Happy Chinese New Year 2018!

The 2018 Chinese New Year begins TODAY (Friday, February 16).

The celebrations are tipped to last for over two weeks - and if you fancy making a trip before the festivities end, read this guide for a first-timer's trip to China.

Chinese New Year takes place on a different date each year because it is based on the lunar calendar.

New Year's Day normally falls between January 21 and February 20.

The global celebrations are an explosion of light and sound, involving bell ringing, lighting firecrackers and watching traditional lion dances.

Chinese families gather together for a reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, and clean their houses to sweep away bad fortune on New Year's Day.

Traditionally, kids would be given red envelopes stuffed with 'lucky money' and positive wishes on New Year's Day.

Some teens now have red envelope apps, so their relatives can transfer cash digitally.

2018 is the Year of the Dog.

The Chinese zodiac moves in a 12-year cycle, and those born in 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, and 2018 are also known as Dogs.

According to the Asian astrology, your year of birth - and the animal this represents - determines a lot about your personality traits.

Although each of the twelve animals gets an outing every dozen years, there are different varieties - and 2018 will be the first Year of the Earth Dog since 1958.

Anyone born in an Earth Dog year will be communicative, serious, and responsible in the workplace.

The Chinese animal zodiac or shengxiao, which means 'born resembling', are arranged in a repeating cycle of 12 years.

The animal changes at the beginning of the Chinese New Year, and traditionally these animals were used to date the years.

However, Chinese New Year is a movable celebration, dictated by the lunar cycle, which can fall anytime between January 21 and February 20.

This year, for example, it will be celebrated on Friday, 16th February.

The choice of animals is significant - the ox, horse, goat, rooster, pig, and dog are six of the main domestic animals raised by Chinese people.

While the rat, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake and monkey are all loved by the Chinese.

The animals were separated into two categories - yin and yang - depending on whether they have an odd or even number of claws, toes or hooves.

They were then arranged into an alternating yin and yang sequence.

Legend has it that, back in the ancient days, the Jade Emperor ordered that animals would become part of the calendar and that the 12 who arrived first would be selected.

At the time, the cat and the rat were good friends. When they heard the news, the cat said to the rat: "We should arrive early to sign up, but I usually get up late."

The rat promised to wake his pal up so they could go together but, because he was so excited, forgot and went alone.

On the way, the rat bumped into the tiger, ox, horse and other animals - who were all much faster than him.

He hatched a plan and convinced the ox to carry him on his back - on the condition that the rat sang throughout the journey.

The ox arrived first, but the rat sneaked in front of him and became the first lucky animal.

By the time the cat arrived, the selection was over - which is why the cat hates the rat and will always try to chase and kill him.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

Happy Birthday! Jack Nicholson Turns 79 Today

Today is actor Jack Nicholson’s birthday.

Considered one of the best actors of several generations, Nicholson’s award-winning career is highlighted by several iconic performances. No performance may be more iconic, however, than Nicholson’s role as The Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman. In a celebrated turn as the Clown Prince of Crime, many fans cite Nicholson’s Joker as one of their favorites.

But just as he’s synonymous with the Joker, Nicholson is equally known as Jack (or Johnny) from Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel The Shining. As the axe-wielding psychopath, Nicholson and his performance have been referenced by several different films and actors. Heck, he turned a line of dialogue into a catch-phrase. Nicholson has also held memorable roles in The Departed, Mars Attacks, Chinatown, and As Good As It Gets.

Born in New York City, Nicholson turns 79 today. Happy Birthday, Jack Nicholson.

Source: http://comicbook.com

Theresa May takes stand against Saudi regime by not wearing headscarf - ignoring Foreign Office advice

Theresa May has taken a stand against Saudi Arabia's ultra-conservative regime by not wearing a headscarf - going against official Foreign Office advice.

The Prime Minister, in a dark blue trouser suit, made sure she had her wrists and ankles covered, in accordance with strict dress codes for women in Saudi Arabia.

But her choice of outfit as she arrived on Tuesday afternoon was contrary to Foreign Office guidelines, which state: “Women should wear conservative, loose-fitting clothes as well as a full length cloak (abaya) and a headscarf.”

Mrs May won widespread praise on Twitter, with users saying they were “proud you have not bowed down” to the regime, and that “secular women are equal and free”.

Britain’s only other female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, wore a long robe and a hat that covered most of her hair when she made an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

Members of the Royal family also abide by the Foreign Office’s advice when they visit the strict Muslim kingdom.

There is, however, no law requiring foreign visitors to cover their heads, and Mrs May is by no means the first visiting foreign VIP to go bare-headed.

Michelle Obama left her head uncovered when she visited Saudi Arabia with President Barack Obama in 2015 to pay respects following King Abdullah’s death.

Condoleezza Rice, the former US Secretary of State, also went bare-headed on the same trip.

Before she arrived in Saudi Arabia, Mrs May had said she hoped her visit would show “what women can achieve”.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Friday the 17th – Origins of the Unlucky

You might have heard of the unlucky nature of the number 13, especially when it falls on a Friday in some parts of the world, but in Italy the number 13 is actually a good one!  Except in one very particular situation:  13 people sitting at a table…take a look at DaVinci’s Last Supper and you may understand why…

In Italy the number 17 is avoided and feared, even to familiarly irrational lengths like skipping the number on airplane rows or street addresses.  Friday the 17th is a national day of sfortuna, or bad luck…and you’ll be hard-pressed to find an Italian who can coherently explain their motivation for avoiding travel and important events or decisions this particular day.

But why the number 17? There are a handful of potential reasons:

• The Pythagorean Greeks considered the number 17 a disgraceful number between two otherwise “perfect” numbers, 16 and 18.
• The Christian biblical flood (Genesis 7-11) started on the 17th day.
• In 9 AD the 17th Roman Legion, among others, was brutally defeated by the Germans in Teutoburg.  Some 20,000 Roman soldiers died in this unexpected attack.
• Confusion in the Middle Ages led to the Roman Numeral for 17, XVII, being associated with the Latin phrase “VIXI” (=”I lived”) seen on ancient tombs.

So why is Friday the 17th especially bad?

Likely because of Friday’s already tainted reputation due to Good Friday, which in the Catholic faith is the day that Jesus was crucified.

So on this Friday the 17th, if you find yourself superstitious, I suggest you grab a bottle of Italian wine and relax safely somewhere inside. After all, wine helps calm the nerves!

Source: https://venividivinoitaly.com

Super Bowl 2017, New England Patriots 34 Atlanta Falcons 28: MVP Tom Brady leads comeback from 25 points down to stunning overtime win - and his fifth Ring

Tom Brady led one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, lifting New England from a 25-point hole to the Patriots' fifth NFL championship in the first Super Bowl overtime.

The Patriots scored 19 points in the final quarter, including a pair of 2-point conversions, then marched relentlessly to James White's 2-yard touchdown run in overtime to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 on Sunday night.

Tom Brady inspired one of sport's most remarkable comebacks

Brady, the first quarterback with five Super Bowl rings, guided the Patriots (17-2) through a tiring Atlanta defence for fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 6-yard pass to Danny Amendola and a 1-yard run by White, which came with 57 seconds remaining in regulation. White ran for the first 2-pointer and Amendola did the deed with a reception on the second.

Brady, winning Super Bowl MVP for a record fourth-time, finished 43 for 62, the most attempts in Super Bowl history, for 466 yards, also a record, and two touchdowns.

"You know, we all brought each other back," Brady said. "We never felt out of it. It was a tough battle. They have a great team. I give them a lot of credit. We just made a few more plays than them."

Before the stunning rally - New England already held the biggest comeback in the final period when it turned around a 10-point deficit to beat Seattle two years ago - the Falcons (13-6) appeared poised to take their first NFL championship in 51 seasons. Having never been in such a pressurised environment, their previously staunch pass rush disappeared, and Brady tore them apart.

"Deflategate" far behind them, Brady and coach Bill Belichick won their 25th postseason game, by far a record. It's hard to imagine a tenser victory. Belichick became the first coach with five Super Bowl crowns.

The Patriots won the coin toss for overtime and it was no contest. Brady completed six passes. A pass interference call took the ball to the 2, and White scooted to his right and barely over the goal line.

His teammates streamed off the sideline to engulf White as confetti streamed down from the NRG Stadium rafters.

It was almost an impossible dream for the Patriots a bit earlier. But helped by Matt Ryan's fumble on a sack, a spectacular catch by Julian Edelman , and Brady's passing, they never stopped coming.

White had 14 receptions for 110 yards as the key weapon, but Brady hit seven different receivers.

Until the Patriots took charge with their late surge, league MVP Ryan was outplaying Brady. It didn't last.

Falcons head coach Dan Quinn admitted the loss was hard to take. "No doubt that was a tough one for us," said Quinn. "That's a hard one in the locker room."

Quinn felt the Falcons were worn out by the end by the pressure the Patriots applied. "I think for sure we ran out of gas some," Quinn said.

Back in Boston,  hundreds of fans gathered late on Sunday night and early Monday morning in a downtown public park to celebrate. They were dancing, cheering and chanting "Brady."

The mayor of Boston ordered the city to "fire up the duck boats" for the New England Patriots victory parade.

Democratic Mayor Marty Walsh took to Twitter late Sunday night to offer his congratulations "to the greatest team, the greatest coach and the greatest quarterback of all time."

Mr Walsh said a parade celebrating their championship would be held on Tuesday, adding the Pats "have made Boston and New England proud."

Donald Trump was also quick to offer his congratulations. The president, who has often boasted of his friendship with Brady, tweeted: "What an amazing comeback and win by the Patriots. Tom Brady, Bob Kraft and Coach B are total winners. Wow!"

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/