In Japan: Christmas for Non-Christians

Christmas in Japan is quite different from the Chrismas celebrated in most countries in which the population has a large percentage of Christians or a Christian heritage. Only 1/2 of 1% of the Japanese population is estimated to be Christian, with the majority of Japanese being tolerant of all faiths: Buddhism, Christianity, Shinto, etc. In spite of this, the Japanese are great lovers of festivals and celebrations, including Christmas.

December 25th is not a national holiday in Japan, although December 23rd, which is the birthdate of the present emperor, is. Although it is not an official holiday the Japanese tend to celebrate Christmas, especially in a commercial way. The Japanese celebrate Christmas Eve by eating a 'Christmas Cake' which the father of the family purchases on his way home from work (or his wife does in the case where he has to work on Christmas Eve). Stores all over carry versions of this Christmas cake and drop the price of it drastically on December 25th in order to sell everything out by the 26th. This has resulted in a rather interesting expression in which young girls are referred to as a 'Christmas cakes': marriageable until their 25th birthday and requiring heavy discounts to get married after their 25th birthdays.

In recent years, thanks to the marketing prowess of the folks at Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Christmas Chicken Dinner has become quite popular. Many Japanese even make reservations for their "Christmas Chicken" ahead of time. People line up at their outlets to pick up their orders. As a result of KFC's brilliant advertising campaign, most Japanese now believe that Westerners celebrate Christmas with a chicken dinner instead of the more common ham or turkey.

Christmas Eve has been hyped by the T.V. media as being a time for romantic miracles. It is seen as a time to be spent with one's boyfriend or girlfriend in a romantic setting, so fancy restaurants and hotels are often booked solid at this time. It is often also a time when girls get to reveal their affections to boys and vice versa. Because of this, extending a girl an invitation to be together on Christmas Eve has very deep, romantic implications.

Christmas presents are exchanged between people with romantic commitments as well as close friends. The presents tend to be 'cute' presents and often include Teddy Bears, flowers, scarves, rings and other jewelry. Christmas cards are also given to close friends.

Christmas presents tend to be things which are cute and sometimes slightly expensive because of the relationship to the person to which they are given to. More obligatory year-end presents are given during this season as well to people who have done you a favor during the year, however, in contrast to Christmas presents, they are given between companies, to bosses, to teachers, and family friends. These presents are known as 'Oseibo' and are generally things which are perishable or which wear out quickly for which the price can readily be checked because of the system of 'on' and 'giri' (loosely translated obligation and reciprocity). These presents are usually purchased at department stores so that the recipient can check the price and return something which relates to the scale of reciprocity.

For the more elderly couples, many hotels host dinner shows featuring major singers, actors, and actresses. Tickets to these shows, due to the season, are very pricy.

The Christmas season comes during the month of the year-end parties. Company groups, hobby groups, sports groups, etc. often book a section of a restaurant to have drinking parties, known as 'bonenkai' [forget the old year parties]. This phenomena leads to streets, subways, and trains full of people in varied states of intoxication during this season.

Christmas lighting and displays are often up at the end of October and this year many stores have displays featuring Teddy Bears. There is also a trend developing for make-it-yourself presents.

The New Year's holidays, which constitute the main holiday season for the Japanese, come closer to the American-European idea of assembling family and friends. Christmas seems to be closer to the Western concept of St.Valentine's Day.

Original article: http://www.tanutech.com/japan/jxmas.html

Christmas Mistakes

It's Christmas time, people are cheerful and all they think about is celebrating. But there are some small mistakes, we must make sure we avoid, if we want the holidays to be bright for us:

1. Make accurate calculations how much money you can spend for presents. You don't want to find out that you're out of money before you buy presents for everyone?

2. Don't copy wishes from internet. It may be boring to write wishes on the cards for everyone, but better write down something simple, but sincere than something obviously copied.

3. Don't send too personal messages to your colleagues you don't know very well. Your boss may be single, but wishing her/him to find a boyfriend/girlfriend is not the best thing you can do.

4. Don't drink too much. Drinks may make you say things you don't mean and arguments can easily occur.

5. Don't discuss how much presents cost. What matters is how happy they make the one who receives them and that's all. Don't compare or discuss anything about it.

6. Don't send e-mails, text messages to ex boyfriends/girlfriends. They may think you're looking for a way to make up.

7. Don't send cards to people who are not Christians. Don't forget it's a religious holiday.

Aries Yearly 2011 Horoscopes: The Ram Is Ready for Action

2011 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for Aries. Things have been in a holding pattern for the past few years as Aries struggled on many levels. Although the Aries continued to show forward movement, Aries 2011 yearly horoscope shows the opportunity for much of that effort to finally pay off. A strong year for career and income, Aries 2011 will bring positive movement internally. Of course, ying and yang requires Aries to work a little harder on some of the areas that have gone out of balance, but this will be a challenge the Aries 2011 yearly horoscope sees Aries facing down without a problem.

Career and Income

Aries, don’t start spending yet but 2011 is looking like an excellent year for cash flow. You have done the time, get ready for the dime! Many of your projects, ideas and career moves are going to gel in 2011. This may mean it’s time for a huge promotion, a career jump or even the advancement of a business idea or concept. Step up to the plate and get ready to swing, because when it comes to career and cash, Aries 2011 is your year. The majority of your power will come in the earlier part of the year, so go for the gold immediately. Looking at the Aries 2011 yearly horoscope, it’s safe to say here’s no reason to hesitate when everything that comes out of your mouth sounds like a brilliant idea.

Love, Family and Social life

Sometimes, success in one area means a little more work in another. The Aries 2011 yearly horoscope shows that familial and intiate relationships are going to be strained in the early part of the year, Aries. In fact, they could spin out of control. Be ready to manage even the smallest situation that comes up with family or a loved one. Ignoring a small warning sign could result in major issues down the road. If you want harmony in 2011, be ready to talk out problems. Commit to a willingness to work through issues that come up, don’t just pull the rip cord like you sometimes to. The Aries 2011 yearly horoscope shows that there’s a realistic possibility that any type of dramatic action in the early part of the year could lead to the end of a relationship that, up to now, has been going well.

Education and Traveling

With 2011 flourishing, Aries will not want to take the time to do something as leveling as take a vacation. Work, work and more work will be the name of the game. In terms of learning, this will be divine as Aries will be eager to gobble up any and all information that can help things to keep going so well. But Aries, force yourself to slow down sometime in June or July. You cannot keep a crazy pace forever. Better allow yourself to rest so you can finish off 2011 with the same vitality you started with.

Health

The Aries 2011 yearly horoscope shows that things look great for Aries in terms of health. Take advantage of this state to build your body, heart and mind even more. Eat right, get plenty of exercise and enough sleep. This is the year to try out that new sport you were thinking of or to take a little time for yourself and work out aggression at the gym. Find a way to channel all that energy to care for your body as well and 2011 should see you in good shape.



Source: http://www.horoscopes-love.eu/aries-2011-horoscope.php

Holly Christmas!

Christmas is time for the family, to feel the warmth at home and thank God for everything we have. There's nothing as precious as the family and let we all remember it not only on Christmas, but for the whole year!
I sent my best wishes to all of my family and friends and I made a small Christmas wish for my self. And I promise not to forget to appreciate the most important thing in my life- the people I love! I promise not to let the small problems to affect me, I promise to think twice before I get mad, I promise not to forget my loved ones I love and appreciate them, I promise to make everything I can for them!
Christmas is time when we remember that only heart can see the real things!

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.
Augusta E. Rundel

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
Oren Arnold

Stories with Morals

One of the British noblemen had left behind a big castle which contained priceless paintings. The public could come and see them from time to time. One day a group of people were moving through the large rooms and admiring the paintings as they went. One elderly woman never spoke a word but would repeatedly go close to each picture and examine it very carefully. After the visit, someone asked her what she thought of it all. "It was perfect," she said with enthusiasm. "I could not find a speck of dust anywhere.

" How often we miss the beauties of life because we are so intent on looking for faults.

# # # # #

A farmer had a cluster of beautiful bamboo trees. One day he stood before the tallest one and said, "My friend, I need you." "Sir," said the bamboo, "Use me in any way you wish, I am ready." Then the gardener's voice became serious and he said, "In order to use you, I've got to split you in half." Then the bamboo reacted, "Split me" Oh, no... I'm the nicest bamboo in this garden. Use me in any way you wish, but please don't split me in half." "Well," said the gardener, "if I can't split you, I can't use you." The bamboo went silent. Then it bowed its head and said, "Okay. If the only way you can use me, is by splitting me, go ahead." "But that's not all," said the gardener. "I am going to have to cut off all your branches." "That will be the end of my beauty," the bamboo said. "But - if that's the only way I can be of use - cut me down altogether." So the farmer cut down the bamboo, removed its branches and split it down the middle. After hollowing out its insides, he brought it to a spring of water. It became a pipe to bring water to the gardens and make them fertile and fruitful.

It gave its life to help other lives. Everyday right around us people are giving their lives that we might live... Take our parents, our teachers, ...

# # # # #

A rich man complained to his friend: "People don't like me. They say I'm selfish and stingy. And yet in my last will and testament I have donated all that I own to charitable cause." His friend said: "Well, maybe the story of the cow and the pig has a lesson for you.""The pig came to the cow and complained: 'People always talk about your friendliness. I know you are friendly, you do give them milk. But they get much, much more from me. They get ham and bacon and lard and they even cook my feet. And yet - no one likes me. To all of them I am just a pig, a hog. Why is that?' The cow thought it over a bit and then said: 'Perhaps it's because I give while I am still alive!'"

# # # # #

Centuries ago in the country of Greece there was a young athlete who had so distinguished himself in the public games that his fellow citizens raised a statue in his honor, to keep fresh the memory of his victories. This statue so excited the envy of another athlete who had been defeated in the races, that one night he went out under cover of darkness with the intention of destroying that statue and knocking it to pieces. First he tried and tried to tip over the statue. He tugged and pulled and shoved... and after an hour it moved just a little bit. This encouraged him and he gave one mighty push and the statue fell -- on top of him, and killed him.

Envy always harms the one who is guilty of it. Did it ever occur to you that when you envy somebody or you are jealous of somebody, that this does not hurt that person in any way... He or she does not feel it at all... It only hurts you: it eats your insides out... So, you see, that it is a useless, self-destructive exercise. As Ben Sirach says in the Old Testament "Envy and anger shorten one's life." [Sir. 30:24]

Pain for God's Sake

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community.

Devotees prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting. Kavadi-bearers have to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of assuming the kavadi and at the time of offering it to Murugan. The kavadi-bearer observes celibacy and take only pure, Satvik food, once a day, while continuously thinking of God.

On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common.

The simplest kavadi is a semicircular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on the shoulders, to the temple. In addition, some have a small spear through their tongue, or a spear through the cheeks. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord Murugan. It also prevents him from speaking and gives great power of endurance. Other types of kavadi involve hooks stuck into the back and either pulled by another walking behind or being hung from a decorated bullock cart or more recently a tractor, with the point of incisions of the hooks varying the level of pain. The greater the pain the more god-earned merit.

source: Wikipedia

What will prevent a guy from hitting on you?

It happens to everyone- man or a woman to attract the attention of someone they don't want to. It can happen at work, in the gym, in the favorite caffee, bar, restaurant, in the public transport. What are the right signals that should be sent in such a situation to make him realize you're not interested?

- Don't wear too sexy clothes when you expect to meet him. Especially if you work close to him.
- When you seem him, pretend to be very busy with something- talking on the hone, texing a message, looking for something in your purse.
-Don't keep eye contacts with them.
-When they ask you something, avoid making a conversation. Keep your answers short to 'yes' and 'no' and ask them if they need anything else. Make an excuse and leave as soon as possible.
- Never speak about you, don't tell him the area you live, if you are having a bad day, ect. He is looking for a reason to make a conversation and to get closer, don't give him any.
- Wear a heart shaped jewel, that will clearly show that you are not single
- In cease you have to contact him, for example if you have a common work to do, never give him your personal number. Ask for his number/e-mail and don't give him a chance to bother you.
- If non of above works, just tell them you have a boyfriend and you're not interested in him.

4 Types of Men Girls Meet Before They Grow Up

1. First Love.

Every girl remembers the fist time she fell in love. Most of the times he never got to know, but she will never forget him.

2. The Player
Teenage girls frequently fall in love with so called players. Boys who make impression better than anything else.

3. Undiscovered Genius
The ones who believed they would change the world. Musicians, artists, gang leaders or just dreamers who believed they were born to do something great. Most likely no one understood them.

4. The Protector

Elder man who was always there to help with his advise or money. He was charming with his success, but most likely with his ability to spoil the girls.

Skinny or Plus Size Models?

Interesting Vision of Beyonce

Christmas Party with Colleagues and Friends

Recap. of 2010

2010 is about to be gone, it's the holiday season already and everyone is looking forward to Christmas and the New Year. I'm even more eager because a vacation is waiting for me.
Another year is gone, another lesson should be learned. That's why I'm trying to make a recapitulation of last (almost) 12 months. In general I think it was a good year for me.
I'm proud of my self I finally started studying again. I was planning it for a long time, but I was afraid it would be too hard for me. I must confess it's not easy at all, but I believe that the first semester is the hardest one, because I need to get used to be a school girl again. I'm working on my English language skills too.
At work I have accomplished all of my goals, I managed to handle new challenges and I learned new things. One of the most important things I've learned was how to look at the big picture.
I didn't have much time for my personal life. I guess it's the way people grow up, focused on their goals people make less time for fun. But I don't believe friends are fun only, they are very important part of our lives. I have my closest friends, but I think there's room for new ones. And we should think of more activities together. At least I was better keeping up with my family and relatives this year.
I started 2010 in Egypt on an exciting journey, I was able to visit a part of Spain and I had pleasant seaside vacation on our seaside this year. I don't complain at all, it was an amazing time I'll never forget!
What I wish myself for the next year- health and luck, if I get them I promise to use them in the best way to further!

Are Expectations Something Bad?

Everyone has his own goals he strives to achieve. Different goals in his career, personal life, for himself or related with with the others. That's how our life makes sense.

But what are goals like? Aren't they a kind of deals everyone makes silently? He decides to cover particular requirements in order to get his expectation covered.
Expectations may be a bad thing themselves because they lead to disappointments. When a parson is focused on his exact expectations he forgets the other opportunities and good things he might get.
On the other hand, who would invest his time and efforts for nothing? When we go to the store and look at a merchandise what do we see? How much money it costs in comparison to who much efforts we put to make this money and what we get if we spend this money on the particular merchandise instead of another one? What amount we get, what is its quality and for long we can use it- answers of all these questions determine our decision.
What makes us go to work every single day? Isn't it the expectation to get strictly determined pay check after that?
I don't believe expectations are a bad thing. They are our motivation to pursue our goals!

"High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.”

“Anger always comes from frustrated expectations”

“The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.”

“Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.”

“Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian”

“I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.”

“Set your expectations high; find men and women whose integrity and values you respect; get their agreement on a course of action; and give them your ultimate trust.”

Funny

Money Quotes

The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money.

Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

No matter how hard you hug your money, it never hugs back.

Waste your money and you're only out of money, but waste your time and you've lost a part of your life.


It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money can't buy.

"Your money, or your life." We know what to do when a burglar makes this demand of us, but not when God does.

Inflation is when you pay fifteen dollars for the ten-dollar haircut you used to get for five dollars when you had hair.


If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy you the kind of misery you prefer.


If women didn't exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning.

Those who believe money can do everything are frequently prepared to do everything for money.

My Name Day

My name day was a very special day for me. My beloved cousin gave birth of my first niece! I'm so glad they are both well and I can't wait to see them!
The day was full of emotions. I'm very grateful to all of the people who remembered me on my name day. I got lots of calls, text messages and e-mails. I received some presents too.
I think I like name days more than birthdays hahah I get presents and attention and I'm not getting older!

What If?

"The Thorn Birds"

I like this book and I read all of the 550 pages before I know it. It's an interesting story about the passions everyone has, those passions that we know they will kill us. Choices we make and pay for them for a lifetime, but we're never sorry about it, because it was our only way.

Here are some memorable quotes:

- There's a story... a legend, about a bird that sings just once in its life. From the moment it leaves its nest, it searches for a thorn tree... and never rests until it's found one. And then it sings... more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. And singing, it impales itself on the longest, sharpest thorn. But, as it dies, it rises above its own agony, to outsing the lark and the nightingale. The thorn bird pays its life for just one song, but the whole world stills to listen, and God in his heaven smiles.
-What does it mean, Father?
- That the best... is bought only at the cost of great pain.

-What kind of man is this Luke O'Neill, who roams about and doesn't even make a home for Meggie?
- The ambitious kind.

Our God has given us freewill. And with that freewill comes the burden of choice. It is time, far past time that you took up that burden, because until you do, you cannot go on.

And there's nothing I can do to change it. Do you know how terrifying it is, that power you have over me?

Don't do to Meggie what you did to Mary Carson. Don't destroy her with love!

Men will extinct?

It has long been suspected that the sex chromosome that only males carry is deteriorating and could disappear entirely within a few million years, but until now, no one has understood the evolutionary processes that control the Y chromosome's demise. Now, a pair of Penn State scientists has discovered that the Y chromosome has evolved at a much more rapid pace than its partner chromosome, the X chromosome, leading to a dramatic loss of genes on the Y chromosome at a rate that, if maintained, eventually could lead to the Y chromosome's complete disappearance.

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, which are the structures that hold our DNA, but just one pair of these chromosomes are sex chromosomes, while the others are referred to as non-sex chromosomes. "In eutherian mammals [humans and other non-marsupial mammals], the sex chromosomes contain an additional region of DNA whereas, in the egg-laying mammals and marsupials [such as opossums and platypuses], this additional region of DNA is located on the non-sex chromosomes," said Penn State's Kateryna Makova. "At first, bits of DNA within this additional region were readily swapped between the X and Y chromosomes, but some time between 80 and 130 million years ago, the region became two completely separate entities that no longer swapped DNA. One of the regions became specifically associated with the X chromosome and the other became specifically associated with the Y chromosome."

Writing in PLoS Genetics, Makova explains that by comparing the DNA of the X and Y chromosomes in eutherian mammals to the DNA of the non-sex chromosomes in the opossum and platypus, the researchers were able to go back in time to the point when the X and Y chromosomes were still swapping DNA, just like the non-sex chromosomes in the opossum and platypus. The scientists then were able to observe how the DNA of the X and Y chromosomes changed over time relative to the DNA of the non-sex chromosomes. "Our research revealed that the Y-specific DNA began to evolve rapidly at the time that the DNA region split into two entities, while the X-specific DNA maintained the same evolutionary rate as the non-sex chromosomes," said Makova.

After determining that the Y chromosome has been evolving more rapidly and has been losing more genes as a result, they wanted to find out why the Y chromosome has not already disappeared entirely. "Today, the human Y chromosome contains less than 200 genes, while the human X chromosome contains around 1,100 genes," said co-researcher Melissa Wilson. "We know that a few of the genes on the Y chromosome are important, such as the ones involved in the formation of sperm, but we also know that most of the genes were not important for survival because they were lost, which led to the very different numbers of genes we observe between the once-identical X and Y. Although there is evidence that the Y chromosome is still degrading, some of the surviving genes on the Y chromosome may be essential, which can be inferred because these genes have been maintained for so long."

Makova and Wilson then decided to test the hypothesis that some of the genes on the Y chromosome are being maintained because they are essential. The team's approach was to compare the expression and function of genes on the Y chromosome with analogous genes on the X chromosome. "If the genes' expressions and/or functions were different, then it would make sense that the genes on the Y chromosome would be maintained because they are doing something that the genes on the X chromosome can't do," explained Makova. "This hypothesis turned out to be correct."

Although some of the genes on the Y chromosome have been maintained, most of them have died, and the team found evidence that some others are on track to disappear, as well. "Even though some of the genes appear to be important, we still think there is a chance that the Y chromosome eventually could disappear," said Makova. "If this happens, it won't be the end of males. Instead, a new pair of non-sex chromosomes likely will start on the path to becoming sex chromosomes."

In the future, the team plans to use its newly generated data to create a computer model that tracks the degeneration of the Y chromosome. The scientists hope to determine how long it will take for the Y chromosome to disappear.

Article taken from: http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20090616231446data_trunc_sys.shtml