All Above Us
Everything that happens above us!Happy Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.
The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl’s name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.
Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius canceled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.
The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine’s Day for the celebration of this new feaSt. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way.
140-year-old lobster earns his freedom
George, the 140-year-old, 20-pound lobster, lies on a plate at New York's City Crab and Seafood restaurant. He was spared the kitchen, and will be liberated off the coast of Maine on Saturday.
A 140-year-old lobster once destined for a dinner plate received the gift of life Friday from a Park Avenue seafood restaurant.
The largest jelly fish
This is the biggest jelly fish.
Two of the huge jelly fish accompanied by divers.
Really a big one. The size of this jelly fish compares to a size og human.
Jelly Fish with a diver.
I have not seen such a huge jelly fish before.
Underground Wonders of the World: Lost Caverns and Buried Cities
The world is full of wonders, from abandoned towns and deserted settlements to underwater cities and underground architecture. Humans burrow into the Earth out of anything from necessity to superstition. Here are some of the underground wonders of the world:
Kapadokya, Turkey is home to hundreds of linked rooms that, together, form an ancient system of underground cities over 2,500 years old. Areas are separated by narrow corridors once lit by oil lamps.
Pembrokeshire, Wales is home to a family with a house straight out of The Hobbit. This amazing architectural wonder is created virtually completely from the natural materials found around the residence. The walls are made out of stone and mud and water enters the house by gravity from a nearby spring.
Edinburgh, Scotland has a long and strange history, though perhaps the oddest story of all is the tale of a bridge that was buried underground. After this bridge was built, superstition following a prominent death led to its disuse. As property values in the area grew, however, people first built under and then even on top of the bridge. Eventually leaks forced the abandonment of the spaces below, which were subsequently filled in. They were recently rediscovered and opened for tourists.
Seattle, Washington’s Pioneer Square district has a very peculiar historical quirk: a century ago, they raised the streets by an entire floor. People actually died falling off of the street to the lower sidewalks below before they managed to raise the sidewalks to the same level. Eventually, what was street level became completely unused and abandoned, though it was recently reopened for visitors.
Wieliczka, Poland sits atop one of the world’s oldest salt mines, in continuous operation for over 800 years until just this year. As these images show, the mine is now open to tourists, with winding paths and bridges as well as art, much of which is carved right out of the salt in the mine. Over 1,000 feet deep, the mine even housed an airplane factory run by the Polish resistance during World War II.
Xi’an, China is now famous for featuring the Mausoleum of Qinshihuang, the biggest imperial tomb known to Chinese history. This subterranean wonder was constructed in 38 years by 700,000 laborers, and is perhaps best known for the host of terracotta warriors buried with the Emperor.
500 Carat Diamond Found in African Mine
The 500 carat diamond.
By Luke Baker,
Reuters
LONDON (Sept. 21) – Miners in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho have found one of the world’s largest diamonds, a near-flawless white gem weighing nearly 500 carats, mining group Gem Diamonds said on Sunday.
The diamond was discovered in the Letseng Mine on September 8, the company said in a statement. It has been analyzed by experts in Antwerp and found to weigh 478 carats, with very few inclusions and of outstanding color and clarity.
“It has the potential to yield one of the largest flawless D color round polished diamonds in history,” the company said.
This diamond will likely be sold for well over $10 million.
120-Million-Year-Old Ant Species Found
The Martialis heureka, a new species of blind, subterranean, predatory ants, is pictured above. The insect is like no other ant, and probably dates back 120 million years, making it the oldest still inhabiting the earth.
BERLIN (Sept. 16) – German biologists have discovered a new species of ant they believe is the oldest on the planet, dating back around 120 million years.
Researchers from Karlsruhe’s Natural History Museum found the 0.118 inch insect in the Amazon rainforest in 2007, and hope it will shed light on the early evolution of ants.
“It’s by far the most spectacular find of my 26-year career,” said museum biologist Manfred Verhaagh on Tuesday.
Scientists from Karlsruhe originally found an unidentified species of ant of a similar type in the Brazilian rainforest in 2003. However, due to an accident in the laboratory, the insect dried up, making further research impossible, Verhaagh said.
Last year a separate team from the museum’s research body was in the forest investigating fungus when they stumbled upon the tiny insect, and named it “Martialis heureka.”
Resembling a miniature wasp, the insect is like no other ant, and probably dates back 120 million years, making it the oldest still inhabiting the earth, Verhaagh said. The scientists used DNA samples from its front leg to establish its likely age.
The last discovery of a new ant species was in 1923, he added.
Source: Reuters
Sun Tattoo
A unique tattoo that doesn't use any needle for it.
I found this very nice tattoo and it is really unique because it does not require needle for the process. All you have to do is to place the stencil in your body and start tanning your body in the heat of the sun.
Inspired by the Moldy Body Object. Sun Tattoo is a soft stencil which can be used for making the tattoo pattern on the skin by sunshine. It’s better to use it with sunless tanning cream.
Federer triumphs in US Open
Roger Federer proudly poses with his trophy after winning the 2008 Men US Open.
The Swiss drops to the floor at the end of a fabulous exchange in celebration of his fifth consecutive US Open. It was a superb display from the second seed, who answered his critics in the best possible style. Murray has done himself proud and it would have taken a great display from any player in the world to have beaten Federer at his best tonight.
A fifth consecutive title salvaged his season. A loss, and the silken Swiss would go home without a Grand Slam tournament title for the first time since 2002 — bolstering the notion that Spaniard Rafael Nadal is here to stay.
After a failure in Australia, an embarrassing loss in Paris, the end of his hegemony in London and a failure to grab singles gold in Beijing, second-ranked Federer arrives with questions swirling about what is wrong with his game, his head and his once impenetrable aura.
Federer, who won so often and so easily during his 237-week run atop the rankings that he often eschewed coaches and seemed indifferent to conditions, admitted Saturday that a little love from the crowd could help. “I think I need the support a little bit this year,” he said during a news conference.
Nadal, who took over the No. 1 ranking Aug. 18, has a chance to stamp his season as one for the ages after his wins at Paris and Wimbledon and the gold medal he captured in the Olympics in Beijing last month.
US plays both sides in the Philippines
Map of Mindanao
By Herbert Docena
MANILA – Three weeks ago, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) stood on the verge of signing a breakthrough agreement that could have moved both sides closer to the closure of a three-decade-long war.
The Moros, minority Muslims who have been marginalized since being incorporated into the country, have been fighting the central government for greater self-rule since the 1970s. Pushed to a stalemate, both sides have since 1976 struggled for a settlement through peace negotiations punctuated by bouts of bloodshed. Over 120,000 people have died.
With previous agreements having failed to end the conflict, the latest deal, called the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), proposed the establishment of a “sub-state” for Moros in an “associative relationship” of “shared sovereignty” with the Philippines. This proposal falls short of the MILF’s original goal of independence but is farther than anything the government had previously accepted.
Though endorsed by both negotiating panels, the agreement drew widespread condemnation. Opponents saw the agreement as dismembering the country or as a ploy to extend the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The government has since junked the agreement and both sides now totter on the precipice of full-scale fighting. Between the MILF and the Philippine government has stood the United States. In light of the controversy generated by the MOA-AD, its role, interests, and strategy has come under renewed scrutiny. Is the US abandoning a traditional ally in the Philippine government in order to support the Moro movement for self-determination?
Read the full article here.
Remembering September 11 attack
Less than 18 hours after the attacks, the first truckload of debris unloaded at the Fresh Kills landfill. Over the next 10 months, as many as 9,000 tons a day were carefully sifted for clues and human remains.
Jewelry from the trade center debris. More than 65,000 personal items were recovered from Ground Zero, including 144 rings, 437 watches, 119 earrings and 80 bracelets.
Identification cards of Blue Cross and Blue Shield employees are among the 5,000 personal items decontaminated and screened from the World Trade Center pile.
Medical examiners try to match up some of the 19,712 body parts recovered from the site. Of that grim collection of human remains, some 16,000 parts are still unidentified.
Vials of DNA samples await a match. So far, 519 victims have been identified through DNA alone. But the medical examiner
So much of the Trade Center ended up as ash, incinerated. A whole terrain of loss at Fresh Kills carefully catalogs what was left behind.
A years have gone by and the memories of all those who died tragically in this very tragic day will remain forever in the hearts of the people who valued their efforts.
PHOTO BY RICHARD PRESS
Greatest Olympic Performance
This is a very award winning performance.
When I first saw this video in the internet I can’t stop laughing. This guy is very unbelievable and very funny. I hope you have also enjoyed his stunts.
Olympic Stuff
Digging for gold!
In the spirit of sportmanship please stop fingering my butt! Well, the game has its own moments. Moments that made you laugh and moments that made you cry for help! hehe
Tiger Prawns!
Last June, I had an opportunity to accompanied my cousin in their Fish pond located at Tuban, Sta.Cruz. We arrive there very much exciting and knowing that there are more fun coming to happen..lol.
At that night, we were waiting for the shrimps that will be flushed from the fish ponds. We were very excited on what will be the outcome so we waited and puffing some cigarettes in the cold night. After half an hour of waiting we finally came to end our waiting. Wow! it was very surprising to see that there are tiger prawns inside the fish net.hehe..take a look.
“We have four tiger prawns in the plate.”
“This one is the largest.”
“The tiger prawns caught with the shrimps in the fish net.”
“Tiger prawns compared to ordinary shrimps.”
“Cooking it is the best thing to do! hehe..yum-yum.”
“Ready to eat.”
“The taste is so good and yummy!”
It taste so good that the whole night without sleeping will made a great reward. Well, it was just a start of something to happen so after this we were a lot more excited because the night after this the fish pond was harvested and we all end up tired!
We were all tired but the experienced was worth remembering!
I got PR 3!
Yes, it was hard to believe but when I check my page rank today it shows that I got PR 3. Wow. After only two months of blogging in this wordpress blog finally I got a PR. It was more than what I expected.
I make a post sometimes only in this blog and in fact I don’t have enough visitors to make a PR but how come? Well, can’t think the fact that maybe GOOGLE loves me! yepey..whewwww..
Thanks a lot Google for making me a PR 3 blog. For those who haven’t got any page rank yet, better luck next time! lol
Thanks to all! kaguvkov really rockz!
Christina Applegate diagnosed with breast cancer!
Christina Applegate
The actress is currently undergoing a treatment for breast cancer.
Ame Van Iden, publicist for the 36-year-old actress, released the following statement late Saturday:
“Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. Benefiting from early detection through a doctor ordered MRI, the cancer is not life threatening. Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery.”
Applegate has earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her starring role in ABC’s comedy “Samantha Who?” Applegate plays the title character, a young career woman who awakens from an eight-day coma remembering nothing about her past.
Let’s all help pray that Christina can recover soon!
All Above Us 