(Feb. 3, 2011) The Chinese New Year is celebrated as the symbol of spring's celebration. In fact, in China it still is called the spring festival. It is celebrated after the fall harvest and before the spring planting season. The date of the Chinese New Year is always changing and is dependant on the Chinese calendar. Emperor Huangdi in the year 2637 BC invented the Chinese calendar.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins today, Feb. 3, and ends on Jan. 22. The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animal signs. The rabbit is a lucky sign. Rabbits are private individuals and a bit introverted. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are reasonably friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends. They are good teachers, counselors and communicators, but also need their own space.
According to Chinese tradition, the rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves. It is a time for negotiation. Don't try to force issues, because if you do you will ultimately fail. To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and your relationships with women and children. Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.
In Chinese mythology, the Year of the Rabbit symbol represents longevity and it is believed that the rabbit enjoys a close relationship with the moon. Westerners may refer to the man in the moon, but when the Chinese peer up at the moon, what they see is the rabbit standing by a rock, holding a cup that overflows with the elixir of immortality. As symbols go, this is considered one of the finest.
So, enjoy the Year of the Rabbit!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
How much more winter?
(Feb. 1, 2010) Tomorrow, Feb. 2, is Groundhog Day when traditionally Punxsutawney Phil predicts how long winter will last.
Each year in the town of Punxsutawney, Pa., this legendary animal emerges from his home to look for his shadow. The myth goes another six weeks of winter weather is on its way if the groundhog sees his shadow as dawn breaks. No shadow means an early spring.
The holiday supposedly began as a German custom in Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries. It possibly has origins in ancient European weather lore, though prior legends gave the prognosticating job to a badger or a sacred bear, not a groundhog.
There are also other similarities including the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas and the pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar that comes between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
Newspaper editor Clymer H. Freas and American Congressman W. Smith are credited with launching the yearly festival in Punxsutawney in the late 1800s. Punxsutawney Phil has been doing his thing since 1887. Phil has seen his shadow 99 out of 114 times, and he has been right only 39 percent of the time.
Let's hope Phil does not see his shadow tomorrow. We've had enough winter this year and enough cabin fever.
However, the checking online has been a godsend. Recorder Community Newspapers has 15 online newspapers with more than 50 blogs among them. You can read the latest local news as well as information on a variety of interesting topics. The blogs are an interactive 21st century communication.
Any community group or individual interested in joining Recorder bloggers is invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out more about this free offer. All you need is a computer or other Internet connection device and an e-mail.
Each year in the town of Punxsutawney, Pa., this legendary animal emerges from his home to look for his shadow. The myth goes another six weeks of winter weather is on its way if the groundhog sees his shadow as dawn breaks. No shadow means an early spring.
The holiday supposedly began as a German custom in Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries. It possibly has origins in ancient European weather lore, though prior legends gave the prognosticating job to a badger or a sacred bear, not a groundhog.
There are also other similarities including the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas and the pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar that comes between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
Newspaper editor Clymer H. Freas and American Congressman W. Smith are credited with launching the yearly festival in Punxsutawney in the late 1800s. Punxsutawney Phil has been doing his thing since 1887. Phil has seen his shadow 99 out of 114 times, and he has been right only 39 percent of the time.
Let's hope Phil does not see his shadow tomorrow. We've had enough winter this year and enough cabin fever.
However, the checking online has been a godsend. Recorder Community Newspapers has 15 online newspapers with more than 50 blogs among them. You can read the latest local news as well as information on a variety of interesting topics. The blogs are an interactive 21st century communication.
Any community group or individual interested in joining Recorder bloggers is invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out more about this free offer. All you need is a computer or other Internet connection device and an e-mail.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Snowed in again!
(Jan. 26, 2011) Another midweek storm has us snowed in again. Although this time it's not as cold as with previous ones. With all the snow days they're getting, I hope the kids don't have to go to school until July.
Now we're staying inside and looking out at the beautiful snow scenes, while getting more and more cabin fever. There's no sense in risking life and limb by venturing out. It's time to check out the Internet.
That's the good thing about going online; you're always connected. You can read about all kinds of things and communicate almost anywhere.
Recorder Community Newspapers has 15 weekly newspapers online right here at newjerseyhills.com along with more than 50 blogs written by area individuals and group representatives. Check them out for the latest local news, advice and chit-chat.
Anyone interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers is invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com for more information on this free offer. All you need is a computer or other Internet connection and an e-mail. The process for this 21st century, real-time communication tool is very easy and I am here to help if needed.
Now we're staying inside and looking out at the beautiful snow scenes, while getting more and more cabin fever. There's no sense in risking life and limb by venturing out. It's time to check out the Internet.
That's the good thing about going online; you're always connected. You can read about all kinds of things and communicate almost anywhere.
Recorder Community Newspapers has 15 weekly newspapers online right here at newjerseyhills.com along with more than 50 blogs written by area individuals and group representatives. Check them out for the latest local news, advice and chit-chat.
Anyone interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers is invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com for more information on this free offer. All you need is a computer or other Internet connection and an e-mail. The process for this 21st century, real-time communication tool is very easy and I am here to help if needed.
Monday, January 17, 2011
25th anniversary
(Jan. 17, 2011) Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday and also a national day of service, in honor of the black civil rights activist who was assassinated in 1968. The holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, Jan. 15.
Although legislation was signed in 1983 designating King's birthday as a federal holiday, it was not observed until 1986, making 2011 the 25th anniversary of MLK Day.
Congress then passed the King Holiday and Service Act in 1994, which established MLK Day as a day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort.
King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed on Jan. 20, 1986.
Most government offices are closed today as are many schools and banks. Several observances are planned including service projects.
Read all about them in Recorder Community Newspapers and in their many blogs right here online.
Those interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers are invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out about this 21st century communication tool. Participation is free and simple; all you need is a computer (or other Internet access device) and an e-mail.
Although legislation was signed in 1983 designating King's birthday as a federal holiday, it was not observed until 1986, making 2011 the 25th anniversary of MLK Day.
Congress then passed the King Holiday and Service Act in 1994, which established MLK Day as a day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort.
King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed on Jan. 20, 1986.
Most government offices are closed today as are many schools and banks. Several observances are planned including service projects.
Read all about them in Recorder Community Newspapers and in their many blogs right here online.
Those interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers are invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out about this 21st century communication tool. Participation is free and simple; all you need is a computer (or other Internet access device) and an e-mail.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
1-11-11
(Jan. 11, 2011) Being a numbers person, I love days like today: 1-11-11. The last one was New Year's Day: 1-1-11 and before that our daughter's birthday: 10-10-10. And 11-1-11 and 11-11-11 also will be special days.
So have a happy day to remember and check out what's new online at Recorder Community Newspapers and their blogs.
Anyone interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers at the 15 online newspaper sites may call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out all about this free 21st century communication tool. It's simple; you need only a computer and an e-mail.
So have a happy day to remember and check out what's new online at Recorder Community Newspapers and their blogs.
Anyone interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers at the 15 online newspaper sites may call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out all about this free 21st century communication tool. It's simple; you need only a computer and an e-mail.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Winter woes
(Jan. 7, 2011) Winter's here and with it some woes. The combination of cold weather, dry heat and holiday partying has got me down with laryngitis. So I'm not talking very well, although my voice sounds worse than I feel.
So out came the old-fashioned remedies -- humidifiers and hot tea with honey.
But blogging doesn't require a voice. This 21st century communication tool can be used any time, in any weather, right from the comfort of home. All you need is a computer and an e-mail.
Recorder Community Newspapers is looking for community groups and individuals interested in joining our growing group of bloggers whose messages appear right on our 15 newspapers' websites. The process is simple and FREE.
Call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com if you are interested and I will explain how to do it.
By the way, I read Saloma Furlong's new book "Why I Left the Amish" which I mentioned some weeks ago. Wow! What a writer with quite a story! Her memoir is very well done, not the sentimental, sophomoric texts I've often seen about the Amish lifestyle. I'm looking forward to the next book in the three-part series by this Smith College grad who now works at Amherst College.
So out came the old-fashioned remedies -- humidifiers and hot tea with honey.
But blogging doesn't require a voice. This 21st century communication tool can be used any time, in any weather, right from the comfort of home. All you need is a computer and an e-mail.
Recorder Community Newspapers is looking for community groups and individuals interested in joining our growing group of bloggers whose messages appear right on our 15 newspapers' websites. The process is simple and FREE.
Call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com if you are interested and I will explain how to do it.
By the way, I read Saloma Furlong's new book "Why I Left the Amish" which I mentioned some weeks ago. Wow! What a writer with quite a story! Her memoir is very well done, not the sentimental, sophomoric texts I've often seen about the Amish lifestyle. I'm looking forward to the next book in the three-part series by this Smith College grad who now works at Amherst College.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
