Mount Etna - Italy's Largest Active Volcano

On the east coastline of Sicily, Italy and near Catania and Messina, Mount Etna can be found. It is a stratovolcano and it is the largest active volcano in the whole of Europe. It is a legendary giant and its pyrotechnic displays have attracted people to Sicily for many centuries. Because of that, the Italy flag is invisibly sitting on top of Mount Etna.

Mount Etna presently stands approximately 10,991 feet or 3,350 meters high although it must be regarded that this changes with peak eruptions. This volcano is now 71 feet or 21.6 meters lower than what it was in the year 1865. It has an area of 460 square miles or 1190 square kilometres with 140 kilometres basal circumference. This size makes it definitely the largest among the three active volcanoes in Italy. It is almost three times the height of the next largest which is Mount Vesuvius. Mount Etna is one of the world's most active volcanoes and it is in a virtually continuous state of eruption. The lush volcanic soils sustain wide-ranging cultivation, with orchards and wineries reach throughout the lower slopes of the mountain as well as the wide Plain of Catania. Mount Etna has been chosen by the United Nations as one of the Decade Volcanoes. Meaning, it is one of the 16 volcanoes known by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) as worthwhile of actual study because of its history of great, destructive eruptions as well as its being in close proximity to inhabited places.

Pollux Parker is an adventurer who loves discovering secret island getaways in each country he visits. Pollux also likes to collect Italian flag and buy Italian flag for sale.

The Territory, Wild Animals and Plants of Nicaragua

Located in center of the American continent, Nicaragua is the largest Central American country. Nicaragua is home to very rich biodiversity, a truly stunning array of flora and fauna. There are forests of different types, subtropical dry forest, tropical rain forest, mangrove forest, wetlands, grass savanna and tree savanna. On the Pacific side there is mostly tropical dry forest and savanna. In the north, in the mountainous regions, there are cloud forests and pine forests. The two longest rivers in Central America run along the borders of Nicaragua. The Rio Coco (the longest at 680 km or 423 miles) runs along the northern border with Honduras and the Rio San Juan runs along the border with Costa Rica in the south. The Rio San Juan area has both tropical wet forests and rain forests. There are many miles of coastline and beaches as well.

The Pacific Basin is dotted with innumerable volcanoes, lagoons and lakes. The two great lakes are Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua and there are also 15 crater lakes. In the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America and 21st largest by area in the world, is Ometepe Island formed by two volcanoes.

The climate (always hot) and the minimal altitudinal variation have created an environment where diversity has bloomed. There are about 250 species of amphibians and reptiles, about 250 species of mammals, 700+ species of birds, 640+ species of fish, 350+ species of trees, 12,000+ of species of plants (as many as 600 orchids alone) and perhaps more than 250,000 types of insects. There are many creatures as yet undiscovered in the wilds of Nicaragua.

Some standout species are the jaguar, puma, ocelot, tapir, deer, anteater, macaw, quetzal, harpy eagle, and toucan. There are diverse types of monkeys including spider, howler and capuchin monkeys. There are also many types of lizards and snakes, including boas. Plus birds, bats, frogs, crabs, spiders and crocodiles. There are sea turtles on both coasts and a species of shark, the bull shark, which can tolerate the fresh water of Lake Nicaragua.

All these species are distributed in the different biomes from the country. There are a number of protected areas with nearly 20 percent of the territory listed as protected. The Reserve of Bosawás is the third largest reserve in the world and has the second largest rain forest in the Americas after the Amazon. There are other vast reserves such as the Guatuzos and Indio-Maize Reserves and the central part of the country is sparsely populated. This has helped preserve the biodiversity but logging and deforestation are still a problem. Agriculture abounds in more populated regions. Agricultural products include coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soy and beans. Animal products include beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products, seafood, shrimp and lobster.

In Nicaragua, locals and tourists enjoy volcano hiking, surfing in the pacific, diving in the Caribbean on Corn Island and wildlife viewing along the Rio San Juan and in many other parts of the country.

Ready for a visit to Nicaragua? Check hotels at Hotels Nicaragua or in the capital Hotels Managua Nicaragua

Dust in the Air

There is always some dust in the atmosphere. At high levels over the ocean there is least dust. The most dust is found low over cities and is caused by the smoke from coal and oil fires used in heating and manufacturing. Volcanoes shoot tons of fine ash and dust into the air whenever they erupt or explode. This dust may float in the air at very high levels for years at a time. The wind blowing over fields where the earth has been turned over by plows will often lift fine bits of earth, sand, and tiny seeds high into the air.

Some of this dust will settle down to earth very quickly but much of it will float in the air for as long as three years. Water vapour in the air will condense or turn to liquid when it touches certain kinds of dust. Each tiny particle or bit of dust becomes the centre of a droplet of water. When there are enough droplets they form fog, clouds, rain, or snow. The brilliant colours we sometimes see at sunrise and sunset are caused by dust. The dust scatters the rays of sunlight, changing them into bright colours. The sky's blue colour is caused by vapour and dust. All the colours that we see are caused by light rays that have different wave lengths. Blue has very short waves. The dust in the atmosphere holds back the longer waves of light from the sun but the short ones, which look blue to us. are able to get through.

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Paricutin Volcano

On February 20, 1943, a crack began in Dionisio Pulido's cornfield. The trees shivered and the Earth got swollen. The exterior of the earth lifted itself to a height of approximately 150 feet. Vestiges, very fine dust particles and gray smoke started rising from the pointed creation. The earth perpetually whistled a noisy murmur as though it was crying in pain. The stink of sulfur was hanging deep in the air. That very night the lava made a bombarded attack on the cornfields, giving beginning to the stunning Paricutin Volcano.

The volcano gets its well-known name from the community of Paricutin, which presently is buried beneath its lava. The complete village was transferred to an unoccupied area close by. Shockingly, only three casualties have been recorded in the complete history of volcanic outbreak of the Paricutin. Most important volcanic movement of the Paricutin was observed till 1952. At present, the volcanic mountain rests at a elevation of nearly 424 meters. The ashes cone has been calm since that time.

In the initial eight years, the outbreaks were smooth and the lava would cover up merely about a 25 km open area of land. On the other hand, the most recent eruption, which took place in 1952, is recognized to have been the most cruel and explosive one. Even though the Mexican land is well-known for its volcanic activity, the entrance of this new volcano flabbergasted the scientists. However; it is Paricutin which has given volcanologists and scientists an opportunity to learn the birth, life and passing away of a volcano. The death of a volcano involves its extermination and thus also the conclusion of its eruptions.

The Brutal volcano killed nearly 4,000 ranch animals and about 500 horses died of inhaling volcanic ashes. Many cane-boring worms were swept out and this damaged cane plantations. Along with this, humans too underwent breathing problems. When the rains drained away the mountain full of ashes, the ash damaged the dams and silted the agricultural fields. The agricultural land close to the volcano developed into an infertile land, as it had a good content of ash. When the volcanic action stopped, the plant and animal life was reasonably reinstated.

The Mount Paricutin, to be found in Michoacan, Mexico, has developed into a visitors attraction. The spectacular countryside has enthralled many souls. The zigzag ways, glitzy black soil, quiet ambiance and inspiring views makes any nature devotee fall in love with the destination

Author is an associate editor for New 7 Wonders Of World. Get all possible information about Ancient New 7 Wonders and New7Wonders Of NaturalWorld. We also provide information about online hotel reservation, Holiday Packages India and Flights Booking in India.

Leave No Child Inside - Reconnecting Children and Nature

I am not much for AM radio. However, Red Sox baseball games are broadcast on AM radio stations, so my car radio is often tuned in during baseball season.

One afternoon this week, I started my car, with the baseball station on, and heard a talk radio host make a comment that really caught my attention. He was talking about how kids never play outside anymore. And that when he was growing up, kids spent time running around on a green thing called a "playground."

He then translated what this meant for his younger listeners. "A playground when I was a kid is a lot like what playing Nintendo DS is for you. It was a lot of fun. It was something we did every day and with our friends. But it involved a lot more moving around, and it was outside."

Wow! To think that one would need to offer a technical definition of a playground! And then to realize that kids today are not OUTSIDE playing in the yard or at the playground, but INSIDE playing their techno-video games in front of a screen.

Video games, be they the handheld portable variety or the wired versions requiring a living room and a tv, are now a universal language of play and downtime for so many kids. And playgrounds are used for recess at school, should the child attend a school that still has a playground, or for organized practices of team sports like soccer and baseball.

When my son and his best friend go outside to kick the soccer ball around or play basketball with the hoop in the driveway, I realize the airwaves are kid-silent. It is only the laughs and conversations of the two boys I hear. There must be other kids around in the neighborhood. But are they all inside?

You can imagine my amazement as I read Richard Louv's article, "Leave No Child Inside: The Growing Movement to Reconnect Children and Nature." The very thought that children of all people have gotten so disconnected from the natural world is horrifying to me. Yet, as I thought about it more, I realized what Louv was saying was true.

"Within the space of a few decades, the way children understand and experience their neighborhoods and the natural world has changed radically. Even as children and teenagers become more aware of global threats to the environment, their physical contact, their intimacy with nature is fading. As one suburban fifth grader put it to me, in what has become the signature epigram of tthe children-and-nature movement: 'I like to play indoors betters 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are.'"

As housing developments have snatched up what once were woods and open pieces of land, fear of "stranger danger" and increasing traffic has kept kids off of the neighborhood streets, homework demands has minimized "downtime," and television and computers have become competing forces in the shrinking pie of "play" time, "urban, suburban and even rural parents" can all list the myriad reasons "why their children spend less time in nature than they did themselves."

Louv states, "In a typical week, only 6 percent of children ages nine to thirteenp lay outside on their own. Studies by the National Sporting Goods Association and by American Sports Data, a research firm, show a dramatic decline in the past decade in such outdoor activities as swimming and fishing. Even bike riding is down 31 percent since 1995."

What are we doing to our children? In his book LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS, Louv coins the term "nature-deficit disorder." Harvard professor E.O. Wilson's "biophilia hypothesis" states that we as human beings are innately attracted to nature. Louv writes, "We are still hunters and gatherers, and there is something in us, which we do not fully understand, that needs an occasional immersion in nature. We do know that when people talk about the disconnect between children and nature--if they are old enough to remember a time when outdoor play was the norm--they almost always tells stories about their own childhoods: this tree house or fort, that special woods or ditch or creek or meadow. They recall those 'places of initiation,' in the words of naturalist Bob Pyle, where they may have first sensed with awe and wonder the largeness of the world, seen and unseen."

This gets at the very essence of being human and being interconnected, not alone. "When people share these stories, their cultural, political and religious walls come tumbling down."

While there are risks in the larger world, there are also risks "in raising children under virtual protective house arrest: threats to independent judgment and value of place, to their ability to feel awe and wonder, to their sense of stewardship for the Earth."

There are also threats to their psychological and physiological health and wellbeing. I have worked with countless clients who as children, found safety and sanity in the natural world, finding refuge from an abusive or neglectful household. Where are today's children to go? For even adults suffering from depression, connecting with nature can be a salve for the spirit and soul. Connecting with nature is part of our self-care, and an essential way to move from isolation to connection with a larger whole. How can we teach our children this kind of emotional and spiritual self-care, if we don't ignite their innate sensibilities?

The media is full of articles on the increasing incidence of childhood obesity and its long-term potential impact on the health of the next generation. If kids can't go outside and run around or take a walk in the woods, sitting in front of the tv eating junk foods fills up their time and as my son says, "kills their brain cells."

In addition to our health and personal survival, Louv goes further about the importance of reconnecting children and nature for the survival as human beings. "The outdoor experiences of children are essential for the survival of conservation. And so the truth is that the human child in nature may be the most important indicator of future species sustainability."

Louv continues, "If society embraces something as simple as the health benefits of nature experiences for children, it may begin to re-evaluate the worth of 'the environment.'" Instead of associating environmental health with the absence of toxic pollution, public health officials can have a more positive spin on their work: "how the environment can improve human health."

"Seen through this doorway, nature isn't a problem: it's the solution." Who can imagine being a member of "the last generation to pass on to its children the joy of playing outside in nature?"

©2007 Linda Marks

Linda Marks, MSM,has practiced body psychotherapy with individuals, couples and groups for more than 20 years. A passion of hers is developing emotional literacy programs for children and parents and kids. She is the author of Living With Vision: Reclaiming the Power of the Heart, and Healing the War Between the Genders: The Power of the Soul-Centered Relationship, and holds degrees from Yale and MIT. You can reach her at http://www.healingheartpower.com - Linda's blog is http://www.heartspacecafe.com

Structure and Types of Volcanoes

Any place on the surface of the earth, which spews magma, is called volcano. In a more defined sense, it means any mountain spewing fire, which originates from the magma. Magma is a molten rock from the lower layers of the earth's crust that penetrates to the earth's surface in the form of lava. An eruption, which is the hurling of the magma and gases, passes through a volcanic vent or fissure.

Deep underneath the volcanic vent, in the depth of 100 to 300 kilometres, we find the magma reservoir, which is connected to the upper earth's mantle. The material rising from great depths collects there and melts. Neighbouring rock is also melting. When the pressure in the reservoir is higher than the pressure of the rock above it, an eruption will occur. A new volcano may form, or a dormant volcano becomes active.

At the top of the volcanic vent is the crater in the form of a bowl or a funnel. Released gases, magma in the form of molten lava, or loose products push upwards and are hurled into the atmosphere in an enormous cloud. Volcanic bombs (boulders of lava, which can reach the size of a building), cinders, lapilli (small, barely several centimetres large fragments of lava), sand, and ash are the loose volcanic products.

The products of the eruptions form a wall, steep inside and sloping outside, which grows upwards into a cone. Lava products are called the pyroclastic rock (from Greek: pyros = fire, klasis = to break).

In addition to eruptions through the volcanic vent, we may encounter eruptions alongside fissures. In general, these are primary eruptions, often accompanied by earthquakes. When a fissure forms, tremendous amounts of lava and loose products may be expelled. Analogously to the vent eruptions, the material is expelled to one place. This may lead to the formation of a lined-up volcanic crest.

The type of eruption depends on the aggregate state of the magma at the exit. There are three states: volcanic gases, flowing lava, and solid material. When the magma cools, it releases gases which are explosively expelled. It is not possible to obtain appropriate samples, the composition can be determined only by smell, the colour of the flames, and similar factors, or by taking samples from lava lakes or fumaroles. The composition of the gases is different depending on the type of eruption. However, they do contain almost always water, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen fluoride, nitrogen, ammoniac, and various rare gases.

The lava flow depends on its viscosity. When a mass cools down by 50 degrees Celsius, the viscosity at constant composition will increase tenfold. There is a ropey lava, which flows as a narrow fluid stream, and lava bombs, which form when the upper layer of the lava is congealing and congealed, while the lower layer Is still liquid. The layer opens and the flowing lava penetrates the fissure. Following additional thickening, the lava crust breaks into blocks in the course of its slow progress, and these blocks fall down. Very viscous lava does not flow and forms a plug in the vent of the crater. This sometimes leads to fierce explosions, which sometimes tear apart and hurl part of this plug. When gases and hot slabs of lava cannot escape vertically through the plug, they will push through the sides of the volcano and tumble down as clouds of molten mass. They reach high speeds and may cover and so destroy large areas.

Mixed eruptions and composite volcanoes (also called stratovolcanoes) are quite common. They owe their name to their structure: the alternating layers of tuff and lava form a symmetrical conic mountain. When the volcano grows over a certain height limit, its walls cannot support the pressure of the magma in the volcanic vent and the side wall is torn apart. In cases, where the top of the mountain is blown up, it is replaced by a caldera, a large funnel-shaped crater. New eruptions form a new cone, which is the case of Vesuvius, for example, or a volcano in the Bay of Naples.

During a central eruption the lava rises together with other material through the volcanic vent, which reached great depths. Deposits of coarser material around the volcanic vent form the cone, which may grow several metres in a few days. Central eruptions may occur in any of the regions that have active volcanoes.

In the case of an existing volcano, repeated opening of the volcanic vent may often result in explosive ejection of boulders filling the vent, together with ash and lava. During this type of eruptions, large part of the volcano may be blown away.

The characteristics of the various eruptions maybe determined in accordance with the location type. These types are Icelandic, Hawaiian, Stromboli, volcanic, and Pelee.

The so-called linear volcanoes are quite common in Iceland. Their main characteristic is the outflow of thin, fluid lava, which rises from deep fissures. It does not form volcanic cones. An example of the Icelandic type is the eruption of the fissure Laki in Iceland in 1783 (25 kilometres long).

The Hawaiian type corresponds to the shield volcano. These volcanoes produce few gases, with lava pouring slowly out of the volcano. There are no explosions and no pyroclastic clouds. Mauna Loa (4170) and Mauna Kea (4206) in Hawaii are good examples.

The characteristics of the Stromboli type is an almost endless, moderate activity, with low explosiveness, during which hot chunks of lava are accompanied by clouds of vapour and small amounts of ash.

Volcanic type is the type with mixed volcanic eruptions. The type was named in 1889 by Mercalli, following his studies of the island volcano Vulcano (Aeolian Islands). Today, Vesuvius provides a better example of that type. The characteristics of this type are violent explosions, accompanied by dark, pine-shaped clouds of ash.

The Pelee type is characterised mainly by high-viscosity lava, accompanied by dense, hot clouds and a considerate amount of volcanic ash. This type was named after the Mount Pelee on Martinique, where in 1902 a violent eruption, followed by a gigantic explosion, killed thousands of people.

Structure and Types of Volcanoes
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Preschool Theme Lesson Plans

Why Use Themed Lesson Plans?

Preschool themes are not essential for a successful preschool lesson, but they do help bring everything together and keep students engaged in learning.  For that reason, preschool themes are highly encouraged to help teachers save time and energy in their planning.

Preschool themes also help teachers show students how different things can be interrelated.  It allows them to dig deeper into the theme and explore it from different angles.

How to Use Themes

Once a teacher has chosen a theme, the next requirement is to determine how to fit a lesson into the constraints of the theme.  There should be several components to a themed lesson.  The first would be the main objectives, whether they are to teach geography or animals or new vocabulary.  These objectives should tie back to the theme.  For example, if the theme is animals, the learning objective could be to teach rainforest animals and the reason for their colors. 

Next, the lesson should have a physical activity to get students moving around and involved.  This activity could be a song, dance, scavenger hunt, or follow-the-leader game.  Again, the activity should tie back to the theme and allow students to explore it further.  If the theme is animals, students could imitate animals and require students to guess the correct animal.

Finally, the lesson should include a craft project.  This project should engage students creatively, encouraging them to use art to express themselves and learn more about the theme. 

Sample Themes

Because preschoolers are interested in the world around them, good themes tie back into the things they see everyday.  The following list is a good starting point for preschool teachers needing the ease of flexibility and a way to tie everything together.

o Automobiles
o World geography
o Mountains and volcanoes
o In the kitchen
o Pets
o At the zoo
o Weather
o Flowers
o Vacations
o Winter activities
o Holidays
o Seasons

Daily vs. Long Term Themes

Teachers who use preschool themes have a few options when it comes to the length of the theme.  They can either choose a theme for a day or one for longer.  Anything less than a day is not long enough for students to understand the connectedness of the activities.

If teachers want to expand preschool themes for a week or longer, they must choose a broad enough theme that all the days can tie together in some way.  For example, if the theme is weather, Monday could be the basic elemental movements making up weather, Tuesday natural disasters, Wednesday the water cycle, Thursday clouds, and Friday can tie it all together.

Final Thoughts on Preschool Themes

Preschool themes can help teachers tie lessons together and explore ideas in a deeper way than they otherwise could with less time.  Themes should be no shorter than one day, but can be much longer, such as a week or even more.  Themes should be broad enough that teachers can touch on many different aspects, but should be focused enough that students can see the connectedness of the ideas.

Mary Robinson has been teaching preschool for well over a decade. You can get instant access to her preschool activities, crafts, and lesson plans by visiting her website:

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com

For a limited time, all visitors to Mary's site will also get a free copy of her special report: "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Preschool Teachers and Parents Make". Go get your free copy today!

Letting Nature Grow Your Garden

It is wisest to let Nature have Her way. Nature has her own agenda, and your life as a gardener will be easier if you bow to Her desires. Better to dance with the fairies than struggle with eliminating "weeds". What herbs already grow around you that you can use as teas and seasonings? Most areas are rich in such plants, both native and introduced. Many of them will be happy to grace your garden with very little effort on your part. Some will appear; others may want to be transplanted. Still others are simply there, waiting for you to notice.

For instance, pine trees. Pine needle vinegar is an exquisite treat that is easy to make. I call it homemade "balsamic" vinegar. Fill a jar with pine needles. (I prefer white pine, and pinyon pine is even better, but the needles of any pine are fine.) Cover needles completely with apple cider vinegar, filling the jar to the top and capping with a plastic lid or a piece of plastic wrap held in place with a rubber band. This vinegar, like most that I make, is ready to use in six weeks. Pine vinegar is rich in flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals. It helps keep the immune system strong, and strengthens the lungs as well. I love it on salads.

Your home, like mine in the Catskills, offers rose hips and sumac berries for vitamin-C rich teas; spice bush leaves and berries to suggest the flavors of bay and allspice; and the roots of sweet clover to use as a vanilla substitute.

Grab a local field guide and go looking for all the plants that are native to your area. For example, if you live in the northern states like Minnesota, a great book is "How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine, and Crafts", written in 1926 by Frances Densmore who collected information from the Minnesota Chippewa. There are many similar guides available.

Why use native plants? They are often hardy survivors and naturally adapted to the area, sometimes requiring less watering and care. Whether in the wilds or in your garden, Nature is ever-ready to provide you with all you need with little or no input from you. An abundance of edible and medicinal plants covers every inch of my garden - and I didn't plant any of them. With only a little help from me (I spread compost several inches deep on my gardens spring and fall, and keep them fenced against my goats and the marauding deer), my gardens grow: garlic mustard, chickweed, violets, dandelion, curly dock, nettles, burdock, wild madder, crone(mug)wort, wild chives, poke, catnip, malva, wild mint, bergamot, cleavers, motherwort, chicory, raspberry, goldenrod, creeping jenny, barbara's cress, evening primrose, milk weed.

The next best thing to letting Nature plant your herb garden for you is to put in perennials and let Nature take care of them. You will find the best plants for your area at a plant swap at a local church or school. Nurseries, especially the mail order ones, offer lots of different kinds of plants, but only a few of them will be both productive and carefree.

The most dependable perennial herbs are Echinacea, comfrey, elecampane, wormwood, and thyme, on the hardiest members of the aromatic mint family.

Cuttings of various mints are easy to come by and easier yet to establish. Chocolate mint and red bergamot are two of my favorites, but don't be choosy - accept any and all mint cuttings you are given. Perennial aromatic mints - including lemon balm, lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, pennyroyal, and catnip, as well as spearmint and peppermint - form the "backbone" of most herb gardens. Just grow them in full sun in poor soil and don't overwater.

Anyone who has a comfrey plant will be glad to give you a "start" (a piece of the root). And, once put in, comfrey is a friend for life. Ditto rhubarb, whose root is a formidable herbal medicine.

Magazines offer gardening knowledge in small doses, and at appropriate times, instead of all at once, and this is usually more helpful than a book that tries to cover all seasons and all reasons. These are my current (spring 2002) favorites:

The American Gardener, a publication of the American Horticultural Society. Perhaps it is a bit more formal than I am, but it nonetheless has a down-home charm. Check out http://www.ahs.org or call 1-800-777-7931. When you join, you get the magazine plus the right to join in their annual seed give-away.

The Garden Gate is very practical and covers a wide range of topics in excellent detail: from plants to planters, to planting your feet so your back stays strong. Every page counts, as there is no advertising. You can subscribe at http://www.gardengatemagazine.com or call 1-800-341-4769.

The Gardener is another non-advertising production. It is unique in not using photographs. It is illustrated throughout in a variety of stunning styles. They offered me a credit worth $20 for plants or seeds with my subscription. Call them at 1-877-257-5268.

Herbals that include cultural instructions are good additions to your library.

Opening Your Wild Heart to the Healing Herbs by Gail /Faith Edwards is one of my favorites. I love Gail's voice. When I read the book I feel like a wise teacher is sitting next to me telling me how to use and how to grow herbs and trees, medicines and teas.

Steven Foster's Herbal Bounty is a classic on "The Gentle Art of Herb Culture." Unfortunately, it is now out of print, but you may be able to find one used. (c1984, Peregrine Smith Books). He gives detailed information on the culture, and medicinal uses, of over 100 popular herbs.

Park's Success with Herbs is also out of print but a book that I use constantly. Gertrude Foster and Rosemary Louden fill just under 200 pages with an incredible amount of information on growing and using (lots of recipes) an amazing variety of herbs.

Wild Women's Garden is one of a series of books that tell you how to grow and use herbs. This one focuses on herbs for women. Another, Serenity Garden focuses on herbs that are relaxing. A third, En Garden, is more general. Each book contains a postcard that you send in for free seeds so you can grow the plants in the book. Great info and great fun. The cost of the seeds alone is worth more than the price of the book. Jillian VanNostrand and Christie Sarles are the authors; published by Radical Weeds.

When you try too hard, it doesn't work. We learn to work with the slow interplay of Yin and Yang. We learn to be in harmony with nature's laws. Forcing things to fit or going against the grain is an unskillful way. We learn to be flexible like water. We use our intuition. We hold, energetically, a magical spot of ground and watch what grows. In Taoism they call it "Wu Wei". We walk in the "effortless", we dance with the fairies, moving in joyful flow with the undulating, magical greenery blowing in the breeze.

Wow! You have a garden! With patience, good weather, and the grace of the Goddess, you and Nature will create a thing of beauty.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Learn how to prevent illness and heal yourself safely and easily the Wise Woman Way. Women's health forum, FREE womens forum, weblog, and email group. Topics include menopause, breast health, childbearing, fertility, disease prevention, nutritional advice, and cancer prevention. Visit the Wise Woman Web

The Features of the Best Homeowner's Insurance Policy

For customers who are looking for specific features of the best homeowner's insurance policy, there are quite a few features to have. If these features are not listed in the coverage of the policy, that is currently being used to cover the home, the homeowner should evaluate how important it is to them and if they are willing to pay more to get them in the policy.

Most insurance companies offer home protection against many catastrophes that occur in nature. These can be a volcano eruption, fire and smoke damage, hail damage, lightening, and windstorm damage. It may also include damage to the homeowner's vehicles due to ice sleet or snow weighting them down to the point that they are damaged. Some events caused by humans are also covered. They can be power surges, explosions, a malfunction of a heating system on the home, vandalism, damage caused by a hot water heater break, most types of theft, plumbing problems, credit card fraud, and objects that fall out of the sky. The policy may also include additional features like clearing away debris, spoilt food, simple repairs, and replacing a lock. These can be added to a policy, if they are not originally included.

For homeowners who live in areas that have high damage incidents, certain catastrophes may not be included on the homeowner's policy, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or tornadoes. The insurance company may offer a separate policy that needs to be purchased because the rates on the policy will be higher than other policies due to the risk factor that is involved in living in certain areas. One will definitely want these policies if they live in those areas, so shopping around for the best homeowner's insurance policy that fits into their budget is a wise thing to do.

Another feature of a homeowner's policy is the personal injury aspect. If a person is harmed in the homeowner's home or because of the homeowner, and that person sues, this part of the policy can help pay out any settlement or court costs that will be assessed.

The best feature on a homeowner's insurance policy will be the insurance agent. There are some agents who will stop everything they are doing to come to the aide of their client and there are some who will return a phone call after a week. The best agent will explain every possible option to getting the most money out of the policy to the homeowner. They will help the homeowner with everything that needs to be done.

Nicholas writes for a home insurance site where you can read articles on topics such as cheap home insurance quotes.

Human-Nature Relation

The Sun is beaming direct ultra rays
Sea waves rising and blocking the ways
Moon is hiding face with no cool shine
Nothing seems to be going very fine

Sudden change is causing alarm
Snow bound areas are turning warm
Greenery is disappearing along with farms
You don't feel warmth when embraced by arms

Glaciers are melting with floods so common
Volcanoes erupt with force all of sudden
Earthquakes take toll with so much destruction
Human error tragedies too...

Nothing is going on in normal way
Nature is infuriated with complete sway
She has been naked by uprooting trees
Natural holocaust is asking for free

Spreading of virus and birth of new diseases
Human misery doesn't stop or never ceases
What we are waiting for on earth to witness?
All able bodied human beings with weakness

We may loose complete natural resources
Helplessly we may watch all destructive forces
Nothing will be left to cry or lament upon
We may be digging grave for our own

Poisonous snakes and animals rush to population
Human hunt by them is on rise with escalation
We are inching forward for complete annihilation
This has got direct bearing on human-nature relation

How to protect and preserve our natural heritage?
Do we consider nature and its source as vintage?
Is nature loosing its prominence and advantage?
Let there be any thing but it has got an edge

It is still not late to act with honest intention
We must act fast for its loss or prevention
We may survive if nature is protected
Go for remedies or plugging holes if detected

hasmukh amathalal

Mayon Volcano

With its magnificent and captivating symmetric cone-shaped perfectly molded by nature, Bicolano's very own and famous landmark Mayon Volcano competes with the world's best, along with the other three chosen scenic sots from the Philipines for Nature's New Seven Wonders. The vocano's natural and eco-tourism features were the factors considered by the organizers of this prestigious worldwide competition in picking it as an official nominee.

Possible Effects

Department of Tourism- Bicol and the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office- Albay envision coniderable income that will be generated of the region's wll-known landmaek will be hailed as one of the New Seven Wonder of Nature. "This will surely push Bicol particularly Albay forward in the tourism industry and will be promoted more to the world if luckily included in this newet search for Nature's Wonders," Maria "Nini" Ravanilla, Regional Director of DOT Bicol said. According to Ravanilla, since 2006 the tourism in Albay has declined because of the typhoons that devastated and almost left the place lifeless particularly Milenyo and Reming. The top spot where it used to occupy has suddenly been grabbed by Camarines Sur and now only ranks second in terms of tourism revenues. Through the advent of this rare chance where Mayon can possibly acquire a marvelous spot in the world's map, Ravanilla is positive that Albay will be again at par in promoting tourism in the region and will open its door wider for tourist from different parts of the world. Moreover, more tourists will likely mean more jobs for Bicolanos and more earnings for some entrepreneurs in the locality who sold items and products which are proudly Bicol-made. Pat Noveno of Camalig, Albay who is into selling products out of Pili for years said that his income is not consistently good especially nowadays where affecting factors like price increase of basic commodities and the tremendous oil-price hike are prevalent. Though not that directly, he admitted that busine like his,is likewise affected since most people would normally opt to buy only the basic things they truly need. Small time businessman like Pat is just one of the many who can get benefited if more tourists will come and visit the region. This will not only mean inviting the tourists to see the region's landmark but also producing potencial buyers for the products of Bicol.

Cultural Significance

Ravanilla also pointed out that beyond the seemingly overwhelming graces that will pour into Bicol region if Mayon will make it, is the cultural heritage awakening and sense of regionalism in the hearts of the Bicolanos. As she puts it, there is more to the revenues that will be yielded, and that is the cultural awareness that will be revived to those who are oblivious of Mayon's importance to their lives. The Mayon Volcano which has stood the test of time and older than any man who had lived or presently living around its foot, has been continuously a deaf and mute witness of the significant events unfolding within it premises. Thus, its an indispensable landmark in Bicol's culture and history and the root of its past and future. The remarkable prestige that Mayon has reached for being a contender somehow reminds its forgetful people of its genuine function to their culture. Much more if the Bicolanos' icon will be part of Natures' seven Wonders, it will restore the apparent loss of value for cultural legacy of the region's dwellers. Also, the whole world will be able to take a glimpse of the rich culture of Bicolanos through Mayon.

Campaign Moves

In the great pursuit of placing Mayon Volcano on the world's map, DOT-Bicol, the Provincial Government of Albay and the City Government of Legazpi exhausted efforts they believe are necessary to better campaign the region's pride. The posters and the tarpaulins posted in the streets of Legazpi and Albay, in public and private offices, in different schools and campuses around the region and anywhere else were DOT's way to get into the public's consciousness the good news and at the same time to ask their full support. Mayor Noel Rosal has his own version of this kind of posters with his face placed beside the image of the volcano, trying to persuade the people like a political candidate to cast their votes for Mayon. The DOT, through its director has coordinated with the different departments in the region to request for their cooperation and complete support in their drive of bringing Mayon Volcano on top. In particular, it focuses its campaign more on the Department of Education and Comission on Higher Education for these to serve as intruments of promoting Mayon better to the students. Since the DOT likewise wanted the Overseas Filipino Workers especially the Bicolanos to be aware of Mayon's fight and earn their support, it found a way to campaign to the OFW's around the world through the internet. "There's no way they couldn't vote since voting is done on-line," Ravanilla said. Her department was able to campaign through the net in Canada, USA, and Australia whre great number of Filipinos are working and living for good. Ravanilla even did campaign Mayon personally to some tourists who visited the region like the Koreans and Americans. She said she'll do the same everytime foreigners come to the place. However, the director admitted that there is no sufficient budget to advertise Mayon in local and national television which she thinks will promote mayon more to a greater ublic. Luckily through KBP's help, some sort of endorserments are being done in radio stations, both AM and FM regionwide. She just hopes that prominent politicians who are Bicolano by blood like Senator Chiz Escudero and Joker Arroyo will be kind to do a little favor to campaign Mayon Volcano in their interviews. "It would only take a matter of seconds to fo that," she said smilingly.

Fight of the Youth

Ravanilla furthermore emphasized that Mayon's present significant struggle means more to the youth or the present generation whose shoulders lie the responsibility of taking care their culture's heritage. This is more of their fight which they must triumph. It's a fact that today's youth have easier access to the internet and mostly have e-mails so casting one's vote is way too easy. It would'nt take much of somebody's time and effort and would'nt even hurt someone's pocket. It's jut a click away. Why not engage into something worthwhile like doing a small yet great favor to the region's heritage that will surely develop someone's sense of nationalism and regionalism. At the end of the day, it is really the reent generation who will benefit more than this. According to Ravanilla, that is the reason why they've demanded more help and cooperation from DepEd and CHED. They want the youth to take part and take the lead in winning Mayon's fight to be one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

It isn't too late

There is still an ample time of making the Bicolano's dream for Mayon possible. As of this writing, the volcano is on the 9th spot, its peak since it became a nominee. Voting will be until the end of this year for the top 21 so the region's contender has higher chance of even climbing up. By then, only the remaining 21 will have the chance to compete in the next stage of voting which will happen throughout 2009 and 2010. Finally, in the autumn of 2010, the 7 finalit that grnered the most votes will be officially declared as the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Ravanilla is confident that with the relentless efforts they're executing and the continuous cooperation and support of not just the Bicolanos but all the Filipinos, Mayon Volcano and other 3 contnders from the Philippines namely: the Chocolate Hills, Tubatahha Reef and the Subterranean River, will be altogether drawn in the renowned map of the world.

Paradox of the Event

Despite the vigorous drive being shown by the Provincial Government of Albay to win Mayon's battle for prestige, ot is funny yet worthy to note that it somehow fails to notice some simple flaws that lie beneath the volcano's foot, that in turn might cause adverse effects. The Mayon Resthouse, which is supposed to be a perfect place for tourist who would want to have closer and better view od the volcano is not really that suitable for resting. Reports showed that the comfort rooms of the place will avail no use for someone's peronal needs. Nobody wouldn't want to experience this inconvenience especially the tourists. Another, the Plantarium located near Mayon which prior to typhoon Reming's devastation is still unrepaired and unavailable. It should have been a perfect haven for families and lovers. So, some would ak, how come the provincial Government has great courage promoting and campaigning Mayon if it appears disregarding this simple problems that might be discovered by some tourists and change their good impression on the place? The good news is that it isn't too late for them to fix these thing which they might have just overlooked. Will they still wait until a bunch of foreigners discover it before doing the right action?

Is It Easier To Predict Volcanoes Or Earthquakes?

It seems that in recent years some of the most severe hazards have taken place. Their enormous destructiveness goes hand in hand with the suffering of the people concerned. Many of us will ask ourselves why such disasters could not be prevented in times of modern technology and high scientific know how. But like weather, volcanoes or earthquakes cannot be influenced by the human intelligence. Life would not be life if we could control everything, even if it is difficult to comprehend why these terrible things do happen.

I have written this article to explain a little about the nature of volcanoes and earthquakes.

Especially volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are devastating natural hazards which are both difficult to predict and difficult to respond to.

However, examples like Montserrat, Mount St. Helens, Heimaey, the San Francisco earthquake and the Mexican earthquake illustrate the differences in terms of predicting and responding to these hazards.

Volcanic eruptions are easier to predict than earthquakes, as minor earthquakes are often the first 'sign' of a following volcanic eruption. The example of Mount St. Helens underlines this, as first signals of a coming volcanic eruption could be noticed already three months before the actual eruption. These signals can be either minor earthquakes or even gas production in a volcano shows that it is 'active.'

Earthquakes are harder to predict as they occur suddenly without any warning or with short notice. However both earthquakes and volcanoes can be monitored and observed by seismographs, tilt meters, lasers, GPS and observation. Furthermore some animals like catfishes can be used to predict them as they are very sensitive. It is also possible to create hazard maps as prediction for volcanic eruptions. These are based on previous eruptions and close observations.

The example of Heimaey in Iceland shows that volcanoes can also occur unexpectedly. It erupted without any previous signs on January 23rd 1973. In this case there were only 24 hours of minor tremors before a 400 metre fissure opened up to pour out lava. The Heimaey is only one example where a volcanic eruption occurred without previous warning. Other examples like Mount St. Helens and Montserrat show that volcanic eruptions are usually easy to predict. Mount St. Helens for example resulted in the largest landslide in recorded history with a speed of 70 to 150 miles per hour. But due to great preparedness only 57 people died. This shows that early warning results in easier and more accurate prediction.

As a general rule, it can be said that earthquakes are more difficult to predict than volcanoes as they occur without any warning.

In the Year 1816 - Tamboran Volcano Causes "The Year Without a Summer"

1816 - The Year That Tambora (1815) Was Felt Around the World

There are several reasons the "Year Without A Summer" occurred. We were having the "Dalton Minimum" - a period of low sun spot activity causing cold in general and there were four other volcanoes which preceded the Tambora one.

To sum it up: The Tambora was the largest eruption in recorded history. It blew its top on April 10, 1815. While the April 10 eruption was catastrophic, historical records and geological analysis of eruption deposits indicate that the volcano had been active between 1812 and 1815. With all of the other effects of the multiple volcanic outbursts, enough ash was put into the atmosphere to cause global cooling. This caused, in 1816 --- the "Year Without A Summer."

In May of 1816, the cold weather jumped on the young plants in the northeast and killed the crops that had been planted. June 4 was the big dramatic day; frosts were reported in Connecticut and New England. A cold front had a hold on the entire area. On June 6, snow fell in upper state New York and Maine. Farther north in Quebec City, a foot of snow fell and finished off most of their crops. The malnutrition, starvation and epidemic that followed caused what people call a "famine". This weather pattern played out very dramatically in the northern climes, and powerfully impacted the American and European economies and population health.

Not Only Tambora, But Four Other Volcanoes From 1812 to 1814

The big Tambora volcano on the Island of Sumbawa, of the Dutch East Indies, was one dramatic "blow" with an explosivity index of 7. But what probably directly contributed, along with the Dalton Minimum, were the more minor Tambora volcanoes between 1812 and 1814 and 4 other earthquakes with explosivity indexes of 4 in the below.

In the Caribbean, in 1812, on the Island of Soufriere there was a volcano. Indonesia experienced a volcano on the Sanghihe Islands in 1812. The Ryukyu Islands in Japan experienced one in 1813, and then the Phillippines on Mayon in 1814. These were not as immense as Tambora, but they were not lightweights either. There was much accumulated ash by the time Tambora blew.

American Western Expansion Commences - Joseph Smith's Family Leaves Vermont

The crop failures of the "Year Without A Summer" forced the family of Joseph Smith to move from Sharon, Vermont to Palmyra, New York. In western New York, the entire history of the birth of the Mormon Church began when factors combined to have Joseph experience his visions. From western New York, the Mormons then began a series of migrations that took them to the mid west, and then because of persecution and social unrest brought upon the Mormons, they finally fled to Utah, in a kind of Exodus to a "promised land", under the leadership of Brigham Young, a man whose family also came from the western New York area.

Western New York became an important destination from New England because of this weather. People decided to pick up and move since they were contemplating moving west anyway. The cold weather combined with a sense of "population explosion" or "feeling crowded", if you can believe it, moved upon the settlers and farmers in New England. 15 years later, in the 1830's, with many New Englanders already having left their original homes, because of the volcano, there began the biggest migration not caused by a war, in all of history.

The area of the mid west was absolutely wide open and there for the settling. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota all began to be settled by this "puritan" population which was originally from the New England area. The name "puritan" as a sociological ethnic designation (not necessarily religious, per se, they were now Protestant, Episcopalian and other groups) began during this time when they seemed to head en masse toward western climes. Ultimately the entire northern tier of the west, all the way to Seattle, was settled by this same peaceful migration of New England "puritans".

Europe is Frigid

Europe, at this time, was still recovering from Napoleon and the destruction his last "Waterloo" brought to the whole area. Food riots happened in the UK and France. Since Switzerland is landlocked, it got the worst of the famine. Huge storms, much rainfall, jamming the major rivers, notably the Rhine flooding and freezing happened, and then a big frost in August of 1816 added to the calamities. And don't think it was over because of the "Year Without A Summer". Precipitating famine, disease, lack and hardship caused a typhus epidemic between 1816 and 1819. Probably over 200,000 people perished during this period; (Ireland and Switzerland being the most impacted with population mortality).

Lack of Oats Might Have Spawned Invention

Under the category: "Necessity is the Mother of Invention", the velocipede, the ancestor of the modern bicycle was invented right after this time. Karl Drais was the man. The lack of oats caused by the famine at that time, to feed horses, may have inspired him. Modern personal transportation is all dependent upon oats. (Foreshadowing a dependency on oil). This obvious relationship might have caused a realization, and thus an inventive spark and "flash of genius", as inventions are spawned in similar kinds of situations.

Brown Snow, Red Snow, and "Frankensteinian" Weather

The eruption of Tambora also caused the Hungarian region to experience brown snow during the summer. Not too far away, Italy got something akin to brown snow. Red snow, throughout the year, was said to have fallen there. Of course the accumulation of five volcanoes in the recent past is believed to have been the cause for the "ash-colored" snow.

Partying in Rainy Stormy Switzerland Forces Literary Friends to a Writing Contest

When you plan a trip to Switzerland in the Summer, you are envisioning bright sunshine, yellow and pink blossoms adorning the hillsides and low humidity air to fill your lungs. However, in July of 1816 Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, John William Polidori and friends were forced to stay inside and stare through the windows at soggy, cold, unfriendly Switzerland. It drove them a bit batty. Amidst boozy boredom, they came up with the idea of a writing contest. Byron came up with a poem: "Darkness". Polidori, "The Vampyre"; and Shelley a story about a "Modern Prometheus", who would be fashioned by the now famous fictional "Dr. Frankenstein". Though it was finished and published in 1818, it was spawned at that place, during the "Year Without A Summer".

Frankenstein, Now a Horror Movie, Then a Feminist and Anti-Scientific Tome

Mary took the opportunity to make several profound points in her tale. She made arguments concerning science and its abuses and many undertones and symbols that had to do with feminism. Shelley's mother, Mary Wollenstonecraft was the author of a well-known feminist text and undoubtedly influenced her daughter.

Mary Wollenstonecraft Godwin married Percy Bysshe Shelley, a poet and member of an established English family. He died relatively soon after they married in Italy. Her life was filled with struggle, but she wrote and wrote, and established herself after that strange summer in Switzerland, where her writing fame was born. Mary wrote a novel, which ended up being her best-knowm after "Frankenstein". It was called "The Last Man", written in 1826. She sets a story in the 21st Century, in which mankind is destroyed. It is described as an early form of science fiction; and still, some might say, could be strangely prophetic.

A Notable Dark Decade

The decade from 1811 to 1820 was heavily marked by real and powerful socioeconomic impacts. Malnutrition, poor agricultural production and spreading mild to severe regional and local epidemics had punishing effects on European and Mediterranean countries. With the end of the Napoleonic conflicts to boot, this was a very difficult decade, especially in Europe. The very low and freezing states experienced most extremely in 1816 and 1817 affected crop growth quite dramatically and thus reduced the general state of economic health, throughout European countries, greatly at that time. With post war economic collapse and historic cold and famine, it was a dark and poverty-filled decade.

Ironically Dickens and Marx Born During This Time

Both of these men were born during this decade. One in England, the other in Germany. Charles Dickens, the English Author, wrote about heroic struggle with poverty. He has been immortalized by "The Christmas Carol", "Oliver Twist" and "Great Expectations". Karl Marx came up with an entire political philosophy for dealing with poverty. He wrote "A Manifesto of The Communist Party" along with Engels. His ideas and work can be said to have affected millions of people in the early 20th century and today.

Both of these men grew up in poverty and carried on their adult lives constantly and profoundly addressing the social and political and personal effects of poverty. While Tambora and the time of Volcanoes and the Dalton Minimum can not be said to directly affect these two gentlemen, inasmuch as multiple societal, political and industrial factors were all at play at this time, there is still a strong symbolic case of irony that can make one infer that this "Volcano Time", Tambora, the Dalton Minimum and the "Year Without A Summer" still affect us today.

Christofer French is the Founder of Astrologygetalong.com.

http://www.astrologygetalong.com