Archives for November 2020

Travel from Home?

Are you tired of your home and wanting to see something new? Are you itching to explore the world? Well now you can do both. A Great Thanks to my friend, Dessi Koleva, who told me about this fun filled tour on Facebook.

An excerpt directly from the website: #AVirtualLive guides are now delivering virtual guided tours so you can meet a local and explore a new city, from your own home. When you can’t physically travel, but want a chance to reach out and connect with a new destination, virtual guided tours are the perfect option. Chat with a local guide in real-time while you get an online cooking class, history lesson, walking tour, or driving tour.

Safely see the streets of Budapest, New York City or Lisbon; a kitchen in Barcelona, a guide’s home in Brazil. With our virtual guided tours, you’ll be able to meet a local and get a taste for the place you want to visit, without ever leaving your own home. I personally cannot wait for all the events in December. I think it will be great fun to see another city in another part of the world and have an opportunity to interact with the tour guide.

A Virtual Tour Live – Home (facebook.com)

Photo by slon_dot_pics from Pexels

Monolith discovered in Utah’s Red-Rock Desert

I saw this on Thanksgiving and thought it was fascinating. The information below is from the AP News. On November 18, 2020, the Utah Department of Public Safety and Division of Wildlife Resources was counting Big Horn Sheep in Utah’s red-rock desert from their helicopter and saw the Metal Monolith from the air. They landed their helicopter to discover a three-sided stainless-steel object, which is about as tall as two men put together. They do not know who or why this was placed here in the middle of the desert.

This took some planning and work to construct. The monolith is 10 to 12 feet (3 to 4 meters) and is embed into the rock. They do not know when this was constructed as the material chosen does not erode. Also, whoever placed the monolith on this spot did so illegal. The reason this is illegal is that the monolith is on federal public land, it’s illegal to place art objects without authorization.

Bureau of Land Management officials are investigating how long it’s been there, who might have created it and whether to remove it. They will not release the location so people will not wander out and get lost.

It would be great if they find out why and how it got out there. I hope they discover additional information soon. *UPDATE: 11/29/2020 The mysterious silver monolith in the Utah desert has disappeared. The monolith was removed by an “unknown party” sometime Friday night. The BLM did not remove the structure, which is considered private property. For more information please click here.

At least 5 Amusing Thanksgiving Facts

I enjoy Thanksgiving, I also enjoy amusing facts. I thought why not throw down some amusing Thanksgiving facts. Please see at least 5 Amusing Thanksgiving Facts below.

Black Friday is the busiest day for Roto-Rooter, a major plumbing service. They are called in to clean up “overwhelmed” sewer systems.
The average American will consume about 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day, or about 3,000 for the meal and an additional 1,500 for snacking.
The song “Jingle Bells” was originally written as a Thanksgiving song.
Now a Thanksgiving dinner staple, cranberries were actually used by Native Americans to treat arrow wounds and to dye clothes.
Americans eat roughly 535 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.
The flap of skin hanging off of a turkey‘s chin is called a “wattle.” The wrinkly thing hanging over the turkey’s beak is called a “snood.”
The best way to determine if a cranberry is ripe is to see if it can bounce.
It takes 14 slices of pumpkin pie to equal 4,500 calories.
Stuffing dates back to the Roman Empire, where the ancient cookbook Apicius de re Coquinaria contained recipes for stuffed chicken, rabbit, pork and more.
Stove Top stuffing sells around 60 million boxes of stuffing around Thanksgiving every year.
The first Thanksgiving football game was in 1876.

Photo by Ekaterina Bolovtsova from Pexels

5 Unique Places I want to visit once COVID is done

I am going a little crazy this week, because I really just want to get out of town. So in order to calm this anxiety, I began looking at very unique travel destinations on the internet. In light of all the great places I have found, I shall not delay this any further, let the list begin.

Koekohe Beach – The Beach With Giant Boulders. This place is pretty awesome. It is located in New Zealand. The majority of the boulders are these rounded, unique rocks. These giant balls are known as concretions, which are mineral-cemented masses that often form within layers of sediment. According to scientists, the formation of these concretions began approximately 60 million years ago within the muddy Paleocene marine sediments of the Moeraki Formation. Fossilized animals have been found within some of the nucleus cores of the concretions.

*Moeraki Boulders on the beach in New Zealand. Source: Wikimedia, Pseudopanax, public domain.*

2. Jellyfish Lake, a marine lake, is located on Eil Malk island in Palau. Eil Malk is part of the Rock Islands, a group of small islands in Palau’s Southern Lagoon, between Koror and Peleliu. Millions of golden jellyfish migrate horizontally across the lake daily. Just to see the millions of jellyfish in the water would be amazing.

See the source image — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jellyfish_Lake

3. The Rakotzbrücke, also called the Devil’s Bridge, becomes a perfect circle with its own reflection. This bridge is located in Azalea and Rhododendron Park, Kromlau, Germany (less than 6 kilometers with the polish border). The bridge was commissioned in 1860 by the knight of the local town, the thin arch stretching over the waters of the Rakotzsee is roughly built out of varied local stone.

4. The fascinating Giant Crystal Cave in Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico. The Cave of Crystals was founded in 2000 and is a horseshoe-shaped cavity in limestone. Its floor is covered with perfectly faceted crystalline blocks. Huge crystal beams jut out from both the blocks and the floor. The caves are accessible today because the mining company’s pumping operations keep them clear of water. Most of the Crystals measure six meters in length, with some of them reaching eleven meters. the temperature at this depth varies from 45°C to 50°C, while the percentage of humidity ranges from 90 to 100%, meaning that human beings cannot survive in this environment for longer than two hours.

5. The Giant’s Causeway – in Ireland. The Giant’s Causeway is an area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, which is the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. Of course, I prefer the myth that the Giants built it with Irish warrior Finn McCool and the Scottish giant Benandonner. Ireland, Scotland and the Isle Of Man share mythological stories that have Finn playing a central role. For example, in the case of the Causeway, it is sometimes said to be a collection of stepping stones that allowed Finn to travel at will between the Causeway and the Scottish Coast without getting his feet wet. One of my favorite stories is that of Finn and Benandonner getting into a fight. Finn travels over the Causeway to start a fight, but realizes that Benandonner is much larger than Finn. Finn runs back over the Causeway to his home. His wife, Oonagh, disguises him as the baby. When Benandonner knocks at the door, Oonagh lets him in and offers him food. Benandonner eats some food and then checks the crib. Seeing how large the baby was he figure that the father would be much larger then him, so he makes an excuse to Oonagh and leaves. In some stories, Benandonner supposedly destroys part of the Causeway on his way back to Scotland, so the Father of the giant baby could not follow.

Initial image is a photo by Artem Lysenko from Pexels

Giving Thanks

November is a great time of year. The fall is turning into a hint of a winter wonderland. If you live in the United States, you may agree that November is typically associated with Thanksgiving. People at Thanksgiving will often go around the table and state what they were grateful for that year. The interesting thing about giving thanks is that it has been scientifically proven that their is benefits on focusing on the things you are grateful for. Below are 5 scientifically proven benefits of giving thanks.

Gratitude improves physical health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than other people, according to a 2012 study published in Personality and Individual Differences. Not surprisingly, grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health. They exercise more often and are more likely to attend regular check-ups, which is likely to contribute to further longevity.
Grateful people sleep better. Writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.
Gratitude improves self-esteem. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology found that gratitude increased athletes’ self-esteem, an essential component to optimal performance. Other studies have shown that gratitude reduces social comparisons. Rather than becoming resentful toward people who have more money or better jobs—a major factor in reduced self-esteem—grateful people are able to appreciate other people’s accomplishments.
Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. Robert Emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.
Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. Grateful people are more likely to behave in a prosocial manner, even when others behave less kindly, according to a 2012 study by the University of Kentucky. Study participants who ranked higher on gratitude scales were less likely to retaliate against others, even when given negative feedback. They experienced more sensitivity and empathy toward other people and a decreased desire to seek revenge.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

10 Unique US Military Facts

Today is Veterans Day in the United States. I would like to Thank all Military Veterans everywhere who served their country. Since I am from the US, an especially HUGE Thank you to the Veterans here. I have posted 10 unique US Military Facts for this occasion, if you wish to see 48 interesting facts then please click here.

The United States Department of Defense is considered the largest employer in the country, with over 3 million employees. In second place is Walmart, with 1.3 million employees, and 3rd is Exxon-Mobil with 950,000 employees.
In the 1960s, the United States Air Force created functional robots that stood over 26 feet high and were able to carry up to 2,000 lbs. Called the “Beetle,” the robots were designed to change out nuclear materials, payloads, and irradiated parts in situations that were too dangerous for a human. The Beetle never saw any official use in the US Military as the missions they were designed for were cancelled.
Non-lubricated condoms are Standard Issue in Parachute Pack Survival Kits for the US Military. Not only do they offer an option for safe sex practices, but the condoms also work as an emergency water canteen, capable of holding a liter of water.
The 3rd US Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard,” is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the army. Began in 1784, the infantry is an official ceremonial unit and escort to the president of the United States, and is also in charge of the “Changing of the Guard Ceremony” at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Currently, the US Military has deployed 2,700 Military Working Dogs (MWDs) worldwide to 600 war zones. In the five years between 2005 and 2010 in Iraq and Afghanistan, MWDs found 12,500 lbs of explosives. It is estimated that each dog is responsible for saving anywhere from 150 to 1,800 lives.
The US Military has created a top secret quiet Velcro that is 95% quieter than traditional Velcro.
The budget for the Department of Defense was $601 billion in 2015, which is the largest military budget in the world. China has the second largest at $216 billion, and Russia is third at $84.5 billion. The military budget also makes up 16% of the total budget of the United States government making it the largest budget, with Education in second with a budget of $102.3 billion.
From 1972 to 1995, the US Military funded paranormal research called “remote viewing” for the Stargate Project. The project gathered psychics to perform parapsychic intelligence and research operations. In 2009, a movie based on a 2004 book about the project was released, entitled The Men Who Stare at Goats.
The United States has formally declared war on 5 occasions; the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. However, the US Armed Forces have been sent abroad over 300 times for “other than normal peacetime purposes,” including for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Veteran’s Day, recognized every November 11, honors America’s Veterans for their service to their country. The day was chosen to recognize Armistice Day, or the end of World War I, which occurred on the 11th month on the 11th day at the 11th hour.

Photo by Ian B from Pexels

Year of the Metal Ox: 2021

I love Chinese Astrology and I am looking forward to 2021. February 12th will kick off the Chinese New Year in 2021. Now what can we expect from a Metal Ox year? Hard work, discipline and loyalty with an appreciation for the tangible reality. Look forward to material gains but it will come with some challenges. This year will be especially lucky for those born in the Year of the Ox, Rat, Snake and Rooster. You can figure out what sign you are using the chart below. Then check out this link to further discover what is in store this year for your sign: Click Here for 2021 Chinese Horoscope

Astrology Birth Chart

Have you ever wondered what your Birth Chart states? Astrology can give us a great insight into ourselves and what are focus should be in this life. Three aspects that are common to know are your Sun sign, Moon sign and Ascendant.

The Sun sign will describes your basic ego. The Moon describes your emotional inner self. The Ascendant describes the face you show to the rest of the world. Combine the three and you will see the aspects of your personality emerge. Astrology is a lot of fun, especially if you have your chart done. You will be able to see important moments and timed events. Give the Birth Chart a chance below and look up your sun, moon and ascendant sign meanings. Link for sign meanings, click here.

Photo by Anderson Miranda from Pexels

Archives for November 2020

Subscribe via Email