HAPPY EASTER

Angels and Mary Magdalene encounter Jesus at his tomb on Easter morning.

John 20:14 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

Happy Easter. I hope All of you are well.
Love Jerry*, Pam, Sean, Brianna, Ryan, & Opal (woof)

*PS from Gerald aka Jerry aka Mr. C

Spring in Southern California

The urbanscape of Southern California doesn't offer much in the sightings of wildlife or wilderness. But amongst the buildings, cars, and urban sprawl, one might chance a glimpse of denizens unique to cities everywhere. (See what you can spot in the picture to your left.)

(Picture of urbanscape by "Red" S____ .)


From its high perch, a noble and newly hatched Turbine style Roof Ventilator scans the crowded and cluttered urban sprawl. The smaller male Satellite Dish - in full display trying to lure the larger female Satellite Dish. Like the male Black Widow spider. After mating, the smaller male Satellite Dish must be very careful in order to escape from the larger female Satellite Dish.












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(A closer view of the Turbine style Roof Ventilator.)

Southern California may not offer the snow capped mountains; stands of timber; and clear water streams of Alaska (Heather). But, wildlife still clings in the cities and urban areas of Southern California. You can still spot Impalas, Mustangs, and the occasional Jaguar.

Hark! I hear the cry of a wild Land Rover prowling the streets and by ways.



















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(View of the larger female Satellite Dish.)





















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(Spring flowers near Yosemite National Park, Northern Cailfornia.)

Not An April Fool's Post - Native Americans

The referral of Native people as Indians is not from the theory that Christopher Columbus thought he was in India. When Columbus set sail in 1492, the country that is known today as India was called Hindustan. He wrote that the people he had met in the "New World" were "una gente en dio"; meaning "a people in with God". The term "en dio" somehow got changed to Indian, thus the common belief held that Columbus called the Native people "Indians" because he thought he was in India.



(Source: www.lareina-persians.net/native.html - NOTE: This source has disappeared!!!)

Another explanation -

"Q: Why do you prefer the term American Indian over Native American?

A: The word “Indian” is an English bastardization of a Spanish bastardization. Columbus wrote “una gente en dio” – “a people in with God.” He went on to write that they are so peaceful and generous as it to be a fault. Therefore they’d make excellent slaves. The Spaniards started calling them “indio.” That stuck. This is 100 years before the English conquered the sub-continent they called India. We were the first with that name. Then the English bastardized the Spanish to “Indian.” "

(Source: http://www.russellmeansfreedom.com/2010/means-spirited-american-indian-actor-and-activist-honored-at-haskell-film-festival/ )

(Source for picture - "Le Costume Ancien Et Moderne" - Art.com - http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/pd--12059004/sp-- )

Your friendly neighborhood trivia buff. ;-) GC

PS - This explanation sounds good but just maybe apocryphal*.

(* Click on following link for definiton -http://www.thefreedictionary.com/apocryphal )

Happy Easter - 2007

Easter
Dave Wilton, (Original citation - Sunday, June 11, 2006)*

Easter, or Eastre as it is originally, was the name of a pagan goddess of the dawn whose festival was held on the vernal equinox. The Christians adopted her name and many of the celebratory practices (as they did with Saturnalia and Christmas) for their celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The pagan holiday roughly corresponded with the time of year of the crucifixion and resurrection (Passover).

From the translation of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History commonly attributed to King Alfred, c.890:

Ic thas tide Eastrena ecelice healdan wille.

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(Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition)

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(My source: Wordorigins.org - http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/easter/ )*

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(Source for Easter Bunny image - Wikipedia - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Easter_bunny.jpg/300px-Easter_bunny.jpg )

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Wordorigins.org is a website first brought to my attention by my son Sean (so you know the website is excellent). One should first click and scan the "The Big List" for some more popular word origins.
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Hoppy Eastre. ;-) GC