Mormonism

     The Mormon movement was founded by Joseph Smith Jr. in New York, USA in the 1830's.  There are approximately 12.2 million followers worldwide.  Mormons believe that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are three different beings. They believe that Jesus Christ came to America and taught the Native Americans after his resurrection and that humans were spirits before this life and salvation is returning to God.  In order to receive salvation you must have faith in Christ, do good works, ordinances, and evangelism.
     Mormons believe in resurrection after death, in which the Mormons and families will go with God to heaven, other's will be rewarded but won't live with God, and the one's who reject God after death will go to hell.  Mormons do not drink alcohol, take tobacco, or drink coffee or tea.  Baptism is for the dead and temple garments are worn under your daily clothes.  They are also very active in evangelism. Their books include: The Christian Bible, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.  

WAC: Gaius (Caligula)

     I Gaius, also known as Caligula, was born on August 31st in AD 12.  I was born into the town of Antium and was one of third born to my family.  I was given the nickname "Caligula" because of my small feet but I did not like this name.  I was a famous Roman Emperor who helped build and change Rome forever. I was loved by many and some of my decisions changed Rome for the better.
     Firstly, I became emperor on the 16th of March in the year AD 37.  I have been described to have been a noble and moderate ruler for the first two years of my reign as emperor.  To gain supporters I granted bonuses to those in the military, city troops, and the army outside of Italy.  I also helped those who were hurt by the Imperial tax system and put on public spectacles, such as gladiator battles.  I had my father-in- aw, brother-in-law, cousin, and my adopted son executed.
     In AD 38, I started to focus on political and public reform.  I had the accounts of public funds published, which hadn't been made public while Tiberius reigned.  I also aided those who had lost things in fires, abolished certain taxes, and gave out prizes at gymnastic events.  One of the most important events that I did was restoring democratic elections.  Some didn't agree with my actions, executing people without full trials and forcing my helper Macro to commit suicide, but I think there's nothing wrong with that.
     In AD 39, the relations between the Roman Senate and I were demolished, why it happened is unknown.  After the relations with the Senate were ended I was met with a number of conspiracies against me, one which ended with the governor of Germany being executed.  In AD 40, I expanded the Roman Empire into Mauretania and tried to expand into Britanna.  I had those in Rome worship me as a physical god even including the Senators.
     On the 24th of January in AD 41 Chaerea and some other guardsmen plotted to assassinate me.  Their plot worked, Chaerea is claimed to have stabbed me first, resulting in my death.  The actions and decisions during my reign have changed Rome and even the world.  Some of my decisions were quite noble but other's were a bit questionable.  It goes to show you that the decisions of the emperors of Rome have changed the way you live forever.

Notes

Botswana: Faith Cline
1. The flag is blue with black stripe.
2. They sing devotional songs.
3. Exchange pleasantries on Christmas Day.

Zambia: Gunnar Poling
1. They start charoling two days before Christmas for charity donations.
2. The adults and children are split up after church for seperate parties.
Education: Greece
3. There are three stages of schooling in Greece.

Costa Rica: Dale Scott
1. They decorate a tree just the the United States.
2. Thee also go to church on Christmas morning.
3. After church they return home to open gifts.

Bosnia: Lindsey Crowther
1. Trees in Bosnia are decorates with toys, chocolate, and bulbs.
2. Celebrate Christmas with a stuffed turkey.
3. Grandfather Frost visits children with gifts.

Norway: Mark Hill
1. They make baskets of colored paper to hang on tree.
2. Julebukk is who gives children gifts.
3. The children bring the gnome porrige.

Romania: John Terwilliger
1. The goat is like our "groundhog."
2. The kids make stars out of glossy paper.
3. Celebrate Christmas, New Years, Epiphame.

Turkey: Daniel Ware
1. Ramada lasts 29-30 days.
2. Refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking.
3. During Ramada you give to charity more.

Zimbabwe: Caleb Hawkins
1. People are very festive before Christmas begins.
2. The day before Christmas cities are decorated with lights.
3. Celebrations start a month before the actual holiday.

Australia: Courtney Nuzum
1. They share the Christmas tree tradition with us.
2. They hang lights in and around their houses.
3. There are special Christmas programs on television on Christmas Day.

Philippines: Hannah Gregg
1. The holiday starts on December 16.
2. Christmas cards are pinned on green and red ribbons.
3. They don't sleep on Christmas Eve.

Ireland: Gabrielle Kyle
1. We got the wreath on our doors tradition from Ireland.
2. Christmas is the largest celebration on the calander.
3. Close school on December 8th for Christmas shopping.

Bolivia: Abby Suder
1. It's a highly religious holiday in Bolivia.
2. Fireworks are set off on Christmas Eve.
3. Gifts are given on January sixth.

Thailand: Viola Donigi
1. Over 90% of Thailand is Buddhist.
2. There is no snow in Thailand.
3. Christmas is not a public holiday in Thailand.

New Zealand: Sara Cleavenger
1. Christmas is celebrated twice a year here.
2. Santa is known as "Father Christmas" there.
3. According to statistics their education is seventh best in the world.

Menu

Roman Salad                                                                                               

1/2 head lettuce                                                                                         

3/4 c. celery, chopped

1/2 (10 oz.) frozen peas or cauliflower

1/4 c. onion, chopped

2 tsp. salad dressing

1/3 lb. bacon, fried crisp and chopped

1/3 c. Parmesan cheese

3/4 c. Hellmann's real mayonnaise

Roman Custard

5 eggs

2 cups milk

1/4 cup honey

Globuli

Curd cheese, 500 g or about 1lb

A cup of semolina

Honey

Olive oil

Glorious Roman Apple Cake

3 c. flour

2 c. sugar

2 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. milk

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

4 med. apples, grated

 Roman Style Fettuccini

12 oz. fettuccine noodles

1/2 c. heavy cream

6 tbsp. sweet butter, softened

2 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated

6 oz. peas, cooked

1/2 lb. prosciutto, thinly sliced and cut into thin strips

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Roman Bean Soup with Sauerkraut

 1/2 lb. dried Roman beans

1 lb. smoked ham hocks

3 or 4 qts. water

1 sm. can sauerkraut or 1 lb. fresh kraut-cabbage

3 tbsp. shortening

3 heaping tbsp. flour

1 med. onion, diced

Penne Alla Roman

2 c. penne rigate pasta

2 tsp. olive oil

6 oz. lean pork cutlets, cut into 1/2 inch strips

1 1/4 c. sliced fresh mushrooms

2 med.-size carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch slices, about 1 c.

1 sm. onion, finely chopped, about 1/2 c.

1 lg. clove garlic, crushed

3/4 c. low-sodium chicken broth

3 c. fresh broccoli florets

3/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1/4 c. evaporated skim milk

Dinner Table and Guests.

                   The * mean that guest is a guest of honor. ;)

Invitations!

You have been personally invited to Servius Stuart’s 1st Annual Ancient Roman Dinner Party.

·       Theme: The Sights and Sounds of London.

·       Dinner will be served at 7 o’ clock sharp P.M. so be on time!

·       The party will be held on December 21, 2011 at my gorgeous Roman castle.

·       Please R.S.V.P. your attendance.  I will be looking forward to seeing you there as you enjoy a delicious seven course Roman dinner and relish in the sights and sounds of London.

School System in England

  
                                                     Schooling In England




     In England children start primary school at the age of five.  Schooling broken up into four key stages: Stage 1, 2, 3, and 4.  Stage 1: ages 5-7, Stage 2: ages 7-11, Stage 3: ages 11-14, and Stage 4: ages 14-16.  Usually students enter secondary school after Stage 2 of their education.  Students are assessed at the end of each of the stages, the most important assessment is named the GCSE, General Certificate of Secondary Education, which is taken at the end of Stage 4 when the student is sixteen.  After this the student can either choose to further in his or her education or enter into the working force.   Primary and secondary school is mandatory in the U.K. and further education is optional.  It's sort of like college in a sense.
     They attend primary school for seven years studying English, math, science, religious education, history, geography, music, arts and crafts, physical education , and informational technology (computers).  Schools also require that the student learn one modern foreign language, religious education, and prove his or her personal, social and health education.  During the 3rd stage of learning students learn about English, Maths, Science, Design and Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), History,  Geography, Modern Foreign Languages, Art and Design, Music, Citizenship, and Physical Education.  At 4th stage students are considered at GCSE level in which they have to take English, Maths, Science, IT, Citizenship, and Physical Education.
     Approximately 8.5 million kids are enrolled in the 30,000 schools in England and nearly 1.8 million students are enrolled in the U.K.'s higher education system.  Undergraduate degrees take three years to complete in London.  Schooling in England is much more complex than ours but they do have similarities, such as the higher education system.  I think it would be extremely fun to go to a secondary school.

Christmas in Brazil

Christmas In Brazil

                                                                                                                                          
         Brazilian Peanut Fudge
                      Ingredients            
                 1 (8 ounce) jar of roasted peanuts, skins removed
                 1 (8 ounce) package tea biscuits (such as Marie Biscuits)
                 2 tablespoons of white sugar
                 1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk

                                     Directions     
        1.   Line a 9-inch square dish with waxed paper.
        2.   Pulse the peanuts and biscuits together in a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse flour. Add the sugar and pulse to mix. Pour the sweetened, condensed milk into the mixture and process until the mixture forms a ball that pulls away from the sides of the food processor bowl.
        3.   Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish and press with your hands into an even layer. Allow to sit at least 15 minutes, up to overnight. Remove from the dish and cut into squares to serve. Store in air-tight containers between uses.


                                   Christmas in Brazil
                       1. In Brazil, like America, they create a nativity scene or a Presépio.
                       2. What we call Santa, Brazilians call him Papai Noel (Father Noel).
                       3. One tradition is called amigo secreto (secret friend) where everyone writes a name on a slip of paper and then exchange them with everyone. Sort of like a secret Santa.
                       4. Brazilians use flowers from their gardens to decorate during this holiday.
                       5. Most Christmas songs in Brazil are imported.

Total Expenses

     Including my round-trip flight to Sao Paulo, my hotel, car-rentals, food, and leisure activities my total expenses would be $9,636.40.
-for the two nights at Sao Paulo hotel expenses were $1497.40
-my round-trip flight was $4,985.00
-my car rental was $720.00 per week
-my food costed around $280.00
-my four nights at Rio de Janeiro costed $1992.00
-leisure activities were $162.00

     My overall budget was to stay under $10,000, so I am pleased that I didn't go over my budget.  What really cost a lot were my plane tickets and hotel reservations.

Map of Brazil

Day 7: June 23, 2012

     Today I decide to spend my last day in Brazil in some of my favorite places I've visited this week but I want to visit one last place before I revisit my favorites.  I gather my luggage and check out of my hotel.  I get in my rented car and drive to the Bohemian Neighborhood of Santa Teresa.  I enter the park and see some amazing sights.  Ruins of the ancient city seem to grow from the ground as I turn each corner.  After spending a good two hours here I leave and go to the Margutta Italian restaurant. I order a delicious pizza and eat quickly.  

     I stop by the Christ Redeemer statue one last time before my final day in Brazil comes to an end.  I quickly stop by and say goodbye to my new friend and then head to the airport. I board the jumbo plane and get ready for the flight back.  

     We land in Chicago at 5:41 A.M. on Sunday June, 24. Home at last. 

Day 6: June 22, 2012

     I can't believe my time in Brazil is almost over.  I've had such a great time.  Today I've decided to take it easy    so I'm going to first off visit Parque Lage.  After a short drive I get out of my car to see a beautiful mansion built among the mountains.  I walk in and take a few snapshots of this beautifully crafted building.  The sun shines through the spaces between the leaves and makes beautiful shining spots on the ground.  I decide to eat my breakfast at the Cafe du Lage, located in the mansion.  I order a cup of coffee and an omelet, which was very tasty.  After breakfast I head out of the mansion and back down to the beach to have a game of volleyball with my friend.  

     I meet my friend at a small beach between Paula Freitas and Hilario de Gouveia.  We have a very satisfying game then I head off of the beach and back to my hotel to change into some new clothes.  I decide to next visit the Banco do Brazil Cultural Center to rap up my sixth day.  I spend the evening listening to some live music presented by locals. 

Day 5: June 21, 2012

     Today is my fifth day in Brazil and I'm having a blast.  To start off my day today I decided to shop for some souvenirs at the Artisan Market.  While at the market I tried acaraje, a Behian delicacy.  It was astonishingly good.  After a few hours looking around the market I decided to go to the beach again but try to do some surfing.
     This time I decided to go to Barra beach, known for it's strong waves.  I rented a bright yellow surfboard and  a wet-suit and then hit the waves.  I took up to surfing rather quickly and found it very fun.  While surfing you feel like your in a totally different world.  I surfed for about an hour before I finally got wiped out by one of the biggest waves I had ever seen.

     After returning my surfboard and wet-suit I decided to rent a bicycle and simply bike around the city for the remainder of my day.  I took a nice ride around the city and met some very friendly locals.  I even met a new friend whom I biked back to my hotel with.  Soon my fifth day was over and I was laying my head on my very welcoming pillow.

Day 4: June 20, 2012

     I woke up feeling really good, ready to take on Rio.  I slipped on my shoes and a clean pair of clothes and hurried downstairs.  I decided to visit Sugar Loaf Mountain today.  Sugar Loaf Mountain rises above the entire city and is a famous landmark.  I decided to take the cable car up to the top to do some sightseeing. The car only took three minutes to reach the peak of the mountain.  I had never been so high up in my life and the sights were breathtaking! After a good thirty minutes of sightseeing I returned to the bottom seeing life in a different view.  

     Next I was off to the Tijuca Rainforest, located in the city.  While at this beautiful  park I had the pleasure of actually swimming under a waterfall which was simply amazing.  After my relaxing swim I decided to get a bite to eat.  I decided on Confeitaria Colombo.  I ordered the feijoada and a glass of tea.  I was pleased with the service of the waiters and the quality of the food.

     My last visit of the day was to take a nice stroll through Santa Teresa which is home to brightly colored houses. The houses were simply inspiring to me.  As the sun set behind the horizon I made my way back to my hotel.

Day 3: June 19, 2012

     Today I woke up extra early to travel to Rio de Janeiro.  It would take about five hours to get there so I got up at 2:00 A.M. and planned on getting there at seven. I finally arrived in Rio de Janeiro at 7:30 A.M. Today I plan on visiting the Christ Redeemer statue, one of the seven wonders of the world. I drove as close as I could then got onto an elevator that took me up to the statue.  As I stepped out of the elevator I saw the statue, and was I amazed.  It towered over me and into the clear blue sky.  After about an hour at the statue I decided to check out some restaurants in Rio.

     I found a restaurant called Antiquarius which served Brazilian food.  I ordered codfish, one of there specialties, and it was surprisingly good. My meal cost about $80.00. Next I was off to the beach! I walked down to Ipanema beach to find it nearly packed.  I spent about an hour at the beach then decided it was time to visit one last place then find a hotel for the night. I visited the Jardim Botanica, a botanical garden, to do some meditating.  At dusk I went to find a hotel. I found one pretty quickly called JW MARRIOTT. I checked in and went to sleep.

Day 2: June 18, 2011

     I awoke the next morning feeling the warm Brazilian sun shining on my cheek.  Today I was going to go visit some local attractions in Sao Paulo.  I glanced at the clock to see that is was 9:30 A.M. I walked downstairs and grabbed a muffin and a glass of milk.  First I decided to take a private tour through the city.  My tour guide was very welcoming and I found out a lot about the city.  The sights were simply amazing as we walked through the busy streets.  Building seemed to grow from the ground and towered above us.  The tour lasted about two hours, and I said my goodbyes to my tour guide.  After the tour I was pretty hungry so I stopped at a local restaurant. I ordered a Bauru sandwich which was very good.
     The next thing I decided to do was visit Ibirapuera Park, one of the many parks in the city.  The park was simply beautiful as I walked on one of the walking trails. The park seemed very popular as there were many people here today.  The sun again was shining today.

     To finish up my day I decided to go to Sao Paulo Museum of Art.  The art here was quiet different here than in the United States.  After touring the museum I went back to my hotel.  Tonight would be my last night in Sao Paulo.

Day 1: June 17, 2012

   Today I arrived in Sao Paulo, Brazil at 9:45 a.m. after my ten hour flight from Chicago, Illinois. I will be staying at a hotel by the name of  Emiliano tonight. I am very excited to be in Brazil, for it's my first time visiting.  Today the sun was shining and it's was pretty warm out.  As I entered my hotel the bellhop was glad to take my luggage up to my room.  I looked in a small travel book that was placed on a table in my room and saw a restaurant that seemed fairly nice.  The restaurant was named Brazil a Gosto and was located just down the street.  I got dressed and walked there.  As I sat down at the table the chef greeted me, which surprised me. 

     The main course for the day consisted of  slices of pork tenderloin with a deep red, smoky jaboticaba cherry sauce sided with a grilled banana and yam puree. It was very delicious and after I finished I walked back to my hotel.  The sun started to set over the beautiful city and I watched it disappear out of sight.  I walked back into my room and finally went to sleep. 

Banana Brazil Nut Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

• 3x bananas
• 1x large mango
• 6x Brazil nuts

Method:

Peel and dice bananas and mango and toss together in a bowl. Sprinkle brazil nuts on top and serve.
Serves 1

The Writing of Frankenstein

                We decided to have a contest. By we, I refer to I, my wife Mary, Lord Byron, and John Polidori. The contest was to see who, out of the four of us, could write the best horror story.  I knew I was going to win for I had the best imagination by far.  At that time I didn’t know that my wife would soon become a great novelist.  We were spending the summer near Geneva, Switzerland when the contest was brought up.  Weeks passed and no one seemed to have an idea.  Then one night Mary awoke from a dream screaming bloody murder into the night waking me up.

                She told us of a scientist who created life but was terrified of what he made.  The story scared all of us to the point of no return.  We all decided Mary was the winner by far.  But then in 1818 in London Mary’s story was published anonymously but on the second edition which was published in France in 1823 Mary’s name was proudly put on the front of her book, Frankenstein.  Her book was read throughout the world as a horror story, for she is possibly one of the best Horror novelists.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley was born on August 4, 1792 in England.  In 1802 Percy enrolled into the Syon House Academy in Brentford, Middlesex and then into Eton College in 1804.  His first novel was published in 1810 called Zastrozzi.  In 1811 Percy published his second novel titled St. Irvyne also called The Rosicrucian.  At 19 years old Percy married his first wife, Harriet Westbrook, on August 29, 1811 but after three years of this marriage he fell in love with Mary Godwin in which he ran away with.  In December 1816 Percy’s wife Harriet drowned herself but after her body was found Percy and Mary were married on December 30, 1816.  On July 8, 1822 one month before his thirtieth birthday Percy drowned in a sudden storm while sailing back from Livorno to Lerici.

Bloggin!

I don't know what to write. O.o