Archives for May 2021

Memorial Day

Memorial Day in the United States honors military personnel who died in the service of their country. More specifically, it honors those who died in battle or as a result of wounds they sustained during battle. Below are 5 facts in regards to the Memorial Day.

Civil War

By the time the Civil War ended in the spring of 1865, it claimed 620,000 soldiers’ lives, the most of any conflict in American history. General John Logan, came up with the idea of Memorial Day known at the time as Decoration Day. He wanted a way to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. The first Memorial Day celebration was on May 30, 1868. It was held at Arlington National Cemetery with a crowd of 5,000 people decorating the graves of over 20,000 military personnel with flowers.

World War I and Official Declaration of a National Holiday

It wasn’t until after World War I that Memorial Day was expanded to honor all veterans who died in any American war. After World War I, as the day came to be observed in honor of those who had died in all U.S. wars, its name changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day. In 1971, Decoration Day became officially known as Memorial Day and Congress passed an act declaring it a national holiday.

Memorial Day Poppies

People wear poppies to honor America’s war dead in a Memorial Day. The tradition that dates back to the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written in 1915 by John McCrae. Inspired by the poem’s image of red poppies scattered through cross-shaped grave markers, American Moina Michael and France’s Anna E. Guerin started selling artificial poppies as a fundraiser for children affected by the war. Now, many Americans pin a poppy on their shirt as a sign of respect.

The poppy is worn in many of the countries that were Allied during World War I. These countries include Great Britain, France, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. The poppy is often worn on and leading up to Armistice Day (also known as Remembrance Day) on November 11th. November 11th is Veterans Day in the United States. The poppy is also worn on ANZAC Day (April 25) in New Zealand and Australia. April 25th commemorates the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps troops who served in the 1915 Gallipoli Campaign. However, in the United States, the poppy is worn on Memorial Day, not Veterans Day.

National Moment of Remembrance

President Bill Clinton signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act” in December of 2000. The law encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence. In order to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.

Visit a local Veterans Cemetery

On Memorial Day, it is custom to bring flowers and lay them by a grave that does not have flowers.

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Ocean Mysteries

Do we really know what is in our ocean? Despite covering 71% of the planet, only 5% of the ocean has been explored. Despite all of these technological advances, there is still so much more to learn and explore. It is difficult to predict what space and ocean exploration will look like in the future. Which brings me to ocean mysteries. Since so little of oceans have been explored. Below are 5 fascinating ocean mysteries for you to ponder.

1. The 1968 Submarine Disappearances

In 1968, the following submarines disappeared without a trace: USS Scorpion, a French submarine Minerve, the Israeli INS Dakar submarine, and K-129, a Soviet submarine. Two were in the Mediterranean Sea, one was in the Pacific Ocean, and one was lost in the Atlantic Ocean. One of the four submarines was never found. The other three were found but the cause of their loss remains a mystery. Was this a Cold War skirmish? Hard to say because unfortunately, there is no actual proof.

2. Mariana Trench

Mariana Trench, also called Marianas Trench, deep-sea trench in the floor of the western North Pacific Ocean, the deepest such trench known on Earth, located mostly east as well as south of the Mariana Islands. It is part of the western Pacific system of oceanic trenches coinciding with subduction zones. Mount Everest stands at 29,026 feet (8,848 m) above sea level, meaning the deepest part of the Mariana Trench is 7,044 feet (2,147 m) deeper than Everest is tall. Due to the depth, much of the trench remains unexplored. Unusual animals live in the trench such as the Dumbo Octopus. It will be interesting to see what the younger generation will find as technology advances.

3. The Mystery of Atlantis

How could we keep Atlantis off the list? Over the years people have speculated where Atlantis once stood. Atlantis was first described by the Greek philosopher Plato more than 2,000 years ago. According to Plato’s account, written around 360BC, Atlantis was a major sea power located in the Atlantic. The arrangement of Atlantis was concentric rings. They alternated water and land. The soil was perfect, the architecture was magnificent and the work of the engineers was successful. There was an extraordinary irrigation system. Atlantis had an organized military system as well as many kings. To all of those looking in from the outside, it seemed as if Atlantis was paradise. Theories of the location include the Minoan civilization on Crete and the neighboring island of Santorini or the Black Sea floods of around 5000BC – an event that may have also generated the flood stories which appeared in the Old Testament.

My favorite theory is the Eye of the Sahara (Richat Structure). Africa, prior to the Younger Dryas climate change, has pollen records from this area which show that a “green” state prevailed during most of the time between 14,500 to 5,000 years ago. Steppe vegetation expanded across the Sahara. The region was more likely to be a lower altitude due to plate tectonics raising the region later on. Also, the majority of Plato’s description matches this region. The Younger Dryas was a period of climatic change that probably led to Atlantis’s destruction. For more info click on this Youtube link.

4. The Bermuda Triangle

There is so much mystery surrounding the Bermuda Triangle. From missing ships and planes to time travel. The stories around the Bermuda triangle begins in the time of Christopher Columbus when he reportedly saw a flame of fire crashing into the sea in the triangle during his first voyage to the New World. In 1872, 1881 and 1921 three ships Mary Celeste, Ellen Austin and Carroll A. Deering were found drifting the sea without a single soul on board.

One of the most unnerving tales is that of the Witchcraft, a 23-foot luxury yacht, which disappeared on December 22, 1967. The coast guard received a call from the captain stating that his ship had hit something, but there was no substantial damage. Indicating help to be towed to the shore, the coast guard set off immediately, reaching witchcraft in as many as 19 minutes. The area indicating the location of the ship was completely deserted. The coast guard officials searched hundreds of square miles of the ocean over the next few days but were unsuccessful. Nothing of this ship has been ever found.

In regards to time travel, on March 24, 1975, this story would appear as a brief mention in the Deseret News newspaper, as part of a multi-issue series involving the Bermuda Triangle, this one titled “Other seas, other mysteries.” National Airlines 727, during its approach to Miami International Airport, disappeared without warning. It completely vanished from radar, and all radio communications ceased. A full 10 minutes later, the plane astonishingly reappeared in the exact same location it had been. Nothing had changed, and no one on board noticed anything strange at all. “By way of an explanation, one of the air control staff said to one of the pilots, ‘Man, for 10 minutes you just did not exist.’” – The Deseret News, March 24, 1975

5. Possible Giant Shark

In 2003, scientists decided to tag a 9 foot great white shark to study temperature changes in the ocean. Weirdly, several months later, the tag’s recording of the information was found on shore. When researchers looked at the tag’s information, they were stunned. About four months after the tag was put on, the shark seemed to have dove around 1,900 feet, which suggests it was attacked and eaten by something. Most likely a cannibal great white shark. The scientists claim their new research data matched all of the tracking information from the disappeared shark: The body temperature of these migrating great whites was the same, and the size of the cannibal great white shark, which they estimated to be at least 16 foot long and weigh over 2 tons, is the smallest size shark that could easily pull off the same speed and trajectory captured in the tracking device to eat the 9 foot great white shark.

Could it be a larger great white shark? The Guinness Book of World Records listed two great white sharks as the largest individuals: In the 1870s, a 10.9 m (36 ft) great white captured in southern Australian waters, near Port Fairy, and an 11.3 meters (37 ft) shark trapped in a herring weir in New Brunswick, Canada, in the 1930s. When a scientist re-examined the jaw of the Port Fairy Shark, they discovered it could have only been 17ft. Another large shark caught was off the coast of Cuba in 1945, which allegedly weighed 7,000 pounds (3,175 kg) and was 21 feet (6.4 m) in length. Majority of Great White sharks seen after the 1930s have ranged between 20 to 23 feet. So it seems a 20 foot long great white shark would not be out of the realm of possibilities either.

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Nikola Tesla: 3, 6, 9 but what about 8?

It is no secret that I like the number 8. There are a great number of possibilities with the number 8. In a prior article I wrote, I discussed similarities between DNA, The Number 8 and the Infinity Symbol. I have been looking into Nikola Tesla’s life as of late and stumbled upon the key to the universe. One of Nikola Tesla main focuses were the numbers 3, 6 and 9. Nikola Tesla has stated the following: “If you only knew the magnificence of the 3, 6 and 9, then you would have a key to the universe.” Tesla is a genius and his calculations typically break down to the numbers 3, 6 or 9. Granted, the symbol of infinity/completion when a circle’s composition is reduced to its digital root, the results are as follows 3 + 6 + 0 = 9. However, I have noticed the number 8 does come onto the scene from time to time.

Tesla’s Invention

First, I need to provide the backdrop. Tesla filed a patent in the U.S. titled “The art of transmitting electrical energy through the natural medium”. This patent outlines designs for a series of generators around the world which would tap the ionosphere for energy collections. He saw planet Earth itself, with its two poles, as a giant electrical generator of limitless energy. His triangle-shaped design became known as Tesla’s electromagnetic pyramid. (Image below: Nikola Tesla – Limitless Energy & the Pyramids of Egypt – YouTube.)

His inspiration was the Great Pyramid at Giza. The location was chosen according to the laws of where the Pyramids of Giza were built, related to the relationship between the elliptical orbit of the planet and the equator. The design was intended for wireless transmission of energy. The facilities are known as the Tesla Experimental Station in Colorado Springs and Wardenclyffe Tower or Tesla Tower on the East Coast. His devices for wireless transmission of energy disappeared after his death.

The Great Pyramid at Giza

Why did the Great Pyramid inspire Tesla? The Great Pyramid is position on latitude 30 and they are aligned to 3/60th degree of true astronomical north. The dimensions of the pyramid give you the dimensions of this planet. In other words, if you measure the base perimeter of the Great Pyramid and multiply it by forty-three thousand two hundred, you get the equatorial circumference of the earth. If you then measure the height of the Great Pyramid and multiply it by forty-three thousand two hundred, you will get the polar radius of the earth. The scale of the pyramid is defined by a key motion of the earth itself, which is precession (wobble on earth’s axis). Earth moves 1 degree every 72 years.

Nikola Tesla – Limitless Energy & the Pyramids of Egypt – YouTube

How does the Number 8 come into play?

The Great Pyramid in Giza is not a 4-side structure, it is actually an 8-side structure. Each of the pyramid’s four side are evenly split from base to tip by very subtle concave indentations. There are many theories as to why the Great Pyramid of Giza was built this way. I would like to throw in my hypothesis and state it has to do with the Ogdoad. In Egyptian mythology, the Ogdoad were eight primordial deities (four male/four female) worshiped in Hermopolis. References to the Ogdoad date to the Old Kingdom of Egypt, and even at the time of composition of the Pyramid Texts toward the end of the Old Kingdom.

Some text suggest that the Ogdoad are not actual deities, but paring individuals used by the God Thoth to explain how it is possible for two mating individuals to pass on generic traits and attributes. The number eight is achieved merely by determining the smallest number of cross-over combinations of the parents’ traits which would be necessary for their children to maintain variance. Basically, ancient Egyptians had a concept of modern genetics. They may also hold secrets to “hachimoji DNA”.

Another interesting thing about the number 8 is at the time of the construction of the Pyramids of Giza the pole star was Thuban. Thuban is a star located in the constellation of Draco, the eighth largest constellation in the sky. It is around 305 (3+0+5) light-years away from the Sun.

Hope you enjoyed the article, just have one more plug for the number 8. Nikola Tesla is responsible for 80% of technologies today.

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Mother’s Day

I realize different countries have different times to celebrate Mother’s Day. However, Mother’s Day in the United States falls on the second Sunday in May. To celebrate Mothers around the world, I have eight fun facts about Mother’s Day.

In the vast majority of the world’s languages, the word for “mother” begins with the letter M.
In the United States alone, around 122 million phone calls are made to moms on Mother’s Day.
Approximately $14 billion dollars is spent on Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day sees around one quarter of all flowers purchased throughout the year falling on this holiday.
In Greek mythology spring festivals were held in honor of the maternal goddess called, Rhea. She was the wife of Cronus and was believed to be the mother of many deities.
Mother’s Day is the busiest day of the year for the restaurant industry with 62% of Americans dining out.
In 2019, 27 was the average age in the United States for first-time mothers, according to the CDC.
According to the Insure.com 2021 Mother’s Day Index, the various tasks moms perform at home would be worth $116,022 a year in the professional world. That’s a 23% increase from $93,920 in 2020.

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Magnificent May

May is now upon us and it would be great to discover the more interesting aspects of the month. Below are 10 facts for May:

May actually has two birth flowers: 1. The Lily-of-the-Valley represents the return of happiness and sweetness. 2. Hawthorn flower is a symbol of hope. Also, Emerald is the Birthstone for this month.

2. May is a special time for Star Wars fans worldwide and always a good reason to re-watch the movies. May the 4^th is celebrated as Star Wars day

3. The name May is the English adaption of the Latin word Maius, which has origins going back to the time of the ancient Greeks. They named the month of May (or Maius) after the Greek goddess of growth whose son was Hermes.

4. In any given year, no month ever begins or ends on the same day of the week as May does.

5. Research conducted by the University of Columbia has shown that people who are born in May have a lower risk of acquiring respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular and reproductive diseases.

6. The Celts of the British Isles believed May 1st to be the most important day of the year. This is when the festival of Beltane is held.

7. According to Time, babies born in spring score high on the hyperthymia scale, meaning they have a general sense of optimism about them.

8. People who are born in the first half of May are less likely to marry others who are born in the same period.

9. The international distress signal, “mayday,” has nothing to do with the first of May. It derives from the French venez m’aider, meaning “come help me.”

10. There is a deep notion among orthodox people that month of May is ominous for marriage life. The superstition dates back to the Romans who thought ghosts roam in the month of May.

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