Christmas is a time of the year that arouses various emotions in people. For some, it is seen as a time to connect with family and friends and remind ourselves of the importance of our closest communities. For others, it is a time in the calendar which announces that another year has passed, with mixed [...]
Around 1865 , there was a small and hired room, where John B. Stetson had a hundred bucks in his pocket, he then purchased the tools that he would necessitate to be the crucial legacy he is to this day. He purchased ten dollars valued of fur, and then passed a few hours of perseverance [...]
Are you someone who decorates for the holidays? Do you have Hanukkah and Christmas decorations throughout your house? Do you have lighted reindeer plastered in the front yard? You do not have to be an overachiever in decorating to join in on the holiday spirit. Blinding your neighbors with holiday lights strung across every inch [...]
The most important Thai literary work is the Ramakien. This uniquely Thai version of the Hindu epic, The Ramayana, was also a source of inspiration for classical dramatists and painters. An allegory of good’s triumph over evil, the Ramakien chronicles the war between the 10-headed, 20-armed demon King Tosakanth of Longka (Sri Lanka) and Ayodhya’s [...]
Drama In the purely classical form, Thai drama and dance are indivisible. The khon masked drama is derived from Indian temple rituals and dancing and draws its story lines from the Ramakien. During the Ayutthaya period, the khon was acted by accomplished male court retainers playing both male and female roles because until the 19th [...]
By far the most popular dramatic form is likay, a burlesque of lakorn containing elements of pantomime, comic folk opera and social satire. Generally performed against a simply-painted backdrop during temple fairs, likay commonly presents court-derived stories and embellishes them with local references and anecdotes. Players, garishly costumed in satins, sequins and feathered headgear, andro-gynously [...]
Tobacco is believed to have originated in the Americas itself. Native Americans have been growing and smoking Tobacco right from the time when the Maya civilization existed in the Yucatan and the central Americas. A tribe which resided along the bank of the Mississippi is believed to be the first of the Native Americans to [...]
Is your to-do list too long? Have you done \”your\” Christmas shopping yet? What about your baking and wrapping and card writing? Don\’t you just want to scream? Here\’s what you can do to reduce your stress and have a much happier Holiday season. I bet you\’ve heard about the 80-20 principle. According to that [...]
You may think that lighting a Cuban cigar could be as easy as it sounds, but you would be thinking wrong. It is true that anybody can light a Cuban cigar, but to light it in a way that preserves its flavor is a tricky business and may require knowing a thing or two about [...]
Smoking a Cuban cigar does not feel like something that would require knowing a great deal but it is not that simple either. Sure, if you just want to light a cigar and smoke it up without caring about how to enjoy it best through certain old techniques, then you probably do not need to [...]
During the winter holiday season, it can often seem difficult coming up with fun activities that the entire family will enjoy, especially the kids. The cold weather can often make people feel bored and depressed. Fortunately, there are many holiday activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family, including small children. Below are a [...]
In public schools, children are taught about the serious danger of fire, how to develop a fire safety plan and how to evacuate a building. As we grow older it is easy to forget just how important it is to be fire safety conscious. Here are some important Canadian fire-related facts that are useful knowledge [...]
Jewelry is a universal uniting factor for women. Due to the technological advancements jewelers are now able to make very stylish religious jewelries. You might be of any origin but in case you are able to converse then you will find that invariably the topic shifts from current issues and important domestic problems to a [...]
Are you thinking of giving something different as a gift for the Christmas holidays? A gift basket is always a very delicious and desirable gift which anyone would love to receive. Christmas Food Gift baskets are full of a wonderful variety, to tickle anyone’s fancy, whatever their favorite choice of delicacies would be. They would [...]
Villages are self-governed. An elected headman frequently consults with an informal though influential council of elders and monks, among whom the village abbot and schoolteacher are often ‘first among equals’. The traditional Thai respect for elders is paramount in the villages where age is considered an unfailingly accurate gauge of wisdom and virtue. Focal point [...]