#13 Mondays, Moon Day

Every Monday I hear complaints about how tough it is to end the weekend. I love my job, so Mondays are not an issue for me (ok, perhaps I'm one of those annoyingly positive people. sorry). This Blog is for those of you who have never considered what a blessing Mondays can be. Did you know that Monday was a common name for British girls born on Mondays? Going further back, it is the day dedicated to the Moon.

Interestingly, this Moon referance occurs across many cultures throughout history. According to cybersamurai:

Monday

- Latin = Dies Lunis ("Moon's Day", Luna was the name of their moon-goddess)
- Italien = Lunedi ("Moon's Day", latin origin)
- French = Lundi ("Moon's Day", latin origin)
- Spanish = Lunes ("Moon's Day", latin origin)- Portuguese = Segunda-Feira ("Second Day")

- Greek = Hemera Selenes ("Selene's Day", Selene was the greek goddess of the moon)

- Skandinavian = the origin of the skandinavian "Manudagur" is Mano, the god of the moon)
- Icelandic = Manudagur ("Mano's Day", Mano or Mani was the skandinavian moon-god)
- Swedish = Måndag
- Danish = Mandag
- Norwegian = Mandag
- Dutch = Maandag ("Moon's Day", skandinavian origin)
- German = Montag ("Moon's Day", from the Anglo-Saxon moon-god Mano or the skandinavian god Mani)
- English = Monday ("Moon's Day", from the Anglo-Saxon moon-god Mano or the skandinavian god Mani)

- Japanese = Getsu Yo Bi ("Moon Day")

Apparently, somewhere in the world's collective history, there was something significant about the second day of the week (uh, when they started counting I guess) that must have been moon related. A full moon perhaps?

Interestingly, in the book of Genesis, the moon doesn't get created until the third day.  Anyhow, the moon is pretty important, so I don't mind acknowledging that as a mental note once a week.

Thhe moon is moving, slowly, away from the Earth towards the sun. Over time, this will affect our tidal shifts and possibly our plate tectonics. The moon also has frozen water particles and some useful mineral deposits, which means we won't have to ship them via rocket from Earth if we decide to settle there.

In our present time, the moon's gravitational pull affects our tides, and also many other things, like the world's largest atom smasher!

http://www.space.com/16202-moon-tides-lhc-atom-smasher.html

And of course, many people have a firm belief that the mood affects both human and animal behavior. Being a former EMT, I share this belief, though this article says it's doubtful:

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/moon.html

In conclusion, next time you wake up on a Monday morning, dreading the day ahead, think about what day it is, and more importantly, WHY it is. Our world would not exist in it's present state if it wasn't for the moon. Some may worship it, some may be frightened of it, some may just use it as a time tracking device. As long as werewolves aren't real, I'm enamoured of it. Happy Monday!

#11 Subway Station Art in NYC

NYC cannot function without it's subway system. The system started back in the 1800's. Basically there were two private, independent companies that competed with each other for subway fares. And then...well, to put it simply, the city goverment got involved. The fares were fixed and so neither company could compete effectively. Eventually, the city bought both systems, leading to today's "modern" subway system in NYC. I am hesitant to call it modern because the train stations have not been upgraded (or cleaned?) since the 1930's. Most stations no longer have public bathrooms, the once beautiful artwork in the stations has long since been covered with grime. It makes me sad as I look up at the ceiling of the 168 St Station and I can see where beautiful chandeliers used to hang. Quite a few of the stations have lovely mosaics reflecting the area of the city that they serve. For example, the 42nd St station, which resides underneath Times Square, has a mosaic that runs the length of the corridor. It features people celebrating New Year's, blowing horns and celebrating in their winter coats.
I have attached some photos of some pieces. I feel as if these stations are a part of NYC history, and it's a shame that they are slowly decaying away. I certainly hope that if the city does decide to upgrade the subway system (and I'm sure eventually they will) that they will preserve the mosaics and even some of the classic architecture.

#8 Happy Friday! Favorite youtube videos

I love to learn new things, but history and science are two of the topics I am most fascinated by. I keep myself entertained and informed in a variety of ways, including Youtube videos.
Youtube links I enjoy include the Vlogbrothers and The Creepy Bard. Actually, I have met the Bard and seen him perform in Central Park. He was kind enough to autograph his cd for me and we've been friends ever since.

John and Hank Green are the Vlogbrothers. They each have separate channels as well as one together.

http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers Raising Nerdy to the power of awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9 Crash Course World History. John Green teaches you the history of the world in 40 Crash Course episodes.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF Crash Course Biology. Hank Green teaches you biology.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCreepyBard/videos

Gather round to hear as David Anthony, The Creepy Bard regales you with songs of drinking, roving, fighting, and things to keep secret from your mother. You will laugh, cry, blush and wonder where you left the whiskey.

Throughout his travels, David Anthony, The Creepy Bard, has learned many great songs and ballads, from songs of gallantry meant to stir men to great deeds, to songs rife with metaphor and innuendo meant to make the ladies blush. Whether at a royal court or at a common pub, The Creepy Bard will entertain men, delight children, and charm the lassies right out of their corsets.
 David also frequents the Shire of Sterling in Tuxedo, New York, in the guise of Christopher Hatton, minstrel to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

And of course, the videos from Armada-USA, the company I work for:

http://youtu.be/tIqgECdTHPM How to do the e-Cure Treatment

http://youtu.be/eQYeJU5wXic the e-Cure Treatment at the International Beauty Show in NYC


I hope you find these videos as entertaining and informative as I have. Enjoy the weekend!

#5 The Cloisters, NYC

Many people are very excited about visiting NYC. They want to experience all the scenes from TV and film: Times Square, Broadway, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, etc. Those places are great to visit and certainly memorable. But this past Friday I was fortunate enough to visit The Cloisters Museum and Gardens. It's not a museum you hear a lot about but it definitely is worth visiting. If you love anything to do with History, especially the Renaissance or the history of Christianity....if you love Art...if you love gardening...if you love castles, Harry Potter, or even Gregorian chants than this is the place for you. I have attached pictures and a link below.
http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters/