For those interested and in the far-flung corners of the British Empire (even though it be faintly as in the US members) - give you the following websites for the life and funeral of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. The House of Windsor's website: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page1032.asp The Times of London: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/section/0,,1582,00.html My sincerest condolences to those who will miss her gracious presence and sense of humanity and humor. She was living history!

No Terry I live in Karachi now. I guess I used the wrong tense,I should have used the simple past. You see John, here goes the reputation of the Maharaja's English. No Marcia, I don't know any Sanskrit. I'm sure there are lots of places in Pakistan that may be of interest to archaeologists. A find was made right here in Karachi where digging was done for a commercial building. Some intellectuals tried to get the construction stopped but their efforts were no match to the money of the constructors. I will once again be taking a trip to the Khir Thar mountains on 24th of this month. I have a week off. I will try to take some photographs and send it to you all. Meanwhile, Aloha. The Maharaja

I'd love to see those pictures. Are you going mountain climbing? What's the altitude there?

are you safe in pakistan?

Be Safe and take many pictures. My pockets would be full of specimens when I returned. Antiquities and cities seem to go hand in hand, unhappily. The only time they find anything near London is when they are digging new foundations for yet another ugly high-rise building. And, without fail, the antiquities are hastily removed to a sterile site and the "progress" on the building continues. My sympathies. I have only know one person who could actually read Sanscrit. I am happy you are well-versed in English (yes, you are!) It seems to be Geo's common tongue.

Marcia, I didn't mention last time that I do take my students out on field trips but they have to be away-day. Parents don't allow their daughters to go on overnight trips, nor away from Karachi and quite rightly so, because they know that many of their sons are outright perverts; they see girls as only sex-object. I still haven't had any problems with my students during the day-trips. Yes, there is an archaeologist site some 350 miles north of Karachi. It is called Mohanjo durro {pronounciation: Mo (as in no) han (as in shun) and durro (as in borrough)}. That's where they have found clues to the Indus Valley civilization. There is another smaller site some three-quarters of an hour's drive east of Karachi. There is another site in the outskirts of Karachi which most has very ancient graves. I will definitely send you pictures of my trip. Hopefully, today I will go and get the dinosaur's tooth scanned, it's my day-off. The Maharaja

The 39th annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival is happening as I write this. Tonight is Hula Kahiko - ancient hula. Tomorrow night is Hula Awana - modern hula. Each night it starts at 6pm Hawaii standard time(-10 GMT) http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/sponsors/hulafest/

TheMaharaja, I am sorry that the current generation of students have no manners or no upbringing. This is true all over the world. Perhaps it is best that you do not have over-night field trips. I felt overly-protected when I was in college, but it was safe to walk in the darkess of night on campus without worrying about being assaulted. I truly am sorry, and I should have known this would be the case. I am delighted that you do get to take them on day trips. I can imagine it must be fascinating - or would be so for me! Mohenjo-Daro is known world wide as one of the earliest cities ever discovered. I will post more about it in Geo 17 wherein lies things archaeological. However, until you get there, try looking at this link. http://emuseum.mnsu.edu/archaeology/sites/middle_east/mohenjo_daro.html

Live video casting of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival http://mfile.akamai.com/95/live/reflector:24015.ram Tonight lasts until midnight Hawaii time. Tomorrow night's broadcast should be the best. Watch and see what it is like about 5 miles from me.

Are you going to be attending? Should we look for you in the audience?

hey, i was gonna ask that!

But I asked first? Maybe you could ask her to elaborate?

Merrie Monarch competition is held in our tennis stadium and the seats are both backless and HARD. No one local goes there if they can hslp it. Especially if it is extrememly crowded (as this is) and of great duration (6 hours tonight - at the very least.) So, from the comfort of my living room (and far more accessible bathroom facilities) I will be watching. However, I did think of being there for you to look for me as in "Where's Waldo." Tonight is the beautiful costumes, the familiar Hawaiian music, and exquisite flowers freshly picked from our forests. Each dancer picks her own while chanting special thanks to the gods and godesses from whose territory they are taking them. You will also discover your computer video player will go blank from about 8-8:30 pm Hawaiian time. This is because they send the transmission back to Honolulu studios for the news. Usually it occurs at 10 pm but all times are contingent to what is happening at the Festival this weekend. A hui ho !

Sorry Terry & Wolf for not answering your querry. Yes, it can be very safe in Pakistan and highly insecure at times and places. The mountains I visit have very hospitable people living there and I have felt safe. However, people do keep warning me. Marcia, I have seen the hula dancing in some of the movies. I think it's a beautiful sight. I will visit Geo17 as soon as I have posted this. The Maharaja

At 0400 GMT you will be able to watch live from Hilo - this is the most beautiful form of Hula to the rest of the world, but it is the least authentic. That being said, please watch and enjoy. http://mfile.akamai.com/95/live/reflector:24015.ram I send you my fervent best wished and prayers for your continuing health and safety - and for that of your family. In my personal experience, Pakistan has only the kindest and most thoughtful people.

For those who wish to watch the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, on the internet you can watch on C-SPAN's website http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/fullschedule.csp Or on C-SPN on your local cable April 9th beginning at 2 PM local time in England which is 0000 GMT, midnight Hawaii time tonight (I'm taping it) and 6 AM tomorrow morning on the East Coast of the US.

Marcia, what time is that on the West coast?

3 AM California time. Better tape it, Esbee!

Happy Earth Day - April 22

Foucault's Pendulum In honor of the Earth I post the following so you can see that we really do rotate. If you ever get the opportunity to see a Foucault Pendulum, do so by all means and spend enough time watching it until you feel the earth turning with you attached. It is really quite remarkable. http://www.calacademy.org/products/pendulum/index.html

Hi Marci I had a chance to see a Foucault pendulum while in London (I think it was at the science museum near Kensington) - neat stuff. Anyway, still alive just busy with domestic putterings (i.e. building cabinets) and occasional soldering. 73 de Mike r-c-i

Yup, it is in the set of science and tech nology museums on Brompton Road in Kensington. Near the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum). They even have Toricelli's original Barometer, and a bunch of other original equipment. Best of all was their radio room which was full of the same old vacuum tube radios my dad used. That was fun! They also had a seismic detector map which lit little lights on a map when earthquakes were detected world wide. I asked the guard if Hawaii had lit up recently. He looked at me in astonishment and asked me if I lived "where it explodes." I said I did, but Hawaii does not explode. It turned out that he was from Martinique. No wonder he thought I was crazy! I'd love to have a Foucault Pendulum, but my "rotunda" is not nearly big enough.

Hi There Ok, I didnt know the exact road but that sounds like the place. A neat place still the same. I had a chance to see quite a bit of 'ye olde technology' which always seems way cool as only old technolgy can be (i.e. nice wooden cabinets, large meters, polished brass terminal strips) - it was as much art as it was science. I wish I could remember the tube stop near by the science museum - the one that I would always take was Glouster (sp?) which was a short hike from where I was staying. What a neat old neighborhood - it would have been so tres cool to live there during my college years. Regarding seismic stuff, I saw on the Gateway electronics web page, they had a small motion sensor transducer - probably not what I would need for seismic monitoring but neat just the same - of course, the seismic detectors I have seen were basically 5 gallon plastic buckets with a large pickup coil and a magnet suspended by a spring hangning from the lid. I think that would be a major home renovation project to get the physical infrastructure to support such a pendulum. Plus, you would have to find a cannon ball for a pendulum bob. 73 de Mike r-c-i

http://www.metropla.net/eu/lon/london.htm

We used Gloucester Road station almost exclusively because it was right around the corner from where we were staying. Occcasionally we would get off at Kensington High Street, too. Lovely map!!!

i saw something like that at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in D.C. it was waaaay cool!

*sigh* i wanna go to London. i know this lovely little hotel near Lancaster Gate -just across from the park.

We stayed in a lovely converted regency row house that waw made into a hotel. We had a first floor (not ground floor) suite with a balcony and bathroom en suite. The Stanhope Court was its name but that was seemingly centuries ago. Our first trip we stayed in the Penta which was new at the time. Lovely. The second time it was pretty bad so we opted for a smaller hotel. Much nicer! EsBee, you NEED to go! Look at all of the research you could so. Especially if they are shooting a film with certain actor in it where you could watch!

EsBee, you NEED to go! LOL this is what i tell myself (practically on a daily bases) unfortunately those pesky people at the bank keep taking all my $ in the form of a mortgage payment every month.... :-( Still - it could be worse (at least i have a place to live) and i have a map of London posted just above my desk at work.... It's been two years since i've been to London -i think i'm in serious withdrawl...

Look at all of the research you could so. Especially if they are shooting a film with certain actor in it where you could watch! Ack! so tempting! so very tempting! *sigh*

It has been your lifetime or longer since I was last in London. The Lovely thing about Europe is that they take such good care of our historic legacy. It will be waiting for you in beautiful condition when next you get to go. I wonder if I ever will again...*sigh*

Course you will! *singing* "She's got High Hopes! She's got High Hopes!" hmm.... wondering if perhaps office mate has slipped vodka into my diet coke -*sniffing suspciously*

In preparation for the upcoming ANZAC Day please read http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/screwed/163.880 It is Rob's eloquent comments on New Zealand patriotism. I will transport it here if he does not mind. It surely deserves a wider reading than Screwed Conference will give it, though a far different audience than Geo will afford.

Happy Earth Day!

Somewhere a ways back I posted a big rotating earth and a large green Happy earth Day. In Hawaii, we are celebrating with a gentle rain. My Dendrobium virginalis orchids will appreciate it.

Hi Marci, Geoites and Happy Earth Day to All I have only visited London twice but those were most wonderful visits. No trips this year tho (sigh...) although I do get to go to Dayton, OH for THE HAMVENTION which is the Mecca of Radio Geeks and Nerds It was cold yesterday and today - in the 30's but it will be warming up again - the trees are in bloom so Spring is slowly coming around. Looks like some new folks are visiting Geo so Welcome! 73 de Mike AA9IL radio cosmo international

We have a great new eager bunch of literate people in Geo now, so that means I have to shape up and stop drifting off-topic all the time. For anyone who has not seen Geo's new portal page and checked the links (including your local weather, Mike) http://www.spring.net/geo/ Hamfests are the greatest places for swapping both gear and war stories. Enjoy!

Nah, they're gonna love us for being ourselves!! *HUGS*

besides - this is Et Cetera ...isnt that where we should go off topic, if we are going to go off topic? :-D

who, us? we NEVAH go OFF-TOPIC! *giggle*

Let's hear it for those who drift off-topic. I learn more that way than any other! EsBee, I'm so glad you have joined the continental drift - and the topic drift as well! *BIG HUGS* I guess they will have to like me the way I am. I am pretty good at being me and a total failure as anyone else *;) Don't know if I like that gold globe on the title page. The red one was TOO much red and the natural one was a little small. The gold would be perrfect if it did not have the shadow. I'm working on it...

Hi Marci and Geoites Marci, no problem with drifting off topic - I like the variety. This is way off topic but this evening, I took the 10ghz transverter out to Lake Michigan and copied a 10ghz beacon from across the lake in Grand Haven, MI. (W2UHI). Signals were S9 (very strong). This is due to the superior over water propgation characteristics as well as temperature inversions. Distance is a little under 100 miles. Antenna was a microwave horn - looks like a four sided pyramid about 4 inches by 4 inches at the opening and 4 inches to the antenna feed back from the opening. The actual antenna feed is a waveguide probe about .8 cm in length. Woo hoo! 73 de AA9IL Mike r-c-i

Woo Hoo, Indeed, Cosmo! Far out and fantastic, too. Those horns work really well and are easy to make - relatively - and fit in your car better than a 5 element beam might *;) Drift and enjoy your warming weather. Just keep gear grounded and not via You! How very perfect it must be to have sky like we currently have, Heavens Abiove to let you know what satellites you are seeing (if it matters) and all sorts of celestial bodies to admire. Speaking of which, are there any good looking lady hams in your area? One who is a good minnight snack provider? That would be perfect! Meanwhile, we will keep you company!

YL hams are few and far between in these parts but I have the midnight snack covered no problem. I was just amazed at the signal quality with the tiny antenna - usually I would bring out the big iron - i.e. a two foot dish. Anyway, now working on setting up some skeds with the other local microwave nuts. 73 de AA9IL Mike r-c-i

(Marcia)EsBee, I'm so glad you have joined the continental drift - and the topic drift as well! *BIG HUGS* *BIG HUG* right back. :-) You'll find i'm only going to post here at etc though.... am unfortunately V. ignorant re most things Geo. i read with interest, but only comprehend a bit of what is posted. Now, if you were hosting a History Topic... (any one up for a rousing discusion of Harold BlueTooth?) ;-)

Harold works. I shove history in the archaeology of anthropology topic. I considered being a history major but opted for earth sciences instead. I klove the names of the old Frankish kings. Whomever the Fat... the Bald, the Sluggard. Wonder what they might have called Clinton... *;) Go for it, Mike. Next I'll be hearing them schedule EME with another guy. That really fascinates me.

ANZAC DAY 2002 ANZAC was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in the East Mediterranean early on the morning of 25 April 1915 during the First World War (1914-1918). As a result, one day in the year has involved the whole of Australia in solemn ceremonies of remembrance, gratitude and national pride for all our men and women who have fought and died in all wars. That day is ANZAC Day - 25 April. http://www.anzacday.org.au/

NEW ZEALAND Broadcasters join for Anzac Day tribute 25.04.2002 10.05 am All radio and television stations in New Zealand broadcast an identical 2-minute Anzac Day tribute at 10am today. The organiser of the synchronised tribute, broadcaster Sue Scott, told National Radio she hoped the broadcast would help young New Zealanders observe Anzac Day. "The younger people really need to have something to continue to remember their forebears by and, because this is incorporating youth stations as well � it is something they can participate in." The broadcast included 6 seconds of silence and the playing of the Last Post. � 2002 New Zealand Herald

ANZAC DAY is held on 25 April each year to commemorate New Zealanders killed in war and to honour returned servicemen and women. The ceremony itself has been continually adapted to the times, but has also steadily acquired extra layers of symbolism and meaning. The Dawn Service A typical commemoration begins with a march by returned service personnel before dawn to the local war memorial. Military personnel and returned service-men and -women form up about the memorial, joined by other members of the community, with pride of place going to the war veterans. A short service follows with a prayer, hymns (including Kipling's 'Recessional' or 'Lest We Forget'), and a dedication which concludes with the last verse of Laurence Binyon's 'For the Fallen': They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. The Last Post is then played, followed by a minute's silence and Reveille. A brief address follows, after which the hymn 'Recessional' is sung. The service concludes with a closing prayer and the singing of the National Anthem. The Anzac Parade Another ceremony takes place later that morning, with returned service personnel wearing their medals, and marching behind banners and standards. The veterans are joined by other community groups, including members of the armed forces, the Red Cross, cadets, and veterans of other countries' forces. The march proceeds to the local war memorial, where another service takes place, including the laying of wreaths by various organisations and members of the public. This service is a less intimate and emotional ceremony than the dawn service, but serves as a more public commemoration. The speech, usually by an important dignitary, serviceman, or returned serviceman or woman, tends to be of a conservative nature, with much stress on nationhood and remembrance. After these services, many of the veterans retire to the local RSA club or hotel, where they enjoy coffee and rum (in the case of the dawn service) and 'unwind' after an emotionally and, for elderly veterans, physically exhausting event. At the end of the day, the ceremony of the 'Retreat' is performed. 1915: GALLIPOLI REMEMBERED The first public recognition of the landings at Gallipoli took place on 30 April 1915, after news of the dramatic event had reached New Zealand. A half-day holiday was promptly declared for government offices, flags were flown, and patriotic meetings were held around the country. Descriptions of the landings (and casualty lists) were eagerly read, while newspapers gushed about the heroism of the New Zealand soldiers. From the outset, public perceptions of the landings at Anzac Cove were imbued with strong feelings of national pride. The eventual failure of the Gallipoli operation enhanced its sanctity in the public mind; the courage and sacrifice of the New Zealand soldiers in adversity was highlighted. 1916: A Half-Day Holiday Demands for some form of remembrance on the anniversary of the landing on the peninsula, both as a public expression of grief and as a means of rallying support for the war effort, were soon being heard. A half-day public holiday was gazetted on 5 April 1916, and church services and recruiting meetings were proposed. Among the growing body of returned servicemen, however, such an approach was an anathema � 'the boys don't want to be split up among twenty or thirty different churches on Anzac Day, and it is certain they don't want to go to a meeting to hear people who haven't been there [to war] spout and pass resolutions'. Instead, returned soldiers preferred a public service conducted by an army chaplain. THE CEREMONY: PROCESSIONS & SPEECHES From the beginning, returned servicemen claimed 'ownership' of the commemoration. In the event, commemorations were marked by processions of returned and serving service personnel, followed by church services and public meetings at town halls. Speeches extolled national unity, imperial loyalty, remembrance of the dead, and the need for young men to volunteer (conscription was imminent). Large crowds attended the commemorations, 2000 at the Anzac Day service in Rotorua, for example. In London the landing day was marked by a procession of 2000 Australian and New Zealand troops and a service at Westminster Abbey. New Zealand soldiers in Egypt commemorated the day with a service and the playing of the Last Post, followed by a holiday, including sports. In August 1916, after lobbying by returned soldiers, the use of the word 'Anzac' was prohibited for trade or business purposes, further enshrining the Anzac myth and the sacredness of the commemoration. World War One: A Patriotic Ceremony A similar pattern of 25 April processions of servicemen, church services, and public meetings continued for the rest of the war. These were generally organized by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' (later Services') Association in cooperation with local authorities. The ceremony was an opportunity to stimulate patriotism, in which the righteousness of the war and New Zealand's place as part of the British Empire were stressed. However, after the war the service quickly lost its patriotic function, becoming more explicitly a remembrance of the war dead. Gradually standardized after the war, the ceremony was essentially a re-enactment of a military funeral. It would be conducted around a bier of wreathes and a serviceman's hat, with a firing party with heads bowed and a chaplain to read the words from the military burial service. Three volleys would be fired by the guard, and the Last Post played, followed by a prayer, hymn, and benediction. Nevertheless, there was continual adaptation of the service. The funeral bier in halls was replaced by public war memorials as these were erected throughout the 1920s. A Move to Memorials The move to Anzac Day commemorations at public war memorials rather than in town halls or churches signified an increasing secularization of the ceremony. Despite occasional protests from churches, it was RSA leaders, servicemen, and local politicians who increasingly made the speeches, rather than clergymen. The laying of wreaths became more central to the ceremony, while fewer speeches were made and hymns sung. On the other hand, the presence of the uniformed members of the armed forces in many places became accepted as part of the march and service. Gradually throughout the 1920s the Anzac Day service became less and less akin to a mournful funeral. 25 APRIL 1921: A PUBLIC HOLIDAY The day itself was not marked as a public holiday until 1921. Peace was celebrated from 19 to 21 July 1919, but no official day of commemoration for the war was at first instituted. The government was prepared to move St George's Day to 25 April and declare that day to be a government holiday. However, the public was not greatly excited by government holidays, which in the main were religious observances or patriotic occasions, while Dominion Day, the self-styled 'National Day', possessed no emotional appeal. While not an official holiday, Anzac Day had already acquired a strong appeal among the public. Not until 1920 did the government respond to RSA lobbying for 25 April to be declared a holiday. Although legislation was passed which made Anzac Day a public holiday, with hotels and banks closed and race meetings prohibited, this did not meet RSA demands for the day to be 'Sundayised'. In 1922 the government backed down and 25 April became a full public holiday as if it were a Sunday. Themes of Nationhood & Peace Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Anzac Day was marked with varying degrees of public enthusiasm. Common themes in the speeches were New Zealand nationhood, national unity, imperial loyalty, sacrifice, and a desire for peace. While some of a left-wing bent and members of anti-war movements criticised the commemoration as militarist, most New Zealanders regarded the day as sacred � an expression of sorrow rather than an opportunity to glorify war. During the Depression Anzac Day provided a forum to extol the ideals of unity and selflessness. The 1930s: Lest We Forget As the international situation deteriorated in the 1930s, Anzac Day speeches increasingly focused on the need for defence preparations and the importance of not forgetting past lessons. The numbers of marchers increased, too, during the late 1930s, perhaps because returned servicemen, as they aged, became more interested in commemorating their war experiences through public ritual. Anzac Day began to take on the characteristic of an annual reunion for many returned servicemen. This was exemplified by the 1300-strong contingent of New Zealand returned servicemen which participated in the Anzac Day ceremony in Sydney in 1938. It was from Australia that the dawn parade, commemorating both the time of the initial landings at Gallipoli and the routine dawn 'stand-to' in the trenches, was introduced to New Zealand for Anzac Day in 1939. The cold and darkness breaking into sunrise added to the symbolism of the occasion. more... and images... http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Anzac/Anzacday.htm

Rob attended the Dawn Service in Christchurch. Perhaps he might comment on the day. The weather was ideal, I understand.

Happy Anzac Day!

*Hugs* Wolfie!

Hi all and Happy ANZAC day! No eme yet but plenty of interest in regular tropo microwave contacts. If the weather stays good then I can go out to the lake without fear of lake effect snow. Shortwave propagation is very good however - the BBC was coming in last night quite well (Asia service since the North American service was discontinued sigh....) 73 de Mike AA9IL r-c-i

I grab the pacific service now that the North American service of the BBC has been discontinued. I miss it, too. Not nearly as much cricket as in the old days. I miss that, too. When you talk about snow, you are not talking interference in your signals. You're talking white stuff you have to shovel!!! Happily, in Hawaii, they make it stay way up on the mountains where we only have to look at it.

A very dear freind lives a few blocks from this event's location. Don, you need to come in and say hello to the good folks. The Kentucky Derby Festival's Opening Ceremonies, "Thunder Over Louisville", will feature a patriotic theme this year-- "A Stars and Stripes Thunder". Thunder offers an explosive kick off to two weeks of celebration in Louisville. The 13th annual event will be held on April 20th, beginning with the air show that features military and civilian aircraft, sky- divers, stunt teams, and a fly-by of the world's largest American flag. Some members of the skydiving team have been performing for 24 years and have made over 3,500 parachute jumps. In just 13 years, what started as a better than average fire- works display has become the pinnacle of pyrotechnics. The secret has been to pack as much firepower into 28 minutes as possible. Music will be broadcast over the world's largest sound system to the Thunder event venue. More than 2,000 people are involved in making Thunder a safe and enjoyable show. Thunder Over Louisville is the nation's largest annual fire- works event. It is also one of the top five air shows in the country. After the 1990 event, the producers realized that the sound particularly rolled across the landscape like thunder. Thus, the show demanded a title that adequately re- flected its intensity, and this is how the event got its name. In 2001, Thunder generated more than $31 million for the local economy. The total economic impact for the entire 70 events of the Derby Festival is estimated at $93 million. Here are some great sites suggested by Rebecca: Derby Festival History: http://www.kdf.org/content/aboutus-history.asp Thunder History: http://www.thunderoverlouisville.org/thehistory/ Kentucky Derby (Rebecca's favorite part is "Experience"): http://www.kentuckyderby.com/

HOW MANY FIREWORK SHELLS ARE USED IN THE "THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE" EVENT? More than 51,333 shells will be used in the 2002 show. That compares to 7,200 used at the first Thunder over Louisville along the Ohio River. *** Electrical impulses travel from the skin toward the spinal cord at a rate of up to 425 feet per second. *** WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE FOR THE 2002 "THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE" EVENT? Estimated average attendance of half a million people is expected, making it the largest event in its region. HOW MANY STORMS OCCUR OVER THE EARTH? At any given time, there are 1,800 thunderstorms in progress over the Earth's atmosphere. Lightning strikes the Earth 100 times every second. *** Fireworks have a wide range of burn times but on average the items within a pack will last about 30 seconds unless otherwise indicated. Thus a 20 item pack may be expected to provide a display lasting about 10 minutes. *** HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE INJURED BY FIREWORKS ANNUALLY IN THE U.S.? About 40 percent of the almost 13,000 people who are injured during the year from fireworks (over half of whom are children) are simply bystanders. Bottle rockets, firecrackers and spark- lers top the list of fireworks causing the most injuries requir- ing hospitalization. Sparklers burn at about 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is Holy Week (called GREAT WEEK) in the Orthodox Church. HAPPY EASTER KALO PASKA

yes indeed--Happy Easter to all our Greek friends!!!

This is totally and completely off topic, but.... Marcia, would Lizzy know what steel was? As in "his arms encircled her like bans of steel"

Make those arms like iron bands (as in "the village smithy") and you are home free. The Celts had iron long ago.

To be more specific, if you get into what makes iron into "steel" you get into a technology nightmare that includes meteoritic steel swords and Damascus steel and workings of very indefinite age. The moors had a quenching technique but Henry Bessamer has the pride of place for making the first industrial steel - in Britain - in the mid 1800's.

Thanks! *big grin* i knew you'd know! somehow history of metal never sunk in very deep. You still interested in editing???

For you, Absolutely!!! As I recall we got on famously. We can even discuss it via IM if you wish.

*wispering* am at work, so cant really im will email you :-)

Oops Ok!

is actually ok, as boss just called from Antigua, where she's sunbathing on a private yacht, and getting drunk on margaritas. (you think i'm making this up) i just dont have IM on my work PC, and our IT guy is so busy, i feel bad recuriting him to help me with non-work related stuff. *pouting* why am i not the boss? is not fair!

Sounds like she could at least share with you!!! How unkind of her!

Greek Orthodox Easter Greek Easter, the country's most important religious festival, arrives accompanied by the smells of spring, the rebirth of nature and the flower-carpeted ground. Many of the traditions that bond the generations together occur during the Easter feast. Easter is the most sacred and celebrated of all of the Greek holidays. It begins with a 40-day fast, of the 40 days, one week is chosen for the complete fast, during that time only natural foods are eaten. No meats, dairy, fish, poultry or dishes that are prepared with these foods can be eaten. Shellfish can be eaten, however three days a week are meatless days during the remaining weeks of the fast. During Holy Week complete fasting is to take place. Palm Sunday, which is the first day of the Holy Week, is a day when only fish and fish courses are served. On Saturday before Easter, the food that will be served on Easter Sunday is taken to the church and blessed by the priest. The red eggs for just after the Resurrection and the traditional Resurrection soup, "mageritsa," will be the wife's first concern, and her preparations will begin early in the Holy Week. That preparation means the cleaning and decoration of the house, the baking of the Easter biscuits and bread and the dyeing of the eggs. During Holy Week the churches are full each evening as the people follow, once more the Passion of Our Lord. Then at midnight on the Saturday the bells ring out joyfully: the faithful, candles lit, can celebrate the Resurrection. The meal afterwards consists of the "mageritsa," the red eggs are knocked and the traditional phrase "Christ is risen" will be heard all around the table. On Easter Sunday, spit-roast lamb is the centerpiece of the table. In the early morning the spits will be turning in the courtyards and under the shady trees as the lamb "kokoretsi" is slowly cooked, and the aroma of the roasting lamb wafts from one end of Greece to the other. I have brought together for you some of the most delicious recipes of Greek Easter. Serve the dishes with plenty of green salads particularly lettuce, which in Greece is in season at Eater, lots of good red wine or retsina. If you get a chance to celebrate Easter in Greece, do not pass it up; it will mean song, dance and "Kefl" around the fire pit as the spit slowly revolves cooking the lamb. http://www.globalgourmet.com/destinations/greece/greekeaster.html Happy Easter, John from GEO

Happy Easter, John!

John is very busy. He is roasting two whole lambs for the great family feast. He will be scarce until after the holiday. I miss him already.

I hope that John and his family enjoy their holiday and their family feast immensely. I'm certain that everything will be delicious. Two whole lambs. That should be a rather large family feast.

Hi All Easter is the greater feast in the east orthodox church. It changes life rhythms in Greece. This consuetude is very strong. It is a good chance to centralize whole family even its members are living to far. It is a feast of love for all. It is a good chance for common festive, carousal, and amusement. Is welcome everyone person though it is foreign and unknown. My family is increased this year by the marriage of my daughter. I have here friends from Athens and from Crete too. You can see about the same picture in every Greek house. This is some flavor of the Easter celebration in my house. This is a photo of my family feast. See the roasting of the two lambs and the part of the lunch table. John

V. Cool pics John! Thanks for sharing!! :-)

It looks to have been a wonderful feast and family get together, John. Thanks for posting the photos.

*licking my virtual fingers* and wishing I had been one of your dogs! Did they get the bones as part of their Easter feast? Thank you for submitting these photos. They are wonderful. Beautiful weather and good company. I cannot think of anything you lacked!

looks like you guys had a great time, john *HUGS*

May is also the month of spring in Greece. This is for all of you with my great thanks for your wishes. John

Hi B.J, Your place is already included in Geo portal. You can see your time/temperature, Weather (recent & forecasts) and your Sky upwards of your head in real time. Try it and good sky exploration. John

the flowers are lovely john!!

As always, the great poetic soul of our Greek oracle's high priest graces Geo with beautiful flowers. Mahalo, John and *Hugs* to Geo's co-host.

Happy Birthday, AnneH White fragrant 3-Strand Pikake flower leis twined together with a traditional Ti-leaf lei. Beautiful and fragrant.

happy birthday AnneH!! (what a contemporary looking lei--at first glance, i thought those were pearl onions!)

Happy birthday AnneH!! My best wishes for happiness life. A bouquet of fragrant roses to you. John

Happy Mother's Day

John, that is so beautiful. Thank you for being so thoughtful. Warmest *HUGS*

Happy Birthday to AnneH.

Happy Mothers Day to all the moms at Geo. Happy Mothers Day, as well, to Gaia, the Earth, who is the mother of us all.

I have been acquainting Lance with the new denizens of Geo since he was last here. I fear John is being victimized by his electric supplier again. Lancwe asked Is he on GECKO? Greek Electric Company Keeping Offline? How lovely to have a reason to find humor in missing someone. John, I hope all is well with you.

I guess my erroneous typing that is not being caught by my eyes is telling me to shut down and go to bed. G'night all. Good Morning, John!

IKI

Happy Birthday Iki!! :-)

A very Happy Birthday, Iki!

Happy Birthday Iki!!!!!!!!!!!! *HUGS*

He will be delighted.

This idea is brilliant. I am definitly living in the wrong contry Olympic Education in �2004 and beyond� An ambitious program of Olympic Education projects that focuses on developing a volunteer spirit among schoolchildren was announced yesterday by Deputy Education Minister Eleni Kourkoula. Over 29 million euros from the Culture Ministry�s Olympic Games General Secretariat are to go toward funding the projects. The Education Ministry has invited schools, municipalities and non-governmental organizations to propose activities promoting culture, sport, the Olympic truce and the abolition of social exclusion. Kourkoula said that schoolchildren had already shown a great interest in the program, whose slogan is �2004 and beyond,� reflecting the ministry�s goal of taking the volunteer spirit beyond the needs of the 2004 Olympic Games.