penitential seasons. Rose is the color for the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday from the Latin word meaning "to rejoice"--also from the first line of the traditional entrance prayer (called the Introit) for the Mass of the third Sunday of Advent.Rose-colored vestments are used on Gaudete Sunday, as a pause to the penitential spirit of Advent.

In Protestant churches it is more common to use four red candles (reflecting their traditional use in Christmas decorations) because rose vestments and decorations are not commonly used in Protestant churches. Blue is also a popular alternative color for both Advent vestments and Advent candles, especially in some Anglican and Lutheran churches. This is in keeping with the liturgical seasons; blue means hope and waiting, which aligns with the seasonal meaning of Advent. Other variations of the Advent wreath add a white candle in the centre to symbolize Christmas, sometimes known as the "Christ candle." It can be lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. White is the traditional festal colour in the Western church. Four red candles with one white one is probably the most common arrangement in Protestant churches in Britain.

1st CANDLE – (purple) THE PROPHECY CANDLE or CANDLE OF HOPE

We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us. Our hope comes from God. “And again, Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:12-13)

2nd CANDLE – (purple) THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION

God kept his promise of a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem. Preparation means to “get ready”. Help us to be ready to welcome YOU, O GOD! “As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.‘ (Luke 3:4-6)

3rd CANDLE – (pink) THE SHEPHERD CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF JOY

The angels sang a message of JOY! “…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:7-15)

4th CANDLE – (purple) THE ANGEL CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF LOVE

The angels announced the good news of a Savior. God sent his only Son to earth to save us, because he loves us! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

5th CANDLE – (white) “CHRIST CANDLE”

The white candle reminds us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins! His birth was for his death, his death was for our birth! “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!‘” (John 1:29)

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.’ In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.‘” (John 3:1-8)

Each candle on the wreath stands for a Sunday (and its following week) of the Advent season. Candles 1, 2, and 4 are purple. In the ancient world purple dye was very expensive and could only be afforded by kings. The purple candles tells, that the one whose birth we are preparing to celebrate is our true King. The rose candle (3rd Sunday) tells, that Advent is half over and Christmas is getting nearer and nearer.

The Advent wreath is made of evergreens, which are symbolic of life itself and, since they last through the winter, point to God’s gift of life which comes, even when the world is dark and threatening. Many kinds of evergreens can be used to make the wreaths at Church. Others can be added later on at home. Each has its own symbolic meaning.

Pine

The most common evergreen, points to Everlasting Life.

Laurel (Bay)

Which was used to crown those who won in the games, signifies victory.
(http://thegardenpalette.wordpress.com/tag/bay-laurel/)

Cedar

Because it is long lasting and aromatic, is symbolic of strength and healing.

Juniper , holly, and rosemary

By legend these plants provided shelter and help for the Holy Family when they fled from Bethlehem to Egypt. The fragrance of rosemary, it has been said, began when the Virgin Mary laid out the Infant Jesus’ clothes to dry on this plant. The rosemary bush responded by perfuming the Christ Child’s clothing.

Juniper

http://herbalriot.tumblr.com/post/59402439571/aromatherapy-tip-of-the-day-juniper

Rosemary

http://www.liveandfeel.com/articles/benefits-of-rosemary-herb-1753

Holly

Its prickly leaves remind us of the Crown of Thorns. Its red berries remind us of the Blood of Jesus shed for us upon the Cross.

Ivy

Since it is frequently used as a decoration, has always been a symbol of joy and festivity.

Christmas Crib

The symbolic presentation of crib brings the atmosphere of Jesus's birth. Making the crib has become an inevitable custom in our time, by doing it we also experience the situation in which Jesus was born. A Christmas crib reminds us of respecting the people who are in poverty and value the life of everyone.

Christmas crib is A nativity scene, also known as a manger scene. The term "nativity scene" may be used of any representation of the very common subject of the Nativity of Jesus in art, it has a more specialized sense referring to seasonal displays, either using model figures in a setting or enactments called "living nativity scenes" in which real humans and animals participate. Nativity scenes exhibit figures representing the infant Jesus, his mother Mary, and Joseph. Other characters from the nativity story such as shepherds and sheep, and angels may be displayed near the manger in a barn (or cave) intended to accommodate farm animals, as described in the gospels of Luke. A donkey and an ox are typically depicted in the scene, as well as the Magi and camels belonging to the Magi described in the Matthew. Several cultures add other characters and objects that may be Biblical or not.

Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223 (a "living" one) intending thereby to cultivate the worship of Christ, having been inspired by his recent visit to the Holy Land where he had been shown Jesus's traditional birthplace. The scene's popularity inspired communities throughout Catholic countries to stage similar pantomimes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi

Christmas Stocking

A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that is hung on Christmas Eve so that Santa Claus (or Father Christmas) can fill it with small toys, candy, fruit, coins or other small gifts when he arrives. These small items are often referred to as stocking stuffers or stocking fillers. In some Christmas stories, the contents of the Christmas stocking are the only toys the child receives at Christmas from Santa Claus; in other stories (and in tradition), some presents are also wrapped up in wrapping paper and placed under the Christmas tree. Tradition in Western culture threatens that a child who behaves badly during the year will receive only a piece or pile of coal. However, coal is rarely if ever left in a stocking, as it is considered cruel. Some people even put their Christmas stocking by their bedposts so Santa Claus can fill it by the bed while they sleep.

While there are no written records of the origin of the Christmas Stocking, there are popular legends that attempt to tell the history of this Christmas tradition.

Very long ago, there lived a poor man and his three very beautiful daughters. He had no money to get his daughters married, and he was worried what would happen to them after his death. He thought they would become prostitutes. Saint Nicholas was passing through when he heard the villagers talking about the girls. St. Nicholas wanted to help, but knew that the old man wouldn't accept charity. He decided to help in secret. After dark he threw three bags of gold through an open window, one landed in a stocking. When the girls and their father woke up the next morning they found the bags of gold and were, of course, overjoyed. The girls were able to get married and live happily ever after. Other versions of the story say that Saint Nicholas threw the 3 bags of gold directly into the stockings which were hung by the fireplace to dry.

This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas.Saint Nicholas; also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century Christian saint and Greek Bishop of Myra in Lycia. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. And so, St. Nicholas is a gift-giver. This is also the origin of 3 gold balls being used as a symbol for pawnbrokers.

A tradition that began in a European country originally, children simply used one of their everyday socks, but eventually special Christmas stockings were created for this purpose. The Christmas stocking custom is derived from the Germanic/Scandinavian figure Odin. Odin is a major god in Norse mythology, the Allfather of the gods, and the ruler of Asgard.

According to Phyllis Siefker, children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw, or sugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat. Odin would reward those children for their kindness by replacing Sleipnir's food with gifts or candy. This practice, she claims, survived in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands after the adoption of Christianity and became associated with Saint Nicholas as a result of the process of Christianization. Today, stores carry a large variety of styles and sizes of Christmas stockings, and Christmas stockings are also a popular homemade craft. This claim is disputed though as there is no records of stocking filling practices related to Odin until there is a merging of St. Nicholas with Odin. St. Nicholas had an earlier merging with the Grandmother cult in Bari, Italy where the grandmother would put gifts in stockings. This merged St. Nicholas would later travel north and merge with the Odin cults.

Many families create their own Christmas stockings with each family member's name applied to the stocking so that Santa will know which stocking belongs to which family member.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_stocking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin
Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men: The Origins and Evolution of Saint Nicholas, Spanning 50,000 Years by Phyllis Siefker (Nov 27, 2006)

Poinsettia

The Poinsettia with its beautiful, red star shaped poinsettia is a favorite flower in the United States. In Central America it is called the "Flame Leaf" or "Flower of the Holy Night". The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico.

The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a culturally and commercially important plant species of the diverse spurge family that is indigenous to Mexico and Central America. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the United States in 1825.

Angel

According to the bible a host of angels proclaimed the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. Angels come in many forms for Christmas decorations including the Christmas tree topper.

Christmas Cards

A Christmas card (also called holiday card in the U.S.) is a greeting card sent as part of the traditional celebration of Christmas in order to convey between people a range of sentiments related to the Christmas and holiday season. Christmas cards are usually exchanged during the weeks preceding Christmas Day by many people (including non-Christians) in Western society and in Asia. The traditional greeting reads "wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". There are innumerable variations on this greeting, many cards expressing more religious sentiment, or containing a poem, prayer or Biblical verse; others stay away from religion with an all-inclusive "Season's greetings".

A Christmas card is generally commercially designed and purchased for the occasion. The content of the design might relate directly to the Christmas narrative with depictions of the Nativity of Jesus, or have Christian symbols such as the Star of Bethlehem or a white dove representing both the Holy Spirit and Peace. Many Christmas cards show Christmas traditions, such as seasonal figures (e.g., Santa Claus, snowmen, and reindeer), objects associated with Christmas such as candles, holly, baubles, and Christmas trees, and Christmastime activities such as shopping, caroling, and partying, or other aspects of the season such as the snow and wildlife of the northern winter. Some secular cards depict nostalgic scenes of the past such as crinolined shoppers in 19th century streetscapes; others are humorous, particularly in depicting the antics of Santa and his elves.

The first Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and illustrated by John Callcott Horsley in London on the 1st of May 1843. John Callcott Horsley (29 January 1817 – 18 October 1903), was an English Academic painter of genre and historical scenes, illustrator. He was a member of the artist's colony in Cranbrook. And Sir Henry Cole (15 July 1808 – 18 April 1882) was an English civil servant and inventor who facilitated many innovations in commerce and education in 19th century Britain. Cole is credited with devising the concept of sending greetings cards at Christmas time, introducing the world's first commercial Christmas card in 1843.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_card

First Christmas Card

Yule Log

The word "Yule" means "wheel" a symbol representing the sun. Before Jesus was born, pagans thoughts the sun stood still for 12 days at the end of the year. A log was cut large enough to burn for this time period to burn away last year's evil.

A yule log is a large and very hard log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or modern Christmas celebrations in several European cultures. It may also be associated with the winter solstice festival or the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Twelfth Night.

The expression yule log has also come to refer to log-shaped Christmas cakes, also known as chocolate logs or bûche de Noël. The yule log is related to other Christmas and Yuletide traditions such as the ashen faggot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_log

Mistletoe

The mistletoe has long been considered a magical plant. Mistletoe is an aerial parasite that has no toots of its own and lives off the tree that it attached itself to. It was used in various potions as a universal remedy and fertility drug. From the earliest times mistletoe has been one of the most magical, mysterious, and sacred plants of European folklore. Kissing under the mistletoe is first found associated with the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later with primitive marriage rites. The mistletoe is used during Christmas as the emblem of a love which conquers death.

When Christianity became widespread in Europe after the third century AD, the religious or mystical respect for the mistletoe plant was integrated to an extent into the new religion. In some way that is not presently understood, this may have led to the widespread custom of kissing under the mistletoe plant during the Christmas season. The earliest documented case of kissing under the mistletoe dates from 16th century England, a custom that was apparently very popular at that time.

Mistletoe is commonly used as a Christmas decoration, though such use was rarely alluded to until the 18th century. Viscum album is used in Europe whereas Phoradendron serotinum is used in North America. Both are commercially harvested. According to custom, the mistletoe must not touch the ground between its cutting and its removal as the last of Christmas greens at Candlemas. It may remain hanging throughout the year, often to preserve the house from lightning or fire, until it is replaced the following Christmas Eve. The tradition has spread throughout the English-speaking world, but is largely unknown in the rest of Europe.

The type of mistletoe used during Christmas celebrations is of the same type as that believed to be held sacred by ancient druids, but, outside northern Europe, the plant used is not of the same species. The mistletoe that is commonly used as a Christmas decoration in North America (Phoradendron flavescens) grows as a parasite on trees in the west as also in those growing in a line down the east from New Jersey to Florida. In Europe, where the custom originates, the 'original' mistletoe, Viscum album, is still used.

The European mistletoe is a green shrub with small, yellow flowers and white, sticky berries which are considered poisonous. Ancient druids considered the Viscum album plant holy, but had no knowledge of the Phoradendron flavescens. Modern druids focus on the parasitic habitat on oak (where it is very rarely found) as being the definer of a sacred mistletoe, and use Phoradendron flavescens as well as other mistletoe species.

According to an old Christmas custom, a man and a woman who meet under a hanging of mistletoe were obliged to kiss. The custom may be of Scandinavian origin. It was alluded to as common practice in 1808[23] and described in 1820 by American author Washington Irving in his The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.

Candy Cane

The Candy Cane, used during the holidays, stands as an important Christmas symbol, The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. next, three small stripes to symbolize pain inflicted upon Jesus before his death on the cross and a bold stripe to represent the blood he shed for mankind, Two other symbols are distinctive on the Candy Cane.When looked at, it looks like a Shepard's staff because Jesus in the Shepard of man. Then if we turn it upside sown, we will notice the shape of the letter J symbolizing the first letter in Jesus's name.

According to folklore, in 1670, in Cologne, Germany, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, wishing to remedy the noise caused by children in his church during the Living Crèche tradition of Christmas Eve, asked a local candy maker for some sweet sticks for them. In order to justify the practice of giving candy to children during worship services, he asked the candy maker to add a crook to the top of each stick, which would help children remember the shepherds who paid visit to infant Jesus. In addition, he used the white colour of the converted sticks to teach children about the Christian belief in the sinless life of Jesus.From Germany, the candy canes spread to other parts of Europe, where they were handed out during plays reenacting the Nativity.

A recipe for straight peppermint candy sticks, white with colored stripes, was published in 1844. The candy cane has been mentioned in literature since 1866,was first mentioned in association with Christmas in 1874, and as early as 1882 was hung on Christmas trees.Chicago confectioners the Bunte Brothers filed the earliest patents for candy cane making machines in the early 1920s.

Bells

Bells represent Joy and Sorrow. They are a symbol of creativity and harmony; the creating Word, and the music of the spheres, On Christmas Eve, these bells are heard ringing at midnight.

The bells were (and still are, in some places) rung to announce the anniversary of Christ's birth. When we see Christmas bells, we are reminded of the joyful announcement of Jesus' birth. Bells are also ancient symbols of protection and ringing them have long been considered a way to ward off negativity. To our ancestral minds, the very shape of the bell is reminiscent to dome of heaven. In Christianity the ringing of a bell is a sacred announcement to the presence of Christ at mass.

In addition Bells are used in various Christmas decorations including the decoration of Christmas tree.

Christmas Tree

Many pagan cultures worshipped evergreens, saw them as symbols of immortality, and used them to ward off evil spirits. In the early 700’s, Saint Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, demolished the Oak of Thor, the mighty sacred tree worshipped by the Saxons. From its roots grew a fir tree which Boniface took as a sign of the Christian faith. In the 11th century, Paradise plays portrayed the tree of Paradise, decorated with red apples. During the 15thcentury, the faithful began to erect trees in their homes on December 24, the feast day of Adam and Eve.

About the year 1500, Martin Luther, inspired by a snow covered fir tree, brought a small tree indoors and decorated it with candles in honor of Christ’s birth. By the 18th century, the custom of decorating a Christmas tree was well established in France, Germany, and Austria. Thus, the Christmas tree represents the original Tree of Paradise, the burning bush which spoke to Moses, the branch of Jesse from which Jesus was born, the life-giving tree of the cross of Christ, and the tree which St. John the Apostle saw in the Book of Revelations whose leaves have medicine for the people and which yields fruit each month for the healing of the nations. Because it is green year-round, the evergreen tree represents hope. Its needles and its narrow crest point upward, turning our thoughts to heaven. Because the tree is cut down and then erected again, it is a symbol of Christ’s resurrection.

http://excitementnnet.blogspot.com/search/label/Creative

Sky Scraping Buddhist Statues : Spring Temple Buddha - China

2013-12-08T03:29:00.001-08:00

The spring temple Buddha is the tallest statue in the world, at 502 feet ( when considering the building upon which it sites)and it was completed in 2002, at a cost of $ 55 million. It depicts vairocan, Buddha seen as the embodiment of emptioness ( Shunyata). It is located in the Zhaocun township of Lushan county, Henan,China. It is placed within the Fodushan Scenic Area, close to National Freeway No 311.

At 128m (420ft), which includes a 20m (66ft) lotus throne, it is the tallest statue in the world. When the 25m(82ft) height of 153m (502 ft0. As of October 2008, the hill on which the statue stands is being reshaped to form two further pedestals, the upper one being 15m tall, The total height of the monument is now said to be 208m.

The project as as whole was estimated to cost around $55m, $18m of which being spent on the statue.It was originally estimated to consist of 1,100 pieces of copper cast, with a total weight of 1,00 tonnes. Plans of the construction of the Spring Temple Buddha were announced soon after the blowing up of the Bamiyan Buddhas by the Taliban in Afghanistan. China has condemned the systematic destruction of the Buddhist heritage of Afghanistan.

Gigantic Dogs - Kangal Dog

2013-10-31T06:26:00.002-07:00

The Kangal Dog (Turkish: Kangal) is regarded as the national breed of Turkey. The Kangal, which weighs 100–165 lbs (45–80 kg) fully grown, was originally used as a livestock guardian dog. It is of an early mastiff type with a solid, pale tan or sabled coat, and with a black mask.

The breed is often referred to as a sheep dog, but distinction has to be made in regards to its function not as a herding dog, but as a flock guardian that lives with the flock to actively fend off wolves, bears and jackals. The Sivas Kangal Dog's protectiveness, loyalty and gentleness with small children and animals has led to its growing popularity as a guardian for families as well, as it regards people as its "flock" and guards them with extreme devotion.

At maturity, at least two years old, Kangals measure at the withers, from 30-32 inches for males and 28-30 inches for females. A male Kangal Dog in good condition should weigh between 125 and 165 pounds. A female should weigh between 90 and 120 pounds. The Kangal Dog is not as heavy as some other mastiff breeds, allowing it greater speed and agility than larger dogs. Kangal dogs can reach speeds of up to 30 miles (50 km) per hour.

The Kangal has a short double-layered coat made up of very dense underfur covered by longer and coarser hair. The under-layer provides insulation against both severe Anatolian winters and the fierce summer sun, while the outer-layer repels water and snow. This combination of coat allows it to regulate its core temperature more efficiently, while the coat is dense enough to repel rupture from wolf bites. The color and coat are perhaps the most visible traits that distinguish the Kangal from the Akbash and Anatolian. The coat must be short and dense, not long or feathery, and of a pale fawn or tan color with varying amounts of sable guard hairs. All Kangal Dogs have a black facial mask, and black or shaded ears. White at certain points (chest, chin, toes) may or may not be allowed, depending on the standard. Some heavily sabled Kangals also have darker legs and chests. Most importantly, the coat should not be broken, brindled, or spotted.

In Turkey, some working Kangals may have their ears cropped when they are a few weeks old by their shepherds. This is done for appearance and for protection, as long ears can be vulnerable in a physical confrontation with a predator. It is also believed that cropping improves the dog's hearing because sound can travel into ear easier. In Turkish, the majority of Kangal Dogs have their ears cropped as puppies. Cropped ears on a dog imported from Turkish should not be penalized, but cropped ears on a domestic-bred dog are a disqualification.

The ideal Kangal dogs should be calm, controlled, independent, and protective. They may be aloof towards strangers, but a well-socialized Kangal Dog is friendly with visitors and especially children. They must never be shy or vicious. A well-trained Kangal is sensitive and alert to changing situations, responding to threats with judicious warnings and courageous action if necessary. They make good guardians of livestock and humans alike, but they may not be suitable for inexperienced dog owners, as the independent intelligence of the Kangal makes for a difficult pupil. Due to their overwhelming strength, size and obedient temperament, Kangal dogs are now becoming popular in underground-illegal dog fights. In such circumstances, violent characteristics observed are brought out due to the dog's treatment by its owner; in most cases, these are quite degrading. The Turkish kangal is a very big dog.

A working Kangal on duty will station itself on a high vantage point overlooking its flock. On hot days, the dog will dig itself a hollow in the ground to keep cool. Novices learn by staying close to older dogs. The dogs will work in pairs or teams depending on the size of the flock, taking up positions around the sheep and changing their positions as needed. The intensity of their patrols around the sheep increases at nightfall.

When suspicious, a Kangal will stand with its tail and ears erect and give an alarm call, inciting the sheep to gather around it for protection. The Kangal’s first instinct is to place itself between the perceived threat and the sheep or master. Once the sheep are safely behind it, the Kangal confronts the intruder. When faced with a wolf, the Kangal sometimes is successful in intimidating the enemy, but it will resort to a physical confrontation if the predator stands its ground. Specialized wolf killers are known as "kurtçul kangal" in their homeland. But most importantly the Kangal Dog is from Turkey and not from Kurdistan as there is no such country named Kurdistan.

The earliest reliable account of Turkish shepherd dogs comes from Evliya Çelebi. In his Seyahatname (Book of Travels) he describes the ceremonial parades of the Janissaries, an elite Ottoman force, in which guarding-dogs were displayed in full regalia by their keepers.

Because Kangal name and breed has not been thoroughly defined and documented until recently, because of the slightly similar appearance and desire to capitalize on unique qualities of the breed, Anatolian Shepherd Dogs in general are sometimes labeled Kangals. Kangal is a distinct breed from Karabash, Akbash and the generic Anatolian Shepherd Dog. See Mountain dog breeds.

A contemporary national treasure in Turkey, the Kangal dog is one of over 30 livestock guardian breeds from various countries in Europe and Asia. Each is considered an important part of the culture and history of its region. To protect and conserve the genetic purity of the Kangal Dog, the government of Turkey has established several state-sponsored breeding centers.

In its home district of Kangal in the Sivas Province, the Kangal Dog is still primarily used as a livestock guardian and is highly prized. As the sheep industry continues to decline in eastern , Turkey purebred Kangals of the classic type are becoming increasingly prized, and sell for high prices. Many animals are brought from the villages to compete for prizes during the annual Kangal Festival. In their homeland, kangals are considered the only dogs capable of killing wolves.

Today, the kangal is protected by the Turkish government as part of Turkish national heritage, making it now illegal to export Kangals to non-Turkish nationals. Government sponsored breeding centers have been established at Kangal town and Ulas, where the breeding, development and health records of every dog are charted, regardless of location. Pedigrees are recorded, and certificates of origin are issued to owners of genuine Kangal Dogs.

Britain’s first kangal litter was produced in 1967 by Gazi of Bakirtollo köyü and his mate Sabahat of Hayıroğlu köyü. Dogs from this original line formed the foundation of the so-called "Seacop" stock.

In the US, the first purebred breeding programs for Kangal Dogs began in the early 1980s. The Kangal Dog is recognized by the United Kennel Club in the US, and by the national kennel clubs of South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. Many Kangal Dogs are being bred in Germany as well, mostly by immigrant workers. Some are registered as Anatolians, that being the only registration option open to them in Germany; most are unregistered. The Turkish Kennel Club is currently petitioning the FCI for recognition of both the Kangal Dog and the Akbash Dog.

Kangal Dog Club of America

http://www.kangalclub.com/

In Namibia the dogs are being used to help protect livestock from cheetah attacks. Kangal shepherd dogs have been bred to stop cheetahs from taking livestock. While depriving the cheetahs of occasional meals, the dogs have been doing them a good turn because, with the livestock left in peace, farmers have little reason to persecute the big cat.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/what-is-a-livestock-guard-dog-zbcz1308.aspx#axzz2jIzivn9Y

Almost 300 Kangals have been given to farmers in Namibia since 1994 by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) and the scheme has proved so successful that it has been extended to Kenya. In Namibia the dogs have been sent to live at 275 farms in the areas where livestock most frequently fall prey to cheetahs.

During the past 14 years the number of cheetahs killed by farmers is calculated to have fallen from 19 per farmer annually to 2.4. Livestock losses have been cut significantly at more than 80 per cent of the farms where the dogs have been adopted. Of the cats that are still killed by farmers the great majority are attributed to specific attacks on livestock instead, as was the case previously, of being tracked and slaughtered whenever they came close to a farm.

Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are also being used in Turkey which is home to less than 1,500 cheetahs. Free-ranging cheetah are at risk inside protected areas from larger predators and most of these enigmatic animals range freely across commercial farmlands where they come into conflict with livestock farmers. An abundant source of unprotected food (sheep, goats or calves) provides predators with an easily accessible resource, which they do not need to hunt. This food source will encourage predators to a farm and assist in their successful breeding resulting in an unsustainable growth of predators. Cheetah, being diurnal, are many times sighted by farmers and inappropriately blamed for all livestock loss resulting in many being trapped for removal or worse, removed by lethal methods of control such as indiscriminate poisoning, hunting and trapping. This often results in the removal of beneficial animals such as bat-eared fox, aardvark and raptors and does not target the problem animal. Hundreds of years of using these methods has not been successful in reducing loss of livestock to predators but has seriously threatened the survival of the more charismatic species, such as cheetah.

The initial pilot initiated in 2005 has demonstrated effectiveness on African farmlands. south africa is the third most biodiverse country in the world and farmers have a key role to play in preserving this. The Anatolian dogs, by working with the farmers, help to promote cheetah conservation on the farms where they are present. To date this programme has demonstrated a remarkable reduction in stock losses experienced by farmers with Anatolian Shepherd Guard Dogs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangal_Dog

Crystal Cave - Wonderful Creation of Nature

2013-02-10T05:08:00.000-08:00

Cave of the Crystals or Giant Crystal Cave is a cave connected to the Naica Mine 300 metres (980 ft) below the surface.This is in Naica, south of Chihuahua, Northern Mexico. Naica mine is one of Mexico's most productive silver mine.

The main chamber contains giant selenite crystals (gypsum, CaSO4·2 H2O), some of the largest natural crystals ever found. The cave's largest crystal found to date is 12 m (39 ft) in length, 4 m (13 ft) in diameter and 55 tons in weight.

The cave is extremely hot with air temperatures reaching up to 58 °C (136 °F). This is because about 5KM below the cave it is the molten lava in earths crust.

In order to counter the heat, one must wear specially designed refrigerated suite, packed with small ice cubes. Its not only the heat which is lethal but the humidity as well. Humidity is about 90 to 99 percent. With that amount of humidity moisture will get in to the lungs condensed. Therefore breathing apparatus is a must inside the cave. The cave is relatively unexplored due to these factors. Without proper protection people can only endure approximately ten minutes of exposure at a time.

Heat from the earth crust heated up the water and dissolving the minerals from the surrounding rocks. Heavy pressure forces this water to these caves. In the caves minerals were crystallized over a million years.

More Info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Crystals

Narwhal - Unicorn of the the Sea

2012-11-25T07:38:00.000-08:00

The narwhal or Narwhale is a toothed whale. The scientific name of this whale is Monodon Monoceros. They are regularly found eastwards from the Canadian Arctic to central Russia. And they are also infrequently found in eastern Siberia, Alaska and the western Canadian Arctic. They mostly remain above the Arctic Circle year round, but stragglers have been recorded around New-foundland, Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.

Head and body length, exclusive of the tusk, is 360-620 cm, pectoral fin length is 30-40 cm, and expanse of the tail flukes is 100-120 cm. According to Reeves and Tracey (1980) average head and body length is about 470 cm in males and 400 cm in females and average weight is 1,600 kg in males and 900 kg in females. About one-third of the weight is blubber. Coloration becomes paler with age. Adults have brownish or dark grayish upper parts and whitish underparts, with a mottled pattern of spots throughout. The head is relatively small, the snout blunt, and the flipper is short and rounded. There is no dorsal fin, but there is an irregular ridge about 5 cm high and 60-90 cm long on the posterior half of the back. The posterior margins of the tail flukes are strongly convex, rather than concave or straight as in most cetaceans.

There are only two teeth, both in the upper jaw. In females the teeth usually are not functional and remain embedded in the bone. In males the right tooth remains embedded, but the left tooth erupts, protrudes through the upper lip, and grows forward in a counterclockwise spiral pattern to form a long, straight tusk. The tusk is about one-third to one-half as long as the head and body and sometimes reaches a length of 300 cm and a weight of 10 kg. In rare cases the right tooth also forms a tusk, but both tusks are always twisted in the same direction. Occasionally one or even two tusks develop in a female. The distal end of the tusk has a polished appearance, and the remainder is usually covered by a reddish or greenish growth of algae. There is an outer layer of cement, an inner layer of dentine, and a pulp cavity that is rich in blood. Broken tusks are common, but the damaged end is filled by new dentine growth.

Narwhals have a varied diet, feeding upon squid, fish and crustaceans. With few functional teeth this animal is thought to use suction and the emission of a jet of water to dislodge prey such as bottom-living fish and molluscs. Their highly flexible necks aid in scanning a broad area and the capture of more mobile prey.

Foods eaten include: Polar cod, Greenland halibut, flounder, salmon, herring, crustaceans and cephalopods (octopuses and squids).

Historically narwhals were a staple food source of many Arctic peoples. Arctic people used the narwhals body for a number of other uses. The blubber can be rendered for oil, the sinew used as thread, and the tusks traded and carved.

Natural enemies include Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus), orcas, polar bears and walrus, although the mortality rates inflicted by these species do not seem to be very high (Born, 1994). The same author reports that narwhals do occasionally become trapped in fast forming ice and may die during the winter because of exhaustion in an attempt to keep the breathing hole open.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narwhal
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Monodon_monoceros/
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/13704/0
http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/M_monoceros/m_monoceros.htm

World Biggest Transport Ships

2012-11-03T05:51:00.001-07:00

World largest marine transport ships are owned by Dockwise. Dockwise Ltd. is a Bermuda-based holding company in the marine transport industry.

Dockwise was formed in September 1993 by the merger of two complementary companies, Wijsmuller Transport (a division of Heerema) and Dock Express Shipping (a division of Royal Vopak), becoming the world's largest seagoing heavy transport shipping company. They have several of largest transport ships. And some are semi-submersible vessels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dockwise

Below are some of those ships which are incredibly massive.

http://www.dockwise.com/page/homepage.html

DOCKWISE VANGUARD

Introducing the Dockwise Vanguard 117,000 metric tons of possibility.

Characteristics
Length o.a. : 275.00 meters
Length b.p. ; 270.00 meters
Breadth moulded / max. : 70.00 meters
Deck Space : (L X B)* 275.00 x 70.00 meters
Depth : 15.50 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 31.50 / 31.50 meters
Maximum draft : 10.99 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 16.00 meters
Deadweight (expected) : 117,000 metric tons
Speed (expected) : 14.5 knots
* Equipped with movable casings

Type of ship : HEAVY LIFT VESSEL
Gross tonnage : 91238 tons
DWT : 110000 tons
Builder : HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES - ULSAN, SOUTH KOREA
Flag : NETHERLANDS
Class society : DET NORSKE VERITAS
Manager & owner : DOCKWISE SHIPPING - BREDA, NETHERLANDS
Status : Under Construction (November, 2012)

Graphical Presentation

BLUE MARLIN

Characteristics
Length o.a. 224.80 meters
Length b.p. 206.64 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 63.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 178.20 x 63.00 meters
Depth 13.30 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 24.72 / 28.40 meters
Maximum draft 10.24 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 11.42 / 15.10 meters
Deadweight 76,061 metric tons
Speed 13.0 knots
* Equipped with fixed casing at starboard
Ship Type: Heavy lift vessel - Semi-submersible
Year Built: 2000
Length x Breadth: 225 m X 63 m
Gross Tonnage: 51821, DeadWeight: 76061 t
Speed recorded (Max / Average): 11.8 / 10.5 knots
Flag: Neth.Antilles [AN]
Call Sign: PJFM
IMO: 9186338, MMSI: 306589000

MIGHTY SERVANT 1

Characteristics
Length o.a. 190.93 meters
Length b.p. 174.70 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 50.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 150.00 x 50.00 meters
Depth 12.00 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 22.00 / 26.00 meters
Maximum draft 9.32 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 10.00 / 14.00 meters
Deadweight 45,407 metric tons
Speed 14.0 knots
* Equipped with movable casings
Ship Type: Heavy lift vessel - Semi-submersible
Year Built: 1983
Length x Breadth: 190 m X 50 m
Gross Tonnage: 29193, DeadWeight: 40910 t
Speed recorded (Max / Average): 5.6 / 5.6 knots
Flag: Neth.Antilles [AN]
Call Sign: PJVZ
IMO: 8130875, MMSI: 306812000

BLACK MARLIN

Characteristics
Length o.a. 217.50 meters
Length b.p. 206.57 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 42.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 165.60 x 42.00 meters
Depth 13.30 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 23.34 meters
Maximum draft 10.08 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 10.00 meters
Deadweight 57,021 metric tons
Speed 14.5 knots
* Equipped with fixed casing at starboard
Ship Type: Heavy lift vessel
Year Built: 1999
Length x Breadth: 218 m X 42 m
Gross Tonnage: 37938, DeadWeight: 57021 t
Speed recorded (Max / Average): 13.3 / 12.6 knots
Flag: Neth.Antilles [AN]
Call Sign: PJCK
IMO: 9186326, MMSI: 306587000

HYSY 278 (VESSEL OPERATED BY DOCKWISE)

Characteristics
Length o.a. 221.60 meters
Length b.p. 210.88 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 42.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 179.20 x 42.00 meters
Depth 13.30 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 26.80 meters
Maximum draft 10.15 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 13.50 meters
Deadweight 52,789 metric tons
Speed 14.0 knots
* Equipped with movable casings

TRANSSHELF

Characteristics
Length o.a. 173.00 meters
Length b.p. 162.00 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 40.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 132.00 x 40.00 meters
Depth 12.00 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 22.00 meters
Maximum draft 8.80 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 10.00 meters
Deadweight 34,030 metric tons
Speed 15.5 knots
* Equipped with fixed casing at starboard

MIGHTY SERVANT 3

Characteristics
Length o.a. 180.50 meters
Length b.p. 165.72 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 40.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 140.00 x 40.00 meters
Depth 12.00 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 22.00 meters
Maximum draft 9.51 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 10.00 meters
Deadweight 27,720 metric tons
Speed 15.0 knots
* Equipped with movable casings

TRANSPORTER

Characteristics
Length o.a. 216.86 meters
Length b.p. 207.93 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 45.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 130.00 x 44.50 meters
Depth 14.00 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 23.00 / 23.00 meters
Maximum draft 10.75 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 9.00 / 9.00 meters
Deadweight 53,806 metric tons
Speed 15.0 knots

TARGET

Characteristics
Length o.a. 216.86 meters
Length b.p. 207.86 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 45.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 130.00 x 44.50 meters
Depth 14.00 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 23.00 / 23.00 meters
Maximum draft 10.44 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 9.00 / 9.00 meters
Deadweight 53,868 metric tons
Speed 14.5 knots

TREASURE

Characteristics
Length o.a. 216.86 meters
Length b.p. 207.82 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 45.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 130.00 x 44.50 meters
Depth 14.00 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 23.00 / 23.00 meters
Maximum draft 10.44 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 9.00 / 9.00 meters
Deadweight 53,868 metric tons
Speed 15.0 knots

TALISMAN

Characteristics
Length o.a. 216.79 meters
Length b.p. 207.93 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 45.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 130.00 x 44.50 meters
Depth 14.00 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 23.00 / 23.00 meters
Maximum draft 10.44 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 9.00 / 9.00 meters
Deadweight 53,000 metric tons
Speed 14.5 knots

TRUSTEE

Characteristics
Length o.a. 216.81 meters
Length b.p. 207.87 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 45.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 130.00 x 44.50 meters
Depth 14.00 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 23.00 / 23.00 meters
Maximum draft 10.44 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 9.00 / 9.00 meters
Deadweight 54,013 metric tons
Speed 14.5 knots

TRIUMPH

Characteristics
Length o.a. 216.75 meters
Length b.p. 209.67 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 45.00 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 130.00 x 44.50 meters
Depth 14.00 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 23.00 / 23.00 meters
Maximum draft 10.44 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 9.00 / 9.00 meters
Deadweight 53,818 metric tons
Speed 14.5 knots

SWAN

Characteristics
Length o.a. 180.96 meters
Length b.p. 171.39 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 32.26 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 126.60 x 31.66 meters
Depth 13.30 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 19.64 / 21.65 meters
Maximum draft 9.74 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 6.34 / 8.35 meters
Deadweight 30,060 metric tons
Speed 16.0 knots

SWIFT

Characteristics
Length o.a. 180.12 meters
Length b.p. 171.42 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 32.26 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 126.60 x 31.70 meters
Depth 13.30 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 19.64 / 21.65 meters
Maximum draft 9.49 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 6.34 / 8.35 meters
Deadweight 32,187 metric tons
Speed 15.0 knots

TEAL

Characteristics
Length o.a. 180.82 meters
Length b.p. 171.42 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 32.26 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 126.60 x 31.70 meters
Depth 13.30 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 19.64 / 21.65 meters
Maximum draft 9.99 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 6.34 / 8.35 meters
Deadweight 32,101 metric tons
Speed 15.0 knots

TERN

Characteristics
Length o.a. 180.96 meters
Length b.p. 171.39 meters
Breadth moulded / max. 32.26 meters
Deck Space (L X B)* 126.60 x 31.66 meters
Depth 13.30 meters
Draft submerged at FPP / APP 19.64 / 21.65 meters
Maximum draft 9.97 meters
Water-depth above main deck FPP / APP 6.34 / 8.35 meters
Deadweight 30,060 metric tons
Speed 16.0 knots

YACHT EXPRESS

Characteristics
Length o.a. 209.03 meters
Length b.p. 191.88 meters
Breadth 32.20 meters
Free Deck Space (L X B) 165 x 30.60 meters
(entrance 27.20m)
Depth 8.50 meters
Draft submerged 17.00 meters
Summer draft 5.94 meters
Water depth above main deck 8.5 meters
GRT 17,951 -
NRT 5,386 -
Deadweight 9,400 metric tons
Speed 18 knots
Class DNV

SUPER SERVANT 3

Characteristics
Length o.a. 139.09 meters
Length b.p. 130.00 meters
Breadth 32.00 meters
Free Deck Space (L X B) 116 x 32 meters
(entrance 23,68m)
Depth 8.50 meters
Draft submerged 14.50 meters
Summer draft 6.26 meters
Water depth above main deck 6.00 meters
GRT 10,224 -
NRT 3,067 -
Deadweight 14,138 metric tons
Speed 14 knots
Class ABS
* Equipped with fixed casings

SUPER SERVANT 4

Characteristics
Length o.a. 169.49 meters
Length b.p. 160.00 meters
Breadth 32.00 meters
Free Deck Space (L X B) 116 x 32 meters
(entrance 23,68m)
Depth 8.50 meters
Draft submerged 14.50 meters
Summer draft 5.38 meters
Water depth above main deck 6.00 meters
GRT 12,642 -
NRT 3,792 -
Deadweight 14,059 metric tons
Speed 13 knots
Class ABS
* Equipped with fixed casings

Nicolas Cage Tattoos

2012-10-29T08:19:00.001-07:00

Tattoos on Sexy Megan

2012-10-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

Megan Fox tattoos have created a stir in Hollywood and on the Internet. A few of her nine tattoos have raised a few eyebrows for their unique design and creativity, among them are a Marilyn Monroe and tribal design tattoo.

There seven tattoos that Megan Fox has displayed publicly including photography shoots for magazine covers. Two are textual quotes from Shakespeare's "King Lear" designed using Old English font on her shoulder and the side of ribcage. The tattoo portrait of Marilyn Monroe is on her arm and is the most visible.

Gilded Butterflies

Megan Fox has Old English text on her right scapula reading:

"We will all laugh at gilded butterflies."

This is a reference, not a complete quote (although pretty close), from Act V, Scene III of Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear.

Here is the full quote by King Lear to his daughter, Cordelia:

No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison.
We two alone will sing like birds i' th' cage.
When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down
And ask of thee forgiveness. So we'll live,
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too-
Who loses and who wins; who's in, who's out-
And take upon 's the mystery of things,
As if we were God's spies; and we'll wear out,
In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones
That ebb and flow by th' moon.

Little Girls With Broken Hearts

there
once was
a little
girl who
never knew
love until
a boy
broke her
HEART

Marilyn Monroe

She has a popular image of Marilyn tattooed on her inner right forearm.

As of April 2011, many sources are saying that Megan Fox is likely getting the famous icon lasered off as the image has been drastically fading but this has not been confirmed or denied by Fox's "people"

Moon & Star

On the inner aspect of her lower leg above her right ankle, Megan Fox has a crescent moon overlapping a five pointed star. It is the one visibly colored tattoo that she has.

Brian

Megan Fox had a long term on again off again relationship with actor Brian Austin Green (Terminator, The Sarah Conner Chronicles) that lasted six years before she married him in the summer of 2010. She has a script tattoo of his first name between her pubic bone and right hip.

Ying and Yang

On the inside of Megan's left wrist is a tribal tattoo of two waves entwined like a yin and yang symbol. This tattoo has a bit of color but looks like black ink from a distance.

Strength

On the back of her neck just below the hairline Megan has a black ink tattoo of the Chinese symbol of strength in calligraphy. It's a simple tattoo with a strong meaning.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Megan has a new script on her right ribcage. There are no clear images of the complete tattoo but it has been pieced together that it is a quote widely attributed to German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.

"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."

Eye of the Sahara

2012-10-29T04:03:00.000-07:00

This is a one interesting place in earth. This is also known as Richat Structure and Guelber Richat. Its a elliptical circular featured landscape area in the Sahara desert. This place is very clearly visible when you are in space. And its really looks like an Eye. So, it is called and Eye of Sahara. And it is in Mauritania.

You can get clear view in Google maps with below link. And clear images can seen if you select to view with Panaromio.

Mauritania in Google Maps

And Wikipedia has below to say about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richat_Structure

False coloring as follows : bedrock=brown, sand=yellow/white, vegetation=green, salty sediments= blue

This is a prominent circular feature in the Sahara desert of west–central Mauritania near Ouadane. This structure is a deeply eroded, slightly elliptical, 40-km in diameter, dome. The sedimentary rock exposed in this dome range in age from Late Proterozoic within the center of the dome to Ordovician sandstone around its edges. The sedimentary rockscomprising this structure dip outward at 10°-20°. Differential erosion of resistant layers of quartzite has created high-relief circular cuestas. Its center consists of a siliceous breccia covering an area that is at least 3 km in diameter.

Exposed within the interior of the Richat structure are a variety of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks. They include rhyolitic volcanic rocks,gabbros, carbonatites and kimberlites. The rhyolitic rocks consist of lava flows and hydrothermally altered tuffaceous rocks that are part of two distinct eruptive centers, which are interpreted to be the eroded remains of two maars. According to field mapping and aeromagnetic data, the gabbroic rocks form two concentric ring dikes. The inner ring dike is about 20 m in width and lies about 3 km from the center of Richat Structure. The outer ring dike is about 50 m in width and lies about 7 to 8 km from the center of this structure. Thirty-two carbonatite dikes and sills have been mapped within the Richat structure. The dikes are generally about 300 m long and typically 1 to 4 m wide. They consist of massive carbonatites that are mostly devoid of vesicles. The carbonatite rocks have been dated as having cooled between 94 to 104 million years ago. A kimberlitic plug and several sills have been found within the northern part of the Richat structure. The kimberlite plug has been dated being about 99 million years old. These intrusive igneous rocks are interpreted as indicating the presence of a large alkaline igneous intrusion that currently underlies the Richat structure and created it by uplifting the overlying rock.

Spectacular hydrothermal features are a part of the Richat structure. They include the extensive hydrothermal alteration of rhyolites and gabbros and a central megabreccia created by hydrothermal dissolution and collapse. The siliceous megabreccia is at least 40 m thick in its center to only a few meters thick along its edges. The breccia consists of fragments of white to dark gray cherty material, quartz-rich sandstone, diagenetic cherty nodules, and stromatolitic limestone and is intensively silicified. The hydrothermal alteration, which created this breccia, has been dated to have occurred about 98.2 ± 2.6 million years ago using the 40Ar/39Ar method.

Initially interpreted as an asteroid impact structure because of its high degree of circularity, it is now argued to be a highly symmetrical and deeply eroded geologic dome. Despite extensive field and laboratory studies, geologists have found a lack of any credible evidence for shock metamorphism or any type of deformation indicative of a hypervelocity extraterrestrial impact. Coesite, an indicator of shock metamorphism, had been reported as being present in rocks samples collected from the Richat structure. As the result of the further analysis of rock samples from this structure, it was concluded that barite had been misidentified as coesite. In addition, the Richat structure lacks the annular depression that characterizes large extraterrestrial impact structures of this size. Also, it is quite different from large extraterrestrial impact structures in that the sedimentary strata comprising this structure is remarkably intact and "orderly" and lacking in overturned, steeply dipping strata or disoriented blocks. A more recent multianalytical study on the Richat megabreccias concluded that carbonates within the silica-rich megabreccias were created by low-temperature hydrothermal waters, and that the structure requires special protection and further investigation of its origin.

Amazing, Odd and Weird Human Statues

2012-07-25T21:29:00.001-07:00

Giant thumb statue in Paris

The giant thumb statue in Paris is called "Le Pouce de Cesar"(The Thumb) and is 12 meters high, 4 meters wide and weighs 18 tonnes. This can be found at the area of Paris called La Defense near the Grande Arche. La Défense is a major business district of the Paris aire urbaine.It is centered in an orbital motorway straddling the Hauts-de-Seine département municipalities of Nanterre, Courbevoie and Puteaux.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_D%C3%A9fense

This artistic creation done by the renowned French sculptor Cesar Baldaccini. He designed this sculpture in 1965.

Invisible-Musician-Amsterdam

A statue of a Invisible musician stands in Marnix Park in Amsterdam.

Ku Bom Ju statue

Situated in front of the Bukcheon Museum. Bukchon Art Museum is an art museum in Seoul, South Korea. It has 150 pieces of Korean modern art, 200 pieces of Chinese art, 2500 of old documents of Joseon dynasty in total of 2850.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukchon_Art_Museum

This statue shows two people sharing their biscuit which also represents the Korean culture of sharing

De Vaartkapoen - Belgium

De Vaartkapoen by Tom Franzen stands outside the Communaute Francaise in Molenbeek. It is an irreverent tribute to the anarchaic side of the Bruxeloise. The title is a slang term for people born in Molenbeek; 'de vaart' means 'the canal' and 'kapoen' means cheeky. It shows a young rebel, the Vaartkapoen, reminiscent of a jack-in-the-box, toppling over a policeman, thus overthrowing his authority.

Piss Statue - Prague

The Piss statue is a controversial statue in Prague that has been crafted by David Cerny. He erected a statue of two naked men staring at each other, their members shift from side to side releasing water. The statue is titled 'Piss' and is located in Prague.

Tree Cutter

The tree guy, a little chap with his saw appeared one night, and was depicted as sawing through a branch in one of Amsterdam's biggest and oldest trees in Leidsebosje between the busy Leidseplein entertainment area and trams rattling around the corner in the Stadhouderskade.

Mother and Daughter

This beautiful and amazing statue lies outside a building in Salt Lake City, Utah representing a mother swinging her daughter around and around. The sculptor has beautifully expressed the moment shared between a mother and her daughter.

London Swimmer

This 46-feet long and 10-feet high sculpture of a life-like swimmer swimming through the grass was commissioned by London Ink reality TV show. The swimmer statue is made out of reinforced polystyrene and is a major draw for tourists and Londoners.

Amsterdam Opera House

The creative statue depicts a violinist bursting out of the floor in the foyer of the muziektheater in the 'Stopera' (City Opera House).

The Muziektheater is the most important opera and ballet venue in the Netherlands. It is part of the Stopera, a complex that also houses the city hall. The Muziektheater (The Music Theater) is home of The Dutch Opera, The National Ballet, and the Holland Symphonia. The music theater is situated at the borders of the river Amstel in one of the oldest parts of the city.

The idea of building a complex that would house a music theater and a city hall first came up in 1915. It took long for the plan to materialize, but in 1981 the City Council finally took the decision to go forward with the project. The Dutch architect Cees Dam was appointed to build the Music Theater in cooperation with Wilhelm Holzbauer, who was responsible for the city hall. The Music theater celebrated its officially opening in 1986 and the City Council moved to the new city hall in 1988.

http://www.amsterdam.info/muziektheater/

Crazy and Funny Hats

2012-07-25T03:21:00.001-07:00

Creative Advertisements

2012-07-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

Gigantic Dogs - Saint Bernard

2012-07-15T20:56:00.001-07:00

The St. Bernard is a breed of very large working dog from the Italian and Swiss Alps, originally bred for rescue. The breed has become famous through tales of alpine rescues, as well as for its large size.

The St. Bernard is a large dog. The average weight of the breed is between 140 and 264 lb (64–120 kg) or more and the approximate height at the withers is 27½ inches to 35½ inches (70 to 90 cm). The coat can be either smooth or rough, with the smooth coat close and flat. The rough coat is dense but flat, and more profuse around the neck and legs. The coat is typically a red color with white, or sometimes a mahogany brindle with white. Black shading is usually found on the face and ears. The tail is long and heavy, hanging low with the end turned up slightly. The dark eyes should have naturally tight lids, with "haws only slightly visible". Sometimes the eyes, brown usually, can be icy blue, nearly white.

The ancestors of the St. Bernard share a history with the Sennenhunds, also called Swiss Mountain Dogs or Swiss Cattle Dogs, the large farm dogs of the farmers and dairymen of the Swiss Alps, which were livestock guardians, herding dogs, and draft dogs as well as hunting dogs, search and rescue dogs, and watchdogs. These dogs are thought to be descendants of molosser type dogs brought into the Alps by the ancient Romans, and the St. Bernard is recognized internationally today as one of the Molossoid breeds.

The earliest written records of the St. Bernard breed are from monks at the hospice at the Great St Bernard Pass in 1707, with paintings and drawings of the dog dating even earlier.

The most famous St. Bernard to save people at the pass was Barry (sometimes spelled Berry), who reportedly saved somewhere between 40 and 100 lives. There is a monument to Barry in the Cimetière des Chiens, and his body was preserved in the Natural History Museum in Berne.

The classic St. Bernard looked very different from the St. Bernard of today due to cross-breeding. Severe winters from 1816 to 1818 led to increased numbers of avalanches, killing many of the dogs used for breeding while they were performing rescues. In an attempt to preserve the breed, the remaining St. Bernards were crossed with Newfoundlands brought from the Colony of Newfoundland in the 1850s, and so lost much of their use as rescue dogs in the snowy climate of the alps because the long fur they inherited would freeze and weigh them down.

The Swiss St. Bernard Club was founded in Basel on March 15, 1884. The St. Bernard was the very first breed entered into the Swiss Stud Book in 1884, and the breed standard was finally approved in 1888. Since then, the breed has been a Swiss national dog.

The name "St. Bernard" originates from traveler's hospice on the often treacherous St. Bernard Pass in the Western Alps between Switzerland and Italy, where the name was passed to the local dogs. The pass, the lodge, and the dogs are named for Bernard of Menthon, the 11th century monk who established the station.

"St. Bernard" wasn't in widespread use until the middle of the 19th century. The dogs were called "Saint Dogs", "Noble Steeds", "Alpenmastiff", or "Barry Dogs" before that time. They were also used for rescuing people in the Alps.

The breed is strikingly similar to the English Mastiff and Newfoundland. This can be attributed to a common shared ancestry with the Alpine Mastiff and the Tibetan Mastiff. It is suspected that these breeds were used to redevelop each other to combat the threat of their extinction after World War II.

The four Sennenhund breeds, the Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund (Greater Swiss Mountain Dog), the Berner Sennenhund, (Bernese Mountain Dog), the Appenzeller Sennenhund, (Appenzeller), and the Entlebucher Sennenhund (Entlebucher Mountain Dog) are similar in appearance and share the same location and history, but are tricolour rather than red and white.

St. Bernards share many characteristics of many Mountain dog breeds.

The St. Bernard is recognised internationally by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as a Molosser in Group 2, Section 2. The breed is recognised by The Kennel Club (UK), the Canadian Kennel Club, and the American Kennel Club in the Working Dog breed group. The United Kennel Club (US) places the breed in the Guardian Dog Group. The New Zealand Kennel Club and the Australian National Kennel Council place the breed in the Utility Group

St. Bernard dogs are no longer used for alpine rescues, but do participate in a variety of dog sports including carting and weight pulling.

The very fast growth rate and the weight of a St. Bernard can lead to very serious deterioration of the bones if the dog does not get proper food and exercise. Many dogs are genetically affected by hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia. Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) has been shown to be hereditary in the breed. They are susceptible to eye disorders called entropion and ectropion, in which the eyelid turns in or out. The breed standard indicates that this is a major fault. The breed is also susceptible to epilepsy and seizures, a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, and eczema.

Due to the likelihood of health problems in later years, the average lifespan for a St. Bernard is around 8 years. A few St. Bernards may live beyond 10 years, but this is highly unusual.

St. Bernards, like all very large dogs, must be well socialized with people and other dogs in order to prevent fearfulness and any possible aggression or territoriality. The biggest threat to small children is being knocked over by this breed's larger size. Overall they are a loyal and affectionate breed, and if socialized are very friendly and are occasionally avoided because of their slobber.

Due to its large adult size, it is essential that proper training and socialization begin while the St. Bernard is still a puppy, so as to avoid the difficulties that normally accompany training large animals. An unruly St. Bernard may present problems for even a strong adult, so control needs to be asserted from the beginning of the dog's training. While generally not as aggressive as dogs bred for protection, a St. Bernard may bark at strangers, and their size makes them good deterrents against possible intruders.

St. Bernards were exported to England in the mid-19th century, where they were bred with mastiffs to create an even larger dog. Plinlimmon, a famous St. Bernard of the time, was measured at 95 kg (210 lbs) and 87.5 cm (341⁄2ins), and was sold to an American for $7000. Commercial pressure encouraged breeding ever larger dogs until "the dogs became so gross that they had difficulties in getting from one end of a show ring to another".

An 1895 New York Times report mentions a St. Bernard named Major F. who, if the claims are true, would be the longest dog in history.Another St. Bernard named Benedictine V Schwarzwald Hof (Pierson, Michigan - USA) also reached 315 lbs, which earned a place in the 1981 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Bernard_%28dog%29

The legend or myth regarding Saint Bernards carrying kegs on their collars had its start in the early 1800′s in England. ‘Lion’ a Saint Bernard from the hospice was imported to England in 1815. As young boy of thirteen Sir Edwin Henry Landseer was so impressed with this huge and majestic dog that he drew a picture of the breed. The boy’s famous brother, Charles Landseer made an engraving of the picture and published the work.

In 1820, at eighteen years old, he painted two “Alpine Mastiffs” (AKA Saint Bernards) saving a traveler in the Great St. Bernard Pass. The painting was entitled: ‘Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distressed Traveler’. His father and teacher made a popular engraving of this painting in 1831.

One of the dogs pictured in Landseer’s painting was carrying a wooden keg or cask of wine from it’s collar. Some say this is purely artistic license and that the dogs never carried kegs. Others disagree because of other supporting evidence that the dogs from the Hospice did in fact carry brandy or wine for lost travelers. In any case this is the painting that started the legend or myth of Saint Bernard dogs carrying kegs on their collar.

Gigantic Dog - Newfoundland

2012-07-14T02:12:00.000-07:00

The Newfoundland is a breed of large dog. Newfoundlands can be black, brown, gray, or black and white. They were originally bred and used as a working dog for fishermen in the Dominion of Newfoundland, now part of Canada. They are known for their giant size, tremendous strength, calm dispositions, and loyalty. Newfoundland dogs excel at water rescue/lifesaving due to their muscular build, thick double coat, webbed feet, and innate swimming abilities.

Newfoundlands ('Newfs', 'Newfies') have webbed feet and a water-resistant coat. Males weigh 60–70 kg (130–150 lb), and females 45–55 kg (100–120 lb), placing them in the "Giant" weight range. Some Newfoundland dogs have been known to weigh over 90 kg (200 lb). The largest Newfoundland on record weighed 120 kg (260 lbs) and measured over 6 feet from nose to tail, ranking it among the biggest Molossers. They may grow up to 22–28 inches tall at the shoulder.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) standard colors of the Newfoundland dogs are: black, brown, gray, and landseer (black or brown head and white and black or brown body); The Kennel Club (KC) permits only black, brown, and landseer; the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) permits are only black and landseer. The Landseer is named after the artist Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, who featured them in many of his paintings. AKC, CKC, and KC all treat Landseer as part of the breed. Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) consider the Landseer to be a separate breed; others consider it only a Newfoundland color variation.

The Newfoundland's extremely large bones give it mass, while its large musculature gives it the power it needs to take on rough ocean waves and powerful tides. These dogs have great lung capacity for swimming extremely long distances, and a thick, oily and waterproof double coat which protects them from the chill of icy waters. The droopy lips and jowls make the dog drool.

In the water, the dog's massive webbed paws give it maximum propulsion. The swimming stroke is not an ordinary dog paddle. Unlike other dogs, the Newfoundland moves its limbs in a down-and-out motion, which can be seen as a modified breaststroke. This gives it more power with every stroke.

The Newfoundland dog is legendary for its calm and docile nature and its strength. It is for this reason that this breed is known as "the gentle giant". International kennel clubs generally describe the breed as having a sweet temper. It typically has a deep bark, is easy to train if started young, and makes a fine guardian or watchdog. It is exceptionally good with children, giving it the nickname "the nanny dog." The breed was memorialized in "Nana," the beloved dog guardian in Peter Pan. The Newfoundland is also extremely good with other animals.

There are several health problems associated with Newfoundlands. Newfoundlands are prone to hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint). They also get Elbow dysplasia, and cystinuria (a hereditary defect that forms calculi stones in the bladder). Another genetic problem is subvalvular aortic stenosis. This is a common heart defect in Newfoundlands involving defective heart valves. SAS can cause sudden death at an early age.

The Newfoundland shares many characteristics with other mastiffs, such as the St. Bernard and English mastiff, including short, stout legs, massive heads with very broad snouts, a thick bull neck, and a very sturdy bone structure. In fact, many St. Bernard Dogs have Newfoundland Dog ancestry. Newfoundlands were brought and introduced to the St. Bernard breed in the 18th century when the population was threatened by an epidemic of distemper. They share many characteristics of many Mountain dog breeds such as the Great Pyrenees.

The Newfoundland breed originated in Newfoundland, and is descended from a breed indigenous to the island known as the lesser Newfoundland, or St. John's Dog. The mastiff characteristics of the Newfoundland are likely a result of breeding with mastiffs brought to the island by Portuguese fishermen beginning in the 16th century.

The speculation that Newfoundlands may be partly descended from big black bear dogs introduced by the Vikings in 1001 A.D. is based more in romance than in fact.

By the time colonization was permitted in Newfoundland in 1610, the distinct physical characteristics and mental attributes had been established in the Newfoundland breed. In the early 1880s, fishermen and explorers from Ireland and England traveled to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, where they described two main types of working dog. One was heavily built, large with a longish coat, and the other medium-sized in build – an active, smooth-coated water dog. The heavier breed was known as the Greater Newfoundland, or Newfoundland. The smaller breed was known as the Lesser Newfoundland, or St. John's Dog. The St. John's Dog became the founding breed of the modern retrievers, including the Labrador Retriever. Both breeds were used as working dogs to pull fish nets, with the Greater Newfoundland also being used to haul carts, and other equipment.

Because of that, they were part of the foundation stock of the Leonberger (which excelled at water rescue and was imported by the Canadian government for that purpose); and the now extinct Moscow Water Dog, a failed attempt at creating a lifesaving dog by the Russian state kennel -- the unfortunate outcross with the Caucasian Ovcharka begat a biting and not a rescuing dog.

Many tales have been told of the courage displayed by Newfoundlands in adventuring and lifesaving exploits. Over the last two centuries, this has inspired a number of artists, who have portrayed the dogs in paint, stone, bronze and porcelain. One famous Newfoundland was a dog named Seaman, who accompanied American explorers Lewis and Clark on their expedition.

The breed prospered in the United Kingdom, until 1914 and again in 1939, when its numbers were almost fatally depleted by wartime restrictions. Since the 1950s there has been a steady increase in numbers and popularity, despite the fact that the Newfoundland's great size and fondness for mud and water makes it unsuitable as a pet for many households.

During the Discovery Channel's second day of coverage of the AKC Eukanuba National Championship on December 3, 2006, anchor Bob Goen reported that Newfoundlands exhibit a very strong propensity to rescue people from water. Goen stated that one Newfoundland alone once aided the rescue of 63 shipwrecked sailors. Today, kennel clubs across the United States host Newfoundland Rescue Demonstrations, as well as offering classes in the field.

An unnamed Newfoundland is credited for saving Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815. During his famous escape from exile on the island of Elba, rough seas knocked Napoleon overboard. A fisherman's dog jumped into the sea, and kept Napoleon afloat until he could reach safety.

In 1828, Ann Harvey of Isle aux Morts, her father, her brother, and a Newfoundland Dog named Hairyman saved over 160 Irish immigrants from the wreck of the brig Dispatch.

In the early 20th century, a dog that is thought to have been a Newfoundland saved 92 people who were on a sinking ship in Newfoundland during a blizzard. The dog retrieved a rope thrown out into the turbulent waters by those on deck, and brought the rope to shore to people waiting on the beach. A breeches buoy was attached to the rope, and all those aboard the ship were able to get across to the shore.

In 1995, a 10-month old Newfoundland named Boo saved a hearing-impaired man from drowning in the Yuba River in Northern California. The man fell into the river while dredging for gold. Boo noticed the struggling man as he and his owner were walking along the river. The Newfoundland instinctively dove into the river, took the drowning man by the arm, and brought him to safety. According to Janice Anderson, the Newfoundland’s breeder, Boo had received no formal training in water rescue.

Further evidence of Newfoundlands' ability to rescue or support life saving activities was cited in a recent article by the BBC. The breed continues in that role today, along with the Leonberger, Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever dogs; they are used at the Italian School of Canine Lifeguard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland_dog

Jessica Alba Tattoos

2012-07-13T00:06:00.001-07:00

1. Tatoo of a daisy with a ladybug on it on the back of her neck

2. Sanskrit word for "lotus" tattooed on the inside of her wrist
3. Image of a bow at the lower back

Jessica Alba Tattoos consist only of 3 pieces that you can find in her body. She wears a tattoo printed in Sanskrit word as “Padma” that is interpreted as a lotus flower. For Hindus, this means spiritual development, and the symbol manifests mental purity rising above with beauty. This is clearly depicted in her tattoo with an exotic flower rising above the surface of the dirty water in lakes and ponds covered with mud.

Parts of the Jessica Alba Tattoos also include a daisy flower with a ladybug located at the back of her neck (Originally green, black and red), and the image of a bow at the lower back. Her neck also carries a certain image of a tattoo that is hidden. With the locations of these 3 prominent Jessica Alba Tattoos that this celebrity has, you can draw an idea that she embedded them in strategically noticeable parts of her body, yet she is able to get away with it without being noticed by people.

This is a clear manifestation of her desire to have these Jessica Alba Tattoos inked in such a way that she can show them if she wants, and hide them if not. This is a clear indication of her ingenuity in handling delicate things, and cleverness in her decisions. Jessica’s choice of a daisy flower with a ladybug tattoo on her neck is inspired by her mother and aunt towards a solid bonding agreement.

Jessica Alba had the back of her neck tattooed as a 'bonding experience' with her mother and aunt two years ago but it appears she has already tired of the etching. The noticeably faded daisy and ladybird suggests the 28-year-old star is undergoing laser surgery to get rid of the tacky design. The cover-up was spotted as the Fantastic Four actress debuted her new red hairstyle while joining a female friend for a manicure session in Beverly Hills yesterday(27th September 2009).

The faded nature of the small tattoo on her neck suggests she is in the process of getting her tattoo removed with laser surgery. Laser surgery takes between three to 15 treatments, which take place at least six weeks apart, to remove all trace of the tattoos. Jessica's removal of the daisy and ladybird means she will have two remaining tattoos - the Sanskrit word 'Padma' on her wrist and a bow on her lower back.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1216585/Has-Jessica-Alba-tired-tattoo-gone-laser-surgery.html#ixzz1Vu7E8jzX

Gigantic Dogs - Caucasian Shepherd Dog

2012-07-11T21:02:00.005-07:00

The Caucasian Shepherd Dog (Azerbaijani: Qafqaz Iti, Georgian,"Kavkasiuri nagazi") is a breed of dog that is popular in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Southern Russia and Northern Caucasus.

Caucasian Shepherd Dogs are very strongly-boned, very muscular and even-tempered Molossers. The breed has two types: mountain and plain. Plain dogs have a shorter coat and appear taller as they are more lightly built. Mountain dog types have a heavier coat and are more muscularly built. Caucasian Shepherds have no maximum height. The minimum height for females is 64 centimetres (25 in), with a desirable height between 67 and 70 centimetres (26 and 28 in). They weigh at least 45 kilograms (99 lb). The minimum height for males is 68 centimetres (27 in), with a desirable height between 72 and 75 centimetres (28 and 30 in). Males weigh 50 kilograms (110 lb) and up.[1] Softness and vicious temperaments are considered serious faults for the breed. Generally healthy and long lived, hip dysplasia, obesity and occasional heart problems are known to occur. The ears of the Caucasian Shepherd are traditionally cropped, although some modern dogs are unaltered. The preferred show-types are the long-coated grey dogs with some white markings. Black or black-and-tan dogs are often not acceptable in the show ring.

Caucasian Shepherds are typically assertive, brave, alert, strong, hardy and courageous to a fault. They are truly second to none in their bellicosity towards strangers. Unless properly socialized, they may exhibit unmanageable tendencies. They seldom have time for strangers (but will greet family friends warmly) and have extremely powerful guarding instincts. Everything and everyone who belongs to the family, including other dogs will be regarded by this dog as part of its family and as such will fall under its guardianship. Owing to their size and nature these dogs should not be left alone with children. Aggression and dominance toward unknown dogs should be expected unless the animal has been extensively socialized at an early age and even then some unwanted behaviors may occur.

The Caucasus mountains are home to one of the oldest living Molosser breeds, the Caucasian Mountain Dog. There is a great variety of types among the Caucasian dogs depending on their home region, but a single type has come to be favored in the show rings and literature, at the expense of other breed variants.
Although its first official Show-Ring appearance outside the Caucasus was in the 1930s in Germany, the Caucasian Mountain Dog has existed since ancient times, like many Eastern Molossers.
     * The Armenian dogs are divided into the large, longhaired and often multicoloured type and the slightly smaller wolf-grey dogs of medium-length coat with longer muzzles, but there is also a separate breed known as Tushetian Nagazi or Georgian Caucasian Sheepdog in Georgia, which represents the original population of the breed, with the pure white dogs being the most valued.
* Daghestan dogs are tall, wide-headed and athletic, short-haired and multicoloured.
   * Astrakhan type is found in the Kabardino-Balkarian region and is believed to be a cross between the Russian show type and the old Circassian and Kazbek dogs, but Balkarian Molossers are also rooted in the Sarmatian Mastiff.
    * The Turkish Caucasus dogs are divided into four types, those being the Garban, the Akhaltsikhe type, the Circassian variant and the Kars Dog.

    * The large, short-muzzled, shorthaired fawn, brown, red, with or without white markings and extremely vicious Garban (Gorban) was developed from the Kars and the Kangal, as well as other Turkish dogs being crossed with the Armenian and Kazbek types.
   * The Akhaltsihnske type was created from Garban crosses with the Georgian Nagazi variant and possibly Armenian and gomik turkey,resulting in longhaired, lightly built solid-coloured white, fawn and grey dogs. The Circassian variant is believed to be a result of crossing the Kangals with the Cherkes dogs introduced to Turkey after the Russian-Circassian wars.
* The Kars Dog is a variety closely associated with the Kars Province of modern Turkey and is today seen as a separate breed. The Armenian Gamprs are smaller than the Georgian dogs and are shorter-necked and squarely built, and come in a variety of colors.
    * The Volkodav variant also comes in two types, with the longhaired mountain and short-coated steppe dogs both being smaller than Georgian and Armenian types, always having black masks.
    * A result of matings between the dogs of southern Kavkaz with the Sage Mazandarani and the Kars Dog of Turkey, the Iranian Sage Ghafghazi is a lean, powerful and richly coated mastiff, used as a caravan protector of the Shahsavan nomads, who have been breeding it since the 17th century. These Iranian Caucasians come in a variety of colours, both solid and bicoloured.

* There is also a rare shorthaired Kavkaz mastiff, known as the North-Caucasian Volkodav, which is on its way to receive a separate breed recognition.
Even the legendary Alaunt, the breed considered to be the key progenitor of all bulldog breeds, is also descended from this Caucasian stock of mountain dogs.

As mentioned above, most working Caucasian dogs are hybrids between established types, as well as some lines of the Central Asian dogs, in effect making the Russian show type appear to be a superior-breed dog in the eyes of fanciers. There are two types, the working strain in the east and the show dogs in the west. The fighting strains of the Caucasian Ovcharka can contain blood of some European breeds, from mastiffs to Bandogs, but these crosses are a minority in the breed. The Caucasian Molossers were used for centuries to protect properties, guard livestock, kill wolves, hunt bears and the green for many other duties, but today and especially outside the Caucasus, they are employed as companion animals and watchdogs. Most prized as a property guardian, the Caucasian Shepherds are good protectors. The Caucasian Mountain Dog is a low activity dog, seemingly lethargic when not working, but agile and convincing when it feels its family is threatened. Although certain strains are more vicious than others, all Caucasians are very territorial and dog-aggressive, needing early and careful broad socialization, as well as firm, but never forceful, handling. This breed can be a family dog, if well trained and socialized.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasian_Shepherd_Dog

Johnny Depp Tattoos

2012-07-11T20:59:00.001-07:00

Depp has at least fourteen tattoos as of now and each tattoo has a specific reason. For instance the tattoo “head of Cherokee Indian chief” is to commemorate his ancestral heritage. The tattoo “Lily-Rose” is because of his first-born child. The tattoo “Betty Sue” is his mother’s name and below this tattoo is curiously a sparrow flying over water and underneath is written his son’s “Jack”. The most recent one is “Silence Exile Cunning” – though it is unclear what the significance is.

One can see a ribbon tattoo reading “Wino Forever” and the story goes that this tattoo was originally “Winona Forever”, and Depp amended it by removing “na” after his estrangement with Winona Ryder. Johnny had this tattoo done at Sunset Strip Tattoo reportedly paying 75 Dollars. Their adline proclaims `Tattooers of the Stars Since 1971′ and proudly announces that Johnny’s `Winona Forever’ double-banner tattoo was done on his right bicep by us to serve as parallel to his tattoo on the left honoring his mother.

On his right biceps just below ‘Wino’ there is the prominent tattoo “Cherokee Indian Chief in full headdress”. This is to honor his Cherokee great-great-grandmother, Minnie. This tattoo also serves to testify his ancestral cultural heritage.

Winona Ryder

It is reported that nearly seven of Depp’s tattoos were done by New York tattooist Jonathan Shaw and interestingly Shaw was the one who played the role of a tattoo artist in ‘Tightrope’ – a Clint Eastwood movie.

Jonathan Shaw

It is worthwhile looking into the background of some of Depp’s tattoos. As stated earlier, “Betty Sue” depicts the standard ‘heart’ tattoo with a ribbon through the middle where the name of his mother written. It is said that such tattoo designs were profusely sported by servicemen to remind them of their homes as also the cause they were fighting for.

The “Inverted Triangle” seen above the Betty Sue tattoo represents the heart, and is considered a symbol associated with women to reveal romantic love. Depp must have had his own reasons for sporting this tattoo. The “Brave Symbol” tattoo on the right arm is obviously to remember his film entitled ‘The Brave’.

“The Swallow” or “Flying Bird” has apparently been taken from the movie ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. Depp meaningfully redesigned the tattoo on his right forearm as he turned it around to give the impression that the bird is flying towards him and he wrote his son’s name, “Jack” underneath.

Swallows are traditionally known to travel long distances in the sea during migration and they would hang around boats parked at the shores. Thus, the sighting of swans presumably lent credence to the fact that land was close by.

Those who know Depp closely would have noticed “Three Little Rectangles” on his right index finger. He lightheartedly calls these squares as a “permanent phone doodle.” The number “3″ is found on his left hand and John says in the April 1996 issue of Young Flix Magazine that 3 is a special number for him as it is a creative number denoting Triangle, Trinity and he also meaningfully comments that two people make another person. “Three is a mystical, magical number.”

Johnny appropriately sports the tattoo bearing the name of his daughter Lily-Rose Melody near his heart. The traditional danger signal of “Skull and Crossbones” is seen on his lower right legwith the suggestive phrase “Death Is Certain” written below the diagram.

Inexplicably there is the question mark “?” symbol on the right inside leg just above the ankle.

The most recent tattoo, by all accounts, is the “Silence Exile Cunning” on his left arm, which many saw for the first time at an MTV movie awards function. Booklovers know that this tattoo must be the result of his reading the book “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” penned by James Joyce.

This tattoo has a particular significance. It is said that a sailor is entitled to this tattoo after voyaging 500 nautical miles. There is a belief that Swallow indicates that land s nearing and it also signals safe return.

Depp’s right upper arm includes images of a Cherokee Indian chief for his ancestral heritage and a banner reading “Wino Forever.” Originally it read “Winona Forever” and was in honor of his relationship with actress Winona Ryder. However, it has been proven once again that tattoos frequently last longer than love. This tattoo was laser edited following his breakupwith the actress. His mother’s name “Betty Sue” is inside a heart with some tribal flourishing on his left upper arm. Over this is an inverted triangle design. Over his heart in script is “Lily-Rose” for his daughter.

About half of Depp’s tattoo collection have been done by NY tattooist Jonathan Shaw. You can see Shaw in Clint Eastwood’s movie TIGHTROPE, playing a tattoo artist. Several of his tattoos are understandable and symbolic specific to Depp himself. On one ankle is a skull and crossboneswith the phrase “death is certain.” On his left hand, between the thumb and index finger, you can see the number three. He describes several small squares on his right index finger as a “permanent phone doodle.” Depp has also spoken in the past of having had the habit of cutting, of making deliberate markings with a knife blade. His arms have some places where he made deliberate cuts himself as acts of body art.

In the movie PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, Depp played Captain Jack Sparrow. Costuming and smears of fake dirt were used to cover up Depp’s tattoos during filming. His character had a tattoo, which was a fake for the movie, worn by Depp. He sported a sparrow tattoo on his forearm, along with a mark branded for pirating. After filming, he had his sparrow tattoo made permanent in honor of his young son Jack. He modified it slightly, flipping the sparrow around so that it is flying towards him instead of away from his body as it was in the movie.

Scarlett Johansson Tattoos

2012-07-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

Odd and Creative Christmas Trees

2012-07-10T00:36:00.000-07:00

The history of Christmas trees begins long before the birth of Christ and even before the Egyptian civilizations. Many historians and anthropologists agree that the history of Christmas trees begins in post primeval times, just as societies were developing across the globe.

At the beginning it was simply, in one culture or another, a pagan celebration of the winter solstice.Winter solstice is the moment when the earth is at a point in its orbit where one hemisphere is most inclined away from the sun. This causes the sun to appear at its farthest below the celestial equator when viewed from earth. Solstice is a Latin borrowing and means "sun stand", referring to the appearance that the sun's noontime elevation change stops its progress, either northerly or southerly. The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice usually falls on December 21/December 22, which is the southern hemisphere's summer solstice. In the southern hemisphere, winter solstice falls on June 21/June 22, which is the northern hemisphere's summer solstice.

The boughs of evergreen trees were brought indoors to protect inhabitants from the evil spirits that could cause starvation and illness. Ancient people also scattered evergreen boughs over their floors, doors and around the windows. In fact, the tradition of hanging an evergreen garland comes from the tradition of hanging evergreens over the mantelpiece to keep witches, ghosts and spirits from traveling down the chimney and into the house. Evergreen boughs were also used to keep away illness. Scents such as pine, juniper and balsam are still used by aroma therapists today to fend off illness and winter depression.

Even the ancient Egyptians were thought to play a role in the history of Christmas trees. Of course there were no evergreen forests in ancient Egypt but during the solstice they filled their homes with palm rushes to protect themselves from evil and celebrate the return of their Sun God Ra.

European and Mediterranean cultures also have episodes in the long saga that is part of the history of Christmas trees. On the solstice, known as Saturnalia, the Romans decorated their homes with evergreen boughs. This honored the God Saturn whose domain was agriculture. Further north, the Celtic Druids used evergreens on the darkest day of the year to symbolize eternal life. These trees were not decorated as we know them today. They were not much more decorative than the famous Charlie brown Christmas tree. This is because the function of these evergreen boughs was more protective than celebratory.

By the 12th century indoor trees were brought inside. Nobody is sure why but originally Christmas trees were hung upside-down from ceilings at Christmastime. This was a popular custom in Central Europe. The upside down tree was seen as both as a symbol of Christianity and a pagan symbol. At that point Christianity was not wide spread and the tree may have been a nod to both pagan and Christian traditions.

Upside Down Christmas Tree

It is widely believed that the history of the Christmas tree as we know it began in Germany in the sixteenth century. However few people realize that the tree was not brought inside and that in fact, the first decorated Christmas tree was a pyramid made of wood. These German indoor pyramids were decorated with boughs and candles. Often jars of pickles were set on the steps. The pyramid shape was not a direct inspiration from ancient Egypt but rather, the triangular shape was thought to represent the three points of the Holy Trinity - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The person credited with adding lighted candles to a real tree is Martin Luther - a German Protestant reformer who lived in the mid 1600s. The legend is that he was inspired to do so by the sight of stars in the night sky peeking through the limbs of an evergreen while he was on a walk.

Wooden Christmas Pyramid

The next big development in the history of Christmas trees was tinsel. Tinsel was invented in Germany around 1610. At that time, tinsel was made of real silver and it tarnished easily thanks to the smoke from the Christmas tree candles. Silver was used for tinsel right up to the mid-20th century when it was replaced by aluminum. The history of Christmas trees was non-existent in America until about the 1840s.

Silver Tinsels

They were sometimes displayed as curios in traveling sideshows. The Christmas tree decorating ritual was considered sacrilegious for most of the 17th and 18th century. It was seen as a mockery of the sober celebration of the birth of Christ. In fact in 1659, people were fined for hanging decorations. This law continued until the 19th century when the tradition was brought more into common practice by German and Irish immigrants to the United States. The practice was also made more acceptable when Queen Victoria decided to make a right side up floor-to-ceiling xmas tree part of her décor in 1846.

Queen Victoria and Prince alber(German) 1846 London News with right side up Christmas Tree

One difference between European customs and American customs seemed to be that Europeans were more inclined to decorate their trees with food, cookies and candies (and even pickles!) whereas Americans were more into glitzy decorations. Also the European Christmas trees tended to be shorter (three to four feet in height) while the Americans preferred their trees to be sky-high. Both cultures however enjoyed decorating their trees with garlands of popcorns and electric lights.

In the 1950s America saw the advent of the first artificial Christmas trees. The argument about which is better - a fake Christmas tree or a real Christmas tree still rages on today. The most recent development in the history of Christmas trees is the return of the upside down Christmas tree, which is disapproved by the church just as it was in the sixteenth century. If history keeps repeating itself the next trend we will see in xmas trees is the ancient wooden pyramids that served as artificial trees in pagan times.

Christmas Tree with Electric Lights

Christmas Tree with Electric Lights switched off

Christmas Tree with Electric Lights on

Beer bottle Christmas Tree

Bicycle Christmas Tree

Chocolate Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree made of Christmas Trees

Mega Electric light Christmas Tree

Wood Pencil Christmas Tree

Creative Christmas Tree

Diamond Christmas Tree

LED Wire mesh Christmas Tree

Bird Feather Christmas Tree

Glass Bottle Christmas Tree

Glass Christmas Tree

Golden Sphere Christmas Tree

Ice Christmas Tree

Mountain Dew Christmas Tree

Glass Tube Christmas Tree

Tube Light Christmas Tree

Creative Christmas Tree

Pac Man Christmas Tree

Picture Frame Christmas Tree

Plastic Bottle Christmas Tree

Plywood Christmas Tree

Potato Christmas Tree

Sushi Christmas Tree

Diamond Christmas Tree

Under water Christmas Tree

Two Million Dolor Golden Christmas Tree in Tokyo

Golden Christmas Tree - Reuters Report

Gigantic Dogs - Irish Woulfhound

2012-07-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

The Irish wolfhound is a breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), specifically a sighthound. The name originates from its purpose (wolf hunting) rather than from its appearance. Irish Wolfhounds are the tallest of dog breeds.

The standard of The American Kennel Club describes the breed as "Of great size and commanding appearance, the Irish Wolfhound is remarkable in combining power and swiftness with keen sight. The largest and tallest of the galloping hounds, in general type he is a rough-coated, Greyhound-like breed; very muscular, strong though gracefully built; movements easy and active; head and neck carried high, the tail carried with an upward sweep with a slight curve towards the extremity". The colours allowed by the American Kennel Club are "grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, wheaten and steel grey". The American Kennel Club allows "any other color that appears in the Deerhound". The size as specified by the AKC is "Minimum height for males: 79cm (31.1in), females: 71cm (27.95ins). Minimum weight: 54.5kg (120.15lbs) for males, 40.9kg (90.16lbs) for females. Great size, including height of shoulder and proportionate length of body is to be aimed at, and it is desired to firmly establish a breed that shall average (minimum) from 81-86cm (31.88-33.85in) in dogs".

An easygoing animal, Irish wolfhounds are quiet by nature. Wolfhounds often create a strong bond with their family and can become quite destructive or morose if left alone for long periods of time. Despite the need for their own people, wolfhounds generally are somewhat stand-offish with total strangers. They should not be territorially aggressive to other domestic dogs but are born with specialized skills and it is common for hounds at play to course another dog. This is a specific hunting behavior, not a fighting or territorial domination behavior. Most wolfhounds are very gentle with children and are aware of their size and power. The Irish wolfhound is relatively easy to train. They respond well to firm, but gentle, consistent leadership. However, historically these dogs were required to work at great distances from their masters and think independently when hunting rather than waiting for detailed commands and this can still be seen in the breed.

The wolfhound of today is far from the one that struck fear into the hearts of the Ancient Romans. Irish wolfhounds are often favored for their loyalty, affection, patience and devotion. Although at some points in history they have been used as watchdogs, unlike some breeds, the Irish wolfhound is usually unreliable in this role as they are often friendly toward strangers, although their size can be a natural deterrent. That said, when protection is required this dog is never found wanting. When they or their family are in any perceived danger they display a fearless nature. Author and Irish wolfhound breeder, Linda Glover believes the dogs' close affinity with humans makes them acutely aware and sensitive to ill will or malicious intentions leading to them excelling as a guardian rather than guard dog.

Like most large dog breeds, Irish wolfhounds have a relatively short lifespan. Published lifespan estimations vary between 6 and 10 years with 7 years being the average. Dilated cardiomyopathy and bone cancer are the leading cause of death and like all deep-chested dogs, gastric torsion (bloat) is common; the breed is affected by hereditary intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

In a privately funded study conducted under the auspices of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America and based on an owner survey, Irish wolfhounds in the United States from 1966 to 1986 lived to a mean age of 6.47 and died most frequently of bone cancer. A more recent study by the UK Kennel Club puts the average age of death at 7 years.

Irish wolfhounds should not receive additional supplements when a good dog food is used. It is generally accepted that they should be fed a low protein adult dog food (19 to 21% protein) from puppyhood onward. Most breeders today recommend that they not be supplemented to slow their rapid growth.

Irish wolfhounds are the tallest of all dog breeds. They are well suited to rural life, but their medium energy profile allows them to adjust fairly well to suburban and urban life as well, provided they receive appropriate exercise.

The breed is very old; there are suggestions it may have been brought to Ireland as early as 7000 BC. These dogs are mentioned, as cú (variously translated as hound, Irish hound, war dog, wolf dog, etc.) in Irish laws and in Irish literature which dates from the 5th century or, in the case of the Sagas, from the old Irish period - AD 600-900. The breed almost disappeared, but was successfully revived by efforts of the captain of the British Army D E Graham to recreate it, he drew the line related wolfhounds As a result, has developed a modern breed Irish Wolfhounds Today they are well established themselves as companions and guards. The word "Cu" often became an added respected prefix on the names of warriors, such as Cú Chulainn, the Hound of Ulster, as well as kings denoting that they were worthy of the respect and loyalty of a Cu.

Ancient wood cuts and writings have placed them in existence as a breed by 273 BC. However there is indication that they existed even as early as 600 BC when the Tectosages and Tolistobogii Celts sacked Delphi. Survivors left accounts of the fierce Celts and the huge dogs who fought with them and at their side. They were mentioned by Julius Caesar in his treatise, The Gallic Wars, and by 391 BC, they were written about by Roman Consul, Quintus Aurelius, who received seven of them as a gift to be used for fighting lions, bears, that in his words, "all Rome viewed with wonder".

Bred as hunting dogs by the ancients, who called them Cú Faoil. The Irish continued to breed them for this purpose, as well as to guard their homes and protect their stock. Cúchulain, a name which translates literally as "hound of Culain", gained his name when as a child, known then as Setanta, he slew the ferocious guard dog of Culain forcing him to offer himself as a replacement.

During the English Conquest of Ireland, only the nobility were allowed to own Irish wolfhounds, the numbers permitted depending on position. They were much coveted and were frequently given as gifts to important personages and foreign nobles. Wolfhounds were the companions of the regal, and were housed themselves alongside them. King John of England, in about 1210 presented an Irish hound, Gelert to Llewellyn, a prince of Wales. The poet The Hon William Robert Spencer immortalised this hound in a poem.

In his Historie of Ireland completed 1571, Blessed Edmund Campion gives a description of the hounds used for hunting the wolves on the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. He says: They (the Irish) are not without wolves and greyhounds to hunt them, bigger of bone and limb than a colt. Due to their popularity overseas many were exported to European royal houses leaving numbers in Ireland depleted. This led to a declaration by Oliver Cromwell himself being published in Kilkenny on 27 April 1652 to ensure that sufficient numbers remained to control the wolf population.

References to the Irish wolfhound in the 18th century tell of its great size, strength and greyhound shape as well as its scarcity. Writing in 1790, Bewick described it as the largest and most beautiful of the dog kind; about 36 inches high, generally of a white or cinammon colour, somewhat like the greyhound but more robust. He said that their aspect was mild, disposition peaceful, and strength so great that in combat the mastiff or bulldog was far from being an equal to them. The last wolf in Ireland is thought to have been killed at Myshall, Co Carlow in 1786 by a pack of wolfdogs kept by a Mr Watson of Ballydarton. The remaining hounds in the hands of a few families who were mainly descendants of the old Irish chieftains, were now symbols of status rather than hunters, they were said to be the last of their race.

Englishman Captain George Augustus Graham is responsible with a few other breeders for reaffirming the dogs' existence. In 1879 he wrote: "It has been ascertained beyond all question that there are few specimens of the breed still left in Ireland and England to be considered Irish wolfhounds, though falling short of the requisite dimensions. This blood is now in my possession." Captain Graham devoted his life to ensuring the survival of the Irish wolfdog. Owing to the small numbers of surviving specimens outcrossing was used in the breeding programme. It is believed that Great Dane, Deerhound and Mastiff dogs all played their part in Graham's creation of the dog we currently know. In 1885 Captain Graham with other breeders founded the Irish Wolfhound Club, and the Breed Standard of Points to establish and agree the ideal to which breeders should aspire.

The Irish wolfhound is sometimes regarded as the national dog breed of Ireland but in fact no breed has ever been officially adopted as such. The wolfhound was historically a dog that only nobles could own and was taken up by the British during their rule in Ireland. This made it unpopular as a national symbol and the Kerry Blue Terrier was adopted by Republicans such as Michael Collins. However, in recent years, the wolfhound has been adopted as a symbol by both rugby codes, which are organised on an All-Ireland basis. The national rugby league team are nicknamed the wolfhounds, and the Irish Rugby Football Union, which governs rugby union, changed the name of the country's A (second-level) national team in that code to the Ireland Wolfhounds in 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Wolfhound

Gigantic Dogs - Borzoi

2012-07-08T05:21:00.000-07:00

The borzoi (literally "fast") is a breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) also called the Russian wolfhound and descended from dogs brought to Russia from central Asian countries. It is similar in shape to a greyhound, and is also a member of the sighthound family.

The system by which Russians over the ages named their sighthounds was a series of descriptive terms, not actual names. "Borzói" is the masculine singular form of an archaic Russian adjective that means "fast"."Borzáya sobáka" ("fast dog") is the basic term used by Russians, though the word "sobáka" is usually dropped. The name "Psovaya" derived from the word Psovina, meaning "wavy, silky coat", just as "Hortaya" (as in Hortaya Borzaya) means shorthaired. In Russia today the breed we know as borzoi is therefore officially called "Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya". Other Russian sighthound breeds are "Stepnaya Borzaya" (from the steppe), called "Stepnoi"; and "Krimskaya Borzaya" (from the Crimea), called "Krimskoi".

Borzoi are large Russian sighthounds which look similar to a number of central Asian breeds such as the Afghan hound, Saluki and the Kyrgyz Taigan. As a general approximation, "long-haired greyhound" is a useful description. Borzoi can come in almost any color or color combination.The long top-coat is silky and quite flat, with varying degrees of waviness or curling. The soft undercoat thickens in winter or cold climates, but is shed in hot weather to prevent overheating. In its texture and distribution over the body, the borzoi coat is unique.

Borzoi males frequently reach in excess of 100 pounds (45 kg), ~120 pounds. Males should stand at least 30 inches (about 80 centimeters) at the shoulder, while females should not be less than 26 inches (about 66 centimeters). Despite their size, the overall impression is of streamlining and grace, with a curvy shapeliness and compact strength.

The borzoi is a quiet but athletic and independent dog. Most borzoi are almost silent, barking only very rarely. They do not have strong territorial drives and cannot be relied on to raise the alarm upon sighting a human intruder. They are gentle and highly sensitive dogs with a natural respect for humans, and as adults they are decorative couch potatoes with remarkably gracious house-manners. Borzois should never display dominance or aggression towards people. Typically however, they are rather reserved and sensitive to invasion of their personal space; this can make them nervous around children unless they are brought up with them from an early age. Despite their size they adapt very well to suburban living, provided they have a spacious yard and regular opportunities for free exercise.

A common misunderstanding about the intelligence of breeds in the Hound group stems from their independent nature, which conflicts with the frequent confusion between the concepts of "intelligence" and "obedience" in discussions of canine brainpower. Stanley Coren's survey of canine obedience trainers, published in the book The Intelligence of Dogs, reported that borzoi obeyed the first command less than 25% of the time. Coren's test however was by his own admission heavily weighted towards the "obedience" interpretation of intelligence and based on a better understanding of "working" breeds than hounds.

Unfortunately the publicity given to this report has led to unfair denigration of breeds which are under-represented in obedience clubs and poorly understood by the average obedience trainer."Work" for hound breeds is done out of hearing and often out of sight of the human companion; it is an activity for which the dogs are "released", rather than an activity which is "commanded". In obedience terms, borzoi are selective learners who quickly become bored with repetitive, apparently pointless, activity, and they can be very stubborn when they are not properly motivated. For example, food rewards, or "baiting", may work well for some individuals, but not all. Nevertheless, borzoi are definitely capable of enjoying and performing well in competitive obedience and agility trials with the right kind of training.Like other sighthounds they do not cope well with harsh treatment or training based on punishment, and will be extremely unhappy if raised voices and threats are a part of their daily life. However like any intelligent dog, borzoi respond extremely well to the guidance, support, and clear communication of a benevolent human leadership.

Borzoi were bred to pursue, or "course", game and have a powerful instinct to chase things that run from them. Built for speed and endurance, they can cover long distances in a very short time. A fully-fenced yard is an absolute necessity for keeping any sighthound. They are highly independent and will range far and wide without containment, with little regard for road traffic. For off-lead exercise, a borzoi needs a very large field or park, either fully fenced or well away from any roads, to ensure its safety.

Borzoi are born with specialized coursing skills, but these are quite different from the dog-fighting instincts seen in some breeds. It is quite common for borzoi at play to course (run down) another dog, seize it by the neck and hold it immobile. Young pups do this with their littermates, trading off as to who is the prey. It is a specific hunting behavior, not a fighting or territorial domination behavior.

Borzoi can be raised very successfully to live with cats and other small animals provided they are introduced to them at a young age. Some, however, will possess the hunting instinct to such a degree that they find it impossible not to chase a cat that is moving quickly. The hunting instinct is triggered by movement and much depends on how the cat behaves.

Life expectancy is 7 to 10 years. Exceptional individuals have lived to be more than 14 years of age. Dogs that are physically fit and vigorous in their youth through middle age are more vigorous and healthy as elderly dogs, all other factors being equal. In the UK various cancers, followed by cardiac problems, seem to be the most frequent causes of premature death.

Like its native relative the Hortaya Borzaya, the borzoi is basically a very sound breed. OCD, hip and elbow dysplasia have remained almost unknown, as were congenital eye and heart diseases before the 1970s. However, in some countries modern breeding practices have introduced a few problems.

As with other very deep-chested breeds, gastric torsion is the most common serious health problem in the borzoi. Also known as bloat, this life-threatening condition is believed to be anatomical rather than strictly genetic in origin. Many borzoi owners recommend feeding the dog from a raised platform instead of placing the food-dish on the ground, and making sure that the dog rests quietly for several hours after eating, as the most reliable way to prevent bloat.

Less common are cardiac problems including cardiomyopathy and cardiac arrhythmia disorders. A controversy exists as to the presence of progressive retinal atrophy in the breed. A condition identified as Borzoi Retinopathy is seen in some individuals, usually active dogs, which differs from progressive retinal atrophy in several ways. First, it is unilateral, and rarely seen in animals less than 3 years of age; second, a clear cut pattern of inheritance has not been demonstrated; and finally, most affected individuals do not go blind.

Correct nutrition during puppyhood is also debatable for borzoi. These dogs naturally experience enormous growth surges in the first year or two of their lives. It is now widely accepted that forcing even faster growth by feeding a highly concentrated, high-energy diet is dangerous for skeletal development, causing unsoundness and increased tendency to joint problems and injury. Being built primarily for speed, borzoi do not carry large amounts of body fat or muscle, and therefore have a rather different physiology to other dogs of similar size (such as the Newfoundland, St. Bernard or Alaskan Malamute). Laboratory-formulated diets designed for a generic "large" or "giant" breed are unlikely to take the needs of the big sighthounds into account.

The issues involved in raw feeding may be particularly relevant to tall, streamlined breeds such as the borzoi. It is interesting to note that the Hortaya Borzaya, undoubtedly a very close relative, is traditionally raised on a meager diet of oats and table scraps. The Hortaya is also said to be intolerant of highly concentrated kibble feeds. Basically, a lean body weight in itself is nothing to be concerned about, and force-feeding of healthy young borzoi is definitely not recommended.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borzoi