April Fools' Day

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bobbie_Simpson]Bobbie Simpson

Photo: Barbara Garcia

April Fools' Day, is a famous day that is observed in many countries on the 1st of April. On this day individuals play a number of practical jokes and several pranks and hoaxes on friends and family. The purpose of this purely fun day is to get a good laugh at another person's expense. It may sound crude but it is much fun for all involved, and you will always have a chance to get back at the person who pulled a prank on you.

April Fools' Day, is also referred to as All Fools' Day. It is one of the most fun-filled days of the year. The origin of April Fools' Day is still a bit of a mystery. This is because there really was not a "first April Fools' Day" that can actually be identified on the calendar. Some persons believe it may have come about in several cultures around the same time, from festivities that involved the first day of spring. However some individuals see it as a commemoration of the turn of the seasons, while there are others who think it originates from the implementation of a new calendar.

The most accurate point in time that can be considered as the start of this April Fools' Day tradition was in France, in 1582. In times before that year, the New Year was celebrated for eight days, which started on the 25th of March. The celebration ended on the 1st of April. So with the restructuring of the calendar under leadership of Charles the 9th, the Gregorian calendar was established, and New Year's Day was moved to the 1st of January.

In those times communication was of course not as keen as it is today. Therefore a lot of people did not get the news of the change in calendar for many years. On the other hand many individuals refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the New Year on the 1st of April. These persons were branded as 'fools' by the general public and they were in return subjected to being laughed at, and were frequently sent on 'fools errands' or were just set up for other April Fools' Pranks.

These practical jokes developed, over a period of time, into a series of pranks on the first day of April. This custom after a while extended to Scotland and England in the 18th century. It was some time after initiated in the American colonies of the French and the English. April Fools' Day began to develop into a worldwide day of pure fun, which entertained several cultures which specialized in their own kind of humour at the expense of their friends and families.

Do you know that in Scotland April Fools' Day is in fact celebrated for two days? The second day is committed to pranks that involve the latter area of the body. It is known as Taily Day. The 'kick me' sign was originated within that time. I guess it is safe to say that people of Scotland are fun!

April Fools jokes vary from something simple, for example: "Your shoe is untied", to something more extreme such as setting a friend or family member's clock back an hour. In any event whatever the prank may be, the prankster generally ends up shouting to the person being hoaxed, "April Fool".

Don't be a fool on April Fools Day. Be sure to get your jokes and pranks planned out before April 1st.

(c) Copyright - Bobbie Simpson (April-Fools-Day.info) All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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Erin Go Bragh

By Barbara Garcia

Photo: Shawn Hughes

“Ireland Forever” is the translated expression of allegiance to the beautiful emerald green country of Ireland.

Do you believe in lucky charms, leprechauns, or special meanings of rainbows, synchronicities, or a symbolic talisman? If you do then you will appreciate this photo submitted by Shawn Hughes of a captured rainbow by sheer good luck.

There are oodles of legends around the world that conjure up images of beautiful rainbows in magical places. “If we should find the end of the rainbow there will be a pot of gold” so reads one legend.


There are some cultures that use certain symbols for warding off bad fortune and to bring good fortune and some are thought to grant wishes. Each of these charms are magically charged by the energy that is summoned into them.


Capture tiny dancing rainbows by hanging crystals in a sunny window and grow your own good fortune with a potted shamrock. Put a coin deep into the soil and you’ll have created your pot of gold. What a lovely day you will have made.

How to Record an EVP

By

David S. Nelson

You can use any kind of recorder for capturing electronic voice phenomena (EVP). EVPs have been even captured on phone message machines. It does not matter if your EVP is caught on a digital or a tape recorder. Some people prefer one or the other according to their own personal preferences.

Some paranormal investigators say that the first generation digital recorders made noises that were sometimes mistaken for EVPs. The following generations of digital recorders do not have this problem. You can use whatever recorder you have although there are some disadvantages to using recorders with a built in microphone. A built in microphone may pick up noise from the recording machine itself.

Another consideration about recording equipment is to choose a recorder with a counter so that if you do find an EVP on your recording, the counter will make it easier to locate the EVP on the recording. If you have a recorder with a built in microphone, use its jack for a corded microphone. Get a microphone with a three-foot cord so any recording does not pick up any noise from the recorder.

Before you do an actual recording for EVPs, do a two-minute test with your recorder. Set your volume on its highest setting and then record the silence. Listen to your recording for any machine noise or other interference. If you get too much sound from the recorder, you should switch to another machine. Record at the same speed as your tape if you have that option.

When you are ready to do the recording for EVPs, set the recorder down on a level surface. Do not set the recorder near windows because sound travels easily through glass. Do not set the recorder near any doors, heaters, vents or air conditioners or power lines as these can all cause unwanted noise.

Always use new tapes and keep extra batteries handy. Record with the volume at its highest setting. Keep your hands away from the recorder and avoid brushing against the recorder. When you talk, speak in your regular voice because some ghosts speak in a whispered tone. Stay still during recordings as footsteps can obscure any other recorded sounds.

If you are doing an outside recording, choose a calm day without any wind. Record the sounds of yourself moving around so you know what it sounds like. Sound can travel farther than you think.

You will have to decide on how long you will be recording. Most of your recording will be silence. It depends on how much patience you have to carefully listen to a silent tape. Some paranormal investigators leave the recorder on for the entire length of the tape and others may record for only a few minutes.

Depending on your EVP recording style, you may just leave the recorder on while you leave the area or you may stay near the recorder. You could do an interview type of recording. Some investigators say that by talking to the spirits beforehand, you may be able to capture EVPs in only minutes. If you try to interview any nearby ghosts, have some questions ready. Do not ask questions that will upset the ghosts. Ask only respectful questions that will not make the spirit angry.

When you are done recording, you will have to listen to your recording for any captured EVP. Wearing headphones will make it easier. Some paranormal investigators advise listening to the recording at a low volume. This is because if you do capture an EVP, you could get actually frightened if the volume is too loud. As you listen, notice the background noise so that you will be able to recognize any unexplained voices on top of the background noise. You may only get one or two words. You may recognize an emotional human sound but be unable to tell what is actually being said.

You just might get lucky and get a clear EVP your first time. If not, do not get discouraged. Keep trying and you are bound get an EVP surprise.

David Nelson is a moderator at Discuss The Paranormal and Ghosts and Spirits Forum.

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California Earthquake- Psychic Prediction

By
Barbara Garcia

Photo: Ali Vasquez



Most of us who live in Southern California are aware that a major earthquake is bound to occur within the next 10 years. We look toward the scientist to inform and prepare us for those dreaded earth quake strikes.

I would rather not talk about the “big one” that has been expected to occur for decades because these sort of predictions tend to ignite deeper fears in our already fearful position in these earthquake ridden regions. We have heard and read about the big quake that is bound to happen so much that we have become desensitized.

There are dozens of meanings one can perceive from a psychic vision. This is why they need to be considered hypothetical in nature, worthy of study and reference but not taken as verifiable. However, psychic visions of an apocalyptic earthquake in southern California are being forecasted by reputable psychics much too often to ignore and remind people of the very real seismic dangers in the region.

Although I predicted a sizeable earthquake this year in my 2009 Psychic Predictions, the big one is about a year or two away. I keep seeing the year 2011 like a pulsating animation within visions of major earth shifts in my home state of California. Dates perceived in months or years could be argued to have limited value in forecasting a time because we psychics move our consciousness in large spans of time and cover broad areas of locations and events. On the other hand, the numbers 2011 is a significant part of the psychic vision.

Earthquake ridden fault zones are located throughout California but the areas in my vision are moving in the southern regions of California from the out skirts of San Diego, the deserts, off shore Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The magnitude does not seem as significant as the amount of confusion in the collapse and destruction of buildings, structures, moving vehicles and machinery.

Earthquake preparedness may be mundane topic every year but how many of us are prepared? Contact the national CDC for information on how to survive in earthquakes and disasters, the more you educate yourself, the better prepared you become and you just might save the life of someone else as well. http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/

President Obama and the Evolution of Consciousness

By Stan Pontiere

Ever since reading the Celestine Prophesy, I have longed to see the next great jump in the consciousness of mankind. Life has treated me well and in trying to pay it forward, I developed a website and a blog dedicated to raising the level of consciousness one person at a time. Recent world events have seriously damaged our progress toward my dream goal.

Fear and greed have damaged the world economy, personal responsibility seems to be at an all time low and the vibrational energy of the universe has never reached such a low since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The world situation seems bleak with everyone playing the blame game and wars and famine popping up all over the world. With all of this going on, the stagnation and death of mankind seems far more likely than the next great evolution of consciousness.

That was until today. I remember listening to the Rev. Martin Luther King make his famous "I have a dream" speech. It was his dream and he made the claim that he had seen the "Promised Land." I was raised in a racist America and never believed that I would see a black man elected as President during my lifetime. It was as late as the mid 70s that my wife (Vietnamese) and I were refused a hotel room in rural Mississippi because of her race.

Like many Americans, I was in tears when President Obama made his acceptance speech. It was a life-long dream come true. Not only that, when I listened to his speech, my hope for the evolution of consciousness were renewed.

His speech, to me, did not sound like a President's acceptance speech. He sounded more like the world's greatest self fulfillment "Guru" giving the best, most inspired success seminar ever. He spoke of fear and greed. He emphasized the need to take personal responsibility and how that is a requirement if you ever with to act with confidence. He spoke of how we must truly listen to others so that we truly understand each other and treat each other throughout the world with mutual admiration and respect. It was a truly moving speech and I am sure that the vibrational level of energy has risen at least a little bit. It also renewed my hopes that perhaps mankind can reach that next level in the evolution of human consciousness.

Just a few minutes ago, I heard President Obama interviewed by Katie Couric. He then made probably the most important thing that he said on his Inauguration Day. He said: "We must teach our children to dream big dreams. Teach them: Don't sell yourself short."

So my dream and goal is renewed. Perhaps someday, maybe not in my lifetime, mankind will make that next great leap in evolution-the evolution in consciousness. If we all reach for the stars and not sell ourselves short, then each of us can play our part in the evolution of mankind.

Stan Pontiere has been an avowed self-help geek since high school-more than 40 years ago. For more information on self-fulfillment please visit: http://www.wealthbyaffirmation.com/ or my blog at:

Cookies That Prosperities Your New Year

Photo: Jason Karsh

Chinese New Year Cookies - Top 8 Cookies That Prosperities Your New Year
By SzeFong Tan

Chinese New Year is a big event in Malaysia. About a quarter of Malaysian will celebrate their Lunar New Year, whispering for a great and prosperity New Year.

Malaysian always visits each others during the festival, meet with Friends, relatives and greet them all the best wishes! As a host, they normally will serve some light foods and drinks.

Below are top 8 famous Chinese New Year Cookies which you could serve to your friend during their visit in this coming New Year! They are top Malaysian Chinese Food!

- The Pineapple Tart Cookies is the must have during this festival. It present Money come your way. A lot of people know how to make pineapple tart but those really good one are soft butter and pineapple jam which won't stick to teeth.

- Kuih Bangkit, a Traditional coconut milk baked cookies are among the best! Bangkit in Malaysia Language means to Growth, to develop. This cookie brings you good career growth path and wishing you a growth Business!

- Peanut cookies - Peanut in the mandarin has good meaning that for those young couple to give birth for next generation! Eating this cookies also good meaning for growing your family members or generations in the coming year!

- Almond cookies - Almond which delivers a very unique flavor always be top choice in making cookies. Pronunciation of Almond in Mandarin has good meaning of wishing you to live in Happiness!

- Walnut cookies - Walnut cookies is kind of new type of cookies which have a little piece of walnut on top of an almond or butter cookies. Walnut in Mandarin spells wishing the whole family is live peacefully, cooperatively and united. Remember a proverb united is strength!!

- Cashew nut Cookies - the shape of Cashew Nut is in curve which means we must learn how to be humble in our way of life!

- CornFlakes cookies are kind of brand new cookies in recent year! The cookies are mixed with sweet honey. The look of cornflakes is in gold in color means you have a lot of gold to come in your hand.

- Green Pea cookies are a new bred in recent year too! The look is very much alike Peanut cookies but instead of using peanut, they are using green pea. Well, eating Green Pea cookies is as remind us to save our mother earth and save more greenery scene around us!

Everyone loves to be greeted with best wishes especially during the New Year! These are best Chinese New Year Cookies to serve your Malaysian Chinese Friend during the Chinese New Year Festival. We share with you top 8 famous Malaysian Chinese Cookies which made of Almond, Pineapple, Peanut, Walnut, Cashew nut, Green Pea, Coconut and Cornflakes! These one some of wonder from Malaysian Food which would brings you prosperity in the coming years!

Tan Sze Fong is the Malaysian Internet Marketer. He recently actively involve in Best Malaysian Food web portal to share most delicious Malaysian Food in Malaysia. Visit him at http://www.bestmalaysianfood.com/

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2009 Psychic Predications; State of the Economy

2009 Psychic Predications; State of the Economy

By Barbara Garcia

Photo: Sophia Sario

"Eagle River"

In the face of soaring unemployment numbers and shrinking unemployment benefits, it is hard to stay optimistic when evidence of economic recovery is nowhere in sight. As a planning maneuver there are a few good things to consider in this ongoing economic crisis that may well be a welcomed change in the way we do things in our society.

Take the Stock Market for example, one would logically assume that the markets would just stay down and not be fluctuating at all but investors are anticipating the upcoming plans of President Elect Barrack Obama for our economic recovery. Those who didn’t panic and sell off their stocks at a loss in 2008 will see their investments beginning to rebound during an upward trend in 2009. It won’t be one of those massive surges but those who did sell their stocks at a loss in 2008 will kick themselves in the pants.

Going over your portfolio right now and looking ahead might be a good idea. India’s economy remains fruitful in spite of the bombing and China will have one it’s most prosperous years of all time. Brazil is still very attractive but moving at a little slower pace in 2009.

The tax cuts, new spending increases on jobs, energy infrastructure, health care and education will all be implemented with little opposition. We will begin to feel some relief during the spring and summer but we will remain cautious and many of us will have changed our occupations all together as we become more educationally active with the land and new energy sources.

We will eventually all benefit from the changes that are put into place this year and the landscape of American families will reflect a healing theme of the past eight years. This new breed of corporate and political leaders unites businesses; strengthens productivity and assures prosperity in housing, natural agricultural upgrading, reductions in carbon dioxide emissions; even the fashion industry will play a part in our economic upgrade. But it is only the beginning; the best is yet to come in the next decade.

The magnitude of international conflicts is lessened in comparison to the previous years. Though there will still be incidents and aggression, turbulence is substantially less to overcome. Peace talks in 2009 have a more positive and stable affect on our state of economy, confidence and stability in the world view.

2009 Psychic Predictions

2009 Psychic Predictions

By Barbara Garcia

Photo: Ali Vasquez



Like a breath of fresh air, President Elect Barrack Obama sets a new course for America that promises economic recovery in the years ahead. It won’t all happen in 2009 but rest assured that by the end of the year we will begin to see results and an upward curve in the world economy.

· General Motors continues to struggle through 2009 but will not fold. There will be a reconstruction of their entire corporate infrastructure. Aside from government support, business transactions with another auto maker will benefit everyone in the industry.


· The fastest selling automobiles this year are those Asian models like Nissan, Toyota, and all the new energy saving vehicles. They are rapidly replacing gas guzzlers and by 2010 we will see a whole new crop of amazing machines.

· Businesses in the area of natural energy such as wind, solar, geothermal energy, renewable and recycling are all productive and prosperous this year. Businesses associated with these areas will also benefit.


· New environmentally friendly building materials introduced this year meet with financial skepticism but will replace old and current materials successfully in the near future.

· Mortgage rates are lowered this year and the housing market begins to rebound.


· The US dollar begins to gain strength in the spring and a slight drop in gold is in sight.


· Terrorism continues to threaten American soil throughout the year as Al-Qaeda fuels battles to keep the US at war. An international incident regarding Saudi Arabia renews tension. However, there is more effort in maintaining the peace than in the whims of the terrorists. Russia is somehow involved with this.


· Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan together post an enormous drain on American economics and military resources. President Obama reserves a team of personnel, money, and equipment to obliterate terrorist leaders and their followers. (That includes Osama bin Laden)

· Those of us who lived through the fire zones of Southern California will also be inundated with landslides and a sizeable earthquake.

· There will be rumors of attacks on America and assassination plans before or on January 20, 2009. These 44th historic events of the Presidential Swearing in Ceremony, the Inaugural Address, Parade, Balls and galas that honors the new President of the United States is without incident and most memorable.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Photo: Barbara Garcia

Vegetarian Thanksgiving
By Sean Carter

Lately the trend in vogue is going vegetarian and sparing thousands of poor souls the brutal onslaught at the slaughter houses, to serve as delectable dishes for the occasion and delight the appetite of the guests invited. PETA along with the fervent efforts made by many organizations has raised the awareness of the public and interestingly encouraged them to tread on the path of trendy vegetarianism or prompted them to go all vegan, despite Thanksgiving being marked out in the American calendar as a meat-influenced holiday. However, there is a subtle difference between being vegan and vegetarian. Being vegetarian means compulsorily abstaining from non-vegetarian food items like fish, meat, egg, dairy products and sometimes even excluding honey from one's diet. While being vegan means one chooses voluntarily not to consume non-vegetarian food items like the vegetarian mass of population and being content experimenting with the substitutes offered in the market.

Since long turkey has been the centerpiece of Thanksgiving feasting, hence most vegetarians tend to feel left out on that day, but now with this new trend in vogue one needs not worry at all. Though this idea of going vegetarian is gaining popularity at a rapid pace yet for most Americans, to celebrate Thanksgiving without turkey would be similar to having birthday bash without a cake, Christmas without tree or Fourth of July celebrations without fireworks. Over the years, majority of people are found gorging on the sumptuous meals cooked for the special occasion with turkey featuring as the main attraction in the menu. While vegetarians being the unfortunate lot nibbling on the leftovers and side dishes. But off-late, vegetarianism has been on the rise, with about 6% of the American population saying they never eat meat, the figure shooting up to 10% among those aged 18-34, according to a recent Vegetarian Resource Group Harris Interactive Survey. There may be variegated reasons for people opting for a vegetarian diet. Whatever the reason may be: religious, ethical, health considerations or out of serious concern for the environment or animal rights, its true that unknowingly one is likely to receive health benefits from it. In fact a recent study indicated that one out of every eight turkeys is infected with salmonella bacteria. Thus avoiding the consumption of turkeys may not be a bad choice. Again "The American Dietetic Association" says that the nutritional benefits of vegetarian diets include lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, as well as higher levels of fiber, folate and anti-oxidants such as vitamin C and E.

This new generation of vegans and vegetarians however now has a reason to party and celebrate this festival with friendly food and resources at their display to choose from. In fact vegetarian Thanksgiving can be a glamorous affair taking into consideration that being vegetarian is now in rage for the fact that is the best way to show your compassion towards the animals as well as living healthy, keeping ailments such as heart disease, cancer, strokes, diabetes as well as food poisoning at bay. In 1998, growing awareness about the unhealthy conditions in which the turkeys were kept and the inhuman manner in which these were genetically engineered to grow twice as large and twice as fast as their ancestors to keep in pace with the growing demand, prompted families across North America to participate in a tradition where they adopted turkeys instead of eating them. In a way the turkeys were treated as guest of honor. More so, till date PETA, the group for animal right protection has also been consistent in its effort to prevent the slaughter of these innocent birds by featuring Thanksgiving e-cards on its websites that say "Don't Eat the Mascot" and "Happy Tofurky Day" instead of "Happy Turkey Day".

In recent times, in fact since 1995, America's leading turkey alternative is "Tofurky" or in other words "Tofu-turkey". It is the best way to satisfy the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian populace alike by offering this meat substitute which is equally appealing as their non-veg counterpart. In fact over the years, turkey has been completely bowled over by its substitute, "tofurky'. PETA supports this effort by listing out a host of recipes to choose from, including "Tofurky" roast, dumplings, giblet and mushroom gravy, tofurky wild rice stuffing and wishtix, "Unturkey", "Tofu turkey" are all kind alternatives to real turkeys so that it is not missed at the Thanksgiving table. They are soy-based roast, stuffing and gravy that taste more often than not like the real meat. If tofurky is not your type, then one has the liberty to stick to the traditional dishes like corn, squashes, apples, nuts, cranberries, as well as favorites like pumpkin pie with a tasty crumb topping to appease your appetite. Desserts also come in all kinds of varieties wooing the vegetarian and the hard-core non-vegetarian mass alike with stuffs such as vegan pies in pumpkin, cherry blackberry and apple- cranberry-currant varieties.

This time that you plan a dinner for your vegetarian guests, you no more have to spend sleepless nights pondering what would be a good and viable choice of food items to be cooked. Your culinary art lies in preparing vegetarian food which will be enjoyed and appreciated by both the finicky children as well as by adults with more traditional tastes. There are certain tips that you can keep in mind while preparing food on Thanksgiving Day for your vegetarian guests:

· Prepare stuffing outside of Turkey. · Keep cooking utensils separate to prevent "cross contamination" between meat foods and vegetarian foods. · Use substitutions like vegetarian broth, soy margarine, soy milk and kosher marshmallows which do not have gelatin in its ingredients. · Frying can be done using vegetable oil and refraining from the use of animal fats. · Breads, beverages, fresh fruits and non-gelatin desserts can be offered aplenty as they can be served to the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian guests alike. · You can also ask your guests whether a product like the "Tofurky" brand vegetarian dinner would be welcome as well as invite them to prepare and bring a dish of their choice, if they so please. Thus, this year too all can stay soaked in the spirit of the festival by relishing the delicious food that are dished out and giving turkeys the right to live and enjoy their day along with us. The scenario has changed and perhaps for the better. Non-vegetarians no more need to grunt and grumble when the occasion is round the corner for there are recipes galore to court their vegetarian guests as well as the vegetarians now doesn't need to be cornered by this predominantly meat eating festival.

Sean Carter writes on holidays,
Thanksgiving Day
and world events. He also writes on family, relationships, Christmas, religion, love and friendship. He is a writer with special
interest in ecard industry and writes for 123greetings.com.
He is an active blogger at Thanksgiving Blog

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Novmber 5th The Day After

We believed in Hope. . .and we believed we could Change. . . November 5th, The Day After the Election...We have both

President Elect

Barack Obama