Monument to Saints Cyril and Methodius

In 1992 during the celebration of the Day of Slavonic literature and culture a monument to the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet was put up in Moscow. Their names are Cyril and Methodius, they were two Christian missionaries born in Thessaloniki in the 9th century.

The Old Slavonic inscription on the pedestal says "To Saints Equal-to-the-Apls, teachers of the Slavs Methodius and Cyril from grateful Russia". Later linguists found 5 spelling bad credit loans errors in this phrase, including two errors in the word Russia.

Who were Cyril and Methodius? More than a thousand years ago these two brothers came from Byzantium to the Slavic lands to preach the doctrine of Christ. It is known that Cyril received a brilliant education in Constantinople and later taught at the University of Magnavr, one of the greatest educational institutions of those times. In the year 862, at the request of the ambassadors of Prince Rostislav, the brothers Cyril and Methodius were charged with high mission - teaching and preaching Christianity in the Slavic language in the distant Moravia.

Cyril and Methodius devised a new alphabet to translate the Bible  from the Greek language. However, the Roman Church didn't approve these efforts and accused the brothers of heresy. At that time only three sacred languages were recognized: Hebrew, Greek and Latin. In 879 Methodius got official permission of worship in the Slavonic language. He later was able to translate the Old Testament.

Isn't it paradoxical that the monument being a symbol of Slavic unsecured loans writing has so many mistakes? Your Moscow tour guide can show you the sculpture to Cyril and Methodius during your Moscow tours.

Keith Haring Birthday

Keith Haring was born on May 4, 1958 in Reading, Pennsylvania, and was raised in nearby Kutztown, Pennsylvania. He developed a love for drawing at a very early age, learning basic cartooning skills from his father and from the popular culture around him, such as Dr. Seuss and Walt Disney.

Upon graduation from high school in 1976, Haring enrolled in the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh, a commercial arts school. He soon realized that he had little interest in becoming a commercial graphic artist and, after two semesters, dropped out. While in Pittsburgh, Haring continued to study and work on his own and in 1978 had a solo exhibition of his work at the Pittsburgh Arts and Crafts Center.
Later that same year, Haring moved to New York City and enrolled in the School of Visual Arts (SVA). In New York, Haring found a thriving alternative art community that was developing outside the gallery and museum system, in the downtown streets, the subways and spaces in clubs and former dance halls. Here he became friends with fellow artists Kenny Scharf and Jean-Michel Basquiat, as well as the musicians, performance artists and graffiti writers that comprised the burgeoning art community. Haring was swept up in the energy and spirit of this scene and began to organize and participate in exhibitions and performances at Club 57 and other alternative venues.

In addition to being impressed by the innovation and energy of his contemporaries, Haring was also inspired by the work of Jean Dubuffet, Pierre Alechinsky, William Burroughs, Brion Gysin and Robert Henri’s manifesto The Art Spirit, which asserted the fundamental independence of the artist. With these influences Haring was able to push his own youthful impulses toward a singular kind of graphic expression based on the primacy of the line. Also drawn to the public and participatory nature of Christo’s work, in particular Running Fence, and by Andy Warhol’s unique fusion of art and life, Haring was determined to devote his career to creating a truly public art.

As a student at SVA, Haring experimented with performance, video, installation and collage, while always maintaining a strong commitment to drawing. In 1980, Haring found a highly effective medium that allowed him to communicate with the wider audience he desired, when he noticed the unused advertising panels covered with matte black paper in a subway station. He began to create drawings in white chalk upon these blank paper panels throughout the subway system. Between 1980 and 1985, Haring produced hundreds of these public drawings in rapid rhythmic lines, sometimes creating as many as forty “subway drawings” in one day. This seamless flow of images became familiar to New York commuters, who often would stop to engage the artist when they encountered him at work. The subway became, as Haring said, a “laboratory” for working out his ideas and experimenting with his simple lines.

Between 1980 and 1989, Haring achieved international recognition and participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions. His first solo exhibition in New York.was held at the Westbeth Painters Space in 1981. In 1982, he made his Soho gallery debut with an immensely popular and highly acclaimed one-man exhibition at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery. During this period, he also participated in renowned international survey exhibitions such as Documenta 7 in Kassel; the São Paulo Biennial; and the Whitney Biennial. Haring completed numerous public projects in the first half of the 80’s as well, ranging from an animation for the Spectacolor billboard in Times Square, designing sets and backdrops for theaters and clubs, developing watch designs for Swatch and an advertising campaign for Absolut vodka; and creating murals worldwide.
In April 1986, Haring opened the Pop Shop, a retail store in Soho selling T-shirts, toys, posters, buttons and magnets bearing his images. Haring considered the shop to be an extension of his work and painted the entire interior of the store in an abstract black on white mural, creating a striking and unique retail environment. The shop was intended to allow people greater access to his work, which was now readily available on products at a low cost. The shop received criticism from many in the art world, however Haring remained committed to his desire to make his artwork available to as wide an audience as possible, and received strong support for his project from friends, fans and mentors including Andy Warhol.

Throughout his career, Haring devoted much of his time to public works, which often carried social messages. He produced more than 50 public artworks between 1982 and 1989, in dozens of cities around the world, many of which were created for charities, hospitals, children’s day care centers and orphanages. The now famous Crack is Wack mural of 1986 has become a landmark along New York’s FDR Drive. Other projects include; a mural created for the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in 1986, on which Haring worked with 900 children; a mural on the exterior of Necker Children’s Hospital in Paris, France in 1987; and a mural painted on the western side of the Berlin Wall three years before its fall. Haring also held drawing workshops for children in schools and museums in New York, Amsterdam, London, Tokyo and Bordeaux, and produced imagery for many literacy programs and other public service campaigns.

Haring was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988. In 1989, he established the Keith Haring Foundation, its mandate being to provide funding and imagery to AIDS organizations and children’s programs, and to expand the audience for Haring’s work through exhibitions, publications and the licensing of his images. Haring enlisted his imagery during the last years of his life to speak about his own illness and generate activism and awareness about AIDS. unsecured loans

During a brief but intense career that spanned the 1980s, Haring’s work was featured in over 100 solo and group exhibitions. In 1986 alone, he was the subject of more than 40 newspaper and magazine articles. He was highly sought after to participate in collaborative projects ,and worked with artists and performers as diverse as Madonna, Grace Jones, Bill T. Jones, William Burroughs, Timothy Leary, Jenny Holzer, Yoko Ono and Andy Warhol. By expressing universal concepts of birth, death, love, sex and war, using a primacy of line and directness of message, Haring was able to attract a wide audience and assure the accessibility and staying power of his imagery, which has become a universally recognized visual language of the 20th century.

Keith Haring died of AIDS related complications at the age of 31 on February 16, 1990. A memorial service was held on May 4, 1990 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, with over 1,000 people in attendance. bad credit loans

Since his death, Haring has been the subject of several international retrospectives. The work of Keith Haring can be seen today in the exhibitions and collections of major museums around the world.

Mothers Day In mExico

It's springtime in Mexico, the flowering trees are blooming in force, and it's Mothers Day!  Yes, it's Tuesday, not Sunday.  In Mexico, Mothers Day is a major holiday, and it's always on May 10, regardless of the day.  Children have no school, some workers have the day off, and everyone who still has a mom spends the day with her.  Now, get ready for this; I am not kidding...at midnight last night, the dawn of Mothers Day, we were treated to about 20 minutes of fireworks.  Then at 5AM this morning, we heard a brass band, complete with an oom-pah tuba, serenading a lucky mother in our neighborhood.  Very different from the US.  Not even any Mothers Day greeting cards.  Just special time and meals with their moms.

Not much going on for us this week.  I did receive this interesting article via email from my friend Ron from Maine who spends winters here.  It's by Bob Miller PhD, from Charlottesville, Va.  Not normally what we'd see in the US media: 

THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMIC REALITY

First: A reality check on Mexico

Mexico is in a unique position to reap many of the benefits of the decline of the US economy. In order to not violate NAFTA and other agreements the U.S.A. cannot use direct protectionism, so it is content to allow the media to play this protectionist role. The U.S. media - over the last year - has portrayed Mexico as being on the brink of economic collapse and civil war. The Mexican people are either beheaded, kidnapped, poor, corrupt, or narco-traffickers. The American news media was particularly aggressive in the weeks leading up to spring break. The main reason for this is money. During that two-week period, over 120,000 young American citizens poured into Mexico and left behind hundreds of millions of dollars.

Let's look at the reality of the massive drug and corruption problem, kidnappings, murders and money. The U.S. Secretary of State Clinton was clear in her honest assessment of the problem. "Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to prevent the weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians," Clinton said. The other large illegal business that is smuggled into the U.S.A. that no one likes to talk about is Human Traffic for prostitution. This "business" is globally now competing with drugs in terms of profits.

It is critical to understand, however that the horrific violence in Mexico is over 95% confined to the three transshipping cities for these two businesses, Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales. The Mexican government is so serious about fighting this, that they have committed over 30,000 soldiers to these borders towns. There was a thoughtful article written by a professor at the University of Juarez. He was reminded of the Prohibition years in the U.S.A. and compared Juarez to Chicago when Al Capone was conducting his reign of terror capped off with The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. During these years, just like Juarez today, 99% of the citizens went about their daily lives and attended classes, went to the movies, restaurants, and parks.

Is there corruption in Mexico? YES !!! Is there an equal amount of corruption related to this business in the U.S.A.? YES !!!. When you have a pair of illegal businesses that generate over $300,000,000,000 in sales you will find massive corruption. Make no mistake about the Mexican Drug Cartel; these "businessmen" are 100 times more sophisticated than the bumbling bootleggers during Prohibition. They form profitable alliances all over the U.S.A. They do cost benefit analysis of their business much better than the US automobile industry. They have found over the years that the cost of bribing U.S. and Mexican Border Guards and the transportation costs of moving marijuana from Sinaloa to California have cut significantly into profits. That is why over the past 5-7 years they have been growing marijuana in State and Federal Parks and BLM land all across America. From a business standpoint, this is a tremendous cost savings on several levels. Let's look at California as an example as one of the largest consumers. When you have $14.2 billion of Marijuana grown and consumed in one state, there is savings on transportation, less loss of product due to confiscation and an overall reduction cost of bribery with law enforcement and parks service people. Another great savings is the benefit to their employees. The penalties in Mexico for growing range from 5-15 years. The penalties in California, on average are 18 months, and out in 8 months. The same economic principles are now being applied to the methamphetamine factories.

FOX News continues to scare people with its focus on kidnapping. There are kidnappings in Mexico. The concentration of kidnappings has been in Mexico City, among the very rich and the three aforementioned border Cities. With the exception of Mexico City, the number one city for kidnappings among NAFTA countries is Phoenix, Arizona with over 359 in 2008. The Phoenix Police estimate that twice that number of kidnappings goes unreported, because like Mexico 99% of these crimes were directly related to drug and human traffic. Phoenix, unfortunately, is geographically profitable transshipping location. Mexicans, just like 99% of U.S. Citizens during prohibition, go about their daily lives all over the country. They get up, go to school or work and live their lives untouched by the border town violence.

These same protectionist news sources have misled the public as to the real danger from the swine flu in Mexico and temporary devastated the tourism business. As of May 27 2009 there have been 87 deaths in Mexico from the swine flu. During those same five months there have been 36 murdered school children in Chicago. By their logic, if 87 deaths from the swine flu in Mexico warrants canceling flights and cruise ships to Mexico, then close all roads and highways in the USA because of record 43,359 automobile related deaths in the USA in 2008. unsecured loans

What is just getting underway is what many are calling the "Largest southern migration to Mexico of people and real estate assets since the Civil War" A significant percentage of the Baby Boomers have been doing the research and are making the life changing decision to move out of the U.S.A. The number one retirement destination in the world is Mexico. There are already over 2,000,000 US and Canadian property owners in Mexico. The most conservative number of American and Canadian Baby Boomers who are on their way to owning property in Mexico for full or part time living in the next 15 years is over 6,000,000. Do the math on 6,000,000 people buying a $300,000 house or condo and you will understand why the U.S. Government is trying to tax this massive shift of money to Mexico through H.R. 3056. The U.S. government calls this "The Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007". Those who will have to pay it are calling this the EXIT TAX.

Mexico: A better economic choice than China

Another large exodus from the U.S.A is high paying skilled jobs. The job shift in automobile sector, both car and parts manufacturing, is already known by most investors. In the last few months as John Deere and Caterpillar have been laying off thousands of workers in the U.S.A., and hiring equal numbers in Mexico. The most recent industry that is making the shift is the aerospace manufacturers. In the city of Zacatecas there is currently a $210 million aerospace facility being built. With the 11 U.S. companies moving there, it is estimated to provide over 200,000 new high paying jobs in the coming years. One of the main factors for the shift in job south to Mexico instead of China is realistic analysis of total production, labor and delivery costs. While the labor costs in China are 40% less on average, the overall transportation costs and inherent risks of a long distance supply chain, and quality control issues, gives Mexico a distinct financial advantage.

Mexico's real economic future

Mexico has avoided completely the subprime problem that has devastated the U.S. banking industry. The Mexican banks are healthy and profitable. Mexico has a growing and very healthy middle and upper middle class. The very recent introduction of residential financing has Mexico in a unique position of having over 90% of current homeowners owning their house outright. U.S. banks bad credit loans are competing for the Mexican, Canadian and American cross border loan business. It is and will continue to be a very safe and very profitable business. These same banks that were loaning in a reckless manner have learned their lesson and are loaning here the old fashioned way. They require a minimum of a 680 credit score, 30% down payment, and verifiable income that can support the loan. In most areas of Mexico where Baby Boomers are moving to, with the exception of Puerto Penasco (which did not have a national and international base of buyers), there is no real estate bubble.. The higher end markets ($2-20 million) in many of these destinations are going through a modest correction. The Baby Boomers market here is between $200,000 and $600,000. With the continuing demand inside the Bay of Banderas, that price point, in the coming years, will disappear. This is the reason the Mexican government is spending billions of dollars on more infrastructure north along the coast all the way up to Mazatlan.
The other major area where America has become overpriced is in the field of health care. This massive shift of revenues is estimated to add 5-7% to Mexico's GDP. The name for this "business" is Medical Tourism. The two biggest competitors for Mexico were Thailand and India. Thailand and India's biggest drawback is geography. Also recent events, Thailand's inability to keep a government in place and the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, have helped Mexico capture close to half of this growth industry. In Mexico today there are over 56 world class hospitals being built to keep up with this business.

Mexico is currently sitting on a cash surplus and an almost balanced budget. Most Americans have never heard of Carlos Slim until he loaned the New York Times $250 million. After that it became clear to many investors around the world what Mexicans already knew: that Mexico had been able to avoid the worst of the U.S. economic devastation. Mexico's resilience is to be admired. When the U.S. Federal Reserve granted a $30 billion loan to each of Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, and Brazil, Mexico reinvested the money in Treasury bonds in an account in New York City.

According to oil traders, Mexico's Pemex wisely as the price of oil shot to $147 a barrel put in place an investment strategy that hinged on oil trading in the range of $38-$60 a barrel. Since the beginning of 2009 Mexico has been collecting revenues on hedged positions that give them $90-$110 per barrel today. Mexico's recent and under reported oil discovery in the Palaeo Channels of Chicontepec has placed it third in the world for oil reserves, right behind Canada and Saudi Arabia.

The following is a quote from Rosalind Wilson, President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on March 19, 2009. "The strength of the Mexican economic system makes the country a favorite destination for Canadian investment".

OPPORTUNITIES: WHY PUERTO VALLARTA & THE RIVIERA NAYARIT

The answer is simple and old fashioned: SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

The area of Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit inside the Bay of Banderas is an investor's dream. This area has the comprehensive infrastructure in place, world class hospitals and dental care, natural investment protection from the Sierra Madre Mountains, endless future water supply, low to nonexistent crime, international airport, and limited supply inside the Bay, first class private bilingual schools and higher than average appreciation potential. Like many areas in Mexico there is large demand for full and part time retirement living and a lot of construction underway to meet this demand. Pre construction of course is where the best bargains are available.

I would offer a word of caution for investors in Mexico. Do not be seduced by the endless natural beauty that is everywhere, both inland in colonial towns and along thousands of miles of beach. Apply conservative medium and long term investment strategies without emotion. The demand for full and part time living by American and Canadian Baby Boomers is evident throughout the country. The top two choice locations are ocean front, and ocean view. The third overall choice, which is less expensive, is inland in one of the many beautiful colonial towns or small cities.

Mexico, with the world's 13th largest GDP, is no longer a "Third World Country", but rather a fast growing, economically secure state, as the most recent five-year history of its financial markets when compared to the U.S.A.'s financial markets suggests.

National Receptionist Day USA

Receptionists are the 'front line' personnel in the business setting. They are the first person a client has contact with and they set the tone of the business transaction to unsecured loans follow. Their interpersonal skills, telephone etiquette and communication skills are very important elements in greeting clients, responding to their inquiries and representing the company overall. They are the company’s director of first impressions bad credit loans.

National Receptionists Day was initiated in 1990 by Jennifer Alexander, the director of National Receptionists Association. The mission of National Receptionists Day is to gain awareness and appreciation for the role of receptionists in the business setting, and to provide community and support for receptionists nationwide.

Companies observe National Receptionists Day in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. A popular celebratory effort is to write up a proclamation from the company which officially recognizes National Receptionists Day and their receptionist. Proclamation forms are available for download from the associa

Deer hunting tips

Get Good at Shed Hunting

1. Being good at shed hunting can give you insight to what bucks you have on your property and where they hang out.
2. Look in the think stuff for sheds. Bucks love cover and the thick brush can knock off a loose antler leaving it for you to find.
3. Many sheds are found anywhere a buck has to jump. A ditch or fence crossing can offer a shed antler that has been jolted loose.
4. Be sure to check the south facing ridges for sheds. Deer frequent these areas in early spring to soak up the sun.

Use Game Trail Cameras

5. Digital deer scouting is cutting edge and trail cameras are the number one tool.
6. Use a mineral lick or salt block during the off season to bring deer into trail camera range.
7. Remember to bring an extra memory card and batteries every time you check your game cameras.
8. Locate your cameras where they are easily accessible so you don’t over-pressure the deer.
9. Position your camera to the north for the best quality pictures.
Big Buck Tactics bad credit loans
10. A part of seeing bigger bucks is letting the smaller ones walk.
11. Designate a few acres of your property as a deer sanctuary where it is safe for them to go.
12. Post keep out signs around your sanctuaries and safe zones so other hunters don’t wonder in.
13. Be cautious of bucks circling downwind anytime you rattle or call.
14. Use scents and lures conservatively. Many mature bucks have made a connection between man and scent overuse during the fall.
15. During the rut, find the bucks by locating the does.
16. Rattling techniques are most effective during the pre-rut phase before bucks lock down with a doe.
17. Most mature trophy bucks are killed between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m during peak breeding season.
18. Hunt the edges of thickets and the nastiest overgrown areas you can find. Bucks love heavy cover.
19. The snort wheeze is a great call to use on an aggressive buck.
20. Don’t be afraid to make a move on a buck. Most successful hunters tweak their stand locations once they gain more insight on buck movement.
21. If moving a tree stand is too risky, consider making a natural blind to ambush a buck.
22. Don’t call or grunt to a buck that is already heading your way.
Shooting & Recovery Tips
23. From a tree stand, come to full draw while standing upright like normal, then bend at the waist bringing the pin down to the target.
24. It’s always best to be patient and wait for the right shot to open up.
25. Anticipate a nervous buck taking off as soon as he hears the bowstring (ducking the arrow). Aiming a little lower can result in a better shot.
26. Don’t shoot further than what you are comfortable shooting. Stay within your comfortable range.
27. Have enough respect for a mature buck to let him walk if he doesn’t offer a good shot.
28. Pay close attention to a deer’s reaction after taking a shot to determine where it is hit.
29. Do your part and harvest does to keep the herd in check.
30. Listen once a deer runs off. Many times you will hear them crash after they are out of sight.
31. If you are unsure of the shot placement wait it out. Remember, when in doubt – wait it out!
32. Note the direction a deer runs after being shot. Use landmarks as a guide.
33. Examine your arrow for an indication of the shot placement. Hair and blood color can be a sign where your arrow hit.

General Hunting Tactics

34. Hunt bottlenecks, funnels, pinch points, and trail hubs.
35. Play the wind in addition to scent control clothing or scent killing spray.
36. Deer can see movement from a long ways, use slow motion if you have to move while on stand.
37. Don’t make any human sounds that aren’t natural to a deer’s environment. Coughing, banging equipment against a metal stand, or your cell phone ringing will ruin a hunt.
38. If you are going to carry one call make it a grunt tube.
39. Check the wind direction several times an hour and get down if it switches to your disadvantage.
40. Don’t overuse deer calls. Deer don’t call as often as deer call makers would like you to think.
41. Scanning think cover with a good pair of binoculars is a great way to spot a bedded buck.
42. Leave your rangefinders in a handy spot in case you need them quick.
43. Use rangefinders to mark yardages around your tree stand prior to a deer coming in.
44. Always let a loved one know where you’ll be sitting in case something unforeseen happens.
45. Hunt the travel corridors between bedding and feeding areas during the early season.
46. Leave your bow or gun where you can easily grab it with little movement.
47. Stalking deer can be more successful on windy or rainy days. A deer’s hearing and sight are lessened during these conditions.
48. Be sure to wear a facemask or face paint to hide the familiar contours of your face.
49. Cover shiny equipment that might reflect light and look unnatural with paint or camouflage tape.
50. Deer move in all types of weather. Take advantage of foul weather when other hunters are sleeping in and you could score big.
51. In no way should you ever hunt with broadheads that may be dull. Keep your practice broadheads separate from your hunting broadheads.
52. Keep deer from patterning you by using different routes to and from your stand sites.
53. A pee bottle is a must. Bring an empty plastic bottle with a lid in case you’ve got to go.

Scent Control Tips

54. Activate your scent control clothing several time throughout the hunting season.
55. Be sure to shower with scent free soap and shampoo before every hunt.
56. Use field spray on all your clothing, boots, and equipment. unsecured loans
57. Don’t ride in a car or truck with your hunting clothes on. It’s better to dress in the field or outside your vehicle once you arrive.
58. Storing your hunting clothes in a scent free bag or container is essential.
59. Use scent eliminating breath spray.
60. Wear rubber hunting boots as opposed to scent absorbing canvas or leather.
61. Wear layers of clothing to stay warm. Plus you can take off a layer or two if you get hot.
62. Use cover scents that are natural to your area or you might spook game.
Following these deer hunting tips can certainly help you to have a more successful hunting season.

Mother's Day Belarus

On 8 March, Belarusians celebrate International Women’s Day. In the tradition of the Soviet Union, there is no special day for lovers such as Valentine’s Day, but men and women have separate holidays. This is the time to look at the relations between men and women in Belarus. Although both are equal in front of the law, in reality, women are not as equal as men.

23 February is Men’s Day, the Day of the Defenders of the Motherland, as it is called. This day is celebrated in the honour of the first victory of the Soviet Army near Pskow in 1918. Nowadays, 23 February is a day when all men feel like war heroes who defend their country and their families.
On their special day, men get shaving creme and socks as a gift from their wives, sisters and mothers. Women prepare cakes and food.  On the day before 23 February, the department stores look like they are for women-only. The department for men’s socks and toiletries are crowded with women buying presents for their beloved ones.

In return, women have their special day on 8 March, International Women’s Day. Here again, they prepare food, and their sons, husbands and brothers give them flowers, chocolate and household devices as presents. bad credit loans

Gender holidays as remnant of the Soviet past


Traditionally, these gender holidays are celebrated at work. Women prepare a party for their male colleagues, and men make up poems praising their female co-workers. Some companies have real competitions on which gender prepares the best party.
However, the gender holidays seem to be more and more a remnant of the Soviet past. According to opinion surveys, for the young generation of Belarusians, 8 March is just a day off (this is an example of positive discrimination: Women’s Day is a day off while 23 February is not). Only history students know that 8 March became the International Women’s Day to commemorate the role of women during the 1917 Russian revolution.
Some people in Belarus also prefer to celebrate the day of Belarusian Military Glory on 8 September instead of 23 February. This day refers to the victory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania’s troops over the army of the Moscow principality in the battle on 8 September 1514 near the town of Orsha. This victory prevented Muscovite forces from occupying the territory of Belarus. Celebrating this holiday regularly leads to a deterioration in Russia-Belarus relations.

Women's rights in Belarus
No matter whether you celebrate Women’s day or not, it is still a day to have a look at the situation of gender equality in Belarus. Article 22 of the Belarusian Constitution states that all citizen are equal before the law. Belarus signed the optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. However, there is no separate law on gender equality in the country, and there are no quotas established for women’s participation in elections, employment, etc. in the legislation.
Belarusian law protects the physical integrity of women to a relatively high degree. However, violence against women, in particular sexual violence such as rape, sexually motivated murder, sexual harassment and trafficking in women, remains a significant problem. According to a survey conducted in 2004 by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), one-third of Belarusian women have suffered domestic violence.

Even if Belarusian women are not beaten by their husbands, life is still hard for them, as Belarus is a country with a traditional paternalistic scheme of male and female roles. While most women work full-time, they also bear the basic load of housework. After their working days, the come home and cook, clean the flat and do the laundry.

Belarusian women, as every foreigner who has been invited to a Belarusian family knows, are exceptional: they always have several dishes readily prepared, even if they do not expect any visitors. If they have guests, or a holiday, the hospitality is legendary, and they will not stop cooking until the table is fully loaded with food. At the same time, Belarusian women manage to take care of themselves and are reportedly good-looking.

Importance of paternal role in raising children is underestimated


It is part of the traditional role-understanding that women stay at home looking after the children. Despite the Belarusian law providing for “parental leave” three years after the birth of a child, in 2010 only 2,000 fathers used it. According to the United Nations Population Fund, Belarusians underestimate in society the importance of paternity, a fact that led to a decrease in the influence of men raising children.

In Sweden and Germany, the same possibility of parental leave exists. However, in those countries, the state explicitly encourages fathers to profit from the occasion and stay at home. In Germany, for instance, the sum of payments last for only 14 months, and the payments can be received only if the fathers stay at home with their children at least two months of this time.

This shows that not only in Belarus but also Western countries have a long way to go towards true gender equality in child care. In contrast to Germany and Sweden, Belarus does not do anything to encourage fathers to stay with their children for some time. unsecured loans

A recent article in Nasha Niva weekly on the subject of child care underlines this problem: “Papas will not be forced to work as Mamas”. The fact remains that most mothers have to stay at home because women work in lower-pay jobs.  Women are often paid less, even if they do the same work as men do.
It is a pity that Belarusian young fathers are deprived of the possibility to spend more time with their children. In Belarus, it is unusual for a father to attend the antenatal classes or to be present at the birth of their children. Men who want still want to do so have to explain themselves when talking to others and are made fun of by their male friends.

Belarusian men can be great fathers; they have a lot to give to their children. It would be good for the future generation of Belarusians if the men were enabled by the society to assume their natural role in the upbringing of their offspring. That could be the best present for mothers on the Women's Day.

Parents Day

Parents Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July, every year, to mark an expression of gratitude and a sense of thankfulness from every child to his/her parents. Parents are people who are not only responsible for bringing us to this world, but also for nurturing us to sustain in this human race. They imbibe in us positive qualities and make us better human beings. They support us right from the time we are born to the time we leave this world. Parents Day presents the perfect opportunity to thank them for everything that they do for us.

Parent's Day does not have a centuries-old history. Talking about the origin of the day, it was formulated in 1994, by US President Bill Clinton, in his presidential term in White House. He realized that there was a Mother's Day that was celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year and also a Father's Day that was celebrated on the third Sunday of June every year. However, there still existed a void among people. There was no day which commemorated the efforts of both the parents together. It was then that Parent's Day took shape. He signed into law a resolution that was cohesively adopted by US Congress also.

With the signing of the resolution, fourth day of July was realized as the day to rejoice the endeavor of our parents together. According to the Congressional Resolution, Parents' Day is established for "recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children." The establishment of Parents' Day was the result of a bipartisan, multiracial and interfaith coalition of religious, civic and elected leaders, who recognized the need for promotion of responsible parenting in the society and uplifting the ideal parental role models, especially for the nation's children. bad credit loans

Since its inception, Parents Day celebrations have been encouraged worldwide. Parents are a source of hope, help, stability and love for their children. They teach children important values like courage, integrity, compassion, self-reliance, reverence, and respect for others. unsecured loans Parenthood is a privilege which brings along with itself a lot of responsibilities. All the responsibilities are magnificently met by our parents and so it lies on our part to realize their hard work and give them a token of love. Parents Day offers exemplary opportunity to express gratefulness and appreciation for their efforts.

ve day

It is 65 years ago to the day that Great Britain and the rest of Europe were celebrating the end of the Second World War. A war that had gone on for 6 long years, cost millions of lives, had brought untold hardship and suffering to even more millions of people the like of which we will never know. And for those that had survived it was a time to celebrate and rejoice.

Here in France it is a National Holiday and l believe we should do the same in the UK. It seems fitting to mark this day as an entry on my blog. But as such l know l have to keep it short so l hope l can capture the spirit of the time in the following extracts.

On 4 May 1945 the German forces in north-western Europe surrendered to General Montgomery at Luneberg Heath. On 7 May the German Supreme command surrendered at Rheims. The 8 May was designated as VE-Day – Victory in Europe Day (the war against the Japanese still continued). In Britain there was a great deal of rejoicing and for the first time for many years there was floodlighting of public buildings and statues; restaurants, cinemas and theatres were fully lit up. It was said that some children were terrified by the unexpected amount of light!

The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, announced to the nation that Germany had, at last, surrendered.
There were scenes of great jubilation, Churchill appeared with the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.He announced to the crowd: “This is your victory. It is the victory of the cause of freedom in every land. In all our long history we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best.” The crowds below cheered and sang ‘For he’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ followed by three cheers for victory.

Winston C

hurchill on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the King and Queen, Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth.

VE Day dawned, and for the first time in almost 6 years the weather forecast could be published in the newspapers. ‘Wind freshening; warm and sunny at first but rain can be expected later’, read the Daily Mirror. But the forecast was wrong: ‘the sudden warm snap’ did continue. By the afternoon the temperature in London had risen to 75F and the celebrating crowds sweltered in the unseasonal heat.

Nothing official had been planned to celebrate Victory in Europe. Resentment still simmered in some quarters. ‘A muddle, it was a muddle’. ‘Telling us over and over the church bells would be the signal. And then there was no signal. Just hanging around’. ‘Do ‘em no good in the General Election. The way they have gone on over this. People won’t forget it. An insult that’s what it was…No bells, no All Clears. Nothing to start the people off. That’s what they were afraid of…’ J.G.

But the people did celebrate and took it upon themselves to organise street parties up and down the land. Neighbours pooled their sweet rations and made cakes and sandwiches. They tore down the black-out curtains and made them into fancy dress for the children, music was played in the streets and many had bonfires with effigies of Hitler on top of them. unsecured loans

The following is from a woman working at W.V.S. headquarters in London and describes the night in a letter to a friend:

We all walked to Buckingham Palace. As we got in front of it the flood-lighting flicked on. It was wonderful…magnificent and inspiring and it seemed we had never seen so beautiful a building. The crowd was everywhere and yet one could walk through it. We edged our way to a good view of the balcony, which was draped with crimson, with a yellow and gold fringe. The crowd was such that l have never seen- l was never so proud of England and our people. It was a crowd of seperate individuals. There was never any mass feeling. Everybody spoke quietly or was silent- everybody looked just relieved and glad. We waited. Coloured rockets went up behind us. Then the King and Queen and two Princessses came onto the balcony. We yelled and yelled and yelled and waved and cheered. They waved back to us. It was wonderful…then we began  to walk.We went to a huge bonfire in the park. People had joined hands and were circling round it. We walked by the lake- there were coloured lights in the trees and bushes reflected in the water. We came out of the Park by the Middlesex Guild Hall. It was floodlit in a warm yellowish light and looked medieval with flags from what looked like the battlements. bad credit loans

We went to Big Ben. It was floodlit and looked magnificent. I heard myself say ‘Dear Big Ben! Dear Big Ben!’ The Houses were floodlit from the river and all the lights along the Terrace. What moved us all beyond anything else was the great Union Jack on the Lords. It, alone, was floodlit by lights going straight upwards. It was a great, lovely Union Jack, flying grandly in the sky by itself…We walked to the middle of Westminster Bridge and stood there. Searchlights were all rotating and making a kaleidoscope pattern all over the sky. County Hall was lit in two colours and the training ships in the river strung with coloured lights…We walked back to Parliament Square and turn ed to face Big Ben. It was a few minutes to midnight…At one minute past, all fighting was to cease. It was absolutely silent. Big Ben struck. Just before the last stroke it had reached one minute past. A great cry went up and people clapped their hands. Something went off with a bang…The tugs in the river gave the V sign. It was unforgettable.

cassinga day in namibia

Let us share with you the basic information you need to know when travelling to Namibia. If there is anything else, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

 

 

General Information:

Capital: Windhoek

Government: Republic

Area: total 824,292 sq km

Population: 1,973.900 (2004)

 

Languages

English; Afrikaans; German; other languages Oshivambo, Herero and Nama.

English is the official language and travellers should have little difficulty communicating with locals, except in some of the remote rural areas. Prior to independence in 1990, Afrikaans was the official language and it is still the lingua franca; the only exception being the Caprivi region where English is spoken. German is widely spoken in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Luderitz and some of the smaller towns. Oshiwambo is the most widely spoken of Namibia’s indigenous languages.

 

 

Electricity

Electricity of 220 volt AC is supplied and sockets are for round, three pin plugs, and 15 amp types.

 

Public Holidays unsecured loans

The following Public Holidays are observed in Namibia.

New Years Day:                  01 January

Independence Day:              21 March

Good Friday:                       March –April

Easter Monday:                   March- April

Workers Day:                      01 May

Cassinga Day:                     4 May

Ascension Day:                   40 days after Easter

Africa Day:                         25 May

Heroes Day:                       26 August

Human Rights Day:             10 December

Christmas Day:                   25 December

Family Day:                        26 December

 

Climate

With an average rainfall of 270mm per year, Namibia is considered to be an arid country. More than 70 percent of the countries rain is recorded between January and April, the rainfall as well as the length of the rainy season increases from the coast inland from south to north. Rain usually falls in the afternoon in the form of thunderstorms which soon pass.

The months between May and September are considered the best time to visit the interior. Daytime temperatures are pleasant, but the evenings can be cold. The following table will give a good indication of the temperatures throughout the country. The figures given are average figures; please bear in mind that temperatures of over 35 degrees Celsius often occur.

 

 

Health and Personal Safety

Health

Although the country is virtually free of tropical diseases, visitors to the Northern regions must be aware of Malaria and bilharzias.

Tap water in the towns is purified and perfectly drinkable. Water obtained from boreholes is very often brackish and can taste unpleasant but is not generally a health risk. In all instances, especially rural communal areas, caution should be exercised.

 

Personal Safety

Tourists visiting any country are a preferred target and Namibia is no different. Always be on the alert for handbag snatchers and pick-pockets. Exercise caution by keeping your vehicle locked. Do not leave valuables or bags visible in the vehicle. When sightseeing in the towns leave cameras, electronic equipment, tickets, passports and excess cash safely at your hotel. It is recommended that you take out insurance to cover personal effects and medical emergencies.

 

Posts and Telecommunications

The postal service in Namibia is operated by Nampost, a government owned enterprise, with post offices throughout the country. The service offered is efficient and reliable.

Telecommunication services in Namibia are provided by Telecom Namibia, an independent state-owned enterprise with more than 50 offices throughout the country.

Namibia has an excellent telecommunications system, with direct dialling to over 200 international destinations. The international dialling code for overseas calls to Namibia is +264, while area codes in the country are preceded by a 0. When calling from outside of Namibia, the 0 of the area code must be submitted.

 

Coin and card public phones are provided at Post-offices, police stations and public places. Cards are sold at Teleshops and Nampost offices.

 

The cellular network is operated by Mobile Telecommunications Ltd (MTC). The network covers Windhoek and virtually all major towns and their immediate surroundings.

 

Time

Namibia introduced differentiated standard times for summer and winter in 1994. Summer time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2) and commences at 02:00 on the first Sunday of September, ending 02: 00 on the first Sunday of April the following year. Winter time is one hour in advance of GMT (GMT+1) and commences at 02:00 on the first Sunday in April, ending 02:00 on the first Sunday of September.

Namibian winter time is hence one hour behind South African Standard time. In the Northeast of the country many shops, businesses and offices continue to operate on Namibian summer time, as this region lies much further east than the rest of the country.

 

Water

Water from all Namibia’s taps is suitable for drinking. Water is one of Namibia’s scarcest commodities and as such visitors are earnestly requested to make a meaningful water-saving contribution while in the country.

 

 

Here are some simple measures that can be taken:

Shower instead of bath. An average 10cm bath uses about 80 litres of water, while a short shower uses about 24 litres. bad credit loans

 

If a shower is not available then remember that it is not necessary to fill the bath to the rim. You can also share a bath – its fun.

 

Don’t leave water running while washing your hands, brushing your teeth or shaving, use the plug.

 

Use a glass or keep a container of water in the refrigerator rather than drinking water from the tap or letting it run until it is cold.

 

If you notice a leaking tap, report it to the venue’s host.

 

It is illegal to use a hose pipe to wash your car, use a bucket and cloth instead.

 

Thank you for helping us conserve Namibia’s water.

 

What to pack when visiting Namibia

The temperatures in Namibia are clear indications of the type of clothing required.

During the summer months, for both day and night, light clothing is necessary i.e. Cotton shirts, shorts and skirts. Long sleeved shirts and long cotton trousers are a good idea if your skin is sensitive to the sun; they also help to keep mosquitoes at bay after sunset.

This clothing is also adequate for winter day-wear but for early mornings, evenings and night time, warm trousers, jerseys, tracksuits, balaclava, gloves and warm socks may be needed.

Do not forget your sunhat, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses, binoculars, sturdy walking shoes and bathing costume.

Polish National Day

On 3 May 2011, at the prestigious Wellington Club, a reception celebrating the National Day of Poland was held. The ceremony attracted about 200 people. Present were: members of the NZ Government (Hon Christopher Finlayson, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, unsecured loans Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Police, Corresctions and Veterans' Affairs, Hon Wayne Mapp, Minister of Defence, Hon Hekia Parata, Minister for Ethnic and Women's Affairs), Members of Parliament ( approximately 10 members, including the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee and the President of the Poland-New Zealand Parliamentary Group), J. Dew, Archbishop of Wellington, representatives of MFAT (including the Deputy Secretary Chris Seed) and other Ministries, academic institutions, research and culture , Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic-consular corps (including our new Honorary Consul in Christchurch Winsome Dormer), representatives of the Polish Community of Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.

Customarily, two speeches were delivered: one of the Ambassador Beata Stoczyńska and, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, of Minister Chris Finlayson. In her speech, Ambassador referred to the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, relations between Poland and New Zealand and JPII's Beatification. Minister Finlayson thanked the Polish government for the condolences recieved after the earthquake in Christchurch, referred to the long tradition of political, cultural, economic relations, also in a historical context.

In connection with the funeral of Mr. Czeslaw Tomaszyk (a soldier of the Polish Underground, arrested and imprisoned in three Nazi camps, who after arriving in New Zealand was a successful businessman), that took place earlier on the same day, Minister introduced this late soldier as an example of a person who has achieved a success and had a great carrer in New Zealand, while neved strayed from his traditional Polish roots. Both speeches were very well received. bad credit loans

Olga Gryniewicz, a soprano singer, sang national anthems of Poland and New Zealand. Promotional video „Poland - Move Your Imagination" was also presented.

 

turtle boy

The summer of ’79 has just begun in Delaware, Ohio, promising months of idle fun. But when Timmy Quinn and his best friend stumble across a stranger at Myers Pond — a frightening child they call “The Turtle Boy” — their summer break turns deadly.

In The Turtle Boy, Kealan Patrick Burke masterfully recreates that magical time from childhood: summer vacation. To this reviewer — who spent many pleasant summers blazing trails through the woods and engaging in mock battles by the creek with friends — Burke’s writing rings true and evokes a welcome sense of nostalgia. More than a simple trip down memory lane, the short novel pulls readers along a dark path toward horrifying events.

Burke enriches his already strong prose with vivid imagery. He subtly adds menace to the story with his descriptions of the landscape (“To their left, blank-faced white houses stood facing each other, their windows’ glaring eyes issuing silent challenges … To the right, hedges reared high, the tangles of weeds … occasionally gathered at the base of the gnarled trees upon whose palsied arms leaves hung as an apparent afterthought”) before he introduces the disfigured Turtle Boy (“His eyes were cold dark stones … [His] head looked like a rotten squash beaten and decorated to resemble a human being’s and his mouth could have been a recently healed wound … or a burn … The boy grinned a grin 

of ripped stitches”).

After his powerful start, however, Burke falters slightly. Timmy’s friendship with a neighborhood girl progresses too quickly: hours after being forced to spend time together, they are holding hands, and Timmy finds that he “welcomed the contact.” He thinks, “Does this mean she’s my girlfriend?” Granted, their bond is forged in the face of danger, and the novel’s short unsecured loans length doesn’t allow for more leisurely character development. Although the story becomes mired in a patch of human melodrama near the end, Burke tries hard to keep the surreal and the supernatural at the forefront — he introduces the shifting realities of The Curtain and The Stage, concepts that he will surely revisit in future stories.

A character in the book says, “The living have enough to worry about these days without the dead coming back to complicate things.” Readers, however, will likely bad credit loans welcome such complications in Kealan Patrick Burke’s future work. He promises more stories featuring Timmy Quinn, including a short novel called The Hides from Cemetery Dance Publications and a novelette titled “Vessels” in the upcoming anthology The Black.

Constitution & Independence Day marshall island

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is a Micronesian nation on 29 coral atolls and 5 low-lying islands in the central Pacific, mid-way between Hawaii and Australia.

In 1978 the Marshall Islands in referendum separated from the rest of Micronesia and adopted the Constitution in 1979, which came into effect on May 1, 1979 and established the Marshall Islands a self-governing country.
In 1986, the Compact of Free Association with the United States was signed granting the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) its sovereignty and independence on 21 October 1986. The RMI became a member of the United Nations in 1991.

The 1979 Constitution sets forth a unicameral parliamentary system. However, the President is both Chief of State and Head of Government and is elected by members of the Nitjela (Parliament). This element makes the Government of the Marshall Islands a mixed parliamentary presidential system. The Marshall Islands has a bicameral legislature which consists of two Houses: the lower house or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms who have legislative power) and the upper house or Council of Iroij (an advisory body comprising 12 tribal chiefs who advise on customary issues).

The legal system of RMI is based on adapted Trust Territory laws (the American common law), acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws. For example, the Laws of Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks of the United States are applicable in Marshall Islands. unsecured loans

The Preamble of the Constitution guarantees sui generis rights concerning the respect and protection of traditional cultural expressions and traditional knowledge stating: "All we have and are today as a people, we have received as a sacred heritage which we pledge ourselves to safeguard and maintain, valuing nothing more dearly than our rightful home on the islands within the traditional boundaries of this archipelago." The traditional rights are furthermore recognized in Article X. "Traditional Rights".

The Constitution also contains many provisions that specifically recognize and guarantee the right to property. Section 4 of Article II "Bill of Rights" prohibits the deprivation of private property, providing in part: "1) No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law..." bad credit loans

The protection of private property rights is again specified in Subsection 4(10), Subsections 5(1), (4), (8) of Article II "Bill of Rights, Subsection 15 (3) of Article VIII "Finance". Similarly, the protection of property or other assets of Government is also stipulated in Subsection 4 (c) of Article I "Supremacy of the Constitution”.