Special News

3November2009

Special News on Hiatus

Posted by Cecilia under: Uncategorized.

After 18 months and nearly 600 posts we’ve decided to take a break from daily posting on Special News. It’s been our pleasure to bring you the latest positive news from around the world.

We have decided to focus our attention toward other writing projects that we’ve neglected for many months.

From time to time we’ll update you with stories that we find too important to not pass along and we’ll notify our followers on Twitter.

Thanks to our loyal readers for your support and comments.

3November2009

Who invented shoes?

Posted by Cecilia under: Art; Culture; Health; Science; Sport.

We take shoes for granted but there were times in ancient human history where people didn’t wear shoes. Creating and wearing shoes was a huge step in human development because it meant protection against cold and rough ground as well as care of the own body.

The first shoe-similar footwear can be found on Spanish cave drawings from more than 15,000 years ago. The drawings show humans with animal skins or furs wrapped around their feet. In order to find the very first real shoes we probably have to go back to the Sumerian culture in Mesopotamia. These first shoes were soft sided and made of wraparound leather. They looked similar to what we know today as moccasins.

Shoemaking was introduced into the United States in 1629,. The earliest known shoemaker was Thomas Beard, who arrived in Salem, Mass., in 1629.

Not so long ago there was no difference between right and left shoe. Until 1850 both shoes, left and right, were made in the same form. With today’s highly stylized and customize footwear it’s hard to imagine people wearing the same shoe on both feet.

Today companies use advanced technology to design high fashion shoes as well as improve the performance of athletic footwear.

2November2009

UNESCO news: Poland is national partner for Denkmal 2010

Posted by Cecilia under: Culture; Economy.

Denkmal is the name of the European Trade Fair for Conservation, Restoration and Old Building Renovation.

According to UNESCO, the patron for Denkmal, it is an “outstanding platform for the international exchange of experience in heritage conservation, it is a successful symbiosis of exhibition and special shows.”

After Italy (2004), France (2006) and Hungary (2008) the Denkmal trade fair’s new national partner is now confirmed to be Poland. Being the national partner is a great honor and opportunity to present the achievements of Polish heritage conservation to an international public.

Denkmal 2010 will take place November 18-20, 2010 in Leipzig, Germany.

1November2009

Food for health: bananas, the high energy fruit

Posted by Cecilia under: Health.

Did you know that the banana plant belongs to the same family as the lily and the orchid? Unlike its colorful siblings, the banana plant produces a wonderfully sweet and firm fruit.

The health benefits of bananas are numerous. They ease constipation and halt diarrhea, protect our eyesight and promote kidney health.

Sport enthusiasts appreciate the potassium-power delivered by this high energy fruit.

Bananas are one of the best sources of potassium necessary for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Additionally one banana a day can protect against atherosclerosis.

Many Americans have a high-salt diet which originates from eating prepared meals and chips. High-salt diets cause an increased calcium loss which weakens the bones. The potassium in the bananas counteract this calcium loss and indirectly help to promote bone health. Bananas help to build stronger bones by increasing the absorption of calcium.

Bananas correct another health problem caused by drinking too much coffee or energy drinks, stomach ulcers. Substances in bananas activate the stomach to produce a stronger barrier against stomach acids.

Even if they weren’t so delicious, the health benefits alone would be enough reason to eat more bananas!

31October2009

Halloween any time of the year in London

Posted by Cecilia under: Culture; Economy.

Today is Halloween, when the spooks come out in your neighborhood. But there are some places around the world where the spirits hang out all year. On your next trip to London, try a frightening, gruesome and funny tour around the city.

This ultimate London Ghost Walk is called “Lantern Walks of Hidden Horror” and guided by Fred Strangebone alias Ben Whitehead, British comedian and voice imitator.

Holding a hurricane lantern and with sullen looks he leads horror-loving tourists to London’s most creepy places.

Some called this kind of city tour “more of a moving performance than a tour”.

Ben Whitehead offers in five different horror tours through London.

Happy Halloween!

30October2009

How intelligent are crows?

Posted by Cecilia under: Nature; Science.

Crows exhibit a remarkable intelligence. They can show amazing tactical thinking abilities, such as hiding food from their rivals.

Researchers at the University of Vienna, Austria observed crows as they hid the food. They wait until other crows stand in the “blind spot” to hide their food reserves.

In order to confuse would-be thieves, some crows periodically move their hiding place. One day they even confused the researchers when they pretended to change the hiding place and then moved it to a new location.

Researchers call this intelligent crow behavior “tactical cheating”.

29October2009

David Lynch Weekend to come

Posted by Cecilia under: Culture; Education.

During the past 4 years the David Lynch Foundation has provided scholarships for over 100,000 at-risk public and private school students to learn to meditate. Research on the meditating students has shown improved grades and decreased stress, depression and violence compared to non-meditating students.

Each year the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa organizes the David Lynch Weekend, which will take place this year on November 13-16, 2009.

Filmmaker David Lynch himself will be at Maharishi University of Management to launch the David Lynch Foundation’s national initiative to train new teachers of the Transcendental Meditation technique. Physics professor John Hagelin, Ph.D. will speak about the science of consciousness and brain researcher Fred Travis, Ph.D. will conduct a live brainwave demonstration on meditation.

Registrations are accepted at the website lynchweekend.org until November 5, 2009.

28October2009

Hobbit House in Manila

Posted by Cecilia under: Art; Economy.

Normally when we write about an unusual restaurant its because of the location, or its unique design. The Hobbit House in Manila, Philippines belongs on the list of extraordinary restaurants for another reason.

They claim to be the bar with the smallest waiters in the world.

The Hobbit House is inspired by Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Its interior is decorated with swords, lights and accessories reminiscent of Middle Earth.

The diminutive waiters serve to complete the effect of a visit to the Shire. The staff’s friendliness is as renowned as the bar itself.

27October2009

Who invented the sauna?

Posted by Cecilia under: Culture; Health.

The sauna has a long history that most likely began in Finland a thousand years ago. In addition to its Nordic origins, other cultures have created their own versions - such as the banya in Russia, the Native American’s sweat lodge, the hamam in Turkey and the onsen in Japan.

With its long, dark and cold winters it seems no wonder that the sauna was invented in Finland.

The origin of the word “sauna” lies in the Finish word “savvia” which means “a pit dug into snow for temporary shelter”.

In order to use a sauna properly you need to have a place where you can cool off. In Finland, the closest snowbank is an obvious place.

To use a sauna in the recommended way you have to get undressed, showered and dried off. Step into the sauna with only a towel and spend 5-10 minutes inside. Then go outside for a cold dip in the snow or water and return inside for a longer stay. Then you exit again for on more roll in the snow, rest and get dressed again.

The effects of a sauna on the body are the cleansing and strengthening the skin, renewing cells and strengthening the immune system - as well as the heart. And last but not least: a visit to the sauna improves your general mood. All in all, the perfect way to survive Finland’s endless winter.

26October2009

World Heritage site: Malpelo Island

Posted by Cecilia under: Nature.

Malpelo Island is located about 314 miles off the coast of Columbia. What made this site worthy of listing as a World Heritage site is its large aggregations of marine biodiversity.

This vast marine park that encompasses Malpelo Island and its surrounding marine environment is the habitat for internationally threatened marine species.

These deep waters support important populations of large predators such as the extremely rare short-nosed ragged-toothed shark. The park allows for an undisturbed environment where species maintain natural behavioral patterns.