Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Best Of New Year's Traditions And Superstitions

Fireworks : Fireworks, cheering, singing and noisemakers on New Year’s Eve are believed to scare away evil spirits. Do we really need an excuse to set off fireworks? Probably not. But we’ll take this opportunity to light the sky (and maybe the grass in our neighbor’s yard). Music and singing are a part of most celebrations and I’m pretty sure the 20 people doing a poor job of singing “Don’t Stop Believing” at 1AM aren’t concerned with keeping evil away in the new year.

Making Resolutions : Many believe the first day of the New Year should be spent thinking about the past year and resolving to improve oneself in the coming year. And while the media recycles old stories about quitting smoking or getting out of debt and your parents use new year’s resolutions as a guilt-inducing tactic to get you to move out of their basement or pay back what you owe them not all resolutions have to be a life-altering ordeal. Resolve small in the New Year and you’ll feel good that you got something accomplished.

Paying Off Your Debt : It sounds like a resolution but you’re supposed to do this before January 1. This way you’re even when the new year arrives and you start with a fresh slate. On New Year’s Day you shouldn’t pay out anything or make loans because this signals money leaving you. So buy your lottery tickets on New Year’s Eve.

Kissing at Midnight : New Year’s Eve ranks second behind Valentine’s Day as the worst day to be single because when that clock strikes midnight everybody’s smooching but you. Granted, this is only painful for about 60 seconds (unlike Valentine’s Day which serves up a full 24 hours of candy hearts, barely clothed cupids and ridiculous romantic gestures). The New Year’s Eve kiss is a symbol that your affection and closeness will last all year. So don’t grab some weirdo and kiss them, find a friend and give ‘em a hug.

Singing “Auld Lang Syne” : A Scottish poem from the 1700’s; it literally means “old long since” or, in American, terms “days of long ago” or “the good old days.”

The song goes as such:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and days of auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.


First Footer : The first person to visit your home on New Year’s Day has significance. It is considered good luck for a man to be the first person to cross your threshold (you have to let him in; he shouldn’t use a key to let himself in). It’s even better luck if he’s tall and good looking with dark hair. I’ve read specifically that the first footer should not have flat feet, crossed-eyes or a unibrow. So Frida Kahlo and Bert from Sesame Street should not be let in. Best of all, the first footer should bring along gifts like bread, fresh fruit, salt, and wine. If you’re a handsome man delivering wine on New Year’s Day, I’m guessing not many people are going to turn you away.

Lay Low & Do (Pretty Much) Nothing : A lot of info out there said not to do laundry or dishes (since you “wash away” luck and these can cause a death in the family in the coming year), not to take anything out of the house (including trash) and not to wash your hair. Sounds like the hang-over crowd was looking for a little justification to lie on the couch all day.

Eat, Eat! : While you are lazing about on the couch, make sure you are eating luck foods:
• Grapes – 12 of them, one for every month of the year
• Pork – because pigs root forward when they eat while chickens scratch backward (and bacon is delicious)
• Black eyed peas – here’s a good luck recipe that’s quite tasty and gets you your black-eyed peas and pork all in one meal
• Lentils – which resemble coins
• Greens such as collard greens, chard, cabbage and kale – the folds of the greens resemble money
Many of the foods that are “good” to eat resemble money or have to do with moving forward.

Nothing Should Leave the House : Here’s one that had to be thought up by someone who didn’t want to run errands. Nothing should be taken out of the house on New Year’s Day. If you’ve got things to give to others, return to stores, etc. put them in your car on New Year’s Eve because they shouldn’t leave the house on New Year’s Day. Some people allow items to leave the house after something has been brought in. The idea here is that something should be added to your house before anything is taken away. So if you’re a First Footer with a goodie basket, you best buy that stuff on your way over.


What You Do at New Years, You Will Do All Year : While most of these superstitions and traditions are meant to usher in good luck while keeping bad luck at bay, what you do can reflect how you’ll live in the coming year. Recovering from a big party the night before? Your year will likely include being surrounded by friends and good times. Motivating to work out on New Year’s Day? Well look who might just drop 10lbs in the new year. Cleaning and organizing around the house? Sounds like a year full of getting things done. Sleeping the day away? Maybe you won’t be getting too much done in the new year. Reading Top 10 lists? Sounds good to us. Happy New Year.


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Monday, December 29, 2008

Amazing Ice Lantern Festival

Visitors gather outside the gate of Zhaolin park at the ice lantern festival in Harbin, China ..

Every year the Harbin ice lantern festival opens on 22 December ..

The event, recognised as home to ice and snow art in China, lasts until February ..

This year is the 35th ice lantern festival. The festival is internationally renowned for its exquisite sculptures..

This year's ice lantern festival has over 2,000 illuminated ice scultpures on display..

It began in 1985 and considers itself to be China's greatest ice artwork festival, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors..

The city's location in northeast China accounts for its arctic climate which provides abundant ice and snow..


This year, the festival is Disney sponsored and themed...


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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Best Christmas Song Ever .. Must Listen

The best song for this Christmas season sung by Boney M ever... Hope you all will love it !
Wish You A Very Happy Christmas !!

Red Hot Women Drives Men Crazy

If a woman wants to drive the men wild, she might want to dress in red. Men rated a woman shown in photographs as more sexually attractive if she was wearing red clothing or if she was shown in an image framed by a red border rather than some other colour, US researchers said. In photo: Kylie Minogue performs on June 26, 2008 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The concert is part of her KYLIE X 2008 Tour.

The study led by psychology professor Andrew Elliot of the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, seemed to confirm red as the colour of romance - as so many Valentine's Day card makers and lipstick sellers have believed for years. In photo: Actress/singer Paris Hilton arrives at the Pharrell Williams & Absolut Ruby Red Pre-VMA Bash at Chinatown Brasserie..

Although this 'red alert' may be a product of human society associating red with love for eons, it also may arise from more primitive biological roots, Elliot said. In photo: Host Eva Longoria Parker poses for a portrait during the 2008 ALMA Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium

Noting the genetic similarity of humans to higher primates, he said scientists have shown that certain male primates are especially attracted to females of their species displaying red. For example, female baboons and chimpanzees show red colouring when nearing ovulation, sending a sexual signal that the males apparently find irresistible. In photo: Singer Shakira attends the Ein Herz fuer Kinder (A Heart for Children) charity telethon gala ..

'It could be this very deep, biologically based automatic tendency to respond to red as an attraction cue given our evolutionary heritage,' Elliot, whose findings appear in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, said in a telephone interview. In photo: Victoria's Secret Angel Heidi Klum walks the runaway during the 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Fontainebleau..

The study involved more than 100 men, mostly college undergraduates, who were shown pictures of women and asked to rate how pretty they were, how much the men would like to kiss them and how much the men would like to have sex with them. In photo: Victoria's Secret Angel Doutzen Kroes walks the runaway during the 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Fontainebleau..

Men were shown a woman, with some of the pictures bordered in red and some bordered in white, gray or green. Even though it was the same picture of the same woman, when she was framed in red the men rated her as more attractive than when she was bordered by another colour. In photo: Miranda Kerr attends the grand opening cocktail party for the new Victoria Secret Lexington Avenue Flagship Store ..

Men were then shown photographs of a woman that were identical except that the researchers digitally made her shirt red in some versions or blue in others. And once again, the men strongly favoured the woman in red. In photo: Cheryl Cole walks down the catwalk during the Fashion For Relief fashion show at London Fashion Week Spring..

The men also were asked, 'Imagine that you are going on a date with this person and have $100 in your wallet. How much money would you be willing to spend on your date?' When she was clad in red, the men said they would spend more money on her. In photo: Actress Cameron Diaz arrives at the Women In Film's 2008 Crystal Lucy Awards held at the Beverly Hilton..

The researchers noted that the colour red did not alter how men rated the women in the photographs in terms of likability, intelligence or kindness - only attractiveness. In Photo : Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at te premiere of Weinstein Company's 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' at the Mann Village Theater.

The researchers then had a group of young women rate whether the pictured woman was pretty. Red had no impact on whether women rated other women as pretty, they found. Gay men and colour blind men were excluded from the study.


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Tuesday, December 23, 2008

World's First Luxurious Resort - For Dogs !

A luxury dog hotel is about to open in Germany in this Festive Season ..

Canis Resort can accommodate up to 45 dogs in nine heated dog lodges ..

When guests have tired of relaxing in their luxury dog lodges, they can experience the spa salon or the playground ..

The 20 trained dogsitters offer a seven-day, 24-hour full service for all guests ..

Services offered include grooming, training, health care and exercise ..

A night at Canis Resort costs more than in some human hotels in the area ..

Day care costs 65 euros, while an overnight stay costs 80 euros..

The hotel is in Freising, north of Munich

Canis Resort will open in this Festive Season ...
Note : Let them to enjoy this Christmas Holiday with a start of a new life in a brand new house ...thanks to the people who loved them and think for them :)


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Sexiest Women On The Earth

Men have always fantasized about Hollywood stars, no wonder these beauties have dominated a new poll titled 'Sexiest Women on Earth'. The 'Sexiest Woman on Earth' award, according to men, goes to Megan Fox. She is closely followed by Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johansson. Check out these top 10 sexiest women and let us know if they match your list.

American actress and pinup girl, Megan Fox has acted in popular TV series such as 'Hope and Faith' and 'Two and a Half Men' as well as films such as 'Transformers'. In photo - Actress Megan Fox arrives at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles.

American actress and model, the stunning Jessica Alba began her acting debut with 'Camp Nowhere'. She's well-known for her performance in flicks such as 'Sin City' and 'Fantastic Four'. In photo - Jessica Alba is shown at the 21st Annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles..

The dazzling Danish-origin actress Scarlett Johansson came into prominence with her role in films such as 'Lost in Translation' and 'Match Point', for which she received 'Golden Globe' nominations. In photo - Scarlett Johansson arrives at the premiere of the film 'The Spirit' in Los Angeles.

South-African-American actress and former fashion model, Charlize Theron had received accolades for her performances in movies such as 'Mighty Joe Young', 'Devil's Advocate' and 'Monster', the latter for which she won an 'Academy Award'. In photo - South African Charlize Theron arrives for the screening of her latest movie 'In the valley of Elah' in competition at the 64th Venice Film Festival, in Venice, Italy.

Latino damsel, actress and producer Salma Hayek has come into prominence with her role in movies like 'Desperado' and TV series like 'Ugly Betty', which she also produced. In photo - Actor Salma Hayek arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in New York.

English beauty Kate Beckinsale has acted in several popular flicks like 'Pearl Harbor', 'Van Helsing' and 'The Aviator', the latter which won 5 'Academy' awards. In photo - Kate Beckinsale arrives for the premiere of her new movie 'Nothing But The Truth' ..

American actress and model, Jessica Biel has acted in TV series '7th Heaven' as a young actor, and later in Hollywood flicks like 'Summer Catch' and 'The Illusionist'. In photo - Cast member Jessica Biel arrives for the UK premiere of the film 'Easy Virtue' at a cinema in London ..

American actress and television star, the sizzling Jennifer Anniston is most popular for her role in the comedy TV series 'Friends' for which she won an 'Emmy' award. She also acted in movies like 'Bruce Almighty' and 'The Break-Up'. In photo - Actress Jennifer Aniston attends the premiere of 'Management' during the Toronto International Film Festival ..

Australian-American star, Nicole Kidman has been part of several blockbuster films and has also received accolades for her role in 'To Die For', 'Moulin Rouge!' and 'The Hours'. In photo - Actress Nicole Kidman arrives at the 42nd Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn..


The former beauty queen and Bond girl Halle Berry has received several awards, like the 'Emmy', 'Golden Globe' and 'Academy Awards' for her role in flicks like 'Introducing Dorothy Dandridge' and 'Monster's Ball'. In photo - Actress Halle Berry poses on the press line at the Silver Rose Gala held at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California ...


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Monday, December 22, 2008

Shirtless World Leaders

Barack Obama ... bodysurfing in Hawaii in August 2008.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ... fishing in the headwaters of the Yenisey River.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy ... paddling a canoe on Lake Winnipesaukee while on vacation in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire .

Hillary Clinton ... takes a swim in Heron Bay, Barbados 1997.


Peter Debnam ... the former NSW Liberal leader caused quite a storm with his budgie smugglers.


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