DECEMBER: Turquoise Month

Image courtesy of cobalt123 / Flickr.com

The Turquoise is a gemstone for the month of December. Quite a lot of interesting trivia revolve around this precious stone. Here is an interesting read about the Turquoise:
http://www.findfast.org/facts-about-turquoise.htm

I read that article that may answer all these questions:

1) What is the origin of the name Turquoise?

2) What is the most common color of Turquoise?

3) What are the 4 qualities that the Turquoise symbolizes?

4) What wedding anniversaries are in which the Turquoise is given as gifts?

5) What dictates the Turquoise's shade?

6) What are the 3 components that the colors of the Turquoise consists of?


Clueless?  To answer these questions, this article may help.

CHEERS TO A TIMELESS TURQUOISE MONTH OF DECEMBER!

:-( -> :-| -> :-)

DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

NOVEMBER: Topaz Month

Image courtesy of John Kasawa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The topaz is a gemstone for the month of November. Quite a lot of interesting trivia revolve around this precious stone. Here is an interesting read about the topaz:

http://www.magforwomen.com/fun-facts-about-the-november-birthstone-topaz/

I read that article that may answer all these questions:

1) What word is "topaz" derived from?

2) Where was it believed that ancient Romans obtained this stone?

3) Although they come in different colors, the topaz in what color is considered as the November birthstone?

4) What are believed of the topaz to bring its wearer?

5) What are believed of the wearer when wearing the topaz stone?

6) What 4 qualities does the topaz signify?

7) When wearing the topaz, 
a)what kind of changes is it suppose to bring in you, 
b)how will you suppose to be with your dealings, and 
c)what kind of strength will it suppose to increase?


Clueless?  To answer these questions, this article may help.

CHEERS TO A TERRIFIC TOPAZ  MONTH OF NOVEMBER!

:-( -> :-| -> :-)

DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

OCTOBER: Opal Month

illustrated by Dominique Liongson

Check out this live photo of an OPAL
or this LINK:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opal_(given_name)#mediaviewer/File:Opal-white1.jpg

The opal is a gemstone for the month of October. Quite a lot of interesting trivia revolve around this precious stone. Here is an interesting read about the opal: 
http://jewelry.about.com/cs/opals/p/opal.htm

I read that article that may answer all these questions:

1) What colors do precious opals exhibit flashes of?

2) How were the colors of the opal created?

3) What are the most rare and expensive versions of the opal?

4) What range in the Mohs scale is the hardness of the opal?

5) Why must we never rub oil on an opal?

6) Why do some jewellers recommend soaking opals in water periodically?

7) Which country is the leading source of opals?

8) Which country can you find a great number of fire opals?

9) Which five countries are sources of precious opals?


Clueless?  To answer these questions, this article may help.


CHEERS TO A OPULENT OPAL MONTH OF OCTOBER!



:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

SEPTEMBER: Sapphire Month

Image courtesy of Boykung / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The sapphire is a gemstone for the month of September. Quite a lot of interesting trivia revolve around this precious stone. Here is an interesting read about the sapphire: 
http://www.ehow.com/facts_7517836_interesting-sapphires.html

I read that article that may answer all these questions:

1) Asides from deep blue, what other colors do some sapphires have?

2) What is the meaning of the "asterism property" that some sapphires have?

3) Which year were American sapphires reported to be located in Montana?

4) Why are some sapphire varieties known as Yogos?

5) When royalty and priests wear sapphires, what do they believe about wearing them?

6) In relation to the Earth, what did ancient civilizations believe about a sapphire?


Clueless?  To answer these questions, this article may help.

CHEERS TO A SUPER SAPPHIRE  MONTH OF SEPTEMBER!

:-( -> :-| -> :-)

DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

AUGUST: Peridot Month

Image courtesy of Boykung / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The peridot is a gemstone for the month of August. Quite a lot of interesting trivia revolve around this precious stone. Here is an interesting read about the peridot: 
http://www.crystalworld.co.uk/Facts%20-%20Peridot.htm 

I read that article that may answer all these questions:

1) Why is the peridot said to be born of fire?

2) What are the colors of peridot?

3) In Ancient Egypt, where were peridots mined?

4) In Ancient Egypt, why was mining for peridots done at night?

5) In Ancient Egypt, when did peridot mining cease to be a dangerous occupation?

6) Why did the Romans call the peridot an “evening emerald”?

7) Where in the Cologne Cathedral can you find large peridots more than 200 carats in size?

8) What was believed to be the power that the peridot has?

9) In what way was the peridot believed to strengthen the power of any medicine?

10) Where today are most peridots mined?

11) Where can you find fine large peridots?

12) Where in Asia are peridots mined?

13) When was an exciting new deposit of peridots was discovered?

14) What were peridots believed to be in Hawaiian mythology?

Clueless?  To answer these questions, this article may help.

CHEERS TO A PERFECTLY PERIDOT MONTH OF AUGUST!

:-( -> :-| -> :-)

DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

JULY: Ruby Month

Image courtesy of Boykung / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The ruby is a gemstone for the month of July.  Quite a lot of interesting trivia revolve around this precious stone.  Here is an interesting read about the ruby: 
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/interesting-facts-about-rubies-7573.html

I read this article that may answer all these questions:  

1) From what Latin term does the word "ruby" come from?

2) What kind of stone was the ruby known as?

3) From the first to the tenth, what was the rank of the ruby as the strongest stone in the world?

4) What specific red color do the best rubies have?

5) What country has the best sources of rubies?

6) Who was known as the Lord of Rubies?

7) People born on what month have the ruby as their birthstone?

8) In the Bible, is the ruby the most commonly named precious stone?

9) Why were high ranking Chinese Mandarins were given rubies?

10) What do the Burmese and the Hebrews believe about rubies?

11) What do the Hindus believe about rubies?

12) Are there perfect rubies?

13) Where is the largest ruby in the world located?

14) Who made the first synthetic ruby?

15) Who created the first laser based on the ruby?

16) What gem family do the rubies belong?

17) In ancient times, how were rubies used to strengthen the structure of the building?

Clueless?  To answer these questions, this article may help.

SOURCE: Interesting Facts About Rubies. [Internet]. 2014. The Iloveindia website. Available from: http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/interesting-facts-about-rubies-7573.html [Accessed 1 Jul 2014]

CHEERS TO A RADIANT RUBY MONTH OF JULY!


:-( -> :-| -> :-)

DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

JUNE: Pearl Month

Image courtesy of Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The pearl is a gemstone for the month of June.  Quite a lot of interesting trivia revolve around this precious stone.  Here is an interesting read about the pearl: http://www.pearlllc.com/info_tenfacts.htm

I read this article that may answer all these questions:  

1) Are pearls are the only gemstones made by living animals?

2) Can harvesting pearls from mollusks kill the animals?

3) Do all mollusks make pearls?

4) Where do pearls take their color from?

5) Are most pearls today "cultured" or "natural"?

6) Can two pearls be alike?

7) Where was the oldest known pearl jewelry found?

8) When Cleopatra won a bet that she could provide Marc Anthony with a banquet costing more than the assets of a country, what did she do with a pearl earring?

9) What is the term for pearl farming?

10) In 1916, who bought his 5th Avenue store by trading two pearl necklaces for the land?

Clueless?  To answer these questions, this article may help.

CHEERS TO A PRETTY PEARLY MONTH OF JUNE!


:-( -> :-| -> :-)

DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

MAY: Emerald Month

Image courtesy of Boykung / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The emerald is a gemstone for the month of May.  Quite a lot of interesting trivia revolve around this precious stone.  Here is an interesting read about the emerald: http://www.gia.edu/emerald-history-lore  

I read that article that may answer all these questions:

• Since antiquity, what has the lush green emerald done to souls and imagination?

• What is the ancient Greek word for green?

• In his Natural History, who described the emerald as: “have no better method of restoring their eyes by looking at the emerald, its soft, green color comforting and removing their weariness and lassitude”?

• What two things are the color green known to relieve?

• Since the emerald is the one always associated with lushest landscapes and richest greens, what does Ireland, Seattle of the USA, and Thailand have in reference to the color emerald? (Hint: "Emerald _____")

• Where were the first known emerald mines were from at least 330 BC into the 1700’s?

• How did Cleopatra use emeralds?

• Where do 16th century Spanish explorers --who invaded the New World-- plunder the emeralds?

• What did the Spanish trade emeralds for?

• The Spanish trades opened the eyes of the royalty to the emerald’s majesty.  From which two continents were the royalty from?

• What gemstone family is the emerald from?

• According to legends, how does the wearer of the emerald become endowed with the ability to see the future?

• What else was believed of the emerald to reveal to the wearer?

• What was believed of the emerald to protect the wearer from?

• What two diseases were believed of the emerald to cure?

• What was believed when a speaker wears the emerald?

• According to a legend, to whom did God entrust four precious stones-- in which the emerald was one of the four gems?  What power did these gemstones endow the recipient?

• What does the color of the emerald reflect which makes it the perfect of birthstone for the month of May?

• Which two wedding anniversaries are assigned to the emerald?

Clueless?  To answer these questions, this article may help.

CHEERS TO A GREAT GREEN MERRY MONTH OF MAY!

:-( -> :-| -> :-)

DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

APRIL 1: April Fools Day

illustrated by Dominique Liongson

Wanna prepare for a 10-item clickable Trivia Quiz about April Fools Day?  

Two ways to choose from.  Either 1) research the answers before taking the test, or 2) fatalistic style: go straight to the quiz and answer with your best guesses. 

No dramas for "right minus wrong". Simply get points for every correct answer.  Each question is worth mega-points... (definitely more generous than one point per answer. ;-)

To the fatalists, proceed to: http://www.quizland.com/april-fools-day.mv. Scroll down then choose With Think Music or Without Think Music to accompany you while you take the quiz.

To all those who love to do their homework before they take a quiz, here are the questions you may look up:

1) In the 16th century, the start of a new year wasn't on January 1st but on April 1st in which country?

2) In 1562, calendars were changed so that a new year began on January 1st instead of April 1st. Who ordered the change?

3) In 1562, when New Year's Day changed from April 1st to January 1st, many people weren't informed or didn't believe it.  These "April Fools" were from which country?

4) The tradition of playing tricks on April Fools originated in which country?

5) In which country did April 1st STILL celebrated as New Year's Day?

6) The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York,  opened on April Fools Day in which year?

7) In 1873, which classical composer was born on April Fools Day?

8) In 1889, which of the convenience items were first offered for sale on April Fools Day?

9) In 1963, which daytime soap opera debuted on April Fools Day?

10) In 1984, which entertainer passed away on April Fools Day?

Created a list of answers?  Then you are ready to take the quiz at http://www.quizland.com/april-fools-day.mv.  Enjoy the joy of taking an open-notes quiz. ;-)

I wonder if you'll score higher than the happy-go-lucky quiz takers.  Wishing you best of luck!

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!



:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

MARCH 30: Pencils-With-Erasers Day

illustrated by Dominique Liongson

March 30… A day that commemorates the innovation of pencils with eraser tips.

Let's see if you can answer any of these questions:

1) Do pencil manufacturers make erasers, too?

2) Who issued the first patent for attaching an eraser to a pencil?

3) Why was the eraser referred to as a "rubber"?

4) What do eraser manufacturers call the little erasers on pencil ends?

5) If today's erasers are made something other than rubber, what other substances are used to make them?

If you click and read The Great Eraser Caper: Eraser Facts and Fun, you will get the answers of these little known facts (or not-so-little known facts :-).

Here are more trivia that I learned from the same article:

--Pencils with built-in erasers are an American innovation.

--Pencils were first patented on 30 March 1858.

--In Europe, most pencils are sold without eraser heads.

Here are some snippets about pencils and me with built-in erasers:

--My one of my earliest memories with the pencil with a built-in eraser was the fatter Jumbo version that I used when I was in kindergarten.

--When the built-in eraser of my pencil is consumed to its crown level, I used to bite the pencil's crown to push out more eraser stuff. (Ew!)

--I used to lick my finger and rub out the pencil mark when I have no eraser to use.  With this method I used to think to myself: "Who needs erasers when you can lick and rub?"  Then I learned erasers still have their place for neater erasures.  Lick and rub makes my work look sloppy.  Kinda gross, too.

--I recall the times when I get peeved over low-end pencils with built-in erasers; the eraser does not erase but leaves an untidy smudge on the paper, and sometimes the pencil mark on the paper is not dark enough.

To end this blog entry, let us read a quotable quote on the wisdom of a pencil:

“We all make mistakes. That's why my pencil has an eraser.”

― Chris Grabenstein, Tilt-a-Whirl

:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

FEBRUARY 14: Love is Love

Illustrated by Dominique Liongson

This is a catchy phrase I heard from the song "Love is Love" by Culture Club.  I took time to look through the lyrics.  Somehow I can't seem to relate to the words of this song.

If this line caught my attention for the Valentine Season,  I found something interesting from the Urban Dictionary.  It stated:

love is love

It's not about the sex or gender of the person but how they treat you! So, as long as you're getting the love and affection that you need to be happy in love then it doesn't and/or shouldn't matter what gender is loving you.

Often a term used by bisexuals or those who have no issues with swinging with the same-sex as long as the loving is good!

i.e. A guy might say to another guy, "I'm just looking for someone to love me (a genderless statement) because love is love!" The sex of the person isn't the issue but how the person is treated as it pertains to being loved!

by Orators Speak March 22, 2011

I am not saying romantic love is a bad thing.  I wish to express that there is a love that everyone can relate to ranging from babies to seniors, plants to animals, living and non-living.  A love called kindness-- the real thing without bad intentions.

I make a wish to you, dear reader: May you be kind and receive kindness in return for the rest of your life.  The good news is your life will never end (as scientists agree: Matter --ourselves included-- can never be created nor destroyed; it only changes form).

This is my kind of Valentine Season.  May each day be Valentine's Day.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"

JANUARY: Goodbye Unbelievably-good Year 2013... Greetings Victorious Year 2014!

ictorious Year 2014 makes itself known (when we succeed every battle we will face this next cycle) as our planet starts to make another trip around the sun.  This loop is another gift for us to appreciate.  Time to reflect how will we live within one complete journey our planet will take, then just do it.  

The Earth --our home-- has carried us for the longest time revolving around the sun making one complete cycle every year.  Why not make each cycle special and precious?  If we haven't before, why not now?

As we celebrate the beginning of a new cycle, I wish you have a guide how to make the most of this Victorious Year 2014.  

As a suggested plan of focus, let us keep our eyes peeled (metaphorically speaking ;-) to take note of the little victories we face.  Failed in a battle?  If we learn from our mistake and follow a better alternative, the fault becomes a gold nugget of wisdom.

To add more zest, let us be grateful before we are victorious (future), while we are victorious (present), and when we had been victorious (past).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(* "V 2014" illustrated by Dominique Liongson)




:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"