http://www.newsfinder.org/ en ma_lama_tina@yahoo.gr Copyright 2011 2011-09-08T13:14:00+00:00 http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/the_mediterranean_monk_seal/ http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/the_mediterranean_monk_seal/#When:12:14:00Z The Mediterranean monk seal is one of the world's rarest mammals. The Mediterranean monk seal was one of 14 mammals listed as "in need of emergency action if they are to be saved from extinction" by the International Union for the Protection of Nature (as the IUCN was then called) at its first technical conference in 1949. One of the difficulties in addressing the conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal is its situation involving so many countries that have mutual political, economic and other social problems. Many countries have introduced laws protecting the Mediterranean monk seal in the last 30 years. Thus, in theory the protection of the monk seal has been much improved. But, implementation of these laws usually leaves much to be desired. In reality therefore, little has changed. Animals 2011-09-08T12:14:00+00:00 http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/stonehenge_a_megalithic_monument/ http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/stonehenge_a_megalithic_monument/#When:12:10:01Z Stonehenge is surely Britain's greatest national icon, symbolizing mystery, power and endurance. Its original purpose is unclear to us, but some have speculated that it was a temple made for the worship of ancient earth deities. It has been called an astronomical observatory for marking significant events on the prehistoric calendar. Others claim that it was a sacred site for the burial of high-ranking citizens from the societies of long ago. While we can't say with any degree of certainty what it was for, we can say that it wasn't constructed for any casual purpose. Only something very important to the ancients would have been worth the effort and investment that it took to construct Stonehenge. Stonehenge is a megalithic monument on the Salisbury Plain in Southern England, composed mainly of thirty upright stones (sarsens, each over ten feet tall and weighing 26 tons), aligned in a circle, with thirty lintels (6 tons each) perched horizontally atop the sarsens in a continuous circle. There is also an inner circle composed of similar stones, also constructed in post-and-lintel fashion. Strange World 2011-09-08T12:10:01+00:00 http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/tai_ji_quan_the_art_of_life/ http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/tai_ji_quan_the_art_of_life/#When:11:39:01Z Tai ji quan [chin.: tàijíquán 太极拳] has become very popular in the last twenty years or so. Along with Yoga, tai ji is one of the fastest growing fitness and health maintenance activities in thw world. Tai Ji Quan, or Tai Chi Chuan is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced with the aim of promoting health and longevity. It is actually an effective martial art. Initially, Tai Ji was practiced as a fighting form, emphasizing strength, balance, flexibility, and speed. Through time it has evolved into a soft, slow, and gentle form of exercise which can be practiced by people of all ages. Tai Ji Quan is considered a soft style martial art [chin.: nèi jīa 內家] — an art applied with internal power — to distinguish its theory and application from that of the hard martial art styles. Martial Arts 2011-09-08T11:39:01+00:00 http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/past_lives_karma/ http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/past_lives_karma/#When:11:39:00Z Do you have a past life in which you were persecuted? Were you killed by another person or group of persons? Were you poor because others were rich? Were you abused, raped, or maimed in some violent action from others? Do you have a history of suffering that runs through all or several of your past life recalls? My guess is that you will find lots of suffering as part of your psychic memory bank. Suffering is a prevailing theme in all of lives. Our religions and mythologies reflect suffering to us as a consistent image. The first Noble Truth of Buddhism blatantly tells us that life is suffering. Christianity provides us with Jesus on the cross as a reminder of the suffering of human existence. The intention of our religions means well. We are instructed to see suffering first so that we may rise above suffering into some greater level of existence called Heaven or Enlightenment. Ultimately, we are meant to live only in JOY and HAPPINESS here on earth in this lifetime. Spiritual 2011-09-08T11:39:00+00:00 http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/the_khazar_empire/ http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/the_khazar_empire/#When:11:54:00Z The Khazars were semi-nomadic Turkic people who established one of the largest polities of medieval Eurasia, with the capital of Atil and territory comprising much of modern-day European Russia, western Kazakhstan, eastern Ukraine, Azerbaijan, large portions of the northern Caucasus (Circassia, Dagestan), parts of Georgia, the Crimea, and northeastern Turkey. A successor state of the Western Turks, Khazaria was a polyethnic state with a population of Turkic, Uralic, Slavic, and Palaeo-Caucasian peoples. Khazaria was the first feudal state to be established in Eastern Europe. During the 9th and 10th centuries, Khazaria was one of the major arteries of commerce between northern Europe and southwestern Asia, as well as a connection to the Silk Road. The name "Khazar" is found in numerous languages and seems to be tied to a Turkic verb form meaning "wandering" (Modern Turkish: Gezer). Because of their jurisdiction over the area, the Caspian Sea was named the "Khazar Sea", and even today the Azeri, Turkish, Persian, and Arabic languages designate the Caspian by this term (in Turkish, "Hazar Denizi"; in Arabic, "Bahr-ul-Khazar"; in Persian, "Daryaye Khazar"). Pax Khazarica is a term used by historians to refer to the period during which the Khazaria dominated the Pontic steppe and the Caucasus Mountains. History 2011-09-06T11:54:00+00:00 http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/martinique/ http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/martinique/#When:11:37:00Z When Columbus landed in 1502, the island to which he gave the name Martinique was peopled by the Carib Indians who called it Matinino or Madinina. They had driven away the Arawaks who, like themselves, had come to the island from South America. The island was claimed by France in 1635 and officially annexed by the King of France in 1674. France and Britain fought over the island until 1815, when it was restored to France. An important date in Martinique's history occurred 150 years ago on May 22, 1848, when slavery was abolished. In 1946, Martinique became a Department of France and in 1974 a Region of France. Travelling 2010-12-15T11:37:00+00:00 http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/st_anthony_of_siya/ http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/st_anthony_of_siya/#When:19:38:00Z St. Anthony (Антоний Сийский, 1477—1556), abbot of Siya Monastery (Novgorod) is one of the holy protectors of iconographers. He was born in 1477 in a Russian village near Archangel. From an early age he devoted himself to reading sacred books and making icons. When his parents died, he entered the service of a wealthy lord in Novgorod, and later married the lord's daughter. But less than a year after his marriage he was widowed. Despairing of earthly consolations, he gave his wealth to the poor and, owning only the clothes that he wore, went to become a monk at the Monastery of St Pachomius. Non Famous 2010-06-24T19:38:00+00:00 http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/karl_barth/ http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/karl_barth/#When:12:31:00Z "The gospel is not a truth among other truths. Rather, it sets a question mark against all truths." Karl Barth ANY history of twentieth century theology will be largely the story of the revolutionary work and influence of Karl Barth. Energetic pastor for ten years in a small Swiss village, courageous resistance leader of the church against Nazism, brilliant biblical interpreter, Christo-centric church theologian, lover of Mozart's music-his stature can be measured only by comparison with other theological giants like Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin. Barth set a new agenda for theology, but he had no interest in founding a school of Barthianism. He considered every theology including his own-to be in need of continuous reform. Non Famous 2010-04-30T12:31:00+00:00 http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/origen/ http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/origen/#When:12:33:00Z Origen is generally considered the greatest theologian and biblical scholar of the early Eastern church. He was probably born in Egypt, perhaps in Alexandria, to a Christian family. His father Leonides had given him an excellent literary education. His father died in the persecution of 202, and he himself narrowly escaped the same fate. At the age of 18, Origen was appointed to succeed Clement of Alexandria as head of the catechetical school of Alexandria, where he had been a student. Between 203 and 231, Origen attracted large numbers of students through his manner of life as much as through his teaching. During this time Origen traveled widely and while in Palestine (c. 215) was invited to preach by local bishops even though he was not ordained. Demetrius, bishop of Alexandria, regarded this activity as a breach of discipline and ordered him to return to Alexandria. The period following, from 218 to 230, was one of Origen's most productive as a writer. Spiritual 2010-03-25T12:33:00+00:00 http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/pantothenic_acid/ http://www.newsfinder.org/site/readings/pantothenic_acid/#When:07:38:00Z Pantothenic acid or else Vitamin B5 can be found in all living cells. It comprises one of the eight water soluble vitamins of the B complex. The role of the latter is to convert carbohydrates to glucose, which in turn provides energy. They are important for fat and protein breakdown as well as preserving the muscle tone in the gut. Furthermore, they benefit the nervous system, skin, hair, nails, eyes, mouth and liver. Function in the body Beyond its contribution in emulsifying fats and carbohydrates, vitamin B5 is of high importance in forming red cells and also stress-hormones in the adrenal glands. It contributes maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal system by aiding the absorption of other vitamins especially that of B2(riboflavin). Sometimes it is referred as the relaxing vitamin because it is believed to improve the immune-system function and consequently help the body to counterbalance at stressful times. Medicine 2009-02-09T07:38:00+00:00