This picture released by the Greek Ministry of Culture on September 7, 2014 shows one of the two statues of a Caryatid inside the Kasta Tumulus in ancient Amphipolis, northern Greece (AFP Photo)

AFP, September 7, 2014

Athens (AFP) – Two stunning caryatid statues have been unearthed holding up the entrance to the biggest ancient tomb ever found in Greece, archaeologists said.

The two female figures in long-sleeved tunics were found standing guard at the opening to the mysterious Alexander The Great-era tomb near Amphipolis in the Macedonia region of northern Greece.

“The left arm of one and the right arm of the other are raised in a symbolic gesture to refuse entry to the tomb,” a statement from the culture ministry said Saturday.

Speculation is mounting that the tomb, which dates from Alexander’s lifetime (356-323BC), may be untouched, with its treasures intact.

Previous evacuations of Macedonian tombs have uncovered amazing troves of gold jewellery and sculptures.

A five-metre tall marble lion, currently standing on a nearby roadside, originally topped the 500 metre-long funeral mound, which is ringed by a marble wall.

Two headless stone Sphinx statues flanked the outer entrance, officials said, who said that “removing earth from the second entrance wall revealed the excellent marble caryatids”.

This picture released by the Greek Ministry of Culture on September 7, 2014 shows one of the two statues of a Caryatid inside the Kasta Tumulus in ancient Amphipolis, northern Greece (AFP Photo)

Photographs released by the ministry show the sculptures — which hold up a lintel — uncovered to mid-bust, their curly hair falling onto their shoulders.

Archaeologists have been digging at the site, which Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called a “very important find”, since mid-August.

The ministry said the lay-out of “the second entrance with the caryatids gives us an important clue that it is a monument of particular importance”.

Expectation had already begun to build given the quality of the sculpted column capitals and delicately coloured floor mosaic already discovered at the site.

Theories abound about who could be buried in the tumulus tomb, ranging from Alexander’s Bactrian wife Roxane, to his mother Olympias or one of his generals.

Experts say the chances of Alexander himself being buried there are small, however.

After his death at 32 in Babylon, the most celebrated conquerer of the ancient world is believed to have been buried in Alexandria, the Egyptian city he founded — although no grave has ever been found there.

Your deepest roots are in nature.  No matter who you are, where you live,
or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked
with the rest of creation.  ~Charles Cook

Sunrise at Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Too many people today are stuck in the past, or dwell on the future. Both of these just waste your time, not letting you live in the moment. Whether you’ve been through a difficult time or see the past as “the good old’ days”, this article shows you how to just move on in general.

Past

1. Motivate yourself to quit looking back. The only way to move forward is to face forward.

2. Think about your road of life. If you’re always looking in the rear-view mirror, do you know where you’re going on a curvy road?

3. Know that ‘better things’ are ahead, even if the precise nature of these things is hard to predict.

4. Don’t be discouraged. Sometimes, people will shove you out, or you will somehow be forced out of that past. That’s the door of the past slamming in your face telling you desperately to move on.

Future

1. Stop and think. Can you really control the future?

2. Nothing happens by accident. Also worded as “everything happens for a reason.” So why should you doubt? What happens, happens.

3. That bigger and better door isn’t ready for you to burst through just yet. Don’t be the child taking on the adult. You haven’t grown in the present all the way.

Now

Enjoy it! There’s only going to be one day like the one you are living today. Each day is precious, and as you grow, time just goes faster. You never know when you will pass away, so live each day to the fullest.

Source: wikiHow

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire.
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

~Saint Patrick

Don’t think so hard. You are not the thoughts in your head. Your worries, anxieties, guilt, and other negative thoughts are not you, and getting lost in them poses a huge impediment to being in the moment. Stopping yourself from thinking so hard is an important step toward mindfulness. As you probably know, it’s also very difficult to do. Here are some ways you can stop letting your thoughts rule your existence:

Stop thinking too much about the future. A certain amount of planning is good, but there are many, many things that are out of your control. You cannot control what will happen in 5 or 10 years. When it comes down to it, you don’t even know what might happen tomorrow. Make a conscious decision to stop worrying so much. When you find yourself obsessing, do something to bring about greater mindfulness, like stepping outside and breathing fresh air for a few moments.
Accept pain. When life brings tragedy, being in the moment means experiencing pain instead of trying to ignore it or make it go away as fast as possible. Allowing yourself to feel negative emotions – fear, guilt, anxiety, sadness, and anger – is an important part of living in the present.

Try not to let your emotions get wrapped up in past occurrences or worries about the future.

Breathe. Taking several deep breaths can help you return to the present moment. During those times when your thoughts are jumping from problem to problem and you can’t seem to focus on the present, stop and breathe. Take five deep breaths, inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Focus on your breath as it enters and leaves your body.

Source: wikiHow

The platypus has both baffled and inspired the scientific community since its discovery by Europeans over 200 years ago. Award winning wildlife film maker David Parer takes us down the east coast of Australia to the many serenely beautiful habitats of the platypus.

A DNA study found the creatures to be a mix of mammal, bird and reptile with, even more strangely, 10 sex chromosomes.

As one of the few venomous mammals on Earth, a platypus uses venom in the spur of its hind foot to fight and kill their prey. Source: Sharenator

Respect everyone and earn the respect of others. Respect your friends, your family, and your lovers by validating their opinions and experiences. Try to understand them deeply, on a personal level. Ask them questions, have long discussions, and open your heart. Understand that the other person has their own wishes and desires, and rights to privacy and dignity. If you can’t allow this for another person, then you can’t love them. ~wikiHow

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Australian Phil McNamara filmed the instant when Mount Tavurvur in Papua New Guinea exploded; footage shows the shockwaves, records the sonic boom

Tourist captures the moment Mount Tavurvur volcano explodes on Papua New Guinea. Photo is a screen grab from the amazing video

Australian Phil McNamara filmed the instant when Mount Tavurvur in Papua New Guinea exploded; footage shows the shockwaves, records the sonic boom

By David Strege, GrindTV
September 07, 2014

Australian tourists Phil and Linda McNamara were vacationing with friends in Papua New Guinea when they decided to get a closer look at Mount Tavurvur, a volcano they had visited only days before when it was dormant.

“It was a spur of the moment thing to head out and film the volcano,” Phil McNamara told the Brisbane Times of Australia. “We saw it erupting and the ladies from Kokopo Beach Bungalows, where we were staying, said they could take us out on the boat to get a closer look.

“I thought I might as well try and capture something you rarely get to see.”

And capture something rare he did. This is absolutely amazing:

Holy smoking Toledos is right.

Not only do you see the huge plume of smoke and ash when Mount Tavurvur explodes, you see the clouds ripple from the shockwaves above the volcano. Phil McNamara warned those on the boat that the shock was coming and—boom!—it came seconds later.

You could almost feel it while watching the video. The people on the boat sure did, as you could tell from the shake in the camera.

McNamara told the Brisbane Times that the touring party “absolutely crapped themselves” when the sonic boom hit.

Linda McNamara posted the video on Facebook on Wednesday and its popularity began gaining speed around the Internet ever since. The Brisbane Times reported Saturday that media companies from around the world were beating a path to McNamara’s door.

“It’s a bit of a surprise really,” said Phil McNamara, 58, a taxi driver from Townsville, Australia. “There’s been a lot of interest.”

Indeed, and for obvious reasons.