Holiday Of Poetry

Collection of poetry by Turkmen poet Mollanepes presented in Moscow

The collection of poetry by outstanding Turkmen poet Mollanepes, whose 200th anniversary will be celebrated in Turkmenistan later this year, were presented at the House of Cinema in Moscow on 13 May. The books of poetry were published in Russian language. The presentation was timed to coincide with the upcoming state holiday of Turkmenistan - the Day of Revival, Unity and Poetry of Makhtumkuli Fragi. The presentation ceremony brought together representatives of the Russian intelligentsia, representatives of the Turkmen diaspora living in Russia's regions, as well as boys and girls of Turkmenistan studying in local high schools. All guests of the event had the opportunity to buy the original print edition "Mollanepes", which was compiled by the editorial office of the international magazine "Turkmenistan" and published with the support of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation. There were released 3,000 copies of the book featuring about one hundred classic and new translations of Mollanepes's poems. The ceremony was opened by the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the Russian Federation, Khalnazar Agakhanov, who congratulated the guests on the upcoming holiday and noted that the new book was another activity in a series of cultural events taking place this year in various Russian cities as part of the Days of Turkmenistan in Russia.The ceremony was also attended by the guests of honor - authors of translations of Mollanepes's poetry. They are poet Valentin Sorokin, Winner of State Prize of Russia, Literary Prize named after Yesenin; poet Ivan Golubnichy, Secretary of the Writers' Union of Russia, Honored Worker of Culture of Russia; poet Ludmila Schipahina, Winner of the International Literary Prize named after Sholokhov, Honored Worker of Culture of Turkmenistan, who shared with the audience their impressions of the book. Professor Shaukat Niazi, actress Mayyagozel Aymedova, writer Rinat Mukhamadiev also shared their personal experience of reading the poems of Mollanepes and his great predecessor - Makhtumkuli. Musicians Mamed Guseinov and Eugene Zausov performed compositions by composer Nury Khalmamedov and their own compositions. Turkmen students studying in the art universities of the Russian capital declaimed their favorite verses from the art heritage of the Turkmen poets and poems of Russian classics. The ceremony continued with the demonstration of the two-part feature film "Fraghi - separated from happiness" screened by Hodzhakuli Narliev, film director, State Prize winner of USSR and Turkmenistan, People's Artist of USSR. The film lasted almost half an hour, giving the audience an idea of the creative development of Magtymguly Fragi, his time, feelings and thoughts of the poet. According to the common opining of guests gathered in the Moscow House of Cinema on the occasion of the upcoming Day of Revival, Unity and Poetry of Makhtumkuli Fragi, the Russian public's acquaintance with the Turkmen spiritual heritage through literature and film industry will benefit the ongoing process of mutual enrichment of cultures of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation, strengthening the ties of friendship of the two nations.

The International Museum Day is a celebration that is held each year on or about 18 May. Each year, the Advisory Committee of the Internation Council Of Museum (ICOM) defines a specific theme for International Museum Day.

“ The event provides the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public and alert them to the challenges that museums face if they are to be — as in the ICOM definition of museums — 'an institution in the service of society and of its development."

The theme for 2010 is "Museums for Social Harmony".

Red Hill Holiday Russia -16 May 2010

Description:
The first Sunday after Easter is known to Russians as the ‘Red Hill Holiday'. A celebration of spring, it is a time when the people of Russia welcome spring into their lands after the cold, hard winter and the first budding leaves of spring are met with singing and dancing. The day is also considered to be an extremely fortuitous day for weddings and there's always a rush on churches to ensure marriages are blessed with a little 'Red Hill' luck.

South Korea Teacher's Day - May 15th

The South Korea Teacher’s Day every 15th of May is one of the most exciting celebrations in the country. Since the government declared this national teacher’s day there have been many good preparations in the past. This year promises to be another abundant teacher appreciation day in the country.

The following are line up of traditional activities in most schools in the country when the 15th of May comes.

Carnation Giving

Many students would offer Carnation flowers to the teachers as this is the most traditional ways of celebrating the teacher appreciation day. This is also a show of respect of students to the generosity of the teachers in sharing the information and knowledge. This tradition has been in Korea since 1963.Love cardsAnother traditional way of respecting the teachers is by giving them love cards. Thousands of students would prepare their personalized cards and give them to their favourite teachers. Those who can afford to buy commercial cards are also allowed but not compulsory. Many teachers believe that even this is only a simple traditional way but they would always love to read love card messages from their students.

Parties

Since Korea is one of the progressive countries in Far East, the education department is also given ample budget for this kind of celebration. With South Korea’s over 50 million people education could be playing great role in educating the thousands of Koreans. Big colleges and universities would always look up of giving special parties to their teachers as well as give awards and recognitions. During parties, the host would also prepare the country’s top delicacies to make the teacher very special in their night. The finale would be the awarding of the most outstanding teachers in their fields of endeavour.

Liberia - Unification Day-----------14May

We here in the United States get cranky at our politicians for the slightest misstep, like plunging our country into bankruptcy or sending our children into misguided opportunistic wars.
Yet our stalwart Liberian cousins put up with 14 years of civil war before finally giving their leaders the boot in 2005. The rallying cry of the president to-be?
“All the men have failed Liberia. Let’s try a woman this time!”
In November 2005 the Liberians elected Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the highest office in the country, becoming Africa’s first elected woman head of state.
President Sirleaf declared:
“My administration shall thus endeavor to give Liberian women prominence in all affairs of our country…. We will also try to provide economic programs that enable Liberian women — particuarly our market women — to assume their proper place in our economic process.”
Americans may not know it, but the U.S. has played a pivotal role in Liberian history over the past two centuries, unparalleled in transAtlantic history. Back in 1817 the American Colonization Society purchased land in on the West African coast to emigrate freed African-American men, women and children. The motives for doing so were as different as the Society’s members, which included abolitionists and slave owners. Some saw emigration as the road to freedom for African Americans; others saw it as an alternative to integration in order to maintain a homogenous white state.
According to From Plantation to Ghetto:
“In the main, free blacks were suspicious of the motives of the American Colonization Society and strongly opposed it.”
Over 3,000 free blacks met in Philadelphia to protest the Society in the year of its founding.
However, over the next 40 years the well-funded ACS “repatriated” 13,000 African Americans to live in Liberia.
The Society’s involvement in Liberia lessened after 1847 when the Americo-Liberians (those who emigrated from the U.S.) declared Liberia an independent nation. Americo-Liberians modeled Liberia after the U.S. in a number of ways. The name Liberia itself means “Land of the Free.” Its capital is Monrovia, named for President James Monroe. Its flag, government and constitution are modeled on that of the U.S. It became the first African republic in 1847, though the U.S. didn’t recognize its independence until 1862.
Liberia received monetary support from the United States over the years. Despite the fact that Americo-Liberians constituted a small minority of the population, the “Americans” as they were called, controlled the government and dominated the African population for the next 150 years.
“That is, because they were not regarded as citizens in in America, they too, did not recognize the indigenous inhabitants as citizens of the new Republic.” — Unification and Integration in Retrospect – Sehgran K. Gomah
In fact, as late as the 1930’s, the League of Nations censured the Liberian government for the forced labor of its indigenous population. Even after the abolishment of forced labor, indigenous Liberians remained disenfranchised second-class citizens until 1951. President William V.S. Tubman was a major proponent of integration and unification during his 28 years as President (1943-1971). Under his leadership, the government declared May 14 National Unification Day (during the 1959/1960 legislative session) to celebrate the integration of American and indigenous Liberians.
President Sirleaf reinvigorated National Unification (and Integration) Day in 2007, calling on Liberians work together to heal the wounds of a decade and a half of civil war.
“In November 2005, Liberian women strapped their babies on their backs and flocked to voting tables all across their war-racked country to elect Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as Africa’s first female president. It was a seminal moment in the political history of not just Liberia but the entire continent, where patriarchal rule has long dominated, leaving African women on the sidelines to fetch water, carry logs, tend farms, sell market wares and bear the children of their rapists, while their menfolk launched one pointless war after another.”

Freedom Day In South Africa

Freedom Day is an annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections of 1994. Peace, unity, the preservation and the restoration of human dignity hallmark Freedom Day celebrations on the 27th of April of each year.

The road to democracy was a long and difficult one. Since the arrival of the White man at the Cape in 1652, the indigenous peoples of South Africa came under White control and domination. Soon all peoples of color were denied the vote and hence a say in the running of the country. South Africa was never truly independent nor democratic. The exclusion of the majority of South Africans from political power was at the centre of the liberation struggle and resistance to white minority rule.
Despite much opposition to White rule to halt white encroachment on black land in South Africa, blacks were systematically herded into restricted areas and homelands and their rights to equal opportunity denied.

With the formation of the South African Native National Congress (which later became the African National Congress (ANC)) in 1912, the resistance movement became formalized. The ANC strived to improve the conditions of the blacks. Its task became more difficult after the Nationalist Party victory of 1948 - when the grand machinery of Apartheid was put into motion and became law. Each race was given different privileges, some more and others less.
Nevertheless, the ANC and its allies continued to seek the freedom of all its peoples and continued to challenge the unjust apartheid laws. When The Congress of the People (held in Kliptown in 1955), adopted the Freedom Charter, the blue-print for a democratic South Africa was laid. The Charter affirmed 'that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no Government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people'.
In 1961 South Africa became a Republic and the 31st of May was declared a national holiday (Republic Day) by the National Party, yet it was never celebrated by all South Africans. The Umkonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC was formed during this period as a means of armed resistance. Many of the leaders were banned, imprisoned and tortured

After 1976 the liberation struggle gained momentum. The Soweto Uprising of 1976 saw increased militancy. Trade Union movements started to revive and assert the rights of workers. Hundreds of residents' associations, sports, student, women's and religious organizations joined the resistance struggle. The Church could no longer stand by silently and added its voice to the liberation struggle.
In 1984, the Government introduced the Tri-cameral parliament, giving Colored and Indians the right to vote. The Blacks, who were in the majority, were excluded from this formula. The United Democratic Front (UDF), launched in 1983, brought over 600 organizations together to demand the scrapping of the Tri-cameral parliament. In 1985 the Government declared a State of Emergency in an attempt to suppress the freedom movement.

By 1988 a stalemate had been reached. The Government began looking for a way out and as a result started negotiations with the ANC leadership. The ANC, South African Communist Party (SACP), Pan African Congress (PAC) and other organizations were unbanned on 2 February 1990. A non-racial constitution was eventually agreed upon and adopted in 1993. The new Constitution came into effect on 27 April 1994, the day the nation cast its vote in the first democratic election in the country. The ANC was voted into power and Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the President of South Africa on 10 May.

Significance of Freedom Day

Today, our country celebrates Freedom Day to mark the liberation of our country and its people from a long period of colonialism and white minority domination - which means that we no longer have the situation in which political power is enjoyed and exercised by a minority of our population, to the exclusion of the majority. Freedom Day is not an African National Congress day, but a day for all South Africans. When South Africa was liberated both the oppressor and oppressed were liberated. We pledge "Never again would a minority government impose itself on the majority".
South Africans are "One people with one destiny". It is therefore imperative for South Africans of diverse political and economic backgrounds to work towards a common objective. On Freedom Day we celebrate the relentless efforts of those who fought for liberation, of the many men and women who took up arms and courted imprisonment, bannings and torture on behalf of the oppressed masses.

However "Are we really free when our people remain poor, when there is mass unemployment, unwarranted violence and crime"? Freedom should mean emancipation from poverty, unemployment, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination- but poverty continues to exist, with black people, women, children, the disabled and the elderly. "We need to continue to work to eradicate poverty, racial inequalities and socio-economic disparities," Freedom Day means something very valuable, the necessary condition for us to achieve the vital and fundamental objective of a better life for all.

On Freedom Day, we commit ourselves to ensuring the defence of the sacred freedoms that we had won as a result of a long, difficult and costly struggle. We remind ourselves that the guarantee of these freedoms requires permanent vigilance. It is our pledge to devote ourselves to continue to work to wipe out the legacy of racism in our country. We need to ensure that all our people enjoy these freedoms not merely as theoretical rights but they must form the daily life experience of all South Africans.

Jan 01
Global Family Day
Jan 04
World Braille Day
Jan 08
World Literary Day
Jan 11
International Thank-You Day
Jan 30
World Leprosy Day
Feb 12
Darwin Day
Feb 21
International Mother Language Day
Feb 22
World Thinking Day
Mar 01
International Day of the Seal
Mar 08
International Women’s Day
Mar 14
World Book Day
Mar 20
World Frog Day
Mar 21
World Down Syndrome Day
Mar 22
World Day for Water
Mar 23
World Meteorological Day
Mar 29
Earth Hour – 8pm Local Time
Apr 02
International Children’s Book Day
Apr 07
World Health Day
Apr 12
Yuri`s Night
Apr 13
International Special Librarian’s Day
Apr 21
International Creativity and Innovation Day
Apr 22
Earth Day
Apr 23
World Copyright Day
Apr 25
World Penguin Day
May 03
World Press Freedom Day
May 05
International Midwives Day
May 08
World Red Cross Day
May 10
World Lupus Day
May 12
International Nurses Day
May 13 I
EEE Global Engineering Day
May 15
International Day of Families
May 18

International Museum Day
May 21

World Day for Cultural Diversity
May 22

International Day for Biological Diversity
May 23

World Turtle Day
May 24

World Schizophrenia Day
May 25

Towel Day
May 31

World No-Tobacco Day
Jun 08

World Ocean Day
Jun 14

World Blood Donor Day
Jun 16

International Day of the African Child
Jun 17

World Day to Combat Desertification & Drought
Jun 20

World Refugee Day
Jun 26

International Day Against Drug Abuse & Trafficking
Jul 11

World Population Day
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World Snake Day
Aug 08

Universal & International Infinity Day
Aug 07

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
Aug 10

International Biodiesel Day
Aug 12I

nternational Youth Day
Aug 13

International Lefthanders Day
Aug 14

World Lizard Day
Aug 23

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade & its Abolition
Sep 08

International Literacy Day
Sep 13

International Chocolate Day
Sep 15

Software Freedom Day
Sep 16

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
Sep 19

Talk Like a Pirate Day
Sep 21

World Gratitude Day
Sep 22

World Car-Free Day
Sep 29

Inventors Day
Oct 01

International Music Day
Oct 02

World Farm Animals Day
Oct 03

World Temperance Day
Oct 04

World Animal Day
Oct 05

World Teacher’s Day
Oct 10

World Mental Health Day
Oct 16

World Food Day
Oct 17

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Oct 24

United Nations Day
Oct 29

International Internet Day
Nov 08

World Town Planning Day
Nov 16

International Day for Tolerance
Nov 21

World Television Day
Nov 25

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Nov 30

International Computer Security Day
Dec 01

World AIDS Day
Dec 02

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
Dec 05

International Volunteers Day
Dec 07

International Civil Aviation Day
Dec 10

Human Rights Day

Armenian Genocide Day

Andrei Sharii presented this programme. The Istanbul Radio Freedom Correspondent Elena Solntseva took part.

Andrei Sharii: Today, Armenians are remembering the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. Memorial services have been held across the world, but particularly in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Over 20 countries ( including Russia) and international organizations recognize the events of 1915-1923 as genocide. According to estimates, during this period, approximately 1.5 million Armenians were killed.

On the 24th April 1915 in Instanbul more than 800 representatives of the Armenian intelligentsia were arrested and subsequently shot. During the following two years from a population of approximately 3 million Armenians in the eastern regions of the ottoman empire, were killed 1.5 million. More than 600,000 became refugees. Turkey to this day refuses to recognize these events as genocide, claiming that they were simply victims of the war. The political position of Ankara remains constant, although this topic is now more and more debated in the country at large.

Elena Solntseva : the Shushlei area in Instanbul til this day is called the Armenian quarter. About a hundred years ago, in this area, lived the largest Armenian community in Turkey - 150,000people. At an exhibition of old photographs in Istanbul, Armenian churches schools, newspapers, the Armenian theatre which held plays in Armenian language. By some miracle, an Armenian church remains a small Armenian school and even a few shops, where you can buy classics of Armenian literature.

Armenian Arthur Tash, resident of Istanbul, has the microphone

Arthur Tash: During the events of 1915 many Armenians were killed in the East. Armenians in Istanbul suffered less than others, though due to fear, people sold everything, left their houses and left the city. Therefore, there is no longer an Armenian community. From a population of a million Armenians in Turkey, remain no more than 60,000.

Elena Soltseva : The newspaper ‘Argo’ is the only printed media in Turkey in Armenian. The steep spiral staircase leads to the editing office on the fourth floor. It’s too hard a climb, joke the grey haired editors of the newspaper, which in the last eight years has been closed many times. The main editor, is the journalist Gran Dink who is currently subject to court proceedings- eight court cases and six conditional sentences.

Gran Dink: the last court case against me was the result of events in Urfa, a small town in the east of Turkey. Ata conference, I refused to sing with everyone else the Turkish national anthem” I am happy, that I am a Turk’, I explained that I feel Armenian not Turkish. This was not the first time that I have been taken to court. I wrote in an article that on the 24th April all Armenians traditionally remember their ancestors and visit their graves. Turkish Armenians do not do this, Why? Perhaps I presented this question too bluntly. They summoned me to court, but then released me. We must very carefully write about these events carefully. We don’t use the word ‘genocide’. If I wrote that word just once, then our newspaper would be closed the very next day.

Elena Solntseva: The Turkish authorities do not recognize the elimination of over a million Armenians. Any mention of the work genocide is punishable. Anyone talking about these events using the word genocide in a public place, risks being taken to court on the basis of the 301st clause of the Turkish Law Codex “Insulting the Turkish Nation”.

The main columnist of the newspaper “Milliyet” Khasan Jemal , claims that one of the victims of this law, is the Turkish writer Arkham Tamuk, who is popular in Europe.

Khasan Jemal : I have been condemned for discussing the genocide. In an interview given to a Swiss publication. He said, that in the Ottoman empire, during the years of the First World War, more than a million Armenians were killed. This statement caused widespread controversy leaving me stuck between two fires. The international community recognizes the genocide of the Armenians but Turkey doesn’t. This desire not to recognize the events of 1915 onwards as genocide is linked to Turkey’s wish not to compensate victims’ families and possible territorial claims by deported Armenians.

Elena Solntseva: The genocide of the Armenians has been recognized by the parliaments of 18 countries ( including Russia but not the UK). The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is one of the most important conditions for the Turkey’s possible entry into the European Union. Officially , however, Ankara calls the genocide far fetched. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allocated more than 15 million dollars for the creation of propaganda websites and the publishing of books in foreign languages. In one of Istanbul’s book shops, there is historical literature on this topic. On the shelves lie more than thirty publications plentifully illustrated with photos from the archives. In one Turkish Pashas (leaders) are fighting against some Armenians.

There are several versions of the events in Turkish sources. One of these, particularly popular among journalists and writers, describes the treachery of the Armenians during the First World war. Armenians, most Turkish historians consider, allied with the Russians and so were punished for this. The chairman of the Turkish Council of Historians, Professor Yusef Gala Goglu, has written more than 10 books and about 20 articles on these topics,

Professor Yusef Gala Golu : I have found documents in the archives, confirming that at this time there were battles which Armenians took part in. Moreover, militarized divisions of Armenians actively fought with the turks. So what could we do? Without question - attack!

Elena Solntseva: More and more journalists and writers in Turkey now hold different points of view . Nationalists have suffered defeat in litigations against Armenians. The litigation begun by nationalist circles of Turkey against the well journalist of Murat Belgе, who organized an academic conference in September last year on the Armenian question in September of the last year ended in defeat. In the presence of more than a hundred Turkish academics from the main Istanbul universities, the journalist condemned the events of 1915 onwards as genocide. " Love Turkey or leave ", - nationalists shouted at him in court.However, the journalist was aquitted. In Instanbul they have opened the Armenian museum, journalists have stopped calling Kurdish separatists - descendants of the Armenians and on the main street of Istanbul, you can hear songs by Sharl Azhavura, whose songs were forbidden even during the 70s due to his Armenian origin

"Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the people"

APRIL 23 INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY

This national day (23 April National Sovereignty and Children's Day) in Turkey is a unique event. The founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, dedicated April 23 to the children of the country to emphasize that they are the future of the new nation. It was on April 23, 1920, during the War of Independence, that the Grand National Assembly met in Ankara and laid down the foundations of a new, independent, secular, and modern republic from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. Following the defeat of the Allied invasion forces on September 9, 1922 and the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923, Ataturk started his task of establishing the institutions of the new state. Over the next eight years, Ataturk and his followers adopted sweeping reforms to create a modern Turkey, divorced from her Ottoman past. In unprecedented moves, he dedicated the sovereignty day to the children and entrusted in the hands of the youth the protection of this sovereignty and independence.
Every year, the children in Turkey celebrate this "Sovereignty and Children's Day" as a national holiday. Schools participate in week-long ceremonies marked by performances in all fields in large stadiums watched by the entire nation. Among the activities on this day, the children send their representatives to replace state officials and high ranking bureaucrats in their offices. The President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Ministers, provincial governors all turn over their positions to children's representatives. These children, in turn, sign executive orders relating to educational and environmental policies. On this day, the children also replace the parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly and hold a special session to discuss matters concerning children's issues.
Over the last two decades, the Turkish officials have been working hard to internationalize this important day. Their efforts resulted in large number of world states' sending groups of children to Turkey to participate in the above stated festivities. During their stay in Turkey, the foreign children are housed in Turkish homes and find an important opportunity to interact with the Turkish kids and learn about each other's countries and cultures. The foreign children groups also participate in the special session of the Grand National Assembly. This results in a truly international Assembly where children pledge their commitment to international peace and brotherhood.
The importance of April 23 as a special day of children has been recognized by the international community. UNICEF decided to recognize this important day as the International Children's Day.

Turkey's National Sovereignty and Children's Day marked in Azerbaijan

Turkey's National Sovereignty and Children's Day was marked at the Muslim Magomayev Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, Baku on April 23.Organized by the Baku Turkish Primary School, the festival has brought together pupils of Turkish Lyceums functioning in Azerbaijan.National Sovereignty and Children's Day is an official holiday in Turkey. Government offices, schools and most businesses are closed on this day. Public transport routes may vary in the event of street performances.The first gathering of the Turkish Grand National Assembly took place on April 23, 1920, during Turkey’s War of Independence (1919-1923). Mustafa Kemal Ataturk proclaimed the parliament an important step toward building a new state after the Ottoman Empire was defeated during World War I. Thus, Ataturk reportedly dedicated the Turkish Republic to children in Turkey.In 1923–1934, April 23, Turkey officially celebrates Grand National Assembly Day and starting on that day holds Children's week. The Turkish government then combined two events into National Sovereignty and Children's Day in 1935.The most common symbols of Turkey's National Sovereignty and Children's Day are: a globe or a circle, symbolizing the world; a group of children holding hands, symbolizing the unity; Turkish flag, symbolizing Turkish statehood. These symbols are commonly seen on National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkey.

Shepherd of tender youth,

Guiding in love and truth,

Through devious ways;

Christ, our triumphant King,

We come Thy name to sing,

And here our children bring,

To shout Thy praise. -


"Suffer that little children come to Me,

Forbid them not." Emboldened by His words,

The mothers onward press; but, finding vain

The attempt to reach the Lord, they trust their babes

To strangers' hands; the innocents, alarmed

Amid the throng of faces all unknown,

Shrink, trembling, till their wandering eyes discern

The countenance of Jesus, beaming love

And pity; eager then they stretch their arms,

And, cowering, lay their heads upon His breast.

There was a time when we expected nothing of our children but obedience, as

opposed to the present, when we expect everything of them but obedience.

I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating

consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.

Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always

and forever explaining things to them.

Facing a mirror you see merely your own countenance; facing your child you finally understand how

everyone else has seen you.

Children might or might not be a blessing, but to create them and then fail them was surely

damnation.

St Patrick's Day in London

Everyone loves the traditional celebrations that make up St Patrick's Day. This event celebrates all things Irish, with laughter, fun and, of course, Guinness!
The annual St Patrick's Day parade and festival take place on 14 March.

St Patrick's Day in London
Party like the Irish, in London!

This year St Patrick's Day falls on 17 March, but you'll find special events taking place throughout the week, including the famous St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival.

The exciting St Patrick's Day Parade takes place every year in London. This year it's happening on Sunday 14 March.
The St Patrick's Day Parade involves marching bands, floats, street theatre and more. All 32 Irish counties are represented, dressed in their traditional county colors, as well as London's Irish community and other Londoners. This year, keep an eye out for the eco-friendly rickshaw floats.
The parade starts in Piccadilly at 12 noon and continues through Central London and Trafalgar Square, dispersing at Whitehall Palace.

St Patrick's Day Foods

Serve as many green and yellow foods as your imagination will allow. Think green crunchy celery and cucumbers coupled with ranch dressing for dipping. Yellow squash sliced into rings make fun edible “coins”.
For sweet treats, mix white cake batter and a few drops of green food coloring. Make cupcakes and decorate with green tinted frosting, topped off with yellow and white sprinkles. For a different twist, use white frosting topped with yellow decorating sugar. Round cookies can be decorated as coins, or use a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter and decorate with green sprinkles or sugar.
To wash it all down, choose green juice or add a little green food coloring to milk for a fun green drink

St Paddy's Day Crafts

Provide your guests with 1 or 2 green chenille stems as they arrive. Form the chenille stems into shamrocks that they can either glue to their goodie bags (see below) or take home to show to their family.

St.Patricks Day

St Patrick’s Day is a time for Parades. It is also a time of fun & a time to think of loved ones across the water.

St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

Four Leaf Invitations

Fold white card stock or construction paper in half to form a card. Create a shamrock from green construction paper by cutting out 4 small hearts and a stem, or use this pattern. Glue the shamrock to the front of the card and outline with gold glitter or gold glitter glue.

Decorating

Inflate several balloons in white and different shades of green. Yellow balloons will add some color and represent gold. Hang streamers in rainbow colors from the ceiling and walls, and use green cups, plates and napkins for serving your goodies.

Games to Play

Any traditional party game can be transformed to fit a holiday. The classic game of pin the tail on the donkey, for example, can be made into pin the stem on the shamrock, or pin the hat on the leprechaun. You can also make a typical bucket toss game into a pot of gold toss by wrapping black construction paper or felt around empty coffee cans or similar containers, and have children toss fake gold coins into them. The idea is to stand behind a designated line and try to get the coins into the bucket to win a prize.

Party Favors

Here’s a fun and creative project to put together before the kids go home. Have them decorate their goodie bag when they arrive by using markers, construction paper, glue, scissors, stickers and glitter glue. Be sure their name is on their bag and set them aside to dry while they enjoy the party. When it’s time to go home, fill their decorated goodie bag with their take-home treats!
Good “luck” with your festive St. Patrick’s Day party!

RESPECT OF OLD PEOPLE

It is a sad reflection on our society that we don’t pay due respect to our elders, old parents, teachers and other strangers, call them old citizens. Respect includes affection, courtesy, consideration, tender feelings for weak and feebled ones. It is shocking to note that people become so crass that they abandon their parents, grandparents etc. Old people become a sort of burden for them. People don’t bother about their medical problem and also leave them behind when they attend any family and other functions.

Old people are also criticized by their own sons and daughters for their slow and sluggish movement or untidy habits which overcome the old people due to old age. If they cough, this is also not tolerated by young sons and their espouses. Let us see what an old parents pleads with his son and daughter not to maltreat them in an utterly hopeless situation.

If I get dirty while eating … If I have some difficulty dressing… be patient! Remember the hours that I spent teaching you these things when you were small.

If I repeat the same thing dozens of time,

do not interrupt me! Listen to me!

When you were small, you kept asking me to read you the same story, evening after evening, until you fell asleep. And I did it happily !

By seeing my ignorance of new technologies, do not laugh at me but give me time to understand

If I refuse to eat, do not force me !I know very well when I am hungry and when I am not hungry. .

And when one day, I shall say to you that I do not want to live any more … that I want to die, do not get angry … because one day, you will also understand !

Help me walk, help me to end my lifewith love and patience. The only thing that I need from you is a smile and a lot of love.

I love you …my son, my daughter!

Your Dad, your Mum

Desmatosuchus

Desmatosuchus (pronounced des-mat-oh-SUE-kus) was a ancient armored aetosaur that had sharp spines running along its body (aetosaurs were reptiles but not dinosaurs).
Diet: Desmatosuchus was an herbivore (plant-eater); it had weak, peg-shaped teeth.
When Desmatosuchus Lived: Desmatosuchus lived during the late Triassic period, roughly 230 million years ago.
Anatomy: Desmatosuchus superficially resembled a crocodile with spikes, but had a much shorter, beak-like snout. It was about 16 feet (5 meters) long. This armadillo-like animal had a bulky body, four short legs, a long tail, and bony armor on its back, tail, and part of its belly. The spines were up to 18 inches (45 cm) long (the longest spines were on the shoulders).

Fossils and Name: Desmatosuchus means "link crocodile"; it was named by Case in 1920. Fossils have been found in Texas, USA, North America.

Classification: Class Reptilia (reptiles), Infraclass Archosauromorpha, Superorder Archosauria, family Stagenolepididae, genus Desmatosuchus, type species D. haploceros

Canada Goose

The Canada Goose is a common North American goose. It makes a loud, honking sound. There are many subspecies of this goose, and they range widely in size; the smallest of these (called "cackling geese" because of their high-pitched calls) are only 1/4 the size of the largest (called "honkers"). Many Canada Geese migrate seasonally, flying in a characteristic V-shaped formation.
Anatomy: The Canada Goose has a distinctive white "chinstrap" and a dark head and neck. They are generally brown above and white below. The young Canada Goose looks similar to the adult. The Canada Goose has a plump body, a long neck, and webbed feet. It ranges from 22 to 45 inches (56 to 115 cm) long.
Diet: The diet of the Canada Goose consists mainly of plants.

Eggs and Nests: The Canada Goose's nest is a simple depression in the ground that is lined with grass and feathers. Females lay 2-12 dull white eggs in each clutch (a set of eggs laid at one time).

BABOON

The Baboon is the largest type of monkey. It is a noisy, ferocious, ground-dwelling Old World monkey that lives in groups called troops. Troops vary in size from a few individuals to up to several hundred members.



Distribution and Range: Baboons live in savannas, open woods, grasslands, rocky areas, and dry lands, in Africa and on the Arabian Peninsula. These intelligent primates are endangered due to loss of habitat.

Anatomy: Baboons have a large, muscular body with gray to brown fur. The face and buttocks are hairless and sometimes brightly colored. The female has duller colors than the male. The largest species of baboons grow to be about 35 inches (90 cm) long. Baboons weigh from 30 to 100 pounds (14 to 45 kg). Males are larger than females and have large, pointed canine teeth. Baboons have cheek pouches and a dog-like face.



Diet: Baboons are omnivores (they eat both plants and meat). They eat grasses, roots, insects and other small animals, lizards, small mammals, and snakes.



Predators: Leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, and people hunt the baboon. When a baboon is threatened by a predator, it will run away or bark loudly and bare its large teeth.



Classification: There are many different species of baboons. Class Mammalia (mammals), Order Primates, Family Cecropithecidae (Old World monkeys), Subfamily Cercopithecinae (baboons, macaques, guenons, and mangabeys), two genera [Papio, Theropithecus].

AMPHIBIANS

Frogs are amphibians, animals that spend part of their lives under water and the remainder on land. They have long, powerful jumping legs and a very short backbone. Most frogs have teeth (in the upper jaws only) but toads do not have any teeth.

Life cycle: Like all amphibians, frogs spend their lives near water because they must return to the water to lay their eggs. Frog eggs are laid in the water. When they hatch into tadpoles, they breathe with gills and swim using a tail. As they mature, they lose their tail, and they develop lungs for breathing air. In harsh climates, frogs bury themselves in sand and mud and hibernate (sleep very deeply) through the cold winter.

Diet: Frogs eat insects, catching them with their long, sticky tongue. They also eat small fish and worms.

Classification and Evolution: Kingdom Animalia (animals), Phylum Chordata, Class Amphibian (amphibians), Order Anura (Frogs and toads). The first true frogs evolved during the early Jurassic period, about 200 million years ago (during the time of the dinosaurs).

VIRUS

In computers, a virus is a program or programming code that replicates by being copied or initiating its copying to another program, computer boot sector or document. Viruses can be transmitted as attachments to an e-mail note or in a downloaded file, or be present on a diskette or CD. The immediate source of the e-mail note, downloaded file, or diskette you've received is usually unaware that it contains a virus. Some viruses wreak their effect as soon as their code is executed; other viruses lie dormant until circumstances cause their code to be executed by the computer. Some viruses are benign or playful in intent and effect ("Happy Birthday, Ludwig!") and some can be quite harmful, erasing data or causing your hard disk to require reformatting. A virus that replicates itself by resending itself as an e-mail attachment or as part of a network message is known as a worm.
Generally, there are three main classes of viruses:

File Infectors:

Some file infector viruses attach themselves to program files, usually selected .COM or .EXE files. Some can infect any program for which execution is requested, including .SYS, .OVL, .PRG, and .MNU files. When the program is loaded, the virus is loaded as well. Other file infector viruses arrive as wholly-contained programs or scripts sent as an attachment to an e-mail note.

System or Boot-record Infectors:

These viruses infect executable code found in certain system areas on a disk. They attach to the DOS boot sector on diskettes or the Master Boot Record on hard disks. A typical scenario (familiar to the author) is to receive a diskette from an innocent source that contains a boot disk virus. When your operating system is running, files on the diskette can be read without triggering the boot disk virus. However, if you leave the diskette in the drive, and then turn the computer off or reload the operating system, the computer will look first in your A drive, find the diskette with its boot disk virus, load it, and make it temporarily impossible to use your hard disk. (Allow several days for recovery.) This is why you should make sure you have a bootable floppy.

Macro Viruses.

These are among the most common viruses, and they tend to do the least damage. Macro viruses infect your Microsoft Word application and typically insert unwanted words or phrases.
The best protection against a virus is to know the origin of each program or file you load into your computer or open from your e-mail program. Since this is difficult, you can buy anti-virus software that can screen e-mail attachments and also check all of your files periodically and remove any viruses that are found. From time to time, you may get an e-mail message warning of a new virus. Unless the warning is from a source you recognize, chances are good that the warning is a virus hoax.
The computer virus, of course, gets its name from the biological virus. The word itself comes from a Latin word meaning slimy liquid or poison

Limitations On Facebook

Face book has given users more control over who gets to see video, virtual cards and other digital content shared using third-party programs at the leading social networking website. Drop-down menus near lock icons in a Publisher tool on profile pages let people select sharing options ranging from “every one” to “only friends” and “custom”. These new controls give you the power to determine who sees the content you post to Facebook through any third-party application. Facebook’s more than 400 million members are required to dictate settings with a software tool that lets them specify who gets to be privy to each photo, video, update or other piece of content uploaded to the website.
The tool lets Facebook members determine accessibility to posted content, such as status updates or pictures in categories designated “Friends”, “Friends of Friends,” “Every one” and “Customized.” Facebook members can select privacy settings for each post by using lock icons next to “share” buttons on profile pages.

Science

Red Planet
Mars, or the Red Planet as it is sometimes known, has a dusty, rocky surface and a thin atmosphere. Its relatively calm conditions and close proximity to earth make it the most likely destination for future planet exploration by humans. It has already been visited by a number of Mars Rovers in successful (and unsuccessful) robotic missions. These highly advanced robots gather samples and record important scientific data for scientists back on Earth to study.
Mars is nicknamed the red planet because it is covered with rust-like dust. Even the atmosphere is a pinkish red, coloured by tiny particles of dust thrown up from the surface. Mars experiences violent dust storms which continually changes its surface.
Mars has many massive volcanoes and is home to Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in our solar system, it stands 21km high and is 600km across the base.
Mars has a very thin atmosphere made mostly of carbons dioxide. It is not thick enough to trap the sun’s heat like Venus so the planet is very cold.
Temperature range from 120 Degrees Celsius on winter nights to 25 Degrees Celsius in the summer.
Mars has many channels, plains and canyons on the surface which could have been caused by water erosion in the past.
Mars has very week gravity which cannot hold onto the atmosphere well.
The polar ice caps consist of frozen Co2 a layer of ice

Events in March

• American Red Cross Month
• Colorectal Cancer awareness month
  Fire Prevention Month (The Philippines)
  Women's History Month (United States)
  The wearing of a Martenitsa in Bulgaria and Mărţişor in Romania, March 1
  Saint David's Day, March 1
  National Reading Day (United States), March 2
  Texas Independence Day, March 2: State holiday in Texas, United States
  Mardi Gras (February 3 to March 9 in regular years, February 4 to March 9 in leap years)
  Ash Wednesday (February 4 to March 10 in regular years, February 5 to March 10 in leap years)
  World Maths Day, the 1st Wednesday in March
  International Women's Day, March 8
  Pluto Planet Day (New Mexico), March 13
  White Day(Asia), March 14
  Pi Day, March 14
  Save a Spider Day, March 14
  The Ides of March, the anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar by Brutus, Cassius, Casca and others (March 15)
  Anniversary of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution, March 15
  Saint Patrick's Day, March 17
  Saint Joseph's Day, March 19
  The equinox, named the vernal or spring equinox in the northern hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in the southern hemisphere, occurs on dates varying from March 19 to March 21 (in UTC)
  Nowruz: New Year's Day in Iran and several other countries; also a holiday in Turkey and Central Asian countries as well, celebrated on the day of the equinox
  Good Friday, a Friday between March 20 and April 23, being the last Friday before Easter
  Human Rights' Day (South Africa), March 21
  Easter, the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21, sometimes in April
  World Water Day, March 22
  Pakistan Day, March 23
  Day of Polish-Hungarian Friendship, March 23
  Annunciation, March 25
  Celebration of the Greek War of Independence, March 25, 1821
  Last day of Japanese fiscal year and school calendar, March 31. Hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, starts around this time of the year.
  Prince Kūhiō Day, March 26: state holiday in the State of Hawaii, United States
  Bangladeshi Independence Day, March 26, 1971
  March's birthstone is aquamarine and bloodstone. They mean courage.
  Its birth flower is the Narcissus (plant)
  
  

March Symbol

March's birthstone is aquamarine and bloodstone. They mean courage.

Its birth flower is the Narcissus (plant)

MARCH

March in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of September in the Northern Hemisphere.
The name of March comes from ancient Rome, when March was the first month of the year and named Martius after Mars, the Roman god of war. In Rome, where the climate is Mediterranean, March is the first month of spring, a logical point for the beginning of the year as well as the start of the military campaign season. January became the first month of the calendar year either under King Numa Pompilius (circa 713 BCE) or under the Decemvirs about 450 BCE (Roman writers differ).The numbered year began on March 1 in Russia until the end of the fifteenth century. Great Britain and her colonies continued to use March 25 until 1752, which was when they ultimately adopted the Gregorian calendar. Many other cultures and religions still celebrate the beginning of the New Year in March.

St David's Day in London 2010: 1 March 2010

St David's Day in London:

They make a big deal of St David's Day in Wales, which is fair enough as he is their patron saint, but until recently the old guy - he's 1400+ - didn't travel too well, unlike his Irish rival Saint Patrick, who gets a party in every city of the world on his day, it seems.
That travel sickness looks like being cured. In 1 March 2003, the colours of the Welsh flag - red, white and green - were beamed onto the Empire State Building in New York and there are signs that news is spreading, even to London.
Better yet, the Welsh are getting a St David's Day in early for us lot this year, by way of a Welsh Produce Market at St Christopher's Place, just off Oxford Street, on 27 February.
Among the treats we are promised are traditional fayre like yummy Welsh Cakes - a bit like scones, only better - and more modish stuff, such as creme fraiche and brownies, Welsh style.
St David - Dewi Sant in your Welsh - died on 1 March 589. During his lifetime and in the years following his death, his was one of the biggest names in Christendom and regular pilgrimages were made from far and wide to the site of his shrine, on which now stands the evocative St David's Cathedral in west Wales.
In Cardiff and other major towns, there are big parades on the day and many Welsh people Welsh wear symbols like daffodils or leaks in their lapels in celebration.

St. David's Day -- Dydd Dewi Sant

St. David, Dewi Sant, is the patron saint of the Welsh, and March 1, his feast day, is celebrated as a patriotic and cultural festival by the Welsh in Wales and around the world.
Dewi Sant was a Celtic monk of the sixth century. His mother was Non. The ruins of a small chapel dedicated to her memory may be seen near St. David's Cathedral. Its ruins remain there now. His father was Sant, a son of Ceredig, King of Cardigan. Little is known for certain about Dewi Sant, but he founded several religious centers in Wales and western England, was consecrated archbishop during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and led an ascetic life. An account of his life was written towards the end of the 11th century by Rhygyfarch, a monk at Llanbadarn Fawr near Aberystwyth. Many prophesies were said to have preceded the birth of Dewi Sant, and many miracles were attributed to him. One miracle often recounted is that once when Dewi was preaching to a crowd at Llandewi Brefi those on the outer edges could not hear, so he spread a handkerchief on the ground, and stood on it to preach, whereupon the ground swelled up beneath him, and all could hear. A short account of Dewi Sant has been given by Nona Rees in St. David of Dewisland.
March 1, the date given by Rhygyfarch for the death of Dewi Sant, was celebrated as a religious festival up until the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. In the 18th century it became a national festival among the Welsh, and continues as such to this day. The celebration usually entails singing and eating, which may mean a meal followed by singing, or much singing followed by a Te Bach, tea with teisen bach and bara brith. Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon, is flown as a flag or worn as a pin or pendant, and leeks are worn, and sometimes eaten. In schools in Wales the boys take leeks to school, status being given to those who bring the biggest leeks, and eat them earliest in the day.
The heraldic emblem of Wales is Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon. The emblem of Wales is the leek, arising from an occasion when a troop of Welsh were able to distinguish each other from a troop of English enemy dressed in similar fashion by wearing leeks. An alternative emblem developed in recent years is the daffodil, used and preferred over the leek by the English government as it lacks the overtones of patriotic defiance associated with the leek.
St. David's Day meetings are not boisterous celebrations of democracy and freedom in Wales, but rather the subdued remembrance allowed a captive nation under colonial rule.

Story Of The Day

Mr Sticky

No one knew how Mr. Sticky got in the fish tank.

"He's very small," Mum said as she peered at the tiny water snail. "Just a black dot."

"He'll grow," said Abby and pulled her pyjama bottoms up again before she got into bed. They were always falling down.

In the morning Abby jumped out of bed and switched on the light in her fish tank.

Gerry, the fat orange goldfish, was dozing inside the stone archway. Jaws was already awake, swimming along the front of the tank with his white tail floating and twitching. It took Abby a while to find Mr. Sticky because he was clinging to the glass near the bottom, right next to the gravel.

At school that day she wrote about the mysterious Mr. Sticky who was so small you could mistake him for a piece of gravel. Some of the girls in her class said he seemed an ideal pet for her and kept giggling about it.

That night Abby turned on the light to find Mr. Sticky clinging to the very tiniest, waviest tip of the pond weed. It was near the water filter so he was bobbing about in the air bubbles.

"That looks fun," Abby said. She tried to imagine what it must be like to have to hang on to things all day and decided it was probably very tiring. She fed the fish then lay on her bed and watched them chase each other round and round the archway. When they stopped Gerry began nibbling at the pond weed with his big pouty lips. He sucked Mr. Sticky into his mouth then blew him back out again in a stream of water. The snail floated down to the bottom of the tank among the coloured gravel.

"I think he's grown a bit," Abby told her Mum at breakfast the next day.

< 2 >

"Just as well if he's going to be gobbled up like that," her Mum said, trying to put on her coat and eat toast at the same time.

"But I don't want him to get too big or he won't be cute anymore. Small things are cute aren't they?" "Yes they are. But big things can be cute too. Now hurry up, I'm going to miss my train."

At school that day, Abby drew an elephant. She needed two pieces of expensive paper to do both ends but the teacher didn't mind because she was pleased with the drawing and wanted it on the wall. They sellotaped them together, right across the elephant's middle. In the corner of the picture, Abby wrote her full name, Abigail, and drew tiny snails for the dots on the 'i's The teacher said that was very creative.

At the weekend they cleaned out the tank. "There's a lot of algae on the sides," Mum said. "I'm not sure Mr. Sticky's quite up to the job yet."

They scooped the fish out and put them in a bowl while they emptied some of the water. Mr. Sticky stayed out of the way, clinging to the glass while Mum used the special 'vacuum cleaner' to clean the gravel. Abby trimmed the new pieces of pond weed down to size and scrubbed the archway and the filter tube. Mum poured new water into the tank.

"Where's Mr. Sticky?" Abby asked.

"On the side," Mum said. She was busy concentrating on the water. "Don't worry I was careful." Abby looked on all sides of the tank. There was no sign of the water snail.

"He's probably in the gravel then," her mum said. "Come on let's get this finished. I've got work to do." She plopped the fish back in the clean water where they swam round and round, looking puzzled.

< 3 >

That evening Abby went up to her bedroom to check the tank. The water had settled and looked lovely and clear but there was no sign of Mr. Sticky. She lay on her bed and did some exercises, stretching out her legs and feet and pointing her toes. Stretching was good for your muscles and made you look tall a model had said on the t.v. and she looked enormous. When Abby had finished, she kneeled down to have another look in the tank but there was still no sign of Mr. Sticky. She went downstairs.

Her mum was in the study surrounded by papers. She had her glasses on and her hair was all over the place where she'd been running her hands through it. She looked impatient when she saw Abby in the doorway and even more impatient when she heard the bad news.

"He'll turn up." was all she said. "Now off to bed Abby. I've got masses of work to catch up on." Abby felt her face go hot and red. It always happened when she was angry or upset.

"You've hoovered him up haven't you," she said. You were in such a rush you hoovered him up." "I have not. I was very careful. But he is extremely small."

"What's wrong with being small?

"Nothing at all. But it makes things hard to find."

"Or notice," Abby said and ran from the room.

The door to the bedroom opened and Mum's face appeared around the crack. Abby tried to ignore her but it was hard when she walked over to the bed and sat next to her. She was holding her glasses in her hand. She waved them at Abby.

"These are my new pair," she said. "Extra powerful, for snail hunting." She smiled at Abby. Abby tried not to smile back.

< 4 >

"And I've got a magnifying glass," Abby suddenly remembered and rushed off to find it.

They sat beside each other on the floor. On their knees they shuffled around the tank, peering into the corners among the big pebbles, at the gravel and the pondweed.

"Ah ha!" Mum suddenly cried.

"What?" Abby moved her magnifying glass to where her mum was pointing.

There, tucked in the curve of the archway, perfectly hidden against the dark stone, sat Mr. Sticky. And right next to him was another water snail, even smaller than him.

"Mrs Sticky!" Abby breathed. "But where did she come from?"

"I'm beginning to suspect the pond weed don't you think?"

They both laughed and climbed into Abby's bed together, cuddling down under the duvet. It was cozy but a bit of a squeeze.

"Budge up," Mum said, giving Abby a push with her bottom.

"I can't, I'm already on the edge."

"My goodness you've grown then. When did that happen? You could have put an elephant in here last time we did this." Abby put her head on her mum's chest and smiled.