Ancient New Year's Celebrations

Until the widespread incorporation of the Julian calendar, cultures throughout the world, including the Romans, each had their own day to start the new year.

The Romans new year's celebrations used to coincide with the vernal equinox - March 20th this year. 

The Babylonians celebrated the rebirth of the natural world following the first new moon of the vernal equinox - March 30th this year.

The Egyptians tied their new year's celebrations to the Nile's annual flood-typically in July.(1)

The recent Chinese New Year started over 3,000 years ago as a celebration of the spring planting season-February 19th this year.

Nowruz or Persian New Year started around the 6th century B.C. under the Achaemenid Empire coinciding with the vernal equinox-March 20th this year.

So if you fall asleep before the drop of the ball in Times Square, you have a number of other dates during the year in which you can celebrate the start of a New Year.

For more information on these customs and festivals, click on the link to History.com's:
 5 Ancient New Year's Celebrations

(1) Synonym.com, Traditional Ancient Egyptian Celebrations, Michelle Lee

The History of Christmas

The History Channel's interesting 5-minute video discussing Nordic, Roman and Christian traditions as to why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. The History of Christmas

Roman Aqueduct Hunters

Ever since I saw the 93-foot tall Roman Aqueduct in Segovia, Spain, I have always been fascinated by the ingenuity of the Roman water system.

In 2008, Robert Harris in Pompeii wrote in great detail about the water works of the doomed city through the eyes of his protagonist, a hydraulic engineer for the city. The level of knowledge, math and engineering that went into water system was eye-opening.

It's no wonder Europe entered the dark ages after the Western Roman Empire fell - all of those centuries of knowledge lost.

Today I came across a video from AqueductHunter.com on their research and exploration of the Roman aqueduct, Aqua Traiana.

Enjoy!

A scientific theory to Moses' parting of the Red Sea

A very interesting essay in The Wall Street Journal about how Moses may have parted the Red Sea without divine intervention. I found Napoleon's similar experience fascinating.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-did-moses-part-the-red-sea-1417790250

A scene from ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ 20TH CENTURY FOX

Flooring the Colosseum

An article in the Los Angeles Times discussed installing a new floor on Rome's iconic Colosseum.

That is a bad idea.

Tourists by the millions come to view the ancient ruins. Being able to view the pens and chambers that once held animals, supplies, humans and who knows what else enhances that experience. Covering it, means only a handful of people will be able to view them on space-limited ground-level tours.

Also, adding a large new installation that is not part of the original Colosseum will stand in stark contrast to the ruins around, Already, a portion of the Colosseum has been floored for small productions and is bright and cheery compared to its surroundings.

Click on the link to read the full article.

Rome officials consider reinstalling floor of Colosseum



Photo by Alessandra Tarantino / Associated Press

Alexander the Great's Tomb

Archaeologists have found a large royal tomb in Greece from the time period around Alexander the Great's death. Some hope it is the tomb of Alexander the Great, while many are skeptical. Watch the short videos and judge for yourself.
(For the first video by AFP News Agency, after clicking on the play button, click on the Watch on YouTube link.)



by AFP News Agency




by MLordand God

Underwater Pompeii Found

Underwater Roman city recently discovered on the island of Greek island of Delos. Actually, I found the facts about the island's customs before and after the Romans more interesting than the Roman city itself.

Article on Underwater Pompeii Discovery

Delos, located in the center of the Cyclades archipelago near the island of Mykonos, is where the sun god Apollo was born, according to Greek myth.

Photo and Caption by ROSSELLA LORENZI

David and Goliath Review

The premise of David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell is how sometimes a perceived disadvantage can be an advantage and how what may seem to be the best, is not necessarily the best for everyone.

Some of the anecdotal stories were very interesting, especially the ones about David and Goliath, the impressionist painters in France, and picking colleges.

Some stories did a wonderful job strengthening his premise, others a bit more weakly.

David and Goliath left me thinking about my own children, their classroom settings, and which college they should attend in a different light.

David and Goliath is a worthy read.

The cell phone wall

I learned to my dismay that cell phone carriers have a little known wall that prevents customers from transferring their cell phones from one carrier to another.

When I attempted to transfer my cellular phone service from Verizon to AT&T, AT&T said that I would need to ask Verizon to unlock my phones so that they could transfer over to AT&T.

The Verizon representative said they do not unlock phones. "Verizon cell phones are programmed to work only on the Verizon network."

I was stunned. I don't remember reading that in the fine print. (I have to admit that I did not read all of the pages of online fine print when I renewed my contract two years ago.)

He explained how some phones are only made for certain networks, like when the iPhones first appeared they were only available on the AT&T network

I remembered that, but didn't realize what that had meant.

Another Verizon representative explained that Motorola made a number of cell phones just for Verizon - like mine. They also explained that other phones may be cross platform capable, just not yours.

In the end, I did not switch to AT&T as purchasing new phones made the benefits of switching less desirable. For now, the carriers have won.

PC Magazine has a great article that explains why cell phones cannot be transferred between carriers.

http://www.pcmag.com/

Inappropriate movie trailer before Godzilla

Placing the "Deliver Us From Evil" movie trailer before "Godzilla" was completely inappropriate. People have asked me if "Godzilla" is ok for their kids, and unless they are under 7 or scared easily, I said yes...but skip the previews.

I've seen my fair share of bad trailer line ups before, putting a rom-com trailer before a war movie for example, but pairing a horror-movie trailer, with a movie studios knew would have children attending was wrong.

"But John," some would say, "Godzilla is rated PG-13, only people 13 and up should be in attendance."

That's why there was a trailer for "How to Train Your Dragon" right after "Deliver Us From Evil," or how my nephew's birthday party today had all Godzilla-themed merchandise?

Kids were crying at the 2 pm showing after the trailer. Not mine, although one covered his face. The older commented on the strangeness of the two trailers being together.

I can understand studios wanting to capture as wide an audience as possible, but save the horror trailers for showings in the evening.

Deliver Us From Evil Image from IMDb
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2377322/

Godzilla vs. X-Men

Both of my sons like the Godzilla movie more than the X-Men movie. I lean slightly towards the X-Men movie with an important caveat about violence. 

My 10-year old said the X-Men movie was confusing to him: the different characters and time travel.

Godzilla, the monster, was awesome as were his fight scenes and there was s light trace of humor  to the movie. 

The principle critique I have of Godzilla that puts X-Men over the top was the weak human-interest story and remember wondering three-quarters of the way through the movie, where's Godzilla. I'm tired of the humans.

Another reason I tilted towards the X-Men was because they were my favorite comic books in the 80's and I know all the characters .

But know that the X-Men movie is definitely for older kids because of the amount of violent death in it. 

People are speared, ripped apart and blown apart - but there is no blood splatter.  Children were in our theater, but the youngest had to be 8 or 9. I'd say most kids should be 10 or older.
Godzilla Trailer