Saint Valentine

The History of Saint Valentine

Every February, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.

But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

Love quotes

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own home.
Give love to your children, to a wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor." ( Mother Teresa )

"A kiss is something you cannot give without taking and cannot take without giving."

(Anonymous )

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." (Aristotle)

"Love is the greatest refreshment in life." ( Picasso )

'Viva La Vida' is Grammy Song of the Year

The Grammy Awards

(originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys—are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry. The awards ceremony features performances by prominent artists, and some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a widely-viewed televised ceremony.
The award ceremony is generally held in February. This year,the 51st Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 8, 2009, and was held at Los Angeles' Staples Center for the sixth consecutive year.

The band Coldplay won the priorizes for song and rock album of the year.

Barack Obama's Inauguration Is One for the History Books

"A New Birth of Freedom" was the theme for Barack Obama's inauguration today—a reference to one of Abraham Lincoln's most memorable lines from the Gettysburg Address. It was part of Obama's sustained effort to link himself with the memory of one of America's greatest leaders and to give Americans reassurance that today, as in Lincoln's time, the country would find its way through any crisis.
Obama, the first African-American president, has often emphasized his bonds with Lincoln, who waged war to preserve the Union and end slavery. Obama, the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas, was raised amid the cultural diversity of Hawaii and Indonesia, and he went out of his way to involve many different kinds of people in his inauguration. Nearly every major segment of the population seemed represented in some way—whites and blacks, men and women, straights and gays, the old, the young, the middle-aged.
Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C., which became the capital in 1801. After his second inauguration, Jefferson rode on horseback from the Capitol to the president's house surrounded by mechanics from the Navy Yard—the forerunner of the inaugural parade.

One year in 40 seconds

You are going to watch images from the same spot through one year. You will feel the sensation of how days pass quicly.

So, be hapy and enjoy life!

New Year Wishes

I wish you Health...

So you may enjoy each day in comfort.

I wish you the Love of friends and family...

And Peace within your heart.

I wish you the Beauty of nature...

That you may enjoy the work of God.

I wish you Wisdom to choose priorities...

For those things that really matter in life.

I wish you Generousity so you may share...

All good things that come to you.

I wish you Happiness and Joy...

And Blessings for the New Year.

I wish you the best of everything...

That you so well deserve.

~ Author Unknown to me ~

I wish all the students, teachers and my friends a

"Happy New Year!

Click here

The oldest fim director in the World: Manoel de Oliveira

Manoel de Oliveira was born in Oporto, Portugal, on December 11 (but he was only registry in the next day) of 1908, to a family of wealthy industrialists. Since his early days he desired to become an actor, later he decided that it would be best to become film maker. He made some distinctive representation as actor like in the second Portuguese sound film, A Canção de Lisboa (1933).

His first film as a director was made in 1942, Aniki-Bóbó, and it was about a poor boy who lived in Oporto streets.

He is still working and he is the Portuguese film director with more awards. Since 2001, he is the oldest director in the world who is still active, and remains one of the most influential film makers in Europe. "Cristóvão Colombo - O Enigma" (Christopher Columbus - The enigma) is the last film he directed so far and as strange as you can imagine he still have two projects in mind!

Today with 100 years, it's really amazing his capacity of working and facing life with such a young spirit!

Congratulations!

Human rights declaration 60 years old

The 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be marked globally on Wednesday 10 December, International Human Rights Day.

What are human rights?

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

Universal human rights are often expressed and guaranteed by law, in the forms of treaties, customary international law , general principles and other sources of international law. International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.

Link: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Self-esteem

What is self-esteem?

The term self-esteem comes from a Greek word meaning "reverence for self." The "self" part of self-esteem pertains to the values, beliefs and attitudes that we hold about ourselves. The "esteem" part of self-esteem describes the value and worth that one gives oneself. Simplistically self-esteem is the acceptance of ourselves for who and what we are at any given time in our lives.

Be yourself!

International Day of Disabled People_ 3rd December

What is the International Day of Disabled People about?

On the 3rd December 1982, the UN General Assembly decided on the World Programme of Action for Disabled People. The United Nations committed itself and its members to promote the full participation of disabled people in social life and development as well as prevention and rehabilitation measures.

Disabled people are not yet fully considered within international development issues. They are still excluded from society in many countries of the world. Even where effective disability legislation is in place, the implementation lacks ideas and is hindered by negative attitudes towards disabled people.

Facts and figures

The World Health Organization estimates that there are 600 million disabled people worldwide, about 10% of the world population. It is also estimated that about 80% of all disabled people worldwide live in developing countries.

More and more, disability is seen as a social issue which is not only based on medical reasons. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Therefore the reasons for disability are always complex and can only be understood within the context of societies and cultures.

What does inclusion mean?

Inclusion is applied to a variety of fields such as education, employment, society in general or international development. Inclusion means the acceptance of all people and is not limited to disabled people but also includes other marginalized groups such as immigrants, women, poor people or people with HIV/AIDS.
In the disability field the concept is best known through inclusive education or inclusive development, promoting the consideration of disabled people in all aspects of school or international development.

"Disabled People deserve the same rights"