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  • An Introduction to the Akkadian Civilization

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    The Akkadians were a group of Semitic people from the Arabian Peninsula at the time the great Sumerian city-states were flourishing. These people eventually migrated north, where they encountered the Sumerians. Around 2350 BC, an Akkadian military leader, Sargon (Sharukkin-“the rightful ruler”) conquered the Sumerian city-states and built an Akkadian Empire, creating the world’s first empire. It included most of Sumer and stretched as far as Lebanon, Syria, Anatolia, and western Iran. Akkad (from Agade) was the capital, which became the basis for the name of the people and of the language.

    The Akkadian Empire had a centralized government under the authority of the king, the royal court, and the high class of priests. Sargon was mostly responsible for this development. A strong economy was the empire’s foundation and Sargon and his court were in the middle of the economic activity, unlike in Sumer, where the priests had more say on matters economic. Their economy was heavily dependent on agriculture; their farmlands were very productive because of an efficient system of irrigation. The productivity of their farmlands enabled the empire’s population to increase. Their agricultural products were abundant, but the empire was short on everything else. Timber, metal ores, and building stones had to be imported. Sargon’s military conquests, however, expanded the boundaries of the empire, eventually including the regions that were sources of these precious commodities. The king brought great wealth to the empire, which spawned a large number of bureaucrats and administrators, in the process creating the first bureaucratic organization. This bureaucracy enabled him to rule the empire more efficiently.

    The Akkadian civilization was an extension of the Sumerian civilization; their society was similar to the Sumerians’. The status of women generally was similar to that of the women in Sumer, although the legend of the “sacred female” started during this period. Sargon even appointed his daughter Enheduanna as high priestess to the goddess Inanna. Incidentally, Enheduanna may have been the world’s first published poet. Her poems, extolling gods and goddess, are estimated to be around 4300 years old.

    Sumerian gods and goddesses were given Akkadian names. However, the role of temple priests and priestesses were diminished. Sargon became the mediator between the people and their gods and goddesses. These gods and goddesses had human form, and had human qualities; they could be foolish, intelligent, shy, humorous, jealous, or angry. These deities were derived from nature, which was understandable considering that life in Mesopotamia was controlled by nature. In trying to understand nature, they gave human shapes to the forces of nature. Thus, they had An, the god of sky, Enlil, the god of air, Nanna, the moon god, and Utu the sun god. The Mesopotamians believed that these gods created the universe and everything it contained, including, of course, humans. They also believed that men and women were created by gods to serve the gods-to make sacrifices to them, to clothe them, to honor and obey them. This religion, however, did not have any laws about ethics or morality. Good and evil were left for people to discover on their own. Humanity-according to early Mesopotamians-exists to serve the gods, who were responsible for the smooth running of the affairs of humanity and of the world in general. They ruled the world through their representative; in Akkadian civilization, this meant Sargon.

    Besides having a comparatively sophisticated agriculture that included irrigation and the use of plows, Akkadians had also discovered a method of casting bronze. They also use mud bricks in building houses and temples, and had an advanced pottery industry.

    Formal education during this era was practical and aimed primarily to train priests and scribes. Education started from basic reading, writing, and religion, then higher learning in law, medicine, and astrology. Upper class youths were usually prepared to become scribes, ranging from copyists to librarians to teachers. Excavations also revealed that schools for priests were as numerous as temples, indicating not only the importance of priests in Mesopotamian society, but also the thoroughness of priestly training.

    Art of the Mesopotamian people including Akkadians had during this period attained a high degree of refinement; a bronze head of a king, which scholars think may be of Sargon, was excavated in Nineveh (ancient capital of Assyrian empire). It is thought to be around 2300 to 2200 BC. This head is considered as one of the great masterpieces of ancient art. Another example is the two cylinder seals that date back to the time of Sargon, which are among the most beautiful examples of its kind. A relief sculpture of Naram-Sin (Sargon’s grandson) shows him in one of his military triumphs. Many clay tablets that were excavated in various places in Iraq contained the ancient Mesopotamians’ literature, mostly poems and hymns to their gods and goddesses.

    Sargon reigned for fifty-six years (from 2335 to 2279 BC) and his son Rimush, who was later killed in a palace revolt, succeeded him. Another son, Manishtushu was also killed in another palace revolt. The last king in the Akkadian Dynasty, which lasted about a century, was Naram-Sin, and was the first to claim kingship by divine right. His downfall, and that of the whole empire, was thought to be due to the invading armies from the east, called Gutians. Recent findings however found evidence that a drought that lasted for 300 years was the main cause of the empire’s demise.

    Scientists discovered evidence that the downfall of the Akkadian Empire started around 2200 BC. This civilization was heavily dependent on agriculture; a drought that occurred during this period severely weakened production, and subsequently caused the decline of the empire. People fled and moved south where agriculture was still sustainable. There was a revival of Sumerians’ former glory, but it did not last long. Eventually, new conquerors followed the footsteps of Sargon, and united the city-states of the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia).

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    Source by Gerry Sitjar

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  • Zara Clothing For Kids

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    The clothing company Zara was founded by Amancio Ortega Gaina. He is not only the 8th richest person in the world (according to Forbes), but also the world’s greatest fashion business figure. The company was founded in 1975 in Corunna. Their mother company – Inditex Group (Industrias de Diseco Textil Sociedad Anynima in Spanish) has had little effect on Zara’s unique policies – Zara had always been the innovators, and their owners usually don’t care what Zara does, as long as it’s profitable. Their first store on the main street of Corunna was a great success and the brand expanded to other cities in 1980s, after that to Portugal and in the end – to the UK. Now Zara has shops all over the world, and they are continuing to expand.

    The company has reached its highest amounts of sales recently, since its popularity in the fashion world is tremendous. There are more than 1,500 stores in over 70 countries and new ones are opened each year. Zara’s unique clothing and accessories are successfully sold to a diverse variety of costumers, crossing barriers of culture, politics and nations on their way to the customer. The team of a little less than 300 designers is outrunning the whole fashion world in terms of productivity, since it only takes two weeks for them to produce and deliver their new clothing to stores.

    There are over 11,000 new clothing pieces produced every year. The company holds the productivity record that beats the adversaries’ companies at least 3 times. The product assortment is changing every month in the UK, so you can visit the store each month and find that everything is new. The company’s newest thing is selling children’s clothing. The stores are called Kiddy’s Class and they can be found in some parts of Europe; and even there the company plans to expand more.

    Designing clothes for children is a completely new market. The interest in this new market has increased drastically over the past few years, since there is a tendency among celebrities to dress their children just like themselves. Of course, the ordinary parents want to do the exact same thing and make their children stand out. Zara products are a mixture of traditional and innovative clothing styles – don’t waste your time, try Zara clothing today!.

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    Source by Kelsie Polsier

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  • What Does the Future of Human Resources Look Like?

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    What was seen by numerous as one of the minimum energizing regions of an association is presently a standout amongst the most unique work environment, here are all the ways Human Resources is advancing.

    From enlisting and terminating to empowering, engaging, and making experiences

    It used to be that HR was only the place you went to get enlisted or terminated, yet those days are a distant memory. Today, HR is in charge of an extensive variety of worker exercises, a large portion of which base on empowering, connecting with, and enabling representatives. HR specialists are the real players in making worker encounter, which works with an association’s way of life and development and guarantees that representatives feel esteemed and bolstered along each progression of their work environment travel.

    From the “police” of the association to the mentors, guides, and thought leaders

    Rather than being the general population inside the association who implement the standards, HR delegates are presently thought of as guides and thought pioneers. Representatives used to be frightened of associating with HR workers for expect that they would get stuck in an unfortunate situation for accomplishing something incorrectly, yet today that attitude has moved towards review HR representatives as the general population to go to with proposals or input of how to enhance worker encounter and to pick up experiences into how to better your profession.

    From keeping up business as usual to devastating status

    HR was for some time thought of the office that kept the association murmuring along and that was impervious to change. On the off chance that you needed to take a stab at something new, make another program, or change your work routine, it would likely get held up in HR. Presently, be that as it may, HR is regularly in charge of destroying existing conditions to keep the association advancing. Rather than keeping things down, HR is the main thrust in building a firm workplace where representatives are glad and development can happen.

    From not mechanically progressed to depending intensely on technology

    The new HR grasps innovation to extend its part. Utilizing new instruments like enormous information and investigation, HR can better comprehend workers and settle on more key choices, instead of the old part of utilizing feeling and custom to decide. Interior information is accessible on pretty much everything, from how workers are performing to how regularly they visit certain territories of the workplace. HR agents utilize this information to discover drifts and make the most ideal technique and worker condition.

    From not characterizing methodology to molding and driving strategy

    It used to be that HR simply did as it was told and didn’t have much effect in the general methodology of the association. Today, HR workers help shape and lead technique, particularly as associations understand the effect representative experience can have on development and income. Satisfied and upbeat workers assume an immense part in the general achievement of an association, which implies HR now helps shape and lead the general technique.

    From no seat at the table to a key seat at the table

    Today, HR is advancing into a more focal part in the association where it has a key seat at the basic leadership table. Numerous C-level administrators originate from HR foundations and work straightforwardly with the office to ensure its needs are met. HR is more required than any time in recent memory with different divisions and frequently has its hands in numerous bushels through the organization.

    From finance, remuneration, and advantages to worker experience

    HR now does considerably more than simply work through finance and remuneration. Rather than concentrating on the fundamental needs of representatives, it centers around building an incredible ordeal where representatives need to go to the workplace and do their best work. With an incredible corporate culture, representatives appear to work for something beyond the paycheck, which implies HR likewise needs to deal with something other than finance.

    From cost focus to benefit empowering center

    By and large, the adjustment in HR’s part inside an association is because of administrators understand its benefit making potential. The old HR was regularly thought to be a cost focus, however by driving methodology and representative experience, the new HR gives the chance to make benefits and development. This has helped the HR division get a bigger spending plan since officials can see that putting resources into HR prompts more grounded representatives, a superior work environment experience, and frequently to higher benefits.

    From an unmistakably characterized workforce to a dynamic and changing workforce

    The workforce is changing ideal nearby HR, and the office must be prepared to meet those progressions. As the workforce changes, so too does HR’s way to deal with representative experience. More representatives are additionally working in HR to pick up encounter they can use in different zones, which implies the division is continually getting new perspectives, which it can use to make a more firm workplace.

    From concentrating on worker contributions to concentrating on representative outputs

    As HR advances, it is having more association with representatives and assuming a bigger part in the everyday exercises and obligations of laborers. Rather than concentrating on representative information sources and what it takes to take care of business, HR today is more centered around worker yields and how it can urge workers to do their most ideal work.

    From treating workers like “assets” to treating representatives like water and air

    Workers are currently seen as HR less as assets and more as essential parts of the association that they can’t survive without. It used to be that without representatives, HR wouldn’t have anybody to contract or terminate – workers were essentially things HR expected to carry out its activity. Presently, representatives are viewed as more essential – they are what drives everything HR does, and they assume a colossal part in the office’s prosperity. What HR does now relies upon what workers need and is custom fitted to their necessities.

    From execution evaluations to ongoing acknowledgment and criticism with worker registration

    HR is presently more engaged with the ordinary worker encounter than any time in recent memory. Quite a bit of this originates from continuous worker input with consistent registration rather than the old method for yearly execution audits. With more material criticism, HR plans to make a discourse with workers where they feel great hearing approaches to enhance and are available to influencing recommendations of their to possess.

    From filling holes in employments to opening human potential

    As a rule, HR is presently centered around ensuring workers get the expert advancement aptitudes they have to better their vocations. Rather than basically connecting representatives into positions to the association, HR works with individuals to locate their best abilities, open and create gifts that may be beneath the surface, and shape a situation in the association that meets their aptitudes and interests.

    From a “one size fits all” model over the association to “one size breaks all” approach

    The advancing HR division never again applies a one-measure fits-all answer for the association and rather utilizes a one-estimate breaks-all approach. HR now understands that every division and worker is unique and that an alternate approach should be taken to address singular issues. This is frequently executed by investing energy with singular representatives and divisions to discover how HR can best help them and drive their procedures.

    From siloed from lines of business to working nearly to comprehend business needs

    HR used to work in its own side of the workplace without much collaboration with different offices. The outcome was regularly a siloed association loaded with formality if different offices at any point needed to work together with HR. As things advance, HR has started working intimately with different divisions to best address their issues. There is regularly a considerable measure of cover amongst HR and different offices, and open correspondence and great working connections make it less demanding to combine for extraordinary outcomes.

    From multi-year venture plan and move outs to quick outline, usage, and iteration

    The new approach helps HR rapidly plan and actualize new projects and thoughts and remain in front of working environment patterns. Innovation is changing things rapidly, and HR never again has the privilege to kick back and make impeccably defined plans. Rather, the office must act rapidly to place designs enthusiastically while they are as yet pertinent. The outcome is a lithe office that needs to remain nearby to representative notion and patterns to assemble a domain that mirrors the present needs of the association.

    From human asset work titles to individuals, ability, and experience titles

    Numerous organizations have moved from customary HR titles like Chief Human Resources Officer to Chief Experience Officer or Talent Manager. New titles demonstrate the extended extent of HR and how it is associated with numerous more regions of representative experience.

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    Source by Kranti Gaurav

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  • If You Want to Meet Japanese Women, Don’t Be a “Mama’s Boy”

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    Do some men really want a woman who reminds them of their mother?

    You know the type: “Mama’s boys” – the spoiled, pampered men who cannot seem to break away from their mothers. Don’t get me wrong, mothers are great – mine sure is – but there comes a point in your life when you have to grow up.

    Yet some Japanese men seem destined to be “Mama’s boys” for life. And why would they ever want to change? After all, for these men, their mothers have cooked their food, done their laundry, cleaned their rooms, and basically done everything for them their whole life. Who would want to give that up? So instead of growing up and learning to take care of themselves without Mom, they simply look for a woman who will do the same kinds of things for them.

    A friend of mine who was in a relationship with one of these mama’s boys saw the relationship end because her man’s mom did not think she (my friend) would make a proper wife, and since his mom did not approve, that was the end of the relationship. How crazy is that?

    Think of all the good women out there who are passed over because the man’s mom does not approve of her for some reason. Sometimes the man will never get married because his mom does not want to let them go, or because she thinks that no woman will ever be good enough for her precious son. So the man spends his life alone and in misery while his mom stays happy (and in control of his life). Men should always honor their mothers, but you shouldn’t sacrifice your entire life just to make your mother happy.

    After all, what kind of mother would want her son to give up his entire life and turn his back on romance, just because a woman does not meet up with her requirements? This is a selfish way for a mother to behave – if mothers really love their sons, they will raise them to be strong, independent, and able to build a life with a good woman. Instead of trying to rule and control her son’s romantic life, a mother should teach her son how to treat a woman properly so that he can go on to lead a productive and happy life.

    Yet some mothers have programmed their sons to the point that these poor men spend their entire life looking for a woman just like dear old Mom.

    Here is a news flash, mama’s boys: there is no other woman on Earth who is going to be just like your mother. If you want to have a real relationship with a woman – especially an independent, emotionally healthy woman – you need to let go of your maternal ties and find a way to stand on your own.

    Don’t you think it is kind of weird to want a woman like your mother anyway? I mean, imagine having sex with your mother! Not a pleasant thought. So why do you keep looking for a woman like your mother? Do you not want a woman who is her own person? After all, any good woman is going to run as far away from you as she can get if you keep comparing her to your mother.

    Being a mama’s boy might seem cute to a woman at first, but before long, any good woman is going to want a real man. Of course you want your mother and your wife to get along, but when you get married you need to always take the side of your wife, even to the point of defending her against your mother, if necessary. If you are not ready to let go of your mother and be a real man, then you probably are not ready for dating a real woman either.

    Some men who marry Japanese women – whether they’re “Mama’s boys” or not – might find that their mothers have concerns about whether the Japanese woman is going to “fit in” culturally with the rest of the family. For example, Japanese women might marry Indian men, Muslim men, African-American men, Jewish men – and sometimes parents from all of these cultures have their particular concerns about intermarriage. I’ve had some male Jewish friends who have married Japanese women, and it’s always interesting to me how often they’ve been able to persuade their Japanese brides to convert to Judaism – even though Japanese women are somewhat non-religious. (I think the men’s mothers might have something to do with influencing these Japanese women’s decisions.)

    Bottom line: no matter what culture you’re from or how intense of a “Mama’s boy” you are, when it comes time for you to find a woman (or many women!) to spend your life with, you need to do what is right for you. Ultimately, your mother will be happy for you.

    Have you known any “Mama’s boys” among your circle of male friends?

    Why do you think Japanese culture develops so many “Mama’s boys?”

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    Source by Xander S.

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  • Cherry Blossom Tattoos – What Do They Mean

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    Cherry blossom tattoos are some of the most popular tattoo designs for women currently. The beauty and delicate nature of a cherry blossom can’t be denied. In both Japanese and Chinese cultures the cherry blossom is full of symbolic meaning and significance. Before deciding to get a cherry blossom tattoo design it makes sense to understand the symbolism and deep cultural connections and meaning that this tattoo might hold. After all the best tattoo designs are ones that hold a great deal of symbolic significance. Typically the tattoo that is universally regretted is the one that was gotten while out with a bunch of friends just because they were getting one. So don’t fall into the trap and regret your tattoo later in life. Instead if you are planning on getting a tattoo at least take the time to research the symbolism and meaning behind it and see if it speaks to you and if the ideas are significant in your life.

    While many people tend to blend and confuse the Japanese and Chinese culture together from lack of knowledge the two are very different in many ways. Therefore the meaning and symbolism that the cherry blossom holds is different in each culture.

    Chinese Cherry Blossom

    For the Chinese the cherry blossom is a very significant symbol of power. Typically it represent a feminine beauty and sexuality and often holds an idea of power or feminine dominance. Within the language of herbs and herbal lore of the Chinese the cherry blossom is often the symbol of love.

    Japanese Cherry Blossom

    For the Japanese the cherry blossom holds very different meaning. The cherry blossom is a very delicate flower that blooms for a very short time. For the Japanese this represents the transience of life. This concept ties in very deeply with the fundamental teachings of Buddhism that state all life is suffering and transitory. The Japanese have long held strong to the Buddhist belief of the transitory nature of life and it is very noble to not get too attached to a particular outcome or not become emotional because it will all pass in time.

    The fallen cherry blossom is not taken lightly in Japanese symbolism either. It often represents the beauty of snow and there are many connections made in Japanese literature or poetry to a fallen cherry blossom and snow. This also has been extended to the life of a warrior whose life was ended early in battle.

    As you can see in both cultures the symbolism and meaning behind the cherry blossom is very significant and powerful at the same time. It is important to think about these symbols and connect this with what your personally believe the cherry blossom represents. If you still want to get a cherry blossom tattoo and the above meaning from the Japanese culture or the Chinese culture do not speak to you or you’re somehow view the cherry blossom in a very different way then it is okay to still get a cherry blossom tattoo. However, it is always important to know the symbolism before getting a tattoo permanently done.

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    Source by Chris Ryerson

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  • Comparison Between Egyptian and Mesopotamian Religions and Beliefs!

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    The religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians were the dominating influence in the development of their culture. The Egyptian faith was based on a collection of ancient myths, nature worship, and innumerable deities. Sumerian lives were spent serving the gods in the form of man-made statues. There was no organized set of gods; each city-state had its own patrons, temples, and priest-kings. The Sumerians were probably the first to write down their beliefs, which were the inspiration for much of later Mesopotamian mythology, religion, and astrology. Sumerians believed that the universe consisted of a flat disk enclosed by a tin dome. While the Mesopotamian’s didn’t have anything quit to scale with the pyramids, they did use and build ziggurats for religious purposes.

    Both civilizations were centered on religion. Egypt believed in many gods. The gods Mesopotamia believed in tended to be absolute rulers to whom the people owed total devotion. In both civilizations religious leaders were given very high status and held in high regard. Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt are two religions that believed in monotheism. Both Egypt and Mesopotamia were polytheistic, that is, they believed their worlds were ruled by more than one god. Both civilizations believed that the gods created them. Both cultures also believed that they themselves were created for the purpose of serving their gods. Both worshipers took their names from the numerous gods and the cults that honored the deities, and priests in both religions were no special clothes, and made daily offering in the temples and held annual festivals open to public.

    Mesopotamian religion saw humans as the servants of the gods, who had to be appeased for protection. Egyptians believed that the gods created all humans but were also controlled by the principle of maat, or order. Unlike followers of Mesopotamian religion, the Egyptians had a strong belief in the afterlife, which they expressed by building elaborate tombs such as the pyramids. The Sumerian afterlife involved a descent into a gloomy netherworld to spend eternity in a wretched existence as a Gidim (ghost). Egyptians believed that their gods had created Egypt as a sort of refuge of good and order in a world filled with chaos and disorder. The major god for much of Mesopotamia was the sky god Enlil; later th e worship of Enlil was replaced by the worship of the Babylonian god Marduk. For Egyptians, Amen-Ra was the most powerful deity, chief of the pantheon. Statues of winged bulls were a protective symbol related to the god Sin Mesopotamia, while the ankh, a kind of cross with a loop at the top, was a prominent representation of life in ancient Egypt. The Enuma Elish tells the Mesopotamian story of creation and explains how Marduk became the chief of the gods. The Egyptian Book of the Dead was a guide for the dead, setting out magic spells and charms to be used to pass judgment in the afterlife. Ancient Nippur was the site of the chief temple to Enlil, while Babylon was the location of Marduk’s sanctuary. Thebes and the temple complex of Karnak were home to the worship of Amen- Ra. In the modern world the remains of these early religions can be seen in Egypt’s pyramids, tombs for the pharaohs, and in Mesopotamia’s ziggurats, temples to the gods. The New Year’s Festival was a major event in Mesopotamian religion, while Egypt’s most important festival was Opet. Because Egypt was the “gift of the Nile” and generally prosperous and harmonious, Egyptian gods tended to reflect a positive religion with an emphasis on a positive afterlife. In contrast, Mesopotamian religion was bleak and gloomy. Ancient Mesopotamian prayers demonstrate the lack of relationships with gods and goddesses who viewed humans with suspicion and frequently sent calamities to remind everyone of their humanity. Such was the message found in the Gilgamesh Epic.

    Although the religions of both civilizations shared many similarities, the differences were vast. The most notable ones are the importance and belief of afterlife and the relationship between Gods. Because of these differences, we believe, the civilizations were different because in early times, civilizations revolved around their beliefs and values but unfortunately, there was an end to these great civilizations.

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    Source by Tanha Kate

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  • Weddings Under An African Sky

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    South Africa’s rich cultural heritage (where else do you find 11 official languages?) makes it the ideal destination for couples from all over the world to get married. From a typical Western wedding with the dress, the bridesmaids, the flowers, the formalities; to the paying of lobola (bride price), there is something to appeal to all tastes.

    South African Wedding Venues and Honeymoon Destinations

    Whether it’s a wine estate in Cape Town, the Knysna Heads, stark Karoo farmhouse, Drakensberg mountaintop or Big 5 game reserve, couples will find the South African wedding venue of their dreams; followed by an awesome honeymoon.

    Take, for example a traditional Shangaan wedding, which is celebrated with much ceremony and jubilation. Wives and husbands enjoy separate ceremonies leading up to the actual wedding, and the whole community is involved, thereby ensuring a blessed union.

    A Safari Styled Wedding

    At Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, a unique wedding ceremony has been create that combines elements of Shangaan culture (the local communities are all Shangaan) with English and Afrikaans traditions.

    One of the most beautiful areas on the Sabi Sabi property is called “Fig Tree Crossing” -a sandy river bank and a huge rock, behind which grows an enormous Sycamore Fig tree, which spreads its dappled shade across the top of the rock. In the shady riverbed, a simple wedding table is prepared, with a white linen cloth, champagne on ice, some driftwood, pods and wild flowers. Next to the table are safari chairs for the guests and priest and a zebra skin sprinkled with rose petals for the couple to stand on.

    Vows are exchanged against this magnificent setting, and rings are blessed on a porcupine quill. It is a Shangaan tradition for the couple to exchange gifts; in this case the groom gives his bride an Ndbele blanket, which signifies his willingness to protect and shelter her during their marriage. The bride then is handed a traditional beer pot filled with juice for her to offer to her husband, a symbol of her intention to care for him and provide for his needs during their marriage. Lastly, there is the exchange of bracelets: a beaded one for the bride and a metal one for the groom – gifts that have high value in the local community.

    After the ceremony, the couple has photos taken around the rock, the tree and on the sandy river bed before celebrating with champagne. They then travel back to the lodge for the wedding banquet.

    Exquisite Wedding Receptions

    Back at the safari lodge the wedding table is recreated and the festivities kick off with singing and dancing from the local community. It is customary to make a lot of noise – singing and beating drums – before starting the wedding feast. Singers will sing ancient songs as well as improvising with a new song made up with the wedding couple’s names. All guests are involved in the dancing and celebrating and then sit down around a fire to eat and drink in celebration. While local beer is an integral part of any wedding, fine local wines and champagne are included as well.

    When the evening winds down, the wedding couple will retire to a “honeymoon” suite prepared with rose petals, candles and champagne – the perfect ending to a perfect day.

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    Source by Sarah Manners

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  • The Science of Getting Rich, by Wallace Delois Wattles – Chapter 3

    Is Opportunity Monopolized?

    NO man is kept poor because opportunity has been taken away from him; because other people have monopolized the wealth, and have put a fence around it. You may be shut off from engaging in business in certain lines, but there are other channels open to you. Probably it would be hard for you to get control of any of the great railroad systems; that field is pretty well monopolized. But the electric railway business is still in its infancy, and offers plenty of scope for enterprise; and it will be but a very few years until traffic and transportation through the air will become a great industry, and in all its branches will give employment to hundreds of thousands, and perhaps to millions, of people. Why not turn your attention to the development of aerial transportation, instead of competing with J.J. Hill and others for a chance in the steam railway world?

    It is quite true that if you are a workman in the employ of the steel trust you have very little chance of becoming the owner of the plant in which you work; but it is also true that if you will commence to act in a Certain Way, you can soon leave the employ of the steel trust; you can buy a farm of from ten to forty acres, and engage in business as a producer of foodstuffs. There is great opportunity at this time for men who will live upon small tracts of land and cultivate the same intensively; such men will certainly get rich. You may say that it is impossible for you to get the land, but I am going to prove to you that it is not impossible, and that you can certainly get a farm if you will go to work in a Certain Way.

    At different periods the tide of opportunity sets in different directions, according to the needs of the whole, and the particular stage of social evolution which has been reached. At present, in America, it is setting toward agriculture and the allied industries and professions. To-day, opportunity is open before the factory worker in his line. It is open before the business man who supplies the farmer more than before the one who supplies the factory worker; and before the professional man who waits upon the farmer more than before the one who serves the working class.

    There is abundance of opportunity for the man who will go with the tide, instead of trying to swim against it.

    So the factory workers, either as individuals or as a class, are not deprived of opportunity. The workers are not being “kept down” by their masters; they are not being “ground” by the trusts and combinations of capital. As a class, they are where they are because they do not do things in a Certain Way. If the workers of America chose to do so, they could follow the example of their brothers in Belgium and other countries, and establish great department stores and co-operative industries; they could elect men of their own class to office, and pass laws favoring the development of such co-operative industries; and in a few years they could take peaceable possession of the industrial field.

    The working class may become the master class whenever they will begin to do things in a Certain Way; the law of wealth is the same for them as it is for all others. This they must learn; and they will remain where they are as long as they continue to do as they do. The individual worker, however, is not held down by the ignorance or the mental slothfulness of his class; he can follow the tide of opportunity to riches, and this book will tell him how.

    No one is kept in poverty by a shortness in the supply of riches; there is more than enough for all. A palace as large as the capitol at Washington might be built for every family on earth from the building material in the United States alone; and under intensive cultivation, this country would produce wool, cotton, linen, and silk enough to cloth each person in the world finer than Solomon was arrayed in all his glory; together with food enough to feed them all luxuriously.

    The visible supply is practically inexhaustible; and the invisible supply really IS inexhaustible.

    Everything you see on earth is made from one original substance, out of which all things proceed.

    New Forms are constantly being made, and older ones are dissolving; but all are shapes assumed by One Thing.

    There is no limit to the supply of Formless Stuff, or Original Substance. The universe is made out of it; but it was not all used in making the universe. The spaces in, through, and between the forms of the visible universe are permeated and filled with the Original Substance; with the formless Stuff; with the raw material of all things. Ten thousand times as much as has been made might still be made, and even then we should not have exhausted the supply of universal raw material.

    No man, therefore, is poor because nature is poor, or because there is not enough to go around.

    Nature is an inexhaustible storehouse of riches; the supply will never run short. Original Substance is alive with creative energy, and is constantly producing more forms. When the supply of building material is exhausted, more will be produced; when the soil is exhausted so that food stuffs and materials for clothing will no longer grow upon it, it will be renewed or more soil will be made. When all the gold and silver has been dug from the earth, if man is still in such a stage of social development that he needs gold and silver, more will produced from the Formless. The Formless Stuff responds to the needs of man; it will not let him be without any good thing.

    This is true of man collectively; the race as a whole is always abundantly rich, and if individuals are poor, it is because they do not follow the Certain Way of doing things which makes the individual man rich.

    The Formless Stuff is intelligent; it is stuff which thinks. It is alive, and is always impelled toward more life.

    It is the natural and inherent impulse of life to seek to live more; it is the nature of intelligence to enlarge itself, and of consciousness to seek to extend its boundaries and find fuller expression. The universe of forms has been made by Formless Living Substance, throwing itself into form in order to express itself more fully.

    The universe is a great Living Presence, always moving inherently toward more life and fuller functioning.

    Nature is formed for the advancement of life; its impelling motive is the increase of life. For this cause, everything which can possibly minister to life is bountifully provided; there can be no lack unless God is to contradict himself and nullify his own works.

    You are not kept poor by lack in the supply of riches; it is a fact which I shall demonstrate a little farther on that even the resources of the Formless Supply are at the command of the man or woman will act and think in a Certain Way.

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  • Chinese culture in South Africa: Views from a teen and a kung fu master

    Chinese culture in South Africa: Views from a teen and a kung fu master

    More South Africans are becoming interested in learning Chinese language and martial arts, influenced by the Belt and Road

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  • The Paradoxical “Country” of Africa, the Cradle of Civilization

    Around the first or second grade, we learn that there are seven continents: North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Antarctica, and Australia. Oh yes, and then there is Africa! Yes, Africa is a continent, and it is not a country, contrary to popular belief. This is particularly true in Western culture because individuals may possess little knowledge about the continent due to limited exposure in our education systems, a simple lack of interest, and based how Africa is portrayed in the media. Since Africa is often referred to in the media and our education systems as a conglomerate of generalities, that is the perception that many us base our assumptions on. The list below is in no particular order of importance, and much more information can be added, but it corrects some of these assumptions:

      • Africa is not a country; it is a continent. Africa has 54 sovereign countries, 9 territories, and 2 de-facto independent states; those who recognize the de-facto states consider Africa as having 56 countries.
      • Africa is not one large jungle; only about 10% of African topography is tropical, while other major environmental landscapes include deserts and savannas.
      • Africa is sparsely populated. As of 2013, Africa had an estimated population of over 1 billion people; it is the second largest and second most populated continent.
      • There are third world countries in Africa, but there is no such thing as a third world continent. There are many thriving countries and successful people from Africa.
      • Africa is not a barren land; there are number of countries with numerous amounts of natural resources that can be used to build their economies.
      • Everyone in Africa does not have HIV/AIDS; there are countries in Africa with a disproportionately high HIV/AIDS rates due to health disparities that are associated with high risk behaviors, socio-economic status, and limited access to care. While the numbers pertaining to the continent of Africa are very high, there are many people in the United States that suffer from a variety of illnesses due to these same factors.
      • In 2014, Africa experienced its largest Ebola outbreak in recent history, but it was not the entire continent of Africa. The Ebola epidemic primarily took place in the West African region.
      • The African slave trade was not focused on the entire continent of Africa, it primarily took place in the West African region.
    • The Apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s campaign for freedom did not take place across the entire continent; it was based in South Africa, where racial segregation was embedded into governmental and societal policies.

    Africa is often called the “Lost Continent,” but it is not lost, it is simply not acknowledged for its many contributions to history. Africa is the cradle of human civilization; it is proven to be where life began based on DNA testing and mapping along with archaeological findings. Some historical and religious texts consider human existence as beginning only about 6,000 years ago, but archaeological findings in Africa such as those of “Lucy” in the 1970s demonstrate that life, culture, and societies have existed for much longer than this. The “Lucy” skeleton, for example, was estimated to be over 3.2 million years old. Also, based on evolutionary theory, modern humans or homo-sapiens begin to appear around 40,000 years ago on the continent.

    Even before being recognized as a continent, Africa already had a rich history that was based on geographical and cultural affiliations. There were various kingdoms throughout Africa that have played significant roles in history such as Egypt, Kush, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Mali. Many individuals are familiar with Egyptian hieroglyphs and papyrus, for example, but Egypt was also very technologically, scientifically, astronomically, and mathematically advanced. There are many historians and researchers today that are still trying to figure out how the pyramids were built! Whether one is referring to the various kingdoms in historical Africa or the smaller tribal units, African culture has played a major role on modern society to include customs, traditions, and religious beliefs and practices. The historical significance of the continent cannot be summed up in one or two paragraphs. As Dr. Henry Louis Gates stated: Let’s face it- think of Africa, and the first images that come to mind are war, poverty, famines, and flies. How many of us really know anything at all about the truly great ancient African civilizations, which in their day, were just as splendid as any on the face of the earth?”

    Dr. Taylor is interested in research, conferences, and speaking engagements related to topics that promote cultural upliftment, health education, student engagement, religious education, and historical analysis. Blog: http://www.drkristytaylor.blogspot.com

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9032776

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