Preparations for Chinese New Year

Preparations for Chinese New Year

Preparations for Chinese New Year festivities in Indonesia begin well in advance of the actual date. As the year draws to a close, ethnic-Chinese tie up loose ends and put things in order in anticipation of beginning the New Year with a fresh start and a clean slate. Businesspeople balance their books and collect or pay debts that are owed.

Those who cannot afford to pay off their debts spend the pre-New Year season evading creditors, hiding in temples or hidden in their homes. In ancient China, debt collectors would seek out debtors using a lantern up until the midnight hour. It is considered vulgar to mention debts on Chinese New Year's so these matters have to be settled prior to the holiday. If unfinished business can be resolved before the coming of the New Year, then one is left with a bright and optimistic start for the coming year.

An important part of the preparations for the holiday is the thorough cleaning of the family home. This is important not only as preparation for the many guests who are expected during the holidays, but also because it is symbolic of sweeping away the evil sprits that might be lurking in dark corners or behind heavy pieces of furniture that are rarely moved. The windows are washed and repainting is done and in traditional homes they would paint the window frames and doors red to prevent evil sprits from entering and to bring good fortune to the inhabitants.

All cleaning and sweeping must be completed before New Year's Day, with the brooms and brushes out of the house prior to the dawn of the New Year. Otherwise the family believes they will have bad luck and a year of work and drudgery. Sweeping can not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune would be swept away.

In some very superstitious families it is believed that sweeping is allowed on the second day of the New Year, however the sweeping of the dust must be done towards the center of the room. Then, the collected dust must be put into the corners of the room and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day of the New Year when it can be thrown away via the back door. If the dirt is discarded in this way, no harm will befall the family. At no time should this dust be trampled on, as it will cause bad luck. It is thought that if you sweep dirt over the threshold you will also sweep one of the family members away.

Shopping is a major part of the pre-celebration preparations. Historically, New Year's Day was one of a few days in the year when the hard working Chinese peasants allowed themselves a day of rest. Since it was everybody's day of rest, including the shop owners, all shopping had to be done prior to New Year's Eve. In Indonesia, most shop owners observe the Chinese New Year by closing their shop for 3 or 5 days. The normally vibrant Chinese business districts in cities across Indonesia become quiet, with shuttered shops the norm. Shop owners would never close for 4 days as this number, when verbalized, sounds like the Chinese word for death, therefore bringing their business bad luck.

Gift Giving

It is common to exchange gifts during the holiday season, so many ethnic-Chinese go on a buying frenzy in preparation for the gift exchange. The gift and its value depend on the social status of the giver and the receiver. Costly or exotic foods or a specially prepared food that has some symbolic meaning are common gifts.

Flowers are also considered an auspicious gift, as they brighten the house of the recipient. The Chinese know that without flowers there would be no formation of fruit, so it is very important to have flowers and floral decorations in the home during the holiday season. Flowers are thought to be the emblems of the reawakening of nature, and are intimately connected with superstitions and with the wish for happiness during the ensuing year. Blooming plants are also a symbol of rebirth and new growth. Small tangerine or orange trees symbolizing abundant happiness, and white Jonquils or Narchssus are favorite gifts within the Chinese community in Indonesia.

Paper decorations are also bought and used to decorate the house. Pictures of ripe fruit or healthy smiling babies are common. Banners with gold Chinese lettering on bright red backgrounds are sold. These banners would be pasted on either side of the front entrance to Chinese homes with another banner above the door. The writing on the banners expresses wishes for good fortune, long life and many friends. Classically they would be poetic in composition. Some examples of common poems are: 'May you enjoy continuous good health' or 'May the Star of Wealth, Star of Longevity, and Star of Happiness shine upon you'.

Chinese New Year's cards are sent to family members who live far away and are unable to join the traditional family gathering. The cards are predominantly red with images of the upcoming year's animal zodiac sign, gold coins or money, cherry blossoms, r fish, all of which are objects that represent good luck and fortune.

According to tradition, families should wear new clothing during the festivities. Chinese believe that the appearance and attitude of a person on New Year's Day sets the tone for the coming year. People often choose to wear red clothing, a bright and happy color that will ensure the wearer a bright future.

New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve family members gather to observe the customs and share a traditional meal. Family members come from across town or across the Indonesian archipelago to welcome in the New Year together, usually at the home of the eldest family member.

According to custom, the male head of the family leads the family in making offerings to various house gods and family ancestors. Respect is paid to the god of wealth and the gods of the well, bed, hearth and other gods who the family wants to remain on good terms with. The offerings are usually a variety of foods, cakes and fruits placed on an offering table, placed outside the house. While holding the incense in both hands, each family member would 'pai-pai' (bow down) three times to show respect and honor for the house gods. Then the incense is placed in a holder on the offering table and family members bow again to show respect and ask permission to enter the house.

An offering table or ancestral table is also set up inside the house, if there is a member of the family who has already passed away. A picture of the deceased is hung above the table. In wealthier family's homes an entire room might be used as an ancestral hall complete with altar and tables for each generation. Small offerings are placed throughout the year to honor deceased family members. On New Year's Day, however, the table overflows with a beautiful display of food, flowers and the special dishes once enjoyed by the deceased during his/her life.

Family members are expected to show respect to their ancestors by lighting incense and bowing in front of the offering table. It is even more respectful if one kneels down in front of the table. Only after respect has been paid to the ancestors can you continue with the evening's festivities. Chinese around the world believe that the spirits of the loved ones are in attendance during the evening's celebrations. When ancestor worship rites are complete, the family gathers for the biggest meal of the year.

Significance of Traditional Foods

More food is consumed by Indonesian Chinese families during the New Year celebration than at any other holiday. As it is considered bad luck to cook on New Year's Day itself, food is prepared the day before. Chinese believe that what you do on New Year's Day will reflect on your life in the coming year, so most housewives do not want to take a chance of being 'chained to the oven'. The large number of traditional dishes prepared is also meant to symbolize abundance and wealth for the household.

Most traditional dishes served on Chinese New Year are chosen for the significance of their name or appearance. One required dish is a whole fish. Fish in Chinese is 'yu' which sounds similar to the word meaning surplus or abundance. A whole fish must be served as this represents family togetherness. Oysters are also a favorite. In Cantonese the word oyster sounds like the word that means 'good business.' In Cantonese shrimp is pronounced 'ha', which to the Chinese sounds like laughter so it also often included. Clams are another favorite, as they open up when cooked, symbolizing the opening of new horizons.

Indonesian Chinese whose ancestors come from Shanghai serve egg skin dumplings which are thought to look like gold ingots and glass noodles are thought to resemble silver chains, which earn them a place at the festive meal. Bean sprouts are another favorite. They are said to resemble a traditional scepter-like art object called 'ruyi', which means 'to your heart's content', symbolizing a great way to start a New Year. The word for black moss seaweed sounds similar to the word for 'exceeding in wealth'. Lotus seeds are believed to signify having many male offspring, which is much desired in a Chinese family. Chicken is considered a symbol of prosperity. The chicken however, should be presented with the head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness. Noodles are also considered a necessity but should be uncut as in this state they represent long life.

Ethnic-Chinese who have immigrated to Indonesian from the northern part of China serve 'jiaozi' or meat-filled dumplings. The pronunciation of this word sounds like a word meaning 'meeting of the last hour of the old year with the first hour of the new'. In the southern regions of China, 'nian gao' is an important part of the festivities. Indonesian Chinese from these regions serve this sweet rice pudding for their New Year's festivities. Another popular delicacy is 'Zong zi', glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves. Some celebrants place stalks of sugar cane behind their doors, as the height and section-upon-section construction of the sweet stalks represents the family's hope for a ladder-like ascent to new levels of glory in the coming year.

A candy tray is considered a necessity on the coffee table of any Chinese home, for visiting family members and expected guests. The tray should be circular or octagonal in shape and is called the 'Tray of Togetherness', symbolizing the family's sweet start of the New Year. Items on the tray are intentionally chosen for symbolic good fortune. Candied melon is symbolic of growth and good health. Melon seeds are dyed red to symbolize joy, happiness, truth and sincerity. Lychee nuts are thought to ensure strong family relationships. Kumquat represents prosperity while coconut symbolizes togetherness. Peanuts are thought to represent long life. Longan are believed to bring many good sons and lotus seeds many children. In very traditional families after taking several pieces of candy from the tray, adults place a red envelope containing money, ang pau, in the center of the tray to wish good fortune for the family.

Just as some foods are always served on New Year's Eve, there are other foods that are to be avoided for their perceived bad meanings. One of them is tofu. Chinese believe that white is the color of death and misfortune, so tofu is never included in the New Year's Eve meal as it might cause bad fortune to fall upon family members.

After Dinner Festivities

After dinner family members stay up late playing games, drinking wine, singing, joking and telling stories. Families strive to make the evening happy in hopes of setting the pattern for the incoming year. Mahjong and card games are popular ways to pass the time before midnight. According to superstitious belief, all the lights in the house must stay on throughout the evening. If the house is dark the god of good future will not be able to see it and will pass by.

Some families spend part of the evening going to the temple to light candles and pray to the gods such as Kwan Im, the goddess of love and mercy. In Indonesia, most of the temples hold midnight prayers. On Chinese New Year hundreds of candles burn in the temples, as adherents believe that candlelight symbolizes a bright future. Congregants donate huge candles, up to 6 feet tall and three feet in circumference, which will burn for several months. In the Jakarta area, these celebrations can be viewed at the oldest Chinese temple in Jakarta, Wihara Dharma Bhakti located on Petak Sembilan in the Kota district, Jakarta's Chinatown. Other temple celebrations can be viewed in Mangga Besar, Pluit as well as in the Boen Tek Nio Temple in Tangerang.

At midnight firecrackers are lit, not only to scare away Nian and other evil sprits, but also just to add to the excitement of the occasion. In traditional families every door and window in the house is opened to allow the old year to go out and good luck to come in with the New Year.

Chinese New Year's Day

New Year's Day

Most families awaken early on New Year's Day as sleeping late is believed to make you lazy in the coming year. It is very important to look your best on this day as not only will you be meeting many family members and guests, but also because your appearance and attitude reflects on the upcoming year. Everyone makes an effort to wear new clothes that are predominantly red. The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what one's fortunes will be for the coming year. So, children pai-pai to their parents and wish them “Gong Xi Fa Cai” meaning 'Wishing you prosperity'. Parents give their children ang pao, a small red envelope containing money. Ang poa is also given to children of close relatives and unmarried family members after they have wished an elder Happy New Year. Once you are married you are considered to be a giver of ang poa and no longer receive it. It is unlucky to greet anyone in a bedroom so everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room.

Although Chinese want to look nice on New Year's Day, it is considered unlucky to wash you hair on that day, as doing so will wash away your luck. Consequently, hair salons are extremely busy on New Year's Eve, with some salons in Indonesia doubling their prices. Customers are expected to pay the inflated prices, and hairdressers also expect ang poa. In Indonesian salons with a large Chinese clientele, this practice can continue throughout the 15-day celebration.

After the greetings of the New Year have been given to the immediate family members, families proceed to the house of the oldest family member. Traditional families may even consult a Chinese Almanac to determine the best time to visit and even the direction in which they should leave their home.

New Year's Day is filled with family gatherings. While New Year's Eve celebrations are normally for the immediate family, on New Year's Day you should visit neighbors and distant relatives. According to tradition, people check on family and neighbors to make sure that the evil Nian monster had not eaten them. Superstition holds that women shouldn't go out to visit on the first day after New Year's because the household luck might go out with them. In some areas the second day is the day wives go to their parent's home, taking their children to see their grandparents. In Indonesia, the practice of visiting family and friends is more a sign of respect than due to belief in a monster. Most Chinese Indonesians spend the entire day driving around to visit family members; these visitations are a sign of respect that is highly valued in the Chinese community. If it is impossible to visit all the people that you want to see in one day, it is acceptable to visit any time during the next 15 days.

When family and friends visit during the New Year's holiday, it is important to serve food or snacks that bring good fortune. The word for cake 'goa' sounds like a word which means 'exalted or 'lofty' and when preceded by the word for year 'nian' it sounds like a term that means 'to advance in an upwardly fashion year by year'. So, Indonesian Chinese often serve 'kue lapis', an Indonesian layered cake, to their visiting guests. The layers of the cake symbolize the ladder to achievement during the coming year. Many Indonesian Chinese bring a gift of oranges or tangerines and enclose ang poa in the bag. Tangerines with leaves intact ensure that one's relationship with others will remain intact. For newlyweds this also represents the branching of the couple into a family with many children.

Due to past government policies which discriminated against the Chinese community, which makes up approximately thre to four percent of the Indonesian population, no public display of the Chinese New Year celebrations have been permitted since 1967, when the Chinese bore the brunt of shifting political regimes. It is only recently, after 1997 and the end of the Suharto regime that some of the discriminative policies, both written and unwritten, have been revoked or changed. Previously any display of Chinese signage on buildings or Chinese public celebrations were forbidden by the Indonesian government. Although the government now officially allows public celebrations, most Chinese still feel more comfortable and secure celebrating the New Year festivities privately in their homes. It is also popular amongst well-to-do Indonesian Chinese to travel to Singapore or Hong Kong where they feel free to observe the holidays fully.

Barongsai, the Lion Dance

Barongsai may be commonplace on New Year's Day in other Asian counties, but they are normally called to private homes or private parties for viewing in Indonesia. Barongsai is a large dragon-like puppet measuring between four to six meters that is manned by three or four dancers. The dancer that controls the head of the Barongsai must be well versed in Kung Fu as many of the steps in the dance resemble Kung Fu movements. Performers must have great strength and endurance when using the larger dragons as they can weigh up to several hundred kilograms.

A Barongsai troop, consisting of at least 10 people, will arrive in a truck and the accompanying orchestra can be heard long before the arrival. Drums, bells and symbols provide music for the dance. Families are happy to be visited by Barongsai because they feel it will bring them good luck. At the completion of the dance the spectators place ang pau in the mouth of the Barongsai in appreciation for the performance. Depending on the organization backing the troop, most of the money collected is used for social work. With increasing freedom to celebrate their traditional customs, Indonesian Chinese can now even find special promotions in some Jakarta shopping malls during the Chinese New Year season which may include a barongsai performance.

Chinese New Year Celebrations in Bali

Many of the ethnic Chinese of the island visit local Klenteng's or Chinese temples to burn incense, paper money, and have their fortunes predicted for the new year that lays ahead.

The Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival on the 15^th day of the New Year marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. In the past, each family would construct a paper lantern used on this night to help see the gods. In many parts of China today, the lanterns take on a variety of elaborate shapes and styles and are displayed in public exhibitions. The Lantern festival is another reason for inviting guests to your house for a large dinner. Although it is not on the same scale as the New Year's celebration, it is still considered an important meal. After dinner the men parade outside carrying colorful paper lanterns, which have slips of paper with riddles written on them hanging from the lanterns. Guests guess the answers to the riddles and a drum is sounded when the riddles are correctly answered.

While New Year's customs vary throughout Chinese Indonesian communities in the Indonesian archipelago, the sprit underlying the celebration of Chinese New Year is the same; a sincere wish for peace, happiness and prosperity for family members and friends.

Chinese New Year Celebrations in Indonesia

Most Chinese festivals, whether based on seasons, myths about gods or ghosts, or a combination of these, stem from a belief in worshipping the gods to appease them and prevent misfortune. The biggest celebration is the beginning of the Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year's celebrations in Indonesia, known locally as Imlek, incorporate customs, beliefs and practices brought to Indonesia by Chinese immigrants who still follow the practices handed down from their parents.

Although Chinese New Year was not a national holiday on the Indonesian calendar for many years, beginning in 2002, Chinese New Year became a national holiday, to the pleasure of millions of Chinese Indonesians.

Chinese New Year is a time to show respect for those that have passed away and to reunite with family members. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the family's fortune. Although customs may vary across the archipelago and even from family to family according to social position, many customs or versions of them are still observed by the ethnic Chinese community in Indonesia today.

Within the ethnic Chinese community there are immigrants from many regions throughout China. Distinctively different Chinese communities are found in Pontianak for example, when compared to Medan or even Jakarta. Each of these immigrant communities brought the unique traditions of their hometowns to Indonesia. This diversity in origins explains the diversity in the way Chinese New Year is celebrated by communities throughout the Indonesian archipelago.

History of Chinese New Year

There are several theories as to the origins of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. Each lunar year is represented by one of 12 animals. This calendar is also called the Chinese Zodiac. The current Chinese lunar calendar was developed during the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-907), with a lunar cycle of 29.5 days. The Chinese insert an extra month once every two to three years to compensate for the differences between the lunar calendar and the solar movements, similar to adding an extra day for leap year. This is why the Chinese New Year falls on a different day each year.

Chinese New Year's celebrations start with the New Moon on the first day of the year and will end on the full moon 15 days later. It is also sometimes referred to as the Spring Festival or the “Beginning of Spring.” Although known as Chinese New Year the Lunar New Year is actually celebrated by others besides the Chinese.

The word 'Nian' meaning 'year' in Chinese is also the name of a monster that preyed on people the night before the beginning of the New Year. A popular myth describes Nian as having a large mouth, able to swallow people whole. Villagers in China were all scared of the Nian monster. One day, an old man confronted Nian and said, “I hear that you are capable of eating all the people but they are not worthy opponents for you. You should swallow other beasts of prey.” The monster heeded the old man's advice. He stopped harassing the villagers and went after other beasts of prey instead, forcing them to retreat into the forest in fear of Nian.

The old man turned out to be an immortal god. Before he left he instructed the people to put up red paper decorations on their windows and doors at the year's end to scare away Nian if he should come back, as red is the color Nian feared the most. From then on, the tradition of observing the conquest of Nian has been carried on in Chinese communities around the world. It is also thought that setting off firecrackers would scare away Nian. Although many ethnic Chinese in Indonesia may have forgotten the origins of these customs, they still celebrate the holiday with red decorations on their homes and use firecrackers to add to the excitement of the celebrations.

Taken from: http://www.expat.or.id

Dragon's Triangle (Devil's Sea)

The Dragon's Triangle is one of 12 Vile Vortices, originally plotted by Ivan T. Sanderson.1

Off the coast of Japan, almost exactly opposite the Bermuda Triangle, the Dragon's Triangle is noted for similar paranormal disturbances. Also like the Bermuda Triangle, the Dragon's Triangle doesn't appear on any official global maps.2

The Dragon's Triangle | Devil's Sea | Ma-no Umi

The Japanese call it the Ma-no Umi: the Sea of the Devil. Often compared to the Bermuda Triangle, the Dragon's Triangle is an area where sea-going vessels and aircraft allegedly mysteriously disappear. Besides disappearing planes and ships, phenomena that are linked to the Dragon's Triangle include ghost ships, USOs, lapses in time, and electronic equipment malfunctions. Some writers, including Charles Berlitz3, even link the Dragon's Triangle to the disappearance of Amelia Earhart.

Investigations into the Devil's Sea

Probably the most extensive investigation into the Dragon's Triangle was performed by author Charles Berlitz. In his book, "The Dragon's Triangle" (1989), Berlitz reports that in the years from 1952 to 1954, five Japanese military vessels were lost in the triangle with personnel totaling over 700 people. He also writes that the Japanese government labeled the area a danger zone and then funded a team of 100 scientists to study the Devil's Sea. According to Berlitz, when their vessel, the Kaiyo Maru No 5 disappeared, Japan aborted the study.

However, in 1995, Larry Kusche published "The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved" and reported that his research found that Berlitz's military vessels were mostly fishing vessels, some lost outside the Dragon's Triangle. Kusche also wrote that the Japanese research vessel carried not 100 personnel, but 31 and that an undersea volcano destroyed it on September 24, 1952. The Japanese government later recovered some of the ship's wreckage.

Kusche's research points to indications that volcanoes, seismic events and other natural occurrences cause most of the "paranormal" activity within the Dragon's Triangle.The Dragon's Triangle is a very volcanically active area; small islands in the area frequently disappear and new islands appear due to both volcanoes and seismic activity.

Legends of the Dragon's Triangle

Contrary to some pop culture belief3, 5, neither the Dragon's Triangle nor the Bermuda Triangle is located on the agonic line, where the magnetic north equals the geographic north. The position of the agonic line varies with time and at present the North American section of the line is drifting westward4. Moreover, because neither location is plotted on any official world map, the sizes and the perimeters of both the Dragon's Triangle and the Bermuda Triangle vary from author to author.

Ancient legends, some dating back to 1000 B.C.E. tell of dragons that lived off the coast of Japan5 and presumably, that is how the area became known as the Dragon's Triangle. The fire-breathing monsters of legend may well have been volcanic eruptions.

The Loch Ness Monster ("Nessie")

Legendary or Alive, the Loch Ness Monster Continues to Capture Public Attention

The "Surgeon's photo" (1934)

The Picts (painted people) were the indigenous tribes of the Scottish Highlands. An artistic people, the Picts covered their bodies with tattoos and carefully depicted their surroundings on huge carved stones, many of which still stand in the area around Loch Ness. So expert was their artistry that the animals they carved are easily recognizable yet today—except for one. The exception bears a long snout, a waterspout, and flippers. It is, perhaps, the first rendering of the Loch Ness Monster.1

The Loch Ness Monster is the longest-lived and probably most famous cryptid. The first documented sighting of the monster (except for the Pict carving) occurred circa 550 AD. Numerous sightings have been reported since then.

In 565 A.D., while journeying along the shores of Loch Ness, Saint Columba saw a large water beast preying upon a man who was swimming in the lake. In the biography, "Life of Saint Columba", Adomnán of Iona wrote 2,

"...(He) raised his holy hand, while all the rest, brethren as well as strangers, were stupefied with terror, and, invoking the name of God, formed the saving sign of the cross in the air, and commanded the ferocious monster, saying, "Thou shalt go no further, nor touch the man; go back with all speed." Then at the voice of the saint, the monster was terrified, and fled more quickly than if it had been pulled back with ropes..."

However, this account, like those that succeed it, is often discredited because the book also contains tales of encounters with other supernatural beings.

Naming the Creature

The first modern-day sighting of the creature occurred after a new road was constructed along Loch Ness, enabling clear views of the lake from its northern shore. In an article published in the Inverness Courier, water bailiff and part-time reporter Alex Campbell referred to the creature as the "monster". This first report aroused an outbreak of "monster sightings" and soon the International press was full of stories about a Scottish "sea serpent" or "monster fish". Finally, the media settled on the name "Loch Ness Monster".3

In order to add the Loch Ness Monster to the British register of officially protected wildlife, it was necessary to give the legendary creature a proper scientific name. Although naturalist Sir Peter Scott and Robert Rhines (who had obtained an underwater photo that contained an undefined image) agreed that the existence of the Loch Ness Monster was still controversial in scientific circles, they suggested the name Nessiteras rhombopteryx (Greek: "The Ness monster with diamond-shaped fin").3, 4 The public affectionately shortened the name to "Nessie" .

What Nessie looks like

Descriptions of Nessie are many and varied. The monster has been compared to an eel, a seal, a manatee, a porpoise, and a whale as well as being described as:

• A snake threaded through the body of a turtle 5
• A creature about 30 feet in length with a long neck and flippers in the middle of its body 6, similar to that of the plesiosaur, a marine reptile that measured approx. 35 feet head to tail, had a long, serpentine neck and became extinct about the same time as the dinosaurs.
• A large creature with one or more humps protruding above the surface like the hull of an upturned boat 7.

1933 – The Loch Ness Monster Hits the Headlines

In April of 1933, the Inverness Courier published the report of a local couple who described "an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface [of Loch Ness]" as they drove home on the new Loch Ness road.

Their sighting inspired a number of sightings, both in the lake and on land. By autumn, several London newspapers had sent journalists to the area and the excitement caused by Nessie sightings was so great that radio stations interrupted their broadcasts with Loch Ness Monster updates and a British Circus offered a £20,000 reward to anyone who captured the monster.

In December, the London Daily Mail hired Marmaduke Wetherall to find the creature. After just a few days' search, Wetherall reported finding footprints of a large four-toed animal that he estimated to be 20 feet in length, perpetrating the first of many modern-day Loch Ness Monster hoaxes. He made plaster casts of the prints and sent them to London's Natural History Museum for confirmation of his claim. In early January, the museum zoologists debunked Wetherall's claims, announcing the footprints were those of a hippopotamus, made with a stuffed hippo foot.

Although it wasn't clear that Wetherall had created the prints, he is quoted as angrily spouting, "We'll give them their monster!" His statement led to a 1934 conspiracy with Dr. R. Kenneth Wilson.

The Surgeon's Photo

In 1934, the London Daily Mail published a photo that showed what appeared to be a large reptile rising from the water. The photo, submitted by Dr. R. Kenneth Wilson, went unchallenged as "the" image of the Loch Ness Monster until 1994 when renewed attention was given to a 1975 newspaper clipping wherein Wetherall's son, Ian claimed the photo was a fraud. David Martin and Alastair Boyd set out to track down the truth.

By that time, Ian Wetherall had died, but Boyd and Martin were able to find his aging stepbrother, Christian Spurling. The 93-year old confessed to the hoax. He related that Duke Wetherall had pulled the stunt in seeking revenge for the humiliation he had suffered due to the hippopotamus incident. The Surgeon's Photo, as it came to be known, was actually a picture of a toy submarine attached to a wooden neck.7

Nessie into the New Millennium

The Surgeon's photo has spurred several scientific investigations into the whereabouts or at least, the plausibility of the Loch Ness Monster. Sightings of the Loch Ness Monster have occurred throughout the decades and along with eye-witness accounts, some have been reported in photographs, film, and in June 2007, a video by lab technician Gordon Holmes who exclaimed, "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this jet-black thing, about 45 feet long, moving fairly fast in the water."8

Like all other reports, Holmes's video is still under investigation. However, sightings have dwindled in recent years. At the end of the century, annual numbers were consistently in the teens, but in 2006 only two sightings were reported and in two sighting in 2007 9. Scientists remain skeptical. There has been no physical evidence, such as a captured Nessie, tissue samples, or skeletal remains recovered as of 2008.

Taken from: http://www.paranormal-encyclopedia.com

Cryptozoology

Definition: Literally meaning the “study of hidden animals”, cryptozoology is the study and search for those animals whose present-day existence is not formally recognized by mainstream science.1,2

Etymology: Crypto–from the Greek fem. kryptos “hidden”; zoology–from the Greek zoion “animal” + logia “study”.1,4

Bernard Heuvelmans

Loch Ness Monster (1934)

Famous Yeti image from Nepal (1996).

The Okapi was once considered a cryptid.

The word cryptozoology is often attributed to Bernard Heuvelmans (1916-2001), a noted zoologist and past president of the International Society of Cryptozoology (the ISC, now defunct). However, in his book “In the Wake of Sea Serpents”, Heuvelmans credits the word to Scottish explorer Ivan T. Sanderson (1911-1973).

"When he [Sanderson] was still a student he invented the word 'cryptozoology', or the science of hidden animals, which I was to coin later, quite unaware that he had already done so."3

The animals researched in cryptozoology are often called cryptids, a word introduced by John E. Wall in a letter to the editor of the Summer 1983 issue of the Newsletter of The International Society of Cryptozoology.

According to cryptozoologist Loren Coleman, “Cryptids are in the most limited definition, either unknown species of animals or those that are thought to be extinct but which may have survived into modern times and await rediscovery by scientists.”3

Cryptozoology basically consists of two types of research:

1. The search for animals that are believed to be extinct, either those found in fossils or those more recently no longer observed, such as the Australian Dodo Bird.
2. The search for animals whose existence is undocumented by verifiable evidence, but whose existence is catalogued in myth, legend, and human assertion.1

In the first section of “Exotic Zoology”, Willy Ley hypothesizes that some of the cryptids of legend, such as the unicorn, might have been based on actual animal life.1

While most scientists agree that there are thousands of forms of animal life yet to be discovered, many remain skeptical of cryptozoological research, since much of cryptozoology is concerned with proving the existence of the larger and more famous cryptids such as the Loch Ness Monster (“Nessie”), the Yeti (aka “abominable snowman”), and the Big Foot (“Sasquatch”).

Classifying cryptozoology as a pseudoscience, mainstream scientists argue that the large cryptids (megafuana) would be unable to survive through time, giving the reason that survival in their reported habitats is unlikely because of climate conditions and food supply. Their reasons also include the belief that if cryptid populations were sufficient to support reproduction, there would be documented sightings.

Ancient myths and legends are rife with tales of encounters with cryptids of one type or another, and though undocumented, sightings of cryptids still occur today. Although most of us don’t expect to see a fire-breathing dragon in the skies, in 2001 there were three thunderbird sightings reported in Pennsylvania.5

In an October 2, 2005 New York Times article, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist William J. Broad wrote, "Monster lovers take heart. Scientists argue that so much of the planet remains unexplored that new surprises are sure to show up; if not legendary beasts like the Loch Ness monster or the dinosaur-like reptile Champ said to inhabit Lake Champlain, then animals that in their own way may be even stranger."6

When first sighted, many of the animals that are well documented and familiar today were believed to be hoaxes or hallucinations, among them, the Giant Panda, the Mountain Gorilla (pongo), the Platypus, and the Okapi.7

One problem with cryptozoology is that as the cryptids are either proven or disproven, they are no longer cryptids. The science, itself, may one day become extinct!

Taken from: http://www.paranormal-encyclopedia.com

More UFOs on Indian sky – what is happening on the Indian side of Himalayas? Are they planning to land? Close Encounters? Are they building a base?

More UFOs on Indian sky – what is happening on the Indian side of Himalayas? Are they planning to land? Close Encounters? Are they building a base?

October 09, 2004

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More Indian Military personnel and local natives are coming forward in Himalayas Tarai area (Indian side) and are reporting extremely unusual activities with many UFO sightings all around the day. Some Helicopter pilots are complaining about sophisticated jamming. A young boy in Nepal drew a picture of what seems to be a Extra terrestrial Flying Object. He saw it with many friends while playing in the ground. The boys report that these vehicles have no sound, can take off vertically and can float without effect of gravity. These vehicles can also disappear all on a sudden. Some of Indian Air Force pilots are secretly reporting seeing strange flying objects near Himalayas around the Chinese border. A Tibetian monk recently in India said that these activities are going on since 1998 Indian Nuke test and the number is growing every day.

According some scientists of Indian Geological Survey, UFOs and strange beings are visiting a specific 100 square kilometers regularly since last eighteen months. North of Himachal Pradesh is experiencing very specific sightings. Among the local people there is a rumor that “they” will land somewhere there in the next seven years. Some UFO researchers say that beings from K-9 constellation will land on the earth and expose themselves finally in 2012. Is this then the final preparation of landing that even Mayans predicted thousands of years back?

One thing for sure, some one has told Indian Government and the military to stay tight lipped. The military personnel are talking privately and keep saying that for national security reasons nothing more can be said. But at least one of them has come out and said it is definitely UFO.

There are every indication that some landing base is being built under the hard rocks of Himalayas. The area chosen is tough terrain and is in no man’s land buffering between India and China.

Another interesting thing is also happening. Around this area extremely increased Indian and Chinese army activities are seen. It is so active that in any other times one could have said that India and China is going on war at that spot.

Does India and China know something that they are not talking about?

Recently an artificial lake was created in China very close to Indian border. The lake threatened massive flood on the Indian side. India and China both refused to inspect the area properly. And all on a sudden local Chine-Indian people report the lake is no longer there. Whatever residue of the lake is there is there is no longer a threat to Indian villages. What really happened? What caused an artificial lake of that size and who took care of fixing it?

Chinese officials are perplexed at this happening. But India was never worried. Neither was China worried about the flood. Why?

People in that area are reporting that large and small UFOs are being seen all the time. Chinese and Indian military is telling people that these are spy vehicles.

Why should spy vehicles appear all on a sudden? Why should Indian local people start seeing UFOs near the Himalayas all the time? Why are these vehicles disappearing so fast?

Some in Indian Space Research Organization secretly are saying that these UFOs are definitely planning and building a solid landing site with the help of Indian and Chinese Government. Time will say what the real story is!

Taken from: http://www.indiadaily.com

Iron Man 2 (2010) - Iron Man Sequel Staring Robert Downey Jr.

Welcome to IronMan2.net, the number one online source for information regarding the 2010 release of IronMan 2, the sequel to the 2008 summer blockbuster Iron Man. IronMan2.net is your one stop source for information, pictures, video and every new development with Iron Man 2, which is currently in pre-production.

I get asked all the time - Iron Man 2 When?

Iron Man 2 is set to be released on April 30th 2010 and will be one of a series of super hero films (including Thor and Captain America) that will eventually set up the Avengers movie which will be released in 2011. While information is sparse at this time, it is known that Robert Downey Jr. will return as Tony Stark, and that Jon Favreau is set to direct.

Marvel has been on a spur of announcements regarding upcoming films, so check back often to ensure that you don't miss any of the newly released news about Iron Man 2, which is sure to be one of the biggest hits of 2010.

Taken from: http://www.ironman2.net/

Iron Man 2 in 2010

Posted on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 by Peter Sciretta

At the Hollywood premiere of Iron Man, Viacom/CBS Executive Chairman Sumner Redstone and Paramount Pictures CEO Brad Grey told Entertainment Tonight that if the movie does as well as expected, Paramount will greenlight a sequel for the same week in 2010. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader already holds claim to the “first weekend of the summer” (May 7, 2010), but Iron Man 2 could easily open a week earlier on Friday, April 30th 2010 if all goes well.

Also Downey’s trainer, Brad Bose, told IESB that he starts training with Downey just after this final premiere in Los Angeles, stating that he will have Downey ready to wear the suit again in just 5 months. Sounds to me like the contracts are all but signed, and everyone is ready to go.

The studio is telling people they would be happy with anything higher than $70 million. /Film Box Office Analyst Steve Mason is predicting $102 million for Thursday through Sunday. So unless something goes terribly wrong at the box office this weekend, expect Iron Man 2 to go into production in early 2009.

Taken from: http://www.slashfilm.com

Latest Pig Flu News

August 08, 2009

There is a debate raging through the country as to whether the pig flu is a scary plague of DOOM, or merely a bunch of media hype. The answer, I believe, lies in part at one end of the spectrum, and in part at the other. If you watch the media lately, they seem to have switched sides to try to calm the public. This is never a good sign.

The good news is that the pig flu is responding to treatment. It isn’t cutting a swath of death and destruction, now that we know what it is. That’s where the good news ends.

The bad news is that it is already spreading worldwide. It isn’t just something passed from pigs to people, it also goes from people to people, and likely from bird to bird, bird to human, etc. I really believe it is far past the point of eradication. Due to immune overreaction, it strikes the strong the hardest. Keep in mind that the purple dots on this map are confirmed cases. By the time a case of pig flu is confirmed, it generally has been in a person’s system for a few days, and then after they manage to see a doctor, it tends to take several more days to confirm. What I’m saying is that this map is lagging. This is a snapshot of the pig flu as it existed nearly a week ago. I think it is worth keeping an eye on, because most of us will likely get it, if not this year, then next, or the year after.

Our primary adversary in this isn’t the piggy flu, it is fear, and the overreaction in the populace. It isn’t the media’s fault. We don’t need their help to panic. The worry here isn’t riot, it is economic. If we shut the schools, restaurants, and other workplaces in fear of influenza, the loss of wages will push those who are already teetering in this tough economy over the edge. We need to try to slow the progression by social distancing, without shutting everything down.

What we need the public to understand is that there is a flu going around. We can treat it, but not immunize (yet) against it. It is a nasty flu, but not likely deadly. It is a time to be wary rather than fearful or dismissive.

Taken from: www.theallegator.com

New pig-flu strain puts North America on alert

world news

New pig-flu strain puts North America on alert

A deadly strain of the flu virus, which has never been seen before, has killed at least 16 people in Mexico and there are fears that it is spreading across North America. Millions of children in the vast capital, Mexico City, had classes cancelled as hospitals dealt with more than 800 cases suspected to have come from a virus mutated from pig flu.

The World Health Organisation has convened an emergency committee.

The Mexican Health Secretary, Jose Angel Cordova, told TV viewers: “The department of health advises everyone to avoid busy places and crowded events unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

Mexican children and the elderly are being vaccinated to boost the immunity of those considered the most vulnerable in the community.

In Washington the White House is following the outbreak closely. There have been seven cases of a new strain of swine-flu in California and Texas, all of whom recovered.

The WHO in Geneva said on top of the confirmed deaths, a further 45 could yet be attributed to the strain.

Taken from: http://www.euronews.net

'I am a terrorist target,' claims SBY

The Jakarta Post , JAKARTA | Sat, 07/18/2009 10:31 AM | Headlines

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Friday the perpetrators of the hotel bombings may have been part of a new group of terrorists who were also targeting him in a bid to derail the presidential election.

“This is a black day in our history,” Yudhoyono said in his address to the nation after a closed-door meeting with top security officials.

“This act of terrorism was carried out by a group of terrorists who may not be from the network we currently know of.”

Visibly emotional, the President condemned the attack and pledged to bring to justice those responsible.

“I swear in the name of the Indonesia people that the government will take firm, appropriate and correct action,” he said.

However, he stopped short of saying the bombers came from the same group he claimed was bent on sabotaging his re-election.

“This is based on intelligence reports, not gossip or rumors,” Yudhoyono said.

He went on to say the group had planned to occupy the General Elections Commission (KPU) during the ballot counting.

“Indonesia was going to be made like Iran, and at the end Yudhoyono would not be allowed to be sworn in,” he said.

“In the past, there were those who got away with crimes, murder and making people disappear; this time, the state will not allow them to escape to become draculas and spread death.”

The President’s provocative statements met with rebuke and outrage from defeated rivals.

Prabowo Subianto, the vice presidential candidate of Megawati Soekarnoputri, denounced the President’s heated words at a time when “the nation needed calm”.

“There was not even a thought of expressing disappointment in such a heinous act,” he said at his campaign headquarters in Central Jakarta.

Similarly, Megawati said that “if Yudhoyono knew about the terrorist's plans, why didn’t he order police to directly take action?”

Vice President Jusuf Kalla echoed condemnation of the attacks, while also stressing that they had nothing to do with the election.

“There's no relation at all between the bombings and presidential election,” he said, adding such an attack must have been planned months ahead.

Asked about rumors that the bombings were masterminded by those who lost the election, Kalla said, “Do you mean me and Ibu Megawati? We have nothing to do with it.”

Taken from: http://www.thejakartapost.com

Indonesian Reggae Star Mbah Surip Dies Aged 60

Mbah Surip. (Photo: Afriadi Hikmal, JG)

Renowned Indonesian reggae singer Mbah Surip died at Pusdikkes Hospital in East Jakarta on Tuesday. He was 60 years old.

Surip rose to fame with the hit song “Tak Gendong” (“I Will Carry You On My Back”). The song also added at least Rp 4 billion ($400,000) to his bank account.

Mbah Surip died at 10.30 a.m on the way to Pusdikkes Hospital in East Jakarta, according to Tarzan, a close friend of Surip. He was taken to the hospital from a house belonging to Mamiek Prakoso, a comedian from Srimulat.

Metro TV reported that witnesses saw Surip’s mouth was foaming when he reached the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. He was known to be addicted to coffee and was a chain smoker. The media is still awaiting confirmation from the deceased’s family.

Surip was a street artist almost all of his life.

Mbah Surip was recognizable by his braided hair and hearty laugh. His signature greeting was “I love you full,” which he would say over and over to everyone he met.

“I love singing and I don’t mind doing it non-stop, once I sang for 60 hours with only a little sleep, but I’m happy,” Surip once said in an interview with SCTV.

Surip will be buried at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Bengkel Teater Cemetery in Citayam, Depok, West Java.

JG

Link: View Mbah Surip's hit song "Tak Gendong" on YouTube

Taken From: http://thejakartaglobe.com

Two new planets outside our solar system discovered - Hottest ever found

Astronomers have discovered two new planets outside our solar system, both extremely close to their stars and thus among the hottest ever found.
A University of Florida astronomer is among more than three dozen astronomers who found the new large planets, announced today at the Transiting Extrasolar Planets Workshop at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany.
Stephen Kane, a UF postdoctoral associate, said he and his colleagues pinpointed the planets by detecting the slight dimming of starlight that occurs when the planets pass in front of their stars. Of about 200 planets discovered so far, the new planets are only the 13th and 14th to be found using this technique, called the transit method. But that’s likely to change quickly as the United Kingdom-based effort to discover planets with the transit method gathers steam, Kane said.
“We can expect these two planets to be the first in a wave of a whole lot of these new types of planets,” he said.
Known as “Hot Jupiters” because of their Jupiter-like size and temperature, the new planets are so close to their stars that they complete their orbit in a mere two and two-and-one-half days, respectively. That compares to 88 days for Mercury, the planet with the fastest orbit nearest the sun in our solar system. The very close orbit also means that the new planets are hotter than Mercury, which has a surface temperature of 752 degrees Fahrenheit. The planets are estimated to have a temperature of at least 3,272 degrees.
There is also evidence that the solar radiation from the stars is so intense that it is whipping away their atmospheres. “Hot Jupiters are assumed to have a significantly reduced lifetime due to their proximity to the star,” Kane said.
Most planets outside our solar system have been found using the radial velocity method, which measures the gravitational wobble in the star induced by the orbiting planet. The transit method would seem at first to be impractical because it requires a lucky break: The orbital plane of the planets under observation must be aligned toward Earth so astronomers can see the starlight dim as the planets pass.
The astronomers who discovered the two new planets dealt with this complication through, in Kane’s words, “brute force.” The astronomers surveyed millions of stars using twin telescopes snapping photos of the southern and northern skies from La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands and Sutherland, South Africa. Each telescope is equipped with eight wide-angle cameras, each of which has a field of view of eight degrees, which comprises a relatively large chunk of the sky. By comparison, the full moon comprises about half a degree.
The work was done through UK’s leading planet detection program, a consortium of eight universities called SuperWASP, or Wide Angle Search for Planets.
Kane’s role in the research was to help pick out from the vast numbers of photographed stars the most likely candidates for further investigation. The job was a difficult one because planets passing in front of stars only slightly diminish the starlight, dimming it by only about 1 percent for just a few hours. Kane also led the research on the prototype for SuperWASP, and has worked on both SuperWASP telescopes, among other efforts.
“We have computer programs which are able to search all of these light curves from the stars and see if there’s something in them which looks like the star has become fainter for a short period, but it’s a complicated task,” Kane said.
After SuperWASP identified the tiny dips in starlight caused when the planets passed in front of their stars, a French-built instrument detected a slight wobble in each star’s motion as the planets passed around them, confirming the existence of the planets.
The planets are located in the constellations Andromeda and Delphinius, respectively. The Andromeda planet is more than 1,000 light years away, while the Delphinius planet is 500 light years away.
Both of the new planets are far too hot to support life. But Kane said their discovery adds to growing knowledge about how planets form, which should help astronomers understand and zero in on Earth-like planets.
“Once we understand planet formation, we’ll understand a lot more about how terrestrial planets form as well,” he said.

(Taken From: http://www.whatsnextnetwork.com)

Full-Frontal Nude Pics of Daniel Radcliffe in 'Equus' Leaked

Someone finally managed to sneak a cellphone into a performance of Equus and capture some naked Daniel Radcliffe penis action! And here it is — Harry Potter’s magic wand, up close and personal. Speaking of his magic wand, it doesn’t look like his could do much damage in the ol’ spell-casting department, if you know what I mean. Unless you count “shrivelus retractus” or “beanius weenius” or “is-that all-ius?” among your wizardry repertoire. You could probably build something more impressive with the stem of a mushroom or a couple of Lincoln Logs.

(Taken From: www.yeeeah.com)

© Sylvain Gaboury/PR Photos

The naked pictures of Daniel Radcliffe, taken during his current stint in Broadway play "Equus", have been leaked and Broadway officials are outraged of the leak. The pics, which have been all over the net, show the young actor standing totally naked in front of co-star Anna Camp, who also bares all for the play.

The play's writer Sir Peter Shaffer is furious over the posting of the pics on the Internet. The 82-year-old man said, "It's very, very bad behavior. Whoever did it is a creep." Stage technician Rachel Juozapaitis, additionally, branded the person who leaked the pics to have turned "art into pornography." He said, "It's just wrong, he still has to do some more Harry Potter films for the kids."

Radcliffe, best known for playing the role of Harry Potter in "Harry Potter" series, appeared totally nude for his role as Alan Strang in London's West End play "Equus" last year. Despite widespread criticism, the play itself was a success that he's been billed to reprise his role on Broadway. And while his five-month run in London's West End did not result in any pictures being leaked on the Internet, his latest naked pics popped up on web after just two previews of his Broadway debut. The photos are believed to be taken with a camera phone as they're "grainy and out of focus." Publicist Sam Rudy told The New York Daily News that "somebody broke a law" by uploading the snaps.

The leak of Radcliffe's naked pics, which was first reported by Queerty.com, came as a complete shock for the play's staff as there have been assurances from them that security would be tight. Radcliffe and his people have yet responded on the leak.

"Equus" began with previews last week at the Broadhurst Theater in New York City and will run through Feb. 8 next year.

(Taken From: http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00018283.html)

First look at new Harry Potter film as Hogwarts students go back to school

The Harry Potter trio are back to save Hogwarts from dark forces in the eagerly anticipated sixth film in the series.

A year after the last Potter film, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, JK Rowling's creation is back in British cinemas in November with Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince.

In this sneak peek of the new film, the young stars are looking more grown-up than ever, seven years after they leaped to fame in the first movie, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone.

Back together: Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) are back as the magic trio in Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince

The leading trio, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) are now 18, 19 and 18 respectively.

When they started out in 2001, they were just pre-teens and fans have watched them grow up on screen.

Boy wizard Harry is steadily evolving into a 'man wizard' as he expands his powers with the assistance of a mysterious book, entitled 'Property Of The Half-Blood Prince'.

A long cold look: Something appears to be troubling Harry and Hermione

New addition: Jim Broadbent (left) plays new potion teacher Horace Slughorn

As well as battling evil, Harry finds himself falling for Ginny (Bonnie Wright), the little sister of best pal Ron.

Harry previously enjoyed a kiss with Cho Chang (Katie Leung) in the Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire in 2005.

When asked if Harry will lock lips with Ginny, director David Yates said: 'They're about to kiss. Then the bloody Death Eaters turn up and cause all sorts of anarchy.'

Evil: Harry's nemesis Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) moves even closer to the dark side

Hogswarts master: Michael Gambon as Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster at Harry's school

Harry isn't the only one with the love plot - Ron find himself subject to the attentions of Lavender Brown, much to the disdain of jealous Hermione.

The focus of the latest film is the dark evolution of Harry's blond rival Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton).

In the movie, Harry is 16 and is deeply suspicious of Draco and teams up with Dumbledore to keep Hogwarts protected from evil.

Lovestruck: Ron Weasley falls for the charms of Lavender Brown

Oscar-winning actor Tom Broadbent also joins the cast as new potion teacher Horace Slughorn.

Other returning castmembers include Michael Gambon as Professor Dumbledore, Dame Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, Helena Bonham Carter as Belatrix L'Estrange, Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid and Alan Rickman as Severus Snape.

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix is released in the UK on November 21st.

(Taken from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk)