Oxfordshire is nestled between the Cotswolds, The Midlands, The Chilterns and the River Thames and covers the local government districts of Cherwell, Oxford, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire and South Oxfordshire. The county flower is the Snake’s Head Fritillary – a beautiful purple bell shaped plant with a checked pattern all over it.

The biggest city in this county is Oxford, which is famous for its university. Many walking tours are available including the ‘University and City Tour’ covering the architecture and traditions of the city’s most famous buildings and institutions. The ‘Inspector Morse Tour’ visits the scenes of the TV series and is interesting to fans of the series. The garden tour is also worth doing and covers the University Parks, the Botanic Garden and Christ Church Meadow.

There are plenty of highlights for a visit to Oxfordshire but the stately homes and castles are just one.

In Cherwell district, about 12 miles from Oxford, is Rousham House, which was built in 1635 by Sir Robert Dormer. Visitors can see the house by prior arrangement but a minimum number of people are required. The gardens were designed by William Kent to impress visitors in the eighteens century. You can see features such as ponds and cascades and the walled garden and pigeon house are definitely worth a visit.

Broughton Castle is an essentially English castle. Available to see are the Gatehouse, gallery, King’s Chamber, Queen Anne’s Room, Great Parlour, Oak dining room, Council Chamber and more. The King’s Chamber is actually where James 1 slept in 1604 and then Edward VII in 1901. James’ wife, Queen Anne of Denmark had the honour of the room she slept in being named after her.

Probably the most famous building in the county is Blenheim Palace, Woodstock. It was built by John Vanbrugh for the first Duke of Marlborough, after his victory at the battle of Blenheim. The gardens are notable because they were designed by ‘Capability Brown’ to include trees planted in the battle formation used by the winning troops.

The highest point of the county is White Horse Hill, in the Vale of White Horse. At about 261 metres above sea level it offers great views over Oxfordshire. The county offers more than just notable buildings. The villages are worth exploring as is the countryside. There’s city walks or walks in the hills and there’s boating on the rivers too. Try Oxfordshire for yourself.

There is no better place on earth to watch a magic show than among the lights of Las Vegas. Glitz and glamour abound. The most skilled magicians in the world make their way through Las Vegas at one time or another. Some thrill and move on to other venues, others stay and perform on an almost daily basis. They cover almost every genre of magic, from the full illusions of David Copperfield to the parlor magic and humor of Mac King.

This article is not about who I think you should see, but instead a directory of sorts to guide you to the performers who are best suited for your preference and budget.

David Copperfield performs almost nightly at the MGM Grand. He is the epitome of Las Vegas magic – Big, grand, glitzy, and the Best at what he does. Anyone of any age can appreciate his shows and will leave inspired. Expect to spend some money, as watching the Best will cost the most.

Penn and Teller perform at the Rio, and are not to be missed by adults who want to be truly fooled and entertained. I would recommend this show for the entire family, but Penn is known to drop the ‘F’ bomb from time to time, so I would rate this show a definite ‘PG’. Again, tickets are not cheap, but well worth the cost.

Criss Angel’s ‘Believe’ performs several times a week at the Luxor. Although this show didn’t open to great reviews, I understand Criss has increased the number of illusions dramatically and I am starting to hear that the Criss Angel that wowed a nation on TV is back and going strong. If you are a Criss Angel fan I would expect you to be extremely satisfied with the new look of ‘Believe’. Should be suitable for the whole family.

The Amazing Johnathan performs at Planet Hollywood and his wild brand of magic is definitely for Adults. Magic is simply a tool Johnathan employs to make you laugh for the duration of the show. The virtual non-stop humor makes this one of the most watched shows in Vegas.

Gerry McCambridge, the Mentalist, also performs at Planet Hollywood. I would recommend finding another activity for the kids, as Gerry is a very cerebral performer who’s mentalism is probably beyond the average child. Adults will ‘get it’ and appreciate the enormous skill and professionalism displayed by ‘the Mentalist’.

The Magic and Tigers of Rick Thomas rocks the Sahara. Rick carries on the tradition of the enormously popular Siegfred and Roy, using large and beautiful creatures to add a spice and flair to his shows. This show is a perennial favorite of the Las Vegas magic lover. Suitable for the entire family.

The Mac King Comedy Magic Show at Harrah’s is the Best Deal for the money in Vegas. Call the box office and ask for special pricing. You can find good tickets for less than twenty bucks. Mac is a really, really funny guy. A couple of his effects border slightly on risque’, but in a way that will make the average ‘kid’ feel as if you trust them to watch and appreciate the performance. I wouldn’t hesitate to take anyone from ten years old and beyond.

The Nathan Burton Comedy Show at the Flamingo is a great way for a family to spend the afternoon in Las Vegas. The star of World’s Greatest Magic on NBC; World’s Wildest Magic on NBC; America’s Got Talent; Miami Ink; and VH1’s Surreal Life is often called the ‘hardest working magician in Vegas..’. Full of illusions and show girls, this show will definitely be one of the highlights of your Las Vegas trip.

Although not all of the magicians currently performing in Vegas are listed, there are several web sites detailing many other performers and shows currently appearing in Las Vegas and the surrounding area. Magicians contact these sites regularly with their latest information and links to their venues as times, dates, and details are constantly changing. Do your homework before leaving for Vegas, as some shows sell out early. Enjoy.

Usual Kakejiku

The usual kakejiku (hanging scroll) means a kakejiku, whose subject is perennial. It doesn’t mean that we can leave the kakejiku displayed for a long time, but that we can display it freely, regardless of the season.

The landscape, often called “sansui” (literally mountain and water), is one of the subjects of the usual kakejiku. “Suiboku-ga” (ink painting), the art of painting in just one color using “sumi” (Japanese ink), is not only for painting lines, but also for showing gradation through contrasting ink density and lighting. The landscape painting with sumi is called a “suiboku-sansui.”

Mt. Fuji has, since ancient times, long inspired many painters, because its magnificent image has long been worshiped all over Japan. When Mt. Fuji is tinted red by the sun’s rays, the image is called “Aka-Fuji” (Red Mt. Fuji). This superb view, which is rarely seen by most people, has long been considered a very lucky symbol. This is why a kakejiku of Aka-fuji is often displayed for New Year holidays as well as ordinary days, while other usual kakejiku are rarely displayed. (Most Japanese people want to have a happy New Year).

“Shikibana” means four flowers, each representing one of the four seasons. Shikibana is one of the subjects of the usual kakejiku. Although there is no special rule, a peony, which is considered the king of flowers in China, is usually positioned in the middle of the screen, with the other flowers encircling it.

The combination of bamboos and sparrows (called “take-ni-suzume”) has, since ancient times, long been considered a lucky symbol, so it is very popular in Japan.

The Japanese people admire the characteristics of bamboo: they grow straight and is flexible, yet is hard to break. They liken bamboo to the fortunes of a family, and hope that their family fortunes will not decline.

The sparrow breeds abundantly, so it has been considered a symbol of the prosperity of a family’s descendants.

The tiger or dragon is often painted, because their grand strength is believed to wards off evil spirits.

Seasonal Kakejiku

The four seasons are distinct in Japan, so the Japanese people value the sense of each season. They replace their kakejiku (hanging scrolls) depending on the season. This kind of kakejiku is called “kisetsu-gake” (seasonal kakejiku).

01. Spring

Plum trees are often chosen as a subject for early spring paintings. Many Japanese people like plum trees because they are the first to blossom. Bush warblers are often depicted with plum trees in Japanese art.

Cherry blossoms are also often used as a subject for spring paintings. Cherry blossoms as a symbol of spring, are familiar to the Japanese, because they see them bloom beautifully at that time every year.

02. Summer

The peony, considered “the king of flowers” in China, is often used as a subject for early summer paintings. However, in the “kakejiku” (hanging scroll) world, displaying a peony kakejiku is considered the best hospitality you can give to a guest. Therefore, this kakejiku is often displayed even in seasons other than early summer.

Carp (called “koi”) are another common subject for summer paintings. The great popularity of “nishikigoi” (colored carps) suggests, many Japanese people love carp. According to “Gokanjo” (History of the Later Han Dynasty), a lot of fish tried to swim up a waterfall called “Ryuumon,” in the rapid stream of the Yellow River, but only the carp succeed and thus became dragons. From that story, “touryuumon” (gateway) became a symbol for success in life. “Koinobori,” meaning “carp streamer” in Japanese, are carp-shaped wind socks traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate “Tango no Sekku” (the Boys’ Festival). Tango no Sekku is a traditional annual event, now designated a national holiday: Children’s Day. This is why carp, shooting up a waterfall, are often used as a subject for paintings during Tango no Sekku.

The sweetfish (“ayu”) is one of the summer features in Japan, and suggests a fresh, cooling feeling to us.

The kingfisher is well loved in Japan. It never misses its prey and is considered a symbol of the fulfillment of a prayer. The kingfisher is seen throughout the year, but is often used as a subject for summer paintings. This is because the presence of a kingfisher at the waterside makes one feel refreshed in summer.

Morning glories represent summer. They were developed by Japanese gardening technology. As a result, many Japanese people love morning glories.

03. Autumn

The seven main kinds of Japanese autumn flowers are called “akinonanakusa”: bush clover, Japanese pampas grass, kudzu, a pink, Patrinia scabiosaefolia, thoroughwort, and bellflower. These seven autumn flowers provide visual enjoyment. Their simplicity is very much admired: they are small and dainty, yet beautifully colored. They are, therefore, often painted as a symbol for autumn.

The persimmon is often painted as a symbol for autumn, because the persimmon tree produces a lot of fruit in autumn.

Colored leaves represent autumn. When leaves turn red in autumn, they are very beautiful and wonderful to look at. There are many places famous for their colored leaves in Japan.

Chrysanthemum flowers represent Autumn. They’re also considered noble in Japan, this is because the Japanese imperial crest is in the shape of a chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemums were developed by Japanese gardening technology. As a result, many Japanese people love chrysanthemum flowers.

04. Winter

The nandina bears beautiful little red fruit in winter. The nandina is called “nanten” in Japan. The nanten is used to pray for happiness because it sounds like “nan-ga-tenjiru,” which means to reverse bad luck.

The camellia is also often painted as a symbol for winter or early spring. It is valued in the tea ceremony as well, because Sen no Rikyuu loved camellias.

Auspicious Kakejiku

The kakejiku of an auspicious painting is displayed on certain occasions, such as a new year, a ceremonial exchange of betrothal gifts (called “Yuinou”), or a celebration to commemorate a person’s long life.

A pine tree is considered a symbol of longevity in Japan because its needles are always green.

The Japanese people admire the characteristics of bamboo: they grow straight and is flexible, yet is hard to break. They liken bamboo to the fortunes of a family and hope that their family fortunes will not decline.

The plum tree is the first tree to blossom, which indicates that spring has arrived. This is why the plum tree is considered a symbol of vitality in Japan.

For the reasons described above, Japanese believe that “shou-chiku-bai” (the combination of pine, bamboo and plum trees) is a lucky symbol.

The crane and the turtle were considered the vehicles of the immortals in China, so they are symbols of longevity. This thought was introduced in Japan, and now the Japanese people love the crane and the turtle as symbols of longevity, as well.

According to the Takasago Shrine in Takasago City, Hyougo Prefecture, there have been “Aioi-no-Matsu” (twin pines: a Japanese red pine and Japanese black pine that share their roots) ever since the Shinto shrine was established. A pair of trees called “Jou” (old man) and “Uba” (old woman) – a Japanese form of Darby and Joan – bearing the legend, “We kami reside in these trees to show the world the way of marital virtue,” stand within the shrine. This is why a Takasago painting is often displayed on an auspicious occasion. Takasago generally means of an old man and woman.

The sun has, since ancient times, been worshiped around the world, and many religions have developed out of sun worshiping traditions. For example, “Amaterasu Oomikami,” the top god in Japanese mythology, is the sun god. The sunrise on New Year’s Day is often chosen as a subject for a painting of New Year.

Buddhist Kakejiku

The Buddhist kakejiku (hanging scroll), “butsuji-gake,” is used in the houyou ceremony. In Japan, as a result of the synchronization of the Shinto region with Buddhism, many strands of Buddhism unique to Japan were developed. Therefore, Japanese Buddhism includes many sects. There are many differences in the manners of the ceremony, depending on the sect and region, so the Buddhist kakejiku used in the ceremony differ depending on the sect and region.

Namu-Amidabutsu

“Namu-Amidabutsu” is a 6 kanji (Chinese characters) phrase, meaning “I believe in Amitabha.” “Namu” means “I have faith in you.” “Amidabutsu” means “Amitabha.” The “kakejiku” (hanging scroll) with the script of Namu-Amidabutsu is used in the Buddhist memorial services of the “Joudo-shuu,” “Joudo-Shin-shuu,” and “Tendai-shuu” sects.

Namu-Shakamunibutsu

“Namu-Shakamunibutsu” is a 7 kanji phrase, meaning “I believe in Shakamuni Buddha.” The kakejiku with the script of Namu-Shakamunibutsu is used in the Buddhist memorial services of “Soutou-shuu,” “Rinzai-shuu,” and “Oubaku-shuu” sects (Zen Buddhism).

Namu-Daishi-Henjou-Kongou

“Namu-Daishi-Henjou-Kongou” is an 8 kanji phrase, meaning “I believe in Vairocana and respect Koubou-Daishi (a famous Japanese monk).” “Namu” means “I have faith in you.” “Daishi” means “Koubou-Daishi.” “Henjou” means “the sacred light of Buddha shines all over the world.” “Kongou” means “an indestructible substance.” This is why “Henjou-Kongou” means “Vairocana.” The kakejiku with the script of Namu-Daishi-Henjou-Kongou is used in the Buddhist memorial service of the “Shingon-shuu” sect.

Namu-Myouhou-Rengekyou

“Namu-Myouhou-Rengekyou” is a 7 kanji phrase, meaning “I devote myself to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra.” “Namu” means “I have faith in you.” “Myouhou-Rengekyou” means “Lotus Sutra.” A kakejiku with the script of Namu-Myouhou-Rengekyou is used in the Buddhist memorial service of the “Nichiren-shuu” sect.

Hannya-Shingyou

Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra (“Hannya-Shingyou”) is one of the Buddhist sutras that preaches the Kuu (Buddhism) of Mahayana Buddhism, and the Prajna school of thought. In various Japanese sects, especially “Hossou-shuu,” Tendai-shuu, Shingon-shuu, and Zen sects, use Hannya-Shingyou and interpret it individually. The kakejiku of Hannya-Shingyou is sometimes used in their Buddhist memorial services.

Juusan-butsu (13 Buddhas)

“Juu-ou-shinkou” spread in Japan during the 11th century and after. The “Juu-ou”, ten kings, are regarded as an awesome existence because they decide whether the dead should be sent to “jigoku” (Hell, one of the posthumous realms advocated by Buddhism) and preside over the “Rokudou-rinne” (transmigration in the six posthumous realms advocated by Buddhism) in light of the seriousness of the karma belonging to the dead. In Juu-ou-shinkou, the faithful beg for the mercy from the ten judges, who decide to which realm the dead would go.

In the Kamakura period, the Japanese believed that each one of Juu-ou corresponded with each of “Juu-butsu” (10 Buddhas); the number grew as time went by, and in the Edo period, “Juusan-butsu-shinkou” (the 13 Buddhas belief) was born.

Buddhist memorial services were customarily held seven times every seven days, because the bereaved family could pray to the Juu-ou to seek commutation for the dead person at every trial, while additional memorial services were held in line with the additional three trials that supposedly functioned to save all dead persons.

The kakejiku, on which juusan-butsu are painted, is often displayed in Buddhist memorial services.

Kannon-Bosatsu

Kannon-Bosatsu (Avalokitesvara) is a sacred image of “Bosatsu” (Bodhisattva) in Buddhism and a kind of Buddha that has, since ancient times, attained a widespread following, particularly in Japan. There is a legend that Kannon-Bosatsu disguises herself in thirty-three forms when she saves all living things. For this reason there are various shapes of the statues of the Kannon, called “Henge(Changed)-Kannon” (other than the basic “Shou-Kannon”). Unlike the perception of Kannon as an attendant of “Amidanyorai,” Kannon-Bosatsu, which was worshiped as an independent Buddha, tends to be besought to for practical benefits in this world.

The kakejiku of Kannon-Bosatsu is sometimes displayed in Buddhist memorial services.

Shuuinjiku (Kakejiku of Series of Stamps Collected at Temples)

“Saigoku-Sanjuusan-kasho” is a pilgrimage of thirty-three Buddhist temples throughout the Kansai region of Japan. The pilgrimage route of the Saigoku Sanjusankasho includes, as additional holy places, three more temples associated with the founder of the pilgrimage, Saint Tokudou, and the Cloistered Emperor Kazan who revitalized it. The principal image in each temple is Kannon-Bosatsu; however, there is some variation among the images and the powers they possess. Pilgrims record their progress with a prayer book called “Noukyou-chou,” which the staff of each temple marks with red stamps and Japanese calligraphy, indicating the temple number, the temple name and the specific name of the Kannon image. Some pilgrims receive the stamps and calligraphy on plain silk, which will be mounted on a kakejiku (hanging scroll) by a kakejiku craftsman “hyougushi.” The kakejiku, which is called “saigoku-sanjuusan-kasho-shuuinjiku,” is very popular in Japan. It is sometimes used in Buddhist memorial services.

“Shikoku-Henro,” “Shikoku-Junrei” or “Shikoku-Hachijuuhachi-kasho” is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kuukai (Koubou-Daishi), on the island of Shikoku, Japan. Large numbers of pilgrims still undertake the journey for a variety of ascetic, pious and tourism-related purposes. To complete the pilgrimage, it is not necessary to visit the temples in order. The pilgrimage is traditionally completed on foot, but modern pilgrims use cars, taxis, buses, bicycles or motorcycles. The walking course is approximately 1,200 km long. Generally, it takes about 40 days by walking, and about 10 days by a sightseeing bus or car. The pilgrims are often recognizable by their white clothing, sedge hats, and walking sticks.

Many pilgrims begin and complete the journey by visiting Mt. Kouya, in Wakayama Prefecture, which was settled by Kuukai and remains the headquarters of the “Shingon-shuu” sect of Buddhism. The 21 km walking trail up to Mt. Kouya still exists, but most pilgrims use trains or cars. Pilgrims record their progress with a prayer book called Noukyouchou, which the staff of each temple marks with red stamps, Japanese calligraphy indicating the temple number, the temple name and the specific name of the Principal Image of Buddha and the Sanskrit characters to express it. Some pilgrims receive the stamps and calligraphy on plain silk which will be mounted on a kakejiku by a scroll mounter (hyougushi). The kakejiku, which is called “shikoku-hachijuuhachikasho-shuuinjiku,” is very popular in Japan. It is sometimes used in Buddhist memorial services.

The Girl’s or Boy’s Festival Kakejiku

Hina-matsuri

“Hina-matsuri” (The Japanese Doll Festival) is an annual event. It is a seasonal festival to pray for the healthy growth of girls. In Japan, Hina-matsuri used to be observed on March 3, of the old calendar (around present-day April). It was on the first day of March,the Snake month, according to the Japanese lunar-solar calendar. However, after the calendar reform of January 1, 1873, the festival has generally been celebrated on March 3, according to the Gregorian calendar (or new calendar). However, in some parts of Japan, mainly snowy regions such as the “Touhoku” region, Hina-matsuri is still observed on March 3rd of the old calendar. There are other regions that celebrate the festival on April 3rd, in line with the new calendar. Hina-matsuri was also named “Momo-no-(peach’s) sekku” because the festival, under the old calendar, was held when peach trees blossomed.

Hina-matsuri is a seasonal festival in which dolls are displayed, and centering around two dolls representing the emperor, called “obina,” and the empress, called “mebina.” The display is decorated with peach flowers, and people enjoy eating, and drinking “shirozake” (sweet white sake).

During the Edo period, the girls’ “doll play” was combined with the “ceremony of the seasonal festival.” Hina-matsuri spread across the country, and dolls began to be displayed. During this period, however, in addition to the traditional aspects of the doll display, Hina-matsuri increasingly came to have a ritualistic aspect, in which the dolls suffer all of the present and future misfortunes, in the place of people. Also at this time, the Hina-matsuri doll set came to be considered one of the bride’s household articles for high-ranking females, such as the daughters of “samurai” families. As a result, the doll trend became more elegant and luxurious.

A “tachibina” doll is a hina doll in a standing pose. The kakejiku (hanging scroll) of tachibina dolls is sometimes displayed during Hina-matsuri. Moreover, the kakejiku sometimes is displayed instead of the Hina-matsuri doll set.

Tango-no-sekku

The Japanese have a custom of holding a variety of events praying for the healthy growth of boys, on the day of Tango-no-sekku, and May 5 is a national holiday, called “Children’s Day.” In a few regions, it is celebrated on June 5th, following the old lunar calendar.

In Japan, there was a ritual called “Satsuki-imi” (literally, accursed May), where all the men went out of the house, and only women stayed inside to wash the impurities away, and purify themselves before rice planting. This custom was connected to “tango,” which came from China. In the Imperial Palace, people wearing a Japanese iris in their hair got together at the “Butokuden” (a palace building) and were granted a “Kusudama” (literally, a ball of medicine made of herbs with a decoration added) by the emperor. A record from the Nara period described these events in the imperial court.

The word for the Japanese iris was pronounced the same as the word for martial spirit (both were pronounced “shoubu”), and the shape of the leaves of the Japanese iris reminds people of swords. Therefore, tango was determined as the “sekku” for boys and people prayed for the healthy growth of boys during the Kamakura period.

The typical way to celebrate tango-no-sekku is to display armor, a helmet, a sword, a doll warrior, or “gogatsu-ningyou” doll (literally, doll of May) modeled after Kintarou (a famous brave boy in a nursery tale) on a tiered stand in a room, and to fly “Koi-nobori” (carp streamers) on a pole in the front yard. Displaying armor symbolizes protecting the boys. The custom of displaying koi-nobori originates in the Chinese tradition, and it is meant to pray for the success in a boy’s life.

The kakejiku which is displayed in this event can be described as follows:

The kakejiku of an iris painting.

The kakejiku of a “musha” (an armored warrior) painting.

The kakejiku of a carp shooting up a waterfall.

It is said in Chinese history that a lot of fish tried to swim up a waterfall called “Ryuumon” in the rapids of the Yellow River, but only the carp succeed and thus became dragons.

The kakejiku of a tiger or a dragon painting.

Their grand strength is believed to wards off evil spirits.

The kakejiku displayed on Hina-matsuri or Tango-no-sekku is called “sekku-gake” (the girl’s or boy’s festival kakejiku).

I am now reading the Power of the Sub-Conscious mind for the second time. I cannot get enough of this book. It resonates with everything I believe as to why we exist and how our thoughts completely create the life we choose no matter what.

If I am having a bad day, I will go home, flip open this book, and I will always find my answer. I know from reading this book that there is nothing that will get past your conscious mind beliefs until you so convince that part of your mind to make it true. Remember, the conscious mind is the king, if he doesn’t believe it, you have to work on it by producing a better thought, or repeating your affirmation of choice. For example, if you say to yourself, “I am rich,” your conscious will not believe that, he knows better, so you have to change that statement to something it will believe, like, “my wealth is increasing every day.” That is a more believable statement to your conscious, once that is done, your subconscious takes over and works on making things happen in your everyday life. You will notice ideas coming to you that will help increase your wealth, like another job, a potential home business either by yourself or a friend may call you out of the blue with a great opportunity in the form of a partnership. You will find yourself at times saying, “I was just thinking about that,” well, there is a reason for that, you thought it and things started to happen because of that focus on a particular thought. There is no such thing as a coincidence, it happened for a reason. Pay attention to your thoughts, watch how they go all over the place, try to control them when they get like that, and just think about what you really want because you can have it. The mind is a powerful place and that is how everything in this world became to be, it all starts with a thought that becomes stronger and then action follows that thought because your desire becomes that strong to allow it to manifest.

The power of our thoughts is so very interesting to me and I strongly encourage everyone to pick up a copy of this book, leave it by your night stand and read a little every night. This book will lift your spirits in every respect, I promise.

Man has always been dependent on machines. Ranging from the crudest of sticks used as weapons for hunting to modern weapons of mass destruction, we are becoming increasingly dependent on machines. Many amongst us perceive machines as being necessary for the smooth functioning of our society.

It stands as a testament to our inventiveness that we are able to automate the many mundane aspects of our society’s functioning in order to make life easier. The next generation of machines are smarter, smaller and more energy efficient.

The evolution of electronic toys provides a striking resemblance to that of the evolution of Robotic technological advancement. From its initial stages of simple robots that are programmed to perform monotonous actions to highly sophisticated robots with artificial intelligence, we have come a long way in improving the quality of robots. Commercially, Sony and Tiger electronics have released popular ‘robo-pets’, which were highly successful. In the virtual world, automated programs built for specific purposes are popular. General consensus is that any machinery which is adaptable, can interact and manipulate its surroundings is considered as a robot. Bill gates latest vision of ‘a robot in every home’ could be as prophetic as his earlier vision of ‘a computer in every home’, which is now a true scenario.

History of Robot:

There have been rough prototypes of robots since ancient times. These included robots, which operated on steam, wind and water. Greek mathematician Arkittas had made a machine operated dove which could gain momentum using steam power. Alexander was reputed to have many self-operated machines, which were working using wind pressure and steam. In 1088, Su Sang had created a clock tower, which shows the time automatically in some part of China. In 1136 and 1206 AD a Muslim inventor named Al Zazari had developed a number of self operated machines like cooking equipments and water operated musical instrument. This human like robot had been used as a singer in boats and as an entertainer in the court of the king.

Nearly in 1495, Leonardo da Vinci had sketched a human shaped Robot. This sketch came into light in the year 1950 and was named as Leonardo Robot. This Robot was capable of sitting, shaking its hand, head and moving its jaws. This Robot design had been done like the structure of a human being. Between 1738 and 1739, Jacques Devaucanson had created different Robots of different sizes including duck robot, flute-playing Robot. The Duck robot was capable of playing with its wings. It could lengthen its neck; pick food from the visitors’ hand. During 1700, in Japan, a number of different large sized robots were designed, out of which a Robot named ‘Karakul’ was famous for being capable of offering tea. From 1799 and 1881, Japanese handicraft workers had designed a variety of Robots. In 1926, Westinghouse Electric Corporation created a large Robot called ‘Television’ which could do many complex works. Scientist Makato Nisimura had designed the Japanese robot ‘Gakutensoku’, which was the first man-sized robot. England was not far behind in these inventions. In 1948-1949, the first electronic, autonomous Robot called “Elmore and Elsi” was created by William Grey Walter had surprised the world. It was capable of detecting light and darkness and was even capable of communicating with external devices. The first modern Robot came into existence in the year 1954, created by George Davel and operated digitally. It was named ‘Uni met’ and Dave sold it to Genera motors.

Karel Kapok, Czechoslovakia writer has made the term Robot popular through his play Ros mos- Universal Robot. This play was first performed in the year 1921. It was about an industry, where artificial human beings were manufactured and were called Robots. Karel Kapok later mentioned that he had thought of giving the name ‘Labor i’ which in Latin means work, but he later renamed it as Robot which was suggested by his brother, which roughly translates to ‘Hard Work.’

THE TRADITION OF New Year’s Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.

With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.

The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn’t begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.

The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new.

The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year’s Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year’s gifts.

In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year’s Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.

The Julian and Gregorian calendars are solar calendars. Some cultures have lunar calendars, however. A year in a lunar calendar is less than 365 days because the months are based on the phases of the moon. The Chinese use a lunar calendar. Their new year begins at the time of the first full moon (over the Far East) after the sun enters Aquarius- sometime between January 19 and February 21.

Although the date for New Year’s Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year.

Ancient New Years

The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, Babylonians celebrated the beginning of a new year on what is now March 23, although they themselves had no written calendar.

Late March actually is a logical choice for the beginning of a new year. It is the time of year that spring begins and new crops are planted. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

The Babylonian New Year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year’s Eve festivities pale in comparison.

The Romans continued to observe the New Year on March 25, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun.

In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the New Year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the New Year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.

Global Good Luck Traditions

With New Year’s upon us, here’s a look at some of the good luck rituals from around the world. They are believed to bring good fortune and prosperity in the coming year.

AUSTRIA – The suckling pig is the symbol for good luck for the new year. It’s served on a table decorated with tiny edible pigs. Dessert often consists of green peppermint ice cream in the shape of a four-leaf clover.

ENGLAND – The British place their fortunes for the coming year in the hands of their first guest. They believe the first visitor of each year should be male and bearing gifts. Traditional gifts are coal for the fire, a loaf for the table and a drink for the master. For good luck, the guest should enter through the front door and leave through the back. Guests who are empty-handed or unwanted are not allowed to enter first.

WALES – At the first toll of midnight, the back door is opened and then shut to release the old year and lock out all of its bad luck. Then at the twelfth stroke of the clock, the front door is opened and the New Year is welcomed with all of its luck.

HAITI – In Haiti, New Year’s Day is a sign of the year to come. Haitians wear new clothing and exchange gifts in the hope that it will bode well for the new year.

SICILY – An old Sicilian tradition says good luck will come to those who eat lasagna on New Year’s Day, but woe if you dine on macaroni, for any other noodle will bring bad luck.

SPAIN – In Spain, when the clock strikes midnight, the Spanish eat 12 grapes, one with every toll, to bring good luck for the 12 months ahead.

PERU – The Peruvian New Year’s custom is a spin on the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes at the turn of the year. But in Peru, a 13th grape must be eaten to assure good luck.

GREECE – A special New Year’s bread is baked with a coin buried in the dough. The first slice is for the Christ child, the second for the father of the household and the third slice is for the house. If the third slice holds the coin, spring will come early that year.

JAPAN – The Japanese decorate their homes in tribute to lucky gods. One tradition, kadomatsu, consists of a pine branch symbolizing longevity, a bamboo stalk symbolizing prosperity, and a plum blossom showing nobility.

CHINA – For the Chinese New Year, every front door is adorned with a fresh coat of red paint, red being a symbol of good luck and happiness. Although the whole family prepares a feast for the New Year, all knives are put away for 24 hours to keep anyone from cutting themselves, which is thought to cut the family’s good luck for the next year.

UNITED STATES – The kiss shared at the stroke of midnight in the United States is derived from masked balls that have been common throughout history. As tradition has it, the masks symbolize evil spirits from the old year and the kiss is the purification into the new year.

NORWAY – Norwegians make rice pudding at New Year’s and hide one whole almond within. Guaranteed wealth goes to the person whose serving holds the lucky almond.

Chinese New Year

Except for a very few number of people who can keep track of when the Chinese New Year should be, the majority of the Chinese today have to rely on a typical Chinese calendar to tell it. Therefore, you cannot talk of the Chinese New Year without mentioning the Chinese calendar at first.

A Chinese calendar consists of both the Gregorian and lunar-solar systems, with the latter dividing a year into twelve month, each of which is in turn equally divided into thirty- nine and a half days. The well-coordinated dual system calendar reflects the Chinese ingenuity.

There is also a system that marks the years in a twelve-year cycle, naming each of them after an animal such as Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar. People born in a particular year are believed to share some of the personalities of that particular animal.

The time when Kerala is at its best – Onam, the most celebrated festival of Kerala, remarks the arrival of the beloved legendary King of Kerala, “Mahabali”. Every Keralite will have a thousand words to say about Onam. It’s a carnival lasting for ten days which brings out the best of art, culture, tradition and taste. Out of this “Thiruvonam” is the most important day. Onam is defined as the harvest festival of Kerala which falls in the month of “Chingam” according to the Malayalam calendar, usually during August or September.

Legend says that, once there was a wise, generous, judicious and greatly respected King named “Mahabali”. During his reign, Kerala was in her golden ages, there was no difference between the rich and the poor, no poverty and hunger. The king became so popular that even the Gods were envious. Then Lord Vishnu came down in the avatar of “Vamana” and sent the King into the underground world “Pathalam”. “Vamana” accepted the request of the King “Mahabali” to visit his people once every year. So Onam was celebrated to welcome the King. Even though this story is still a legend, every Keralite still keeps this story to his mind and heart, and this story keeps trickling down through generations.

Its holiday season during onam, most schools and colleges are closed down for Onam holidays. Children and youth take a major initiative for the celebrations. There are many activities happening during Onam, which witness active participation of every malayalee irrespective of religion and caste. Children would be all around playing games, there would be swings tied up to big trees. The best of the weather in Kerala is during the season of Onam during August and September, warm and sunny moderate climate. The land looks vibrant, being considered as the harvest festival too, the fields look brilliant with farmers happy to get their harvest. That makes the Celebration in the villages more like an extravaganza. Everywhere it’s the time for homecoming most people around the world try to come home to celebrate Onam. Everybody plans this out quite in advance and it is hard to get a ticket in the last minute.

The series of memorable events come to the mind of anyone who has celebrated Onam, some of them for example would be the Snake boat race that happens very close to the Festival which makes it a part of the festival. Onam will not be complete without the flower carpet called “Pookalam”, the Onam ” Sadhya ” – the common lunch during onam with almost 25 dishes served in plantain leaf, “Kaikottikalli”- a art form performed by Kerala women in the tradition Kerala half saree, Elephant processions, “Pullikalli” men dressed like tigers would dance, and series of games. “Vadamvalli” a common game during Onam – This is about two groups pulling a single rope from two sides with a tied mark in the centre, whoever pulls the tied mark to their side will win the game. This game symbolizes group effort and strategy and you can find the strongest and the heftiest ones at the rear end of the formation.

The Nehru trophy boat race is organized during the second Saturday of every August; this is very close to the dates of the Onam festival. During this time people would really feel that onam has arrived. Large numbers of people gather to see the boat race, which is considered a tight competition in the villages of Alleppey. This is a government organized event and many tourists from different parts of the world come to be a part of the event. Even though the even happens in backwater, the vibe is all around the state. “Pookalam” is the most interesting and participative activity during Onam, this is initiated by women and children. Nowadays flower carpet competitions happen all over the state. The most common place where you can find these competitions is the schools and colleges. Children bring flowers, and make a flower carpet in front of their house. Long pyramid structures are kept besides the carpets, these clay models represents “Mahaballi”. On “Thiruonam” day the” Sadhya” (lunch) would be at the “Tharavadu” – traditional home with all the family members. “Sadhya” is the traditional lunch of Kerala with almost twenty five different dishes served in a plantain leaf with rice as the major ingredient. Women take active participation in the preparation of “Sadhya”. It is normally consumed by sitting on the floor with the legs crossed; the leaf would also be in the floor. And after that there would be “Payasam” (Dessert) served on the leaf itself. “Payasam” may be of different variety, at least there would be three varieties of “payasams” served in the end.

By the end of the tenth day everyone would be in their blues saying goodbye to family members and “Mahaballi”. The holidays are over and it’s time to get back to schools and work. The experience of joy and fun with all family and friends during the festive season is the reason why everyone comes back home for Onam.

The southern part of India is blessed with a state rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage called Kerala. Listed as one of the ten paradises of the world by the National Geographic Magazine, Kerala being bordered by the lovely Blue mountain ranges in the East, and Arabian Sea to the west, Kerala has a lot of forests and a famous beautiful 600 miles of sea shore that gives a beautiful contrast of beautiful terrains.

Kerala, belonging to the tropical region, the climate is humid throughout the year. Monsoon in this region lasts for about 8 months, and one can expect rain any day. This typical climate is the reason why the forests in Kerala are tropical wet evergreen in nature. There are also deciduous highland forests in the mountainous regions of the Nilgiris.

The forests of Kerala act as host to thousands of species of trees and plants. Rosewood, Teak, Mahagony, Cassia, large varieties of Bamboo, Cardamom, Pepper etc are seen in abundance in the forests. There is a Teak museum in Nilambur, Malappuram district. Marayur in Idukki district is famous for Sandalwood.

The major trees in Kerala are Teak, Rosewood, Mahagony, Bamboo, Cassia and plants like Cardamom, Pepper are also prominently found in the forests of Kerala. Marayur in Idukki is a famous Sandalwood forest. Rare and endangered animals like Nilgiri Tahr (Eravikulam), Tiger, Spotted Leopard, Elephants, Lion tailed Macaque, Indian Sloath bear, Bison and Grey Langur are found in Kerala forestsThe major reptiles seen in the forests in Kerala are viper (Anali) king cobra (Rajavembala), python, cobra, ghariyal, Indian Alligator, many rare species of tortoises and turtles etc.

The forests in Kerala are sometimes compared with the Amazon due to its rich biodiversity. Because of this reason, there are six National parks, two biosphere reserves and fifteen wildlife sanctuaries in this state.

The National Parks in Kerala are Eravikulam, Periyar, ANamudi, Mathikettan Shola, Silent Valley, and Parambikulam Shola. The two biospheres in this small state are Nilgiri and Agasthyamalai. Periyar, Neyyar, Parambikulam, Wayanad, Peechi-Vazhani, Idukki, Chimminey, Peppara, Chinnar, Shendurai, Mangalavanam, Aaralam, Mangalavanam, Culannur, and Kurinjimala ara a few of the wildlife sanctuatries. Thattekad bird sanctuary, which was a favourite destination of Dr, Salim Ali is the only bird sanctuary in Kerala.

Many hotels and resorts all over Kerala provide lodging and accommodation to tourists. Tourists can select tour packages of their choice and visit the beauty of the Nature of Kerala.

The popular answer to this question is a resounding ”no!” We like to believe that anyone can be a leader. But to get perfectly clear on this issue, we need to go a bit deeper than the usual answer. The truth is that it’s a bit of both. To be a leader, you need to know what qualities count and whether you can develop those you may be lacking.

Compare being a leader with excelling in sports or music. Was Tiger Woods a born golf champion? Was Mozart a born musical genius? The answer is ”yes and no.” Mozart was likely born with certain musical talent, but his father was determined to make him a musician. He got him playing instruments at a very early age and took him on tours to perform music, much of which he composed himself. Similarly, Tiger Woods no doubt was born with some talent for sports in general if not golf in particular. But, like Mozart, he had a father who got him working hard at an early age on his game. So, in both of these examples, the natural talent was nourished through hard work over several years.

Those who say you can learn to be a leader focus on influencing skills and, surely, these can be learned. A different school of thought states that the drive to lead equates to the motivation to dominate a group, much like in the animal kingdom. On this view, the strongest person, the most intelligent, or the one with the strongest drive to win ends up on top of the heap. The ability and motivation to dominate varies widely across people and is likely something we are born with.

Suppose the essence of leadership is pulling people of diverse viewpoints together to form a unified whole that works together to achieve mutually agreed goals. To do this well, you need solid relationship building and influencing skills. As we acknowledged above, we can learn these skills, but the truth is that most of us can shift ourselves in these skill areas only so much. If you are a strong introvert, shy and reserved, you may struggle to become really skilled with people. You could take a public speaking or presentation skills course, but will this make you into a Martin Luther King? Not likely.

To get to the bottom of this controversy, we need a sharper understanding of what it means to show leadership. If our model of leadership is based on admired heads of countries or large organizations we will expect them to have superhuman abilities, many of which are out of reach of mere mortals. Looking at smaller scale leadership, suppose you are a product developer. The person who created Sony’s PlayStation had difficulty convincing Sony executives to buy this product. They felt that Sony should not be into toys. The inventor of PlayStation showed bottom-up leadership because he had the courage of his convictions. He was prepared to risk his career to challenge the status quo. Such determination is not as easily learned as influencing skills. It’s like youthful rebelliousness. If you are cautious or risk averse, chances are you were born or became that way early in life. Being willing to stick your neck out is not a learned skillset.

So, what can you learn? As we noted above, you can develop better communication and influencing skills, within limits. An extreme introvert is not likely to ever become the life and soul of the party. If this is you, it is still possible to develop ways of making a leadership impact. The key is to make sure you have your facts straight, to build a solid case for your proposal.

Bottom line: Some people are born with, or develop early in life, a drive to speak out and say something new, to be a bit of a rebel. This is not about learnable skills. However, you can improve your influencing ability. The truth is that everyone can be a leader, but some can only lead in small scale, local contexts, like convincing your colleagues to work in a different way. Not everyone has the natural talent to rise to the top of large organizations or is able to learn how to be such a larger-than-life leader. Thinking otherwise is simply self-deception. If you want to lead, ask yourself what you can do, in your particular context, to convince your colleagues to move in a different direction. Also, ask yourself how willing you are to stick your neck out, in short, to risk rejection.

The Virginia Big-Eared bat is one of three federally-listed endangered species of bat in Virginia. In fact, it has been categorized as endangered since 1979 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. There are several interesting facts about the Virginia Big-Eared bat species, adding more reason to keep these precious critters protected and preserved. Continue reading to learn more about the Virginia Big-Eared bat, and what to do if you suspect you are having nuisance bat issues around your property.

Scientific Classification

The Virginia Big-Eared bat is part of the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Mammalia class, and Chiroptera order. Their scientific name, Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus, is derived from their genus (Corynorhinus), species (C. townsendii), and subspecies (C. t. virginianus).

Physical Appearance

This special species is distinguishable by its large ears, which can reach lengths of 2.5 centimeters or more. When resting, their ears reach back to half of the length of their body! In addition to their most distinguishable trait, these mammals have long, soft, brown fur that ranges in shade depending on their age. Weighing and average of 7 to 12 grams (0.25 to 0.42 ounces), it is one of the largest Microchiroptera species in its range. With rounded muzzle and elongated nostrils, the Virginia Big-Eared bat can grow to 98 millimeters (3.85 inches) long by adult hood.

Behavior

The VBE bat usually mates in the fall and winter. Females actually store the male’s sperm until they begin ovulation, which generally occurs in late winter or early spring. Females have a gestation period of 3 months, and give birth to only one baby, called a “pup.” The pup stay with the mother for up to 8 weeks, in which time they are fully-developed and capable of flight. These bats generally roost in caves, where they also hibernate for the winter. Because they prefer it, they are mostly found in mountainous limestone caves surrounded by forest with oak and hickory trees.

Range

Although they are called the Virginia Big-Eared bat, they are not just native to Virginia. They are also found in states like Kentucky and North Carolina. The Virginia Big-Eared bat species is not a migratory one; they stay in their caves all year, whether hibernating or not. They only leave to hunt for food at night, which they do with the help of their amazing sonar abilities called echolocation. Bats see quite well, opposed to common belief, and only use their echolocating abilities to better dart and dive for insects. They are nocturnal, so it also improves their night-time navigational skills.

Nuisance Bat Problems?

It is vital to contact a licensed bat control company for safe, humane, and non-lethal bat abatement services. You should never attempt to trap, touch, harm, or kill a bat under any circumstances. This is also important since you never know if it is a federally-protected species.