HEALTHY DRAGON!!!!

* The dragon fruit is very high in antioxidants. As a result, frequent consumption of the fruit would block free radicals, which often lead to numerous health damaging diseases such as cancers.
* The pitaya fruit is extremely high in vitamin C, and so you can frequently eat it to heal wounds and bruises fast. Furthermore, being vibrant source of vitamin C, the fru...it improves your immune system the wonderful way.
* The vitamin B12 content helps enhance the appetite of a person.
* The dragon fruit amazingly moisturizes and delivers smoothing effect for your skin and therefore improves its appearance.
* It helps reduce the effects of toxic contents such as heavy metal. Besides that, intake of pitaya fruit helps lower cholesterol levels and normalizes hypertension.
* Frequent intake of pitahaya fruit help combat asthma and also cough.
* The vitamin B1 content helps in generating of energy as well as metabolizing carbohydrates.
* A great source of phosphorus and calcium, dragon fruit reinforces our bones, makes healthier teeth and is great for body cells development.
* Consuming dragon fruit on a regular basis cuts down on weight significantly, and thus building a well-balanced body with no compromising on one's health.
* The fruit is helpful in bringing down blood sugar levels in type II diabetes.See More

Lets know one of the wonders of the world!!

Important facts about the Statue of Zeus

The Statue of Zeus was the fourth oldest Wonder. It was built in Olympia in 433 BCE by the famous sculptor Pheidias to adorn the Sanctuary of Zeus, where the Olympic games were held each year (King 10). Pheidias began to build it around 440 BCE .

The Statue was the smallest of all the Wonders, but it was nonetheless impressive . It was 40 feet high and represented Zeus seated elegantly on his throne. Its base was 20 feet wide and 3 feet high. The Statue was so large that it dominated the temple's interior . Unfortunately, the size of the statue was often a magnet for criticism . Strabo was one such critic:

. . . Although the temple itself is very large, the sculptor is criticized for not having appreciated the correct proportions. He has shown Zeus seated, but with the head almost touching the ceiling, so that we have the impression that if Zeus moved to stand up he would unroof the temple.

Others liked the concept that Zeus was, in effect, larger than life (Ashmawy). It was this aspect of the Statue that made it so popular. The concept that the god would "unroof the temple" if he tried to stand fascinated poets and historians endlessly .

The Statue was beautifully sculpted with rare and expensive materials . Its skin was made of ivory, and his robes and the ornaments that decorated his body were skillfully crafted from gold . He was crowned by an olive branch wreath and he held an image of his personal messenger, the goddess of victory, Nike, in his right hand (Silverberg 56). In his left, he held a scepter with an eagle perched on the end . Pausanias the Greek of the second century CE describes the idol's splendor:

On his head is a sculpted wreath of olive sprays. In his right hand he holds a figure of Victory made from ivory and gold . . . In his left hand, he holds a sceptre inlaid with every kind of metal, with an eagle perched on the sceptre. His sandals are made of gold, as is his robe. His garments are craved with animals and with lilies. The throne is decorated with gold, precious stones, ebony, and ivory.

In the second century BCE, the aging Statue was repaired. In the first century CE, the Roman emperor Caligula tried to move the statue to Rome. Before he could, the scaffolding his workmen had built collapsed .

The last years of the Statue of Zeus

* In CE 391, Emperor Theodorius I banned the Olympics as Pagan practices and the Sanctuary of Zeus was closed. Earthquakes, landslides, floods, and fire damaged the temple horribly. These disasters did not affect the Statue, as it had already been moved to a palace in Constantinople, where it was destroyed in a huge fire in CE 462 .

Nothing remains of either the temple or the Statue. Ironically, Pheidias' workshop still stands. It is identical in size and placement to the Sanctuary of Zeus .

Roses!!!Roses!!!

"Roses are red, violets are blue…” How many ways

are there to end that rhyme? (Not sure, but if you

know the answer, we can add it to our list of fun

facts below.) Impress your honey on Valentine’s

Day with your knowledge of all things floral.

* Roses are valued for their romantic symbolism

but their blooms are also edible. No, they don’t

taste like chicken. Rather like the flavors of green

apples and strawberries.
* The rose family also includes pears, apples,

cherries, plums, peaches, apricots, and almonds.
* The rose is named as the favorite flower of

85% of Americans.
* George Washington bred roses at his home.

Apparently, pruning roses came naturally to him

(what with all that practice “pruning” cherry trees

as a child).
* A fossilized rose - over 35 million years old -

was found in Florissant, Colorado.
* Rose hips contain more Vitamin C than any

other fruit or vegetable.
* Mythology says that roses grew thorns when

Cupid accidentally shot an arrow into a rose garden.
* The oldest rose in the world has flourished for

over 1,000 years on the wall of Hildesheim

Cathedral in Germany.
* On Valentine's Day in 2008, a whopping 214

million roses were sold in the United States. 59%

of them were red. 100% of them were over-priced

(see next fun fact).
* Just in time for Valentine's Day, rose prices

typically jump 42% in February.
* There are more than 15,000 different types of

rose species and cultivated varieties worldwide.
* A nursery will name a rose after you for a fee.

To have the next rose named (not just any other

name, but your name) you'll have to fork over

$15,000. (Hmmmm… the "Doug" rose has a nice

ring to it.)
* The rose is the favorite flower of 85% of

Americans.

* In 1986, then President Ronald Reagan signed

legislation making the rose the official National

Flower of the United States.

* George Washington bred roses at his home.

* A fossilized rose, which was 35 million years

old, was found in Florissant, Colorado.

* Over 900 acres of greenhouse roses are

harvested in the United States every year. 60% of

these are grown in California.

* Florists sell millions of roses each year in the

United States. The two biggest days for sales are

Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Christmas is the

third highest day for rose sales.

* Columbus’ crew picked a rose branch out of the

ocean on October 11, 1492. This signaled the

presence of land. The very next day, Columbus

discovered America.

* Rose hips contain more Vitamin C than any

other fruit or vegetable.

* Ancient Romans believed that white roses grew

where the tears of Venus fell when she was

mourning Adonis.

* Shakespeare referred to roses over fifty times in

his works.

* Mythology says that roses grew thorns when

Cupid accidentally shot an arrow into a rose garden.

* The oldest rose in the world has flourished for

over 1,000 years on the wall of Hildeshiem

Cathedral in Germany.

Strawberry

Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.

The average strawberry has 200 seeds.

The ancient Romans believed that strawberries alleviated symptoms of melancholy, fainting, all inflammations, fevers, throat infections, kidney stones, bad breath, attacks of gout, and diseases of the blood, liver and spleen.

To symbolize perfection and righteousness, medieval stone masons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals.

In parts of Bavaria, country folk still practice the annual rite each spring of tying small baskets of wild strawberries to the horns of their cattle as an offering to elves. They believe that the elves, are passionately fond of strawberries, will help to produce healthy calves and an abundance of milk in return.

Madame Tallien, a prominent figure at the court of the Emperor Napoleon, was famous for bathing in the juice of fresh strawberries. She used 22 pounds per basin. Needless to say, she did not bathe daily.

Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.

There is a museum in Belgium just for strawberries.

Strawberries are a member of the rose family.

Ninety-four percent of US households consume strawberries.

Americans eat 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries each year plus another 1.8 pounds frozen per capita.

Strawberries are low fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, potassium

Strawberries, as part of a 5 a day fruit & vegetable program, can help reduce the risk of cancer & heart attacks.

In medieval times, strawberries were served at important functions to bring peace & prosperity.

Folk lore states that if you split a double strawberry in half and share it with the opposite sex, you’ll soon fall in love.

In France, Strawberries were thought to be an aphrodisiac. A soup made of strawberries, thinned sour cream, borage, & powered sugar was served to newlyweds.

Over 53 percent of seven to nine-year-olds picked strawberries as their favorite fruit.

Eating strawberries, which are rich in nitrate, can increase the flow of blood & oxygen to the muscles by 7%. This prevents muscle fatigue, making exercise easier.

In a test, subjects who ate nitrate rich foods like strawberries, before exercising burned 100 more calories than those who did not.

MIND BLOWING VIEWS OF BILLGATES' HOUSE!!!!!!!

Building officials from a dozen local municipalities toured Bill and
Melinda Gates’ house last month, below are the comments from one of the
officials.
- Currently 300 workers including 104 electricians.
- No visible electrical outlets anywhere. Gates does not like “clutter”.
- Construction likely complete in September 997, months behind owner’s
schedule.
- 2 steps from the main floor to the main entry (or take the
elevator).
- Wood columns from main floor to roof in entry area are over
70 feet long.
- Theme throughout main floor is high tech. lodge. Primary
structure is all exposed similar to large logs in a lodge except the
logs are PERFECTLY finished.
- All timbers used inside and out are finished the same – inches have
been removed from the exterior of the wood and then sanded to a satin
finish.
- All timbers are nearly perfect in that there are almost no knots.
- All connectors are structural grade stainless steel.
- All bolts throughout the house are stainless steel and oriented the same
direction.
- All woodwork is flawless. Much of the woodwork is of various rare
species from all over the world – imported especially for the Gates’.
- Some of the interior passage doors weigh over 800 lbs, but are balanced
for easy use.
- Accoustics are a concern throughout. Various woods and fabrics are being
used. Accoustic panels in the Ballroom move out of sight on their own.
- Roofing is stainless steel.
- Floor is heated everywhere including the driveway and walks.
- Ventilation system also conditions the air for health and comfort.
- Security system (automated and personnel) is redundant. Hidden
cameras everywhere including interior stone walls. Sensors in the floor
can track a person to within 6 inches. System is monitored at the
Microsoft campus.
- Gates has a personal 4-car garage. House for the maintenance staff has
its own-car garage. Nanny parks in the 6-car carport across from the
main entry. An additional 0-cars can be parked in a subterranean
arched concrete building which through an electronic transformation
becomes a basketball court.
- Nanny lives in plush quarters in the main residence near to the Gates’
bedroom.
- Existing cedar tree was determined by Gates to be in the wrong
location and moved 6 inches.
- Gates insisted on saving a 40 year old maple adjacent to the driveway.
The tree is monitored electronically 24 hours per day via computer. If
it seems dry, it gets just the right amount of water automatically
delivered.
- There will be an 8 hole putting range.
- A salmon hatchery is being finished.
- If you wish, your music will follow you throughout the house – even at
the bottom of the pool.
- Many doors are blended so well with the walls that it is hard to see
them.
- Theatre (underground in a concrete shell) is the most state of the art
theatre in the world according to specialty contractor.
- Entry gate senses when your car approaches and opens fully by the time
you arrive.
- Very old antique cabinets from China have been brought in and built into
the walls with adjacent paneling built to match the cabinets exactly.
- 52 miles of communication cable in the building.
- Shower curtain next to the spa is a 4500 lb slab of granite

INTERIOR VIEWS OF THE HOUSE............

THE ENLIGHTENED BUFFALO

He created chaos in his owner's family and even gave him sleepless nights.To top it all off,he continued fooling him for a full five years!
I'm talking of a buffalo in Chinese farmer Mo Zhaoguang's barn.Many a time,Mo and his wife would find the light in the barn turned on through the night.
"My wife and I quarrelled,each accusing the other of a bad memory."Mo says.
One night,a frustrated Mo slept in the barn to catch the culprit.It turned to be the buffalo,pulling the card switch with his teeth to turn the light on and off.
Mo observed a pattern in this buffalo's strange behaviour-he turned on the light when hungry or thirsty and when his water trough needede refilling.
Ma's buffalo has been in the limelight on Chinese TV and visitors are coming from far and wide to see his trick.

TRIVIAL FACT

Thailand's former Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra sent his 17 year old daughter to work in McDonald's so that she could learn the value of money and the importance of hard work.
Note:Thakshin is one of the country's richest man.