World Of Tourism

Archaeologists have claimed that early Europeans were cannibals, with a particular taste for children. I felt my skin crawl as I typed that, I'm a firm believer in experiencing everything at least once and I can say with absolute cetainty that I take that back and no longer believe it to be true. My initial thoughts, when I read about this, were that maybe they had no other choice? food was scarce, but then I couldnt understand why they would eat children. Isn't it women and children to safety first? Clearly not. So I read a little more....

This claim comes from the discovery of bones and remains of the ancestors of Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens who first settled in Europe around 800 000 years ago in the Atapuerca caves in Northern Spain. A study has revealed that human flesh was on the daily menu and children and adolescents were the unfortunate target. But this brings me back to my original question, was there a food shortage? Nope. It wasnt even ritualistic, it was just a preferred diet. Scientists believe that children and adolescents were eaten because of their place on the demographic pyramid of the group, talk about respecting your elders, respecting them enough not to eat them.

This is the first well documented case of cannibalism in the history of humanity and as fascinating as this is, I cant help but fight the urge not to bring up my lunch, which for interests sake wasn't a relative or friend of mine. There are some aspects of history I will never understand or comprehend but I'm glad that we can learn and discover these ancient ways of life, maybe it will prevent us from travelling down that dark road again. But I can't help but wonder, was it a dark road or just an accepted way of life? I'm not in any way condoning cannibalism but I look at the world we live in today and the atrocities taking place right now and I wonder if cannibalism is the worst thing our kind could have done?

I consider myself to be pretty open minded. I try and look at every idea I'm presented with from different angles and then come to my own conclusions or opinions. I believe in UFO's, I like to read about conspiracy theories and I'm toying with the idea of reptilian shapeshifters (long story) presented by the world renowned Davide Icke but there are some things in this world I just cant' wrap my head around.

Gunther Van Hogens is a man with some freaky ideas on art. If you havent heard of him, consider yourself lucky. I was eating a bowl of Kelloggs Corn Flakes when I came across his story and let's just say my appetite went right out the window. His claim to fame, if I can even call it that, is using human corpses in his art pieces. He rearranges them in different poses, can anyone say Ted Bundy reincarnated?? He describes himself as a plastinator because he removes the fluids and fats from bodies and replaces it with plastic resin. Pause for effect....

He performed a public autopsy in 2002, the first in over 170 years in Britain and once again he's causing a stir with a new exhibition that's going to be shown in Berlin, The Cycle Of Life. In one piece, he has two corpses in a pose that let's say is frowned upon in public. Yes you guessed it, getting it on from beyond the grave or platform in this case. Tasteless joke, forgive me.

Don't get me wrong, this is no joke, people are up in arms about this, saying it's indecent and offensive and I cant help but agree but what I find funny is the fact that a person can actually get away with things like this, all in the name of art. Religion and art people, it's the way forward in getting what you want and not having to pay the consequences. Admittedly, that was a stab at religion, one of the many conspiracy theories that I've been reading lately but back to the Plastinator, the man is clearly not well and needs to be evaluated by a professional, I'm all for freedom of artistic expression but isn't this crossing a line?

I don't actually know, Leonardo Da Vinci, a man of vision and genius was considered deranged in his time but he was experimenting to find out about the human body, something they didnt know too much about back then, what's the Plastinator's excuse? All I know for sure is HE'LL BE BACK. I know, I know.....

Taliban militants have ambushed a Pakistani military convoy and killed 12 soldiers, the army says.

The attack happened in North Waziristan , near the Afghan border, when militants fired rocket-propelled grenades at several vehicles.

A fire-fight then broke out in which 10 militants were killed, the military said.

The attack came as Pakistani troops prepared to launch an operation against militants in the region.

They want to eliminate the Pakistani Taliban network led by Baitullah Mehsud, whose stronghold is in South Waziristan .

The US has already put a bounty of $5m (£3m) on his head and on Sunday the Pakistani authorities offered an additional $615,000 for his capture.

The convoy was attacked in the Gharlamai region near Wachabibi village, some 45km (25 miles) west of the region's main town of Miranshah .

Twelve soldiers were killed and 10 others were injured, the military statement said.

"An exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists continued for some time. Ten terrorists were killed," it said.

The military has been fighting militants in the Swat valley, to the north, for two months - an operation that has triggered militant attacks on both the military and towns and cities elsewhere.

source : bbc.news

Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard has unveiled a prototype of the solar-powered plane he hopes eventually to fly around the world.

The vehicle, spanning 61m but weighing just 1,500kg, will undergo trials to prove it can fly through the night.

Dr Piccard, who made history in 1999 by circling the globe non-stop in a balloon, says he wants to demonstrate the potential of renewable energies.

The final version of the plane will try first to cross the Atlantic in 2012. Although the vehicle is expected to be capable of flying non-stop around the globe, Dr Piccard will in fact make five long hops, sharing flying duties with project partner Andre Borschberg.

"The aeroplane could do it theoretically non-stop - but not the pilot," said Dr Piccard. "We should fly at roughly 25 knots and that would make it between 20 and 25 days to go around the world, which is too much for a pilot who has to steer the plane.

"In a balloon you can sleep, because it stays in the air even if you sleep. We believe the maximum for one pilot is five days." The public unveiling on Friday of the HB-SIA took place at Dubendorf airfield near Zürich.

"The real success for Solar Impulse would be to have enough millions of people following the project, being enthusiastic about it, and saying 'if they managed to do it around the world with renewable energies and energy savings, then we should be able to do it in our daily life'."

source : bbc.news.com

Bukittinggi (Indonesian for "high hill") is one of the larger cities in West Sumatra, Indonesia, with a population of over 91,000 people and an area of 25.24 km². It is situated in the Minangkabau highlands, 90 km by road from the West Sumatran capital city of Padang. It is located at [show location on an interactive map] 0°18′20″S 100°22′9″E / 0.30556°S 100.36917°E / -0.30556; 100.36917, near the volcanoes Mount Singgalang (inactive) and Mount Marapi (still active). At 930 m above sea level, the city has a cool climate with temperatures between 16.1°-24.9°C.

Bukittinggi (Indonesian for "high hill") is one of the larger cities in West Sumatra, Indonesia, with a population of over 91,000 people and an area of 25.24 km². It is situated in the Minangkabau highlands, 90 km by road from the West Sumatran capital city of Padang. It is located at [show location on an interactive map] 0°18′20″S 100°22′9″E / 0.30556°S 100.36917°E / -0.30556; 100.36917, near the volcanoes Mount Singgalang (inactive) and Mount Marapi (still active). At 930 m above sea level, the city has a cool climate with temperatures between 16.1°-24.9°C.

The 50 year old King of Pop passed away last night in Los Angeles, California. The cause of his death has been sited as heart failure. No one can doubt that he had a remarkable career, is considered a pop icon and paved the way for his generation. The last years of his life have been tragic and mysterious to a large extent, a musical genius that probably started his career too soon and ended while he still had living to do. I think the saddest part is that he passed away before anyone could really know the truth about it him, perhaps he didn't know himself.

Have a look at the tribute to what's known as the Greatest Entertainer of all Time, the material was found on the official Michael Jackson website.


Sony Comments on the Passing of Michael Jackson...


NEW YORK, NY – June 25, 2009 – Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time, leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture.

Commenting on his passing, Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said: "Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work. The entire Sony family extends our deepest condolences to his family and to the millions of fans around the world who loved him."

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, said: "Michael Jackson's unsurpassed artistry and beloved music brought joy to every corner of the world. We join today with his millions of fans in expressing our profound sadness and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. It was a true privilege for all of us in the Sony Music family to work with one of the most talented superstars in the history of music. We will miss him greatly."

Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said: "Michael was the kind of amazing talent that comes along once in a lifetime. He was an incredible recording artist, an insightful businessman, an unmatched performer, and a true icon. To all of us at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, he was also a trusted and passionate partner, who was very proud of our accomplishments. He will be dearly missed. We wish his children and entire family our deepest condolences."

Five of Jackson's solo albums – "Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad," "Dangerous" and "HIStory," all with Epic Records, a Sony Music label – are among the top-sellers of all time. During his extraordinary career, he sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and "Thriller" as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award.

Michael Jackson started in the music business at the age of 11 with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. In the early 1980s, he defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking videos as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the epic "Thriller." Jackson's sound, style and dance moves inspired subsequent generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists.

FIVE ASMAT ANCESTOR FIGURES

Left to right:

DOUBLE FIGURE, carved by Okaochino (active early 1960s) Amanamkal village ca 1961, wood, paint leaves. The Michael C. Rockefeller and Mrs Mary C. Rockefeller 1965 (1978.412.1156) Collected by Michael C. Rockefeller 1961.

DOUBLE FIGURE, Komor Village, mid 20th century, Wood paint, fiber and shell. The Michael C. Rockfeller Memorial Collection. Bequest of Nelson A. Rockfeller 1979 (1979.206.1590) Ex coll. Emden, Administrator for Netherlands New Guinea.

MALE FIGURE, Manu village, early to mid 20th century, wood paint, fiber, pig tuks, cassowary quills. The Michael C. Rockfeller Memorial Collection. Bequest of Nelson A. Rockfeller 1979 (1979.206.1589). Ex coll. Emden, Administrator for Netherlands New Guinea.

MALE FIGURE, carved by Ndojokor (active early 1960s)
ca. 1961 Wood paint.The Michael C. Rockfeller Memorial Collection. Gift of Nelson A. Rockfeller and Mrs Mary C. Rockfeller 1965. (1978.412.1155). collected by Michael C. Rockfeller 1961.

MALE FIGURE, Otsjanep village, ca. 1961, wood, paint, fiber, bamboo. The Michael C. Rockfeller Memorial Collection. Gift of Nelson A. Rockfeller and Mrs Mary C. Rockfeller 1965. (1978.412.1164). Collected by Michael C. Rockfeller, 1961.

FIVE ASMAT ANCESTOR FIGURES

Left to right:

DOUBLE FIGURE, carved by Okaochino (active early 1960s) Amanamkal village ca 1961, wood, paint leaves. The Michael C. Rockefeller and Mrs Mary C. Rockefeller 1965 (1978.412.1156) Collected by Michael C. Rockefeller 1961.

DOUBLE FIGURE, Komor Village, mid 20th century, Wood paint, fiber and shell. The Michael C. Rockfeller Memorial Collection. Bequest of Nelson A. Rockfeller 1979 (1979.206.1590) Ex coll. Emden, Administrator for Netherlands New Guinea.

MALE FIGURE, Manu village, early to mid 20th century, wood paint, fiber, pig tuks, cassowary quills. The Michael C. Rockfeller Memorial Collection. Bequest of Nelson A. Rockfeller 1979 (1979.206.1589). Ex coll. Emden, Administrator for Netherlands New Guinea.

MALE FIGURE, carved by Ndojokor (active early 1960s)
ca. 1961 Wood paint.The Michael C. Rockfeller Memorial Collection. Gift of Nelson A. Rockfeller and Mrs Mary C. Rockfeller 1965. (1978.412.1155). collected by Michael C. Rockfeller 1961.

MALE FIGURE, Otsjanep village, ca. 1961, wood, paint, fiber, bamboo. The Michael C. Rockfeller Memorial Collection. Gift of Nelson A. Rockfeller and Mrs Mary C. Rockfeller 1965. (1978.412.1164). Collected by Michael C. Rockfeller, 1961.

This isn't a bad dream. Its true. Spain went down in a 2-0 defeat by the American team in the semi final of the Confederation Cup being played in South Africa. Not an easy pill to swallow, Spain was on a winning streak of 15 matches and an unbeaten run at 35 games. Its disappointing, especially because Americans don't care much for soccer. They're all about American Football, baseball and basketball. In fact, they're rarely on international soil to play a game, they seem to keep their "world" events inside their own borders. Naturally.

So, you can imagine the surprise at their victory. Newspapers all over the United States have been reporting the victory and I think its safe to say that the American media was pretty surprised. The Americans made history with their defeat, it will be the first time that the American soccer team will play in a final of a major event like this one. The Times even described it as "probably the greatest victory ever by the men's soccer team."

What does it all mean for Spanish football? Not much, yes, its a big game but they're a strong side, had a bad game, who knows what was going on in the players heads, or on the field? The way I see it, the game, the result and the two teams made some history last night. Well done to the Americanos, que usted está tomando en la próxima vez. Entonces vamos a hablar de historia.

Nearly 70 people have been killed by a bomb blast in the eastern Sadr City area of Baghdad , Iraqi officials say.

Police said the device went off in a market place in the predominantly Shia area of the Iraqi capital. More than 130 people were also reported to have been injured in the blast, one of the worst in Iraq this year. It comes less than a week before US soldiers pull out of all Iraqi cities, a move the US said would not be affected by a recent surge in violence.

'Horrific'

An interior ministry official told the AFP news agency the blast struck the market place at about 1930 (1630 GMT). The official said the bomb was hidden underneath a motorised cart carrying vegetables for sale. "I heard a boom and saw a ball of fire," said Najim Ali, a 30-year-old father who was injured in the blast. "I saw cars flying in the air because of the force of the explosion," he was quoted as saying by AFP. Raad Latif, a local shop owner, said the scene after the blast was "horrific". He said people ran to help the injured after hearing the explosion but were initially kept back as security forces tried to get emergency vehicles to the scene.

"After a while they came to their senses and allowed us to help as much as we could. The scene was horrific," he told Reuters.Another witness told the Associated Press news agency he heard a sound like "unbelievable thunder" and was knocked to the ground by "a hurricane". Market stalls were set on fire and an official told AP that people standing 600m away were hit by shrapnel.

Suku Laut is often also called Orang Laut is a tribe that inhabit Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia. The broader terms Orang Laut include " the various ethnic groups who lived on the islands and the mouth of the river in the Riau-Lingga, Seven Island, Batam Island, and coastal areas and islands offshore Sumatra in the East and the southern part of Peninsular Malaya. "

The others call them Lanun (now means is the pirate) or Orang Selat.

The language has similarities with Bahasa Melayu. Currently, they generally work as fishermen. As the tribe of the Sea Bajau People sometimes call as "sea rover", because they are “ Nomaden” moved over on the boat.

Historically, orang laut was a pirate, but plays an important role in the Kingdom of Sriwijaya, Sultanate of Malacca and Johor Sultanate. They maintain-strait strait, evict pirate, walk the traders to the port-kingdom of the kingdom, and maintain their hegemony in the region.

Unfortunately, life in the sea to influence the extent of education and setting the economy. Indeed, it is not necessarily easy to change the pattern of life which they have applied hundreds of years from generation to generation. But now, they also began a push by free trade in Batam the sea route through which the life of this tribe of the Sea.



Since that time, the government began campaigning for the Tribe merumahkan Sea. Now some of them have to leave the boat and began to occupy permanent homes provided by the government. Suku Laut people also have started to know how to live on land. In fact, children, Marine Spare started the school and the adults learn to trade.

I have collect you some information regarding “At least 45 people have died in a missile strike by a US drone aircraft in a Taliban stronghold area of Pakistan , officials there have said.” From the source bbc.news.com

The people killed in South Waziristan had been attending a funeral for others killed in a US drone strike earlier. Intelligence officials said at least 45 people had been killed and dozens more injured in the later strike, when two missiles were fired. But a local official told BBC News the death toll was more than 50. The region is a stronghold of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.

Earlier on Tuesday, tribal leader Qari Zainuddin, who often criticised Mehsud, was shot dead by a gunman in north-western Pakistan . Earlier this month, Zainuddin criticised Mehsud after an attack on a mosque, which killed 33 people. The Pakistani army is preparing to launch an offensive against Taliban fighters under Mehsud's command, who are blamed for a number of deadly attacks.

But Zainuddin's killing is being seen as a setback for the government in its efforts to isolate Mehsud ahead of the security forces' next phase of their anti-Taliban offensive in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan , says the BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Islamabad .

Source : bbc.news.com

As I was driving to work this morning, thoughts rambling on in my head, do we have enough electricity? should I put my daughter in pre school and get rid of the nanny? Why is pay day taking so long to get here? I realised that by the time I reached my destination my fingers were white from clinging too hard to the steering wheel.

Life has become an impossible obstacle course, the economy is blocking our way to financial freedom and a life that is relatively stress free because I dont believe that money solves problems, it only makes them easier to deal with. We all need an outlet. Some people go to the gym and work off their frustrations, but that costs money. Some people go for a run around the block but sometimes that's not always safe and from experience I can tell you that running is not all it's cracked up to be, it's now a fashion statement. You can imagine my horror in finding that out while in a baggy shirt, a torn pair of shorts and socks pulled up to my calves. And to top it off, I was sweating like a race horse. It was neither flattering nor helpful.

I know that I'm the type of person that likes to scream and shout and wave my hands in the air for a good couple of minutes and then I feel better. For me, it's a good way of getting rid of the anger and frustration that so often consumes me. But the problem with that is that who do I scream at? and for what reason? I strongly believe that the stress of the economy is causing us to fight more with our partners because venting our anger makes us feel better. I cant afford gym, I hate running and I there are only so many times you can scream at your partner before it makes you go your seperate ways.

So I found an article this morning about a new pub in Cullera near Valencia called Casa Pocho that has a wonderful promotional gimmick. Customers can come in and have a vent at the barman and if it's original enough they get free beer and snacks, it's their way of drawing customers in as well as letting them let off some steam from the stress of life and the economy. Pretty good deal if you ask me. So I'm off, to have a good vent and then enjoy a beer and some snacks. Anyone care to join me? (Chuckle)

Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist Monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). During the journey the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the then British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage; once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.

Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist Monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). During the journey the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the then British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage; once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.

In Hinduism, dance is an accompaniment to the perpetual dissolving and reforming of the world. The creative and reproductive balance is often personified as Shiva's wife, Durga, sometimes called Uma, Parvati, or Kali. This has significance in Balinese Hinduism, since the common figure of Rangda is similar in many ways to Durga. In Bali there are various categories of dance (i.e. barong, legong, kecak) including epic performances such as the omnipresent Mahabharata and Ramayana. Bali dancers learn the craft as children from their mothers as young as age 4 (see a nine years old dancer on the right). In Balinese dance the movement is closely associated with the rhythms produced by the gamelan, a musical ensemble specific to Java, Bali and Malaya. Multiple levels of articulations in the face, eyes, hands, arms, hips, and feet are coordinated to reflect layers of percussive sounds. The number of codified hand positions and gestures, the mudras, is higher in India than in Java or Bali. It has been speculated that they have been forgotten as the dance was transmitted from India to Java[8]. Hand positions and gestures are nonetheless as important in Javanese and Balinese dance as in India. Whether in India, Indonesia or Cambodia, hands have a typically ornamental role and emphasize the dance's delicate intricacy.

In Hinduism, dance is an accompaniment to the perpetual dissolving and reforming of the world. The creative and reproductive balance is often personified as Shiva's wife, Durga, sometimes called Uma, Parvati, or Kali. This has significance in Balinese Hinduism, since the common figure of Rangda is similar in many ways to Durga. In Bali there are various categories of dance (i.e. barong, legong, kecak) including epic performances such as the omnipresent Mahabharata and Ramayana. Bali dancers learn the craft as children from their mothers as young as age 4 (see a nine years old dancer on the right). In Balinese dance the movement is closely associated with the rhythms produced by the gamelan, a musical ensemble specific to Java, Bali and Malaya. Multiple levels of articulations in the face, eyes, hands, arms, hips, and feet are coordinated to reflect layers of percussive sounds. The number of codified hand positions and gestures, the mudras, is higher in India than in Java or Bali. It has been speculated that they have been forgotten as the dance was transmitted from India to Java[8]. Hand positions and gestures are nonetheless as important in Javanese and Balinese dance as in India. Whether in India, Indonesia or Cambodia, hands have a typically ornamental role and emphasize the dance's delicate intricacy.