Horoscopes relate to astrology of human beings. Similarly, mundane astrology means the astrology of the state or the nation. It helps us to predict the general events in the different countries at different point of time. It sounds unnatural, but yes, mundane astrology did predict the 9/11 mishap in the States also. Not only this, the blast in Samjhauta Express too, was predicted by astrologers!

Zodiacal Signs and Countries

1.Aries: France, Switzerland, England, Denmark, Germany, Lesser Poland, Syria, Burgandy, Naples, Verono, Capua, Merseilles, Birmingham and Florence.

2.Taurus: Greater Poland, Persia, Ireland, Asia Minor, Georgia, part of Russia, Holland, Greek Archipelago, Mantua, Leipzig, Dublin, St. Louis, Rhodes.

3.Gemini: South west England, U.S.A, Flanders, Lower Egypt, Belgium, Sordinia, Wales, Tripoli, London, Versailles, Melbourne, Plymouth, Brabant, San Francisco.

4.Cancer: Holland, Scotland, New Zealand, Paraguay, New York, Constantinople, Tripoli, Algiers, Tunis, Venice, Manchester, Genoa and Amsterdam.

5.Leo: Italy, Sicily, part of France, Chaldea, Bohemia, Damascus, Bristol, Bath, Conton and Philadelphia, Chicago and Bombay.

6.Virgo: India, Mesopotamia, Asiatic and European Turkey, Brazil, Crete, Assyria, West Indies, Greece, Paris, Lyons, Jerusalem and Los Angeles.

7.Libra: Some parts of India, Portugal, Livonia, Austria, Alaska, Japan, Tibet, Sheffield, Lisbon, Frankfurt, Antwerp, Charleston, Vienna and Johannesburg.

8.Scorpio: Bavaria, Juden, Catalonia, Norway, Morocco, Washington, Dover, Liverpool, Baltimore.

9.Sagittarius: Spain, Arabia, Hungary, Madagascar, Cologne, Rotenberg, Toledo, Sheffield.

10.Capricorn: A part of India, Macedonia, Afghanistan, Mexico, Greece, Saxony, Thrace, Brandenburg, Oxford, Brussels.

11.Aquarius: Sweden, some parts of Arabia, Russia, Denmark, Lower Sudan, Abyssinia, Brighton, Hamburg and Bremen.

12.Pisces: Normany, Portugal, Galicia, Egypt, Nubia, Sahara, Alexandria, Lancaster, Ratisbon.

Houses in Mundane Astrology

The Lagna or the Ascendant of a country will be the particular sign that rules over it. For instance, the lagna of England is Aries; that of Portugal is Pisces and so on. Now the twelve houses from the ascendant represent the following important significance:

First House: General affairs of the state, public health and the conditions of the cabinet.

Second House: State revenue, aristocracies in the state, wealth of the people, allies and revenues, state imports and commercial transactions.

Third House: telephones, telegrams, railways, airplanes, journals and newspapers and the disposition of the neighboring stations.

Fourth House: Schools, colleges and other educational institutions, pupils, landed estates, general happiness, trade and agriculture.

Fifth House: Mentality of the rulers, children of the state, new births, crime and places of amusements.

Sixth House: State loans and debts, diseases of people, territorial attacks, naval and other forces.

Seventh House: Health of the women, immortality in the country, rate of infant mortality, war, foreign relations etc.

Eighth House: Death rate, state treasury.

Ninth House: Temples, mosques and churches, irreligiousness, judicial courts, law and righteousness.

Tenth House: The ruler, parliament, foreign trades, exports and exploitations, revolutions and lawlessness.

Eleventh house: Gains from other nations, gains in trade, international relationships.

Twelfth House: Secret crime, plots, hospitals and such institutions, war and losses.

Alchemy’s Origin

Alchemy, according to esoteric writers, is said to be the invention of an ancient Egyptian sage called Hermes Trismegistus. The “Father of Alchemy” lived in an unknown age of Egyptian history, though he is thought by some Rosicrucian schools to have lived during the time of Moses and the Exodus of the Israelites. If true, being an Initiate of the mysteries of Isis and Osiris, Moses must have been tutored by Hermes himself, which later enabled him to carry out his mission and to realize his I AM Presence symbolised by the burning bush. The various precepts and the Ten Commandments of the Lord of Hosts revealed to the Israelites by Moses are the first alchemical steps of purification and putrefaction. Further steps were later added to the Mosaic revelation by the Nazarene Master. Indeed, the Christ declared that he came not to abolish the previous revelation, but to fulfill it.

It is thought by some that “Hermes Trismegistus” constituted a title assumed by distinguished hierophants of the Mystery Schools, in a somewhat similar manner that Zoroaster, the founder of the “Fire Religion” is regarded by certain scholars. Incidentally, alchemy may also be considered a Fire Religion, or at least a philosophy, because of its symbology of fire related to the alchemical principles, its prerequisite in the art of transmutation, and to the respect and honor paid to it by alchemists.

Jewish mystics identify Hermes as the antediluvian prophet Enoch, or Idris, as the Muslims call him; while ancient Egyptians see Hermes as Thoth, the god of Wisdom, Learning, and Writing. He was given this apotheosis along with Imhotep, the great architect under the reign of King Zoser of the Fourth Dynasty. It would appear that both men were overshadowed by the archetypal figure of Thoth, and were acknowledged as such by both the inner and outer circles of initiates of the Mystery Schools. Thoth, or his Greek counterpart, Mercury, was a messenger of the gods; and as an archetypal incarnation of this god, Hermes lived up to his name by his literary productiveness. Ancient writers declared that the “Trice Greatest” wrote thousands of books on what later became known as Hermeticism and Alchemy. It is unfortunate that very little of Hermes’ works survived the conflagration and destruction of libraries and books by Roman and Christian zeal in the early dawn of the Piscean Age. The world as a whole is still ignorant of the great loss, and it will take some time before the invocation is made by the masses for the Greater Light, for disclosure of eternal principles that would shine upon the paths of men, and consequently, for a full restoration and establishment of an occult library of the world, with an archive and database of every known system and tradition of the metaphysical side of life. Although little is known of Hermes, it is evident through the works attributed to him that he was an intermediary of the Wisdom Ray of the Supreme Being.

One of the most famed works on Hermetic doctrine written, and in concise form, is the Smaragdine Tablet attributed to the authorship of Hermes. Its discovery is traditionally believed to have been made by Alexander of Macedonia in a cave near Hebron. This conqueror of nations who had Aristotle for a Master, was in search of immortality. Although he failed to attain his personal immortality, Alexander did uncover a philosophical jewel that would have given him what he had sought if he had only applied the principles that the Emerald Tablet contained. Tradition relates that the Tablet was wrought out of artificial emerald, as a result of transmutation, with the Hermetic doctrine embossed on it.

Alchemy, as a philosophy and an art in the Western hemisphere in the past two millenia, existed concurrently in other ancient cultures and civilizations–it was practiced intensely by Hindu Yogis and Taoists, in India and China. This parallel growth is probably the result of the Great White Brotherhood’s periodic presentation of a spiritual method designed for the development of certain types of temperaments and belief-framework of those aspirants belonging to a certain era and stage of mankind’s collective evolution.

Based on this parallel growth of alchemy in the Orient and the regions of the Fertile Crescent suggested to some Esoteric historians that alchemy may have had a common origin in that sunken continent Atlan, or Atlantis, as it is more generally known. Esoteric Tradition declares that a handful of the Atlantean Root Race survived the submergence of the land and transmigrated to Egypt, China, and the Americas. It is reasonable to assume that they brought with them their sciences, art, and culture, which influenced the inhabitants indigenous to the regions where they settled. This would explain the similarities in the traditions and beliefs of native cultures to be found both East and West.

Principles of Alchemy are the principles that Nature herself works with, and thus alchemy, scientifically, existed in the inner planes long before it was brought down to the earth plane by Master teachers. A study of Nature’s mysteries would reveal to the discerning student that the higher Intelligences, the Elohim, and the Great Architect of the Universe utilized alchemical principles to precipitate the starry bodies out of Chaos, out of Cosmic Root Substance or “Sunyata,” as termed by the Buddhist. Qabalists believe that Adam was taught by the angels in Paradise the art of transmutation, to prepare him for his “Fall” and his climb back toward his Monad, toward godhood–his involution and evolution from a Divine Consciousness to Divine Self-Consciousness.

There is no general concurrence among scholars as to the origin of the word “alchemy.” The consensus is that the word is derived from the word “Khem,” the ancient name for Egypt, added to the Arabic article “al,” meaning “the,” thus forming the word “al-Khemy.” However, Sir Wallis Budge is of the opinion that alchemy comes from the Egyptian word “khemein,” meaning the “black powder” or “ore” which is presumed to be an ingredient in alchemy. No matter where it secured its name, the word “alchemy,” it would seem, first came into prominence in the Mystery Schools in Alexandria.

Purpose of Alchemy

But just what is alchemy, and what role does it play in the promotion of the welfare of mankind? If alchemy has any true value, it must be based upon eternal values, upon the things that support Heaven’s purposes; in other words, upon God’s plan of humankind’s becoming into the true Elohimic image of the divine. If alchemy simply had an earthly objective, masterminds of the Ages would not have concerned themselves with it. It would have been considered as something so trivial, so transient, as to distract Man from the real work of extricating himself, specifically, from his bondage to the carnal self, the kama manas, or animal soul; and generally, from samsara. Greed was never the impulse that prompted the invention of alchemy. It was, is, and always will be Man’s desire for Truth and enlightenment of his true nature and estate that motivates him to seek through every channel and avenue for that certain something that he subconsciously feels he had “lost” and which is his to re-acquire–call it “the Lost Word,” “the Philosopher’s Stone,” or “the Holy Grail,” it matters not. Alchemy teaches Man the principles of regeneration and resurrection, laws of creation and transmutation; laws that would assist Man to regain his former estate lost in “the Fall.” This “Fall” from Paradise symbolically represents involution of the human life wave into physical matter. The way back to the Throne of God is scientifically called “evolution,” and the acceleration of the latter is the art of the hermetic gnosis. This Path of Return is esoterically and graphically symbolised by Jacob’s Ladder, and the paths of the Qaballistic “Tree of Life.”

The drama of Jesus’ life is an alchemical allegory of the steps of regeneration and ascension to the I AM Presence within, the “Father who art in Heaven.” Orthodox Christianity does not recognize or is unaware of this vital truth, and because of the lack of mystical insight among most members of its priesthood coupled with the absence of esoteric truths in the doctrines and dogmas of the Church, the average Christian is ignorant and unaware of the true message of Christianity–of the Light, the Christ substance, and the true saving blood that Christ introduced to humankind. Esoteric Christianity is fundamentally an alchemical science and religion; its promulgator was a Master Alchemist–being taught in the initiatory halls of the Mystery Schools. It is related in the Gospels how the Master transmuted water into wine, multiplied loaves and fishes, and walked on water–all of which were manifestations of the applied principles of alchemy, the Hermetic philosophy–or perhaps these events were all allegories conveying some spiritual teaching.

Alchemy is defined as an art of transmutation and precipitation–the changing of base metals into gold. The work of alchemical transmutation is designated as “the Labor of the Sun.” This “Eye of Ra” symbolically represents the perfection with which Nature is gradually unfolding in her creations. At the physical level the Sun of Perfection is represented by gold. Alchemy is the science and art which hasten the creations of Nature to attain perfection at their own respective level. Gold is the perfection attain by metals and minerals. Minerals, however, are also following another line of perfection–that of its ability to sustain life and consciousness. And Man, the acme of organic life, is evolving to the state where he acquires perfection in Divine Self-Awareness.

From the above it can be summarized that alchemy is the art of raising vibrations of an object in order to hasten its development or evolution into a higher expression or state. The result is perfection of the object of the transmutation.

Alchemy’s Transmission to Christendom

Alexandria was the philosophical capital of Egypt, and perhaps of the whole civilized worlds in the early centuries of Christianity. Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Alchemy and Hermeticism flowered abundantly; these philosophies are intrinsically related, and to comprehend the Royal Art fully, the student of alchemy is advised by Master teachers to be familiar with their doctrines. Alexandria’s Golden Age of occult philosophy did not last long, for the reptilian mind of the fallen angels had seized control of the rising new religion of Christianity (no offence to our Christian brothers and sisters). The philosophical sons and daughters of Hermes were persecuted and murdered brutally by Christian fundamentalists and fanatics. Fear and hatred were aroused among the masses and the ousting of the so-called pagan religions from the land ensued. One sad event was the cruel assassination of Hypathia, an illustrious daughter of the Mysteries–the Widow Isis, and propounder of Neoplatonism. She hardly had a philosophical equal during her day, and this caused the envy and jealousy of a certain priest who contrived her murder.

During the decline of the Roman Empire, the Secret Doctrine, or the Ancient Wisdom were passed on to the guardianship of the Arabian and Persian mystics. The tenets of occult wisdom were later incorporated into the Muslim faith with its higher aspects promulgated secretly in the traditional oral manner in certain sects, Orders, and mystical groups such as the Sufi and Dervish Orders, and among the community of Druzes in Lebanon and Syria.

In the 8th to the 11th centuries A.D., in the era of the golden period of alchemic-Islamic culture, we hear of eminent names in the field of the Royal Art, such as al-Farabi, Rhazes, Geber and Avicenna. These men studied the mystery teachings and occult wisdom of the Egyptian and Greek schools. They were most notably influenced by Hermetic, Alchemic and Neoplatonic ideas, and the knowledge that they acquired was synthesized with Islamic and Sufic doctrines. The Sufi adepts produced one of the most beautiful symbols of spiritual unfoldment and progression: the rose. Its symbolism is comparable to the lotus adopted by Hindu mystics.

The Knights Templer was an important link between both East and West, between Islamic culture and the world of Christendom. The alchemical doctrine was passed on by the Sufi adepts to these “Knights of the Holy Sepulchre,” as the Templers were originally called. Even the mythical Christian Rosencruez of Rosicrucianism is said to have acquired his occult knowledge from the Sufi Masters and adepts in Arabia.

After the days of the disbandment of the Templer Order by Philip the Fair of France, and the death-sentence of their last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay in 1314, the surviving Knights sought refuge in various countries; and in England some of them founded an alchemical Order which later became known as the “Elder Brothers of the Rose Cross.” It is said that this Order comprised 33 members and that this group exists even to this very day in our computer age.

When the believers of Allah invaded and settled in Iberia, they brought with them the Secret Teachings. Colleges were established that had mysticism, metaphysics, and alchemy in the curriculum. With the establishment of the various schools, the Ancient Wisdom finally took definite root in European soil, and it spread gradually throughout the other regions of the Continent. This expansion was no doubt the result of the efforts put forth by the spiritual hierarchy of this planet. Man’s evolution is divided into certain steps, stages, and cycles, and these have “time-tables” or schedules associated with them. It was expedient that the Flames of Truth and Freedom be given to the custodian of the Islamic world if it were not to be extinguished by some of the ungodly minds of Christendom of the Dark Ages which would have caused a setback to the Divine Plan already established.

The deviation from the right use of free will by Christian fundamentalists had made them unsuitable vessels for the Christic wine. In spite of exoteric Christianity’s blind attack on th Light that gave it birth, the esoteric circle continued its existence clandestinely, preserving the secret teachings of Jesus and transmitting it to a selected few who had the vision of the divine plan within their hearts and minds.

Idries Shah, the eminent Sufi of contemporary times, mentions in his book “The Sufis,” how an Englishman, one Robert of Chester, was instrumentally in 1144 A.D., in introducing alchemy to the Christian world by translating an alchemical manuscript originally written in Arabic. There were many others like him, for bearers of the Flame were not few.

Levels of Alchemy

Most of the principles of alchemy conveyed to the public were made up of images, mandalas, and jargon. These obscure languages were necessary considering the era that alchemical science was struggling–struggling for a recognition from the masses as a system of spiritual development in the midst of ecclesiastical persecution. The mentality of the masses of the Middle Ages were not much different from the time of Jesus. Ignorance, superstition, and fear still ruled the day. The letter of the law, as propagandized by Orthodox Christianity were still at odds, and at conflict with the spirit of the law, as advanced by enlightened mystics. The inquisition, which lasted for centuries, showed how far the Church had strayed from the original precepts of Christianity. The Christ taught love, forgiveness, charity and kindness; the Church Fathers and Christian leaders only knew personal ambition, with sadism, and egoism set-up upon an unholy pedestal. The personal “I” was worshipped, the “Yekhidah,” or the Divine I AM, was forgotten.

Neophytes of the Mysteries were given the keys of interpretation of Sacred literature when they were accepted in the various secret brotherhoods. The candidates of alchemical initiation were noticed by the Masters when they had proven their sincerity, and the sacrifices and effort that they had made. To the world at large, the existence of the Masters was unknown and unsuspected, even though their presence in the world of men was hinted at in various alchemical manuscripts. It was only in the last century that Helena P. Blavatsky, among others, who brought their existence to the world’s attention; and even then, the world scoffed and derided at the idea. This is a little unreasonable, as people of various spiritual unfoldment and mental development may easily be seen and recognized. If some men and women are more perfect than others, why should not there be men and women totally perfect from our human point of view?

Esoterically, when a Master alchemist gave a student of alchemy the “Philosopher’s Stone,” what was actually conveyed were the teachings of the Ancient Wisdom, and a certain yogic system that when applied and practiced, would transmute an initiate into a god.

To the public eye, alchemical icons and terminology conveyed no sense whatsoever, but the mystiqueness of alchemical texts and images aroused interest in potential practitioners of the Royal Art, and it turned the average person into a seeker. This was perhaps one of the intentions of the authors of alchemical manuscripts. Modern chemistry, feeling a little perplexed by alchemical ideas, contemptuously considers her sire as a pseudo-science, in the same manner that astrology is usually frowned upon by the students of astronomy. Modern research will in time change the opinions and prejudicial beliefs of a materialistically-inclined science; already pioneers of quantum physics are hypothesising what the Ancient Wisdom has been teaching for ages.

One key to understanding alchemy is to determine the objectives and the subject of transmutation. Without keeping this principle in mind, one would be lost in the alchemical wilderness. Alchemy is categorized into four levels:

1) Physical alchemy

2) Biological alchemy

3) Psychological alchemy

4) Transcendental alchemy

Copyright ? 2006 Luxamore

No, not a four bedroom ocean-view villa for a fortnight in August. I’m talking for keeps, here. Well, at least for a year or so, anyway.

When we first decided on a move to Portugal. No, I’ll start again. When we first decided on a move to the Algarve, it was agreed that renting a property would be the best way to explore the region before committing to a purchase. After all:

the cost of living in Portugal is less than that of the U.K.;

there are lots of rental properties available;

the Estate Agent we met in April said he could sort us out with quite a few long term lets to look at.

Game on. But what of the Players:

a single man in his early twenties with a backpack and the clothes he stands up in?

a rich and retiring couple with Euros to burn and all the time in the world to do it?

a Portuguese speaking Property Consultant with a thing for white paint and tiles?

None of the above, I’m afraid. ‘We’ consisted of myself, my partner, her parents, our son and each and every thing we owned.

Our criteria were, not so much ‘open ended’ as ‘never ending’. Still, at least the ladies agreed on the main points – they shall live in a spacious and light, low maintenance modern villa with a couple of balconies above the pool area and barbecue zone. They will not be overlooked; looking over; too close to or too far away from people. The immaculate, manicured gardens will compliment the rural surroundings and be the ideal place to sit and marvel at the breathtaking views of the rolling hills, whilst listening to the gentle crashing of the waves from the private beach below. It will be tranquil and unspoilt by tourists and only a two minute walk from a world class Chinese restaurant. Oh, and by the way, we’ll be needing two of those. Not too close, but not so far away that we can’t visit each other regularly.

Unfurnished.

Hopes, Rocks and Dashed are the words that spring to mind now. But at the time, 800 Euros a month seemed a generous budget for such a humble abode in a country where “it’s cheaper to live” and there are “lots of rental properties” and the “nice man” we met has “loads” to show us etc.etc.

So, with one of the houses sold and ours still awaiting a buyer, it was time to wave off the scouting team.

We hoped it wasn’t too many days before the villas were located and deposits deposited. Our son was due to start Year 10 of his education in less than a month and it would be better for all concerned if he was ’settled in’ before then.

The school was a fee paying school, but also a necessity, as the relative continuity of the curriculum meant the lad had a fighting chance of (academically) surviving the move. Anyway, this school is located west of Central Algarve. So, we now had another criteria to add to the mix: one of the luxurious villas (off the beaten track, yet close to all amenities) needed to be, either, near the school, or close to a school bus pick-up point. Anything east of the airport or too far inland was out of the question.

From their vantage point (east of the airport and quite a bit inland) the scouting team made daily sorties into the west; reporting back to the U.K., incessantly gathering intelligence that would one day, hopefully, soon, prove crucial to the relocation exercise.

One day came and one day went. August departed and September arrived. We departed and also arrived. Then, after a short honeymoon period it was time to get down to the business of finding our elusive (air conditioning in every room and miniscule electricity bills) villa.

September (we were told) was when shed loads of lets came on the scene. Once the tourists had gone, landlords would be “biting our hands off”. We were all becoming very excited about how ‘off the beaten track’ the (separate Jacuzzi, for those who prefer not to swim 15m lengths of the pool) villa was going to be. I mean, even we couldn’t find it and we were trying damn hard.

Each day we trawled the Estate Agents, who suggested we try the Villa Management people, who, in turn, suggested the Resident, the Portugal News and the 123 newspapers. The Resident and 123 papers hit the streets on a Thursday and so did we. Driving around with a mobile to the ear; munching lunch out of a bag; scribbling appointment times on a pad; changing gear and guzzling peach flavoured iced tea (the new Coca-Cola).

One of our many caffeine pit-stops was at a supermarket (I’ll use a pseudonym rather than the real name of the supermarket). This supermarket was called Macedonia and it was in a town called Old Mans Hill. On the notice board of the supermarket, appeared a postcard offering a villa for long term rent, right there in Old Mans Hill. Moreover, I had read the postcard and understood it: the landlord would speak English. He did.

We met, looked around and returned to the ladies with our quarry. Was this one of the (old and traditional but modern and clean) villas in the bag?

No. But it was big enough for all of us together and (not wishing to divulge the cost) was exactly twice the 800 Euros budget we were going to spend per villa anyway.

So myself, my partner, her parents, our son and each and every thing we owned moved into the villa, which, apart from storage space and a pool, met none of the criteria specified. We needed to continue the search.

October (we were told) was when all the properties became available. September (we were told) was not a good time: Golfers take over where the tourists left off, and whoever told us September was good knew nothing. Once October comes, the landlords would be “falling over themselves to get to us”.

Once again, the cycle began. Mondays to Wednesdays driving around different areas nipping in and out of estate agents; looking for ‘Aluga Se’ signs on the fronts of houses; scanning the supermarket notice boards. Thursdays and Fridays were early starts and involved phoning one number out of the paper en route to see another property. But each and every time, having driven from A to B to C to D with hope in our hearts – nothing. The ad. would give the raw details: number of rooms; location; price etc. The initial phone contact would provide a little more info, and both stages allowed you to eliminate or investigate the property further. But, without images, stage 3 had to be a trip to the property.

Much misery over many miles ensued. One property we were shown around belonged to a family whose business had gone bust. The first six or so rooms were underwhelming but inoffensive; the seventh contained the family. Our guide was surprised at how much of a problem this presented.

Another property we viewed had an old man in bed. “The Grandfather wouldn’t be alive much longer. So the casa would be available then” we were informed.

Then there was the house of poodles. The owner beckoned us in from behind the back door, then scurried away into a downstairs room, where she continued our conversation. Five plates of dog food sat in a sort of line. You could tell Monday’s plate from Friday’s plate. The shower room had no shower curtain and, even in the dim light, you could see it was full of old shoes. We never actually met her.

In the same area, another lady escorted us around her property for ten minutes before casually announcing the blue door in the hallway would be her access only – to her part of the house.

This practice seems not uncommon, as several Portuguese landlords intended to continue living in some annexe or other. One had 3 buildings available on the same site – 2 empty plus his house. If we didn’t like the 2 empty ones we could have his family home and he would move his family into one of the others.

Ultimately, you need to inspect a property before you can fully assess its viability as a home. But, had I been able to see photographs online, I could have definitely weeded out 80% of them before arranging a visit – saving time, disappointment and Earth’s precious resources.

As a result of my frustrations, I have built a free submission website for landlords to offer properties. Images are encouraged and I have tried to make the whole process as simple as possible.

http://www.algarzette.com

Just seven months before the opening of the Eurocopa 2008 the European football faces a major match-fixing scandal; actually, the UEFA already opened an investigation based on the possibility of fraud by Assian betting syndicates over the European Soccer.

The list of matches go up to 26, fifteen of them took place this season while the other eleven were played between 2005 and 2006. However, the UEFA in cooperation with the Interpol is trying to find enough evidence to be able to initiate disciplinary procedures.

Apparently, the matches include: Champions League qualification matches, UEFA Cup matches, Intertoto Cup ties and one qualifying match for Euro 2008. The governing body of European football believes the attempts to manipulate the results especially involving teams from the Balkans, as well as Eastern and Southern Europe.

This is not the first time the sport of football involves in a match-fixing problem. In fact, two years ago in November 2005, German referee Robert Hoyzer was convicted of manipulation of 23 matches on behalf of a betting ring. Also, on the same year, the Brazilian referee, Edilson Pereira de Carvalho, confessed accepting bribes from gamblers to ensure the final result of games. The Juventus team was also relegated and three more Italian Serie A clubs were hit with massive points deductions after one of the biggest scandals in the European football.

The investigation is on its way, and the Bulgarian Club Cherno More is one of the teams under UEFA?s examination after the Intertoto match played against Macedonia?s Makedonija. Even though, the Bulgarian club strongly denied any wrongdoing for the mentioned game.

As a responsible governing body, the UEFA has the responsibility of continuously monitor football betting patterns to take disciplinary action in any cases where that may be justified.

Michel Platini, UEFA?s president, the match-fixing and the illegal betting ?It’s a big problem and it could become very bad for football, and for all sports, in the future?. Due to the troubles regarding corruption, the UEFA set up an independent company in Zurich, called Early Warning System, which is part of an attempt to reinforce the safety and prevent the matches? outcome from any influence or manipulation.

Moreover, UEFA has decided to organize a conference with the EU in 2008 about corruption and money laundering in the sport. Hopefully, it will be a stepping stone in the prevention of this new “criminal phenomena” which hangs a cloud of doubt on the authenticity of the game results in the football world.

Would the authors of the gospels and letters in the New Testament have a motive to fabricate their account? Did they have any personal gain from writing? Obviously, if a motive can be established for inventing the testimonies, the trustworthiness of the document becomes more questionable. Conversely, if the authors had nothing to gain, or even something to lose, the document?s credibility is increased.

So what happened to John Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, and Paul after writing their gospels and letters? Although there is only limited historical record about what happened to these men after completing their writings, one can with certainty state that none of them retired wealthy from the proceedings of any of their books. Contrary to that, the historical record shows that the early Christian church and their leaders went through centuries of persecution, and the apostles spent their days traveling in poverty proclaiming their message.

More specifically, after completing his gospel and the death of Peter in Rome (66-67 AD), tradition claims that John Mark went to Alexandria in Egypt where he was martyred in 68 AD. According to the research of Dr. William Steuart McBirnie: ?In the year 68 AD Easter fell on the same day as the Serapis festival. The furious mob had gathered in the Serapion and then descended on the Christians while they were celebrating Easter at Baucalis. St, Mark was seized, dragged with a rope around his neck in the streets and then incarcerated for the night. In the following morning the same ordeal was repeated until he gave up the ghost.? Other sources confirm this account as well as his burial site.

What happened to Matthew, the tax collector, is subject to multiple conflicting traditions. His name is linked to various travels throughout Greece and Asia, but most agree on Asian Ethiopia, Persia, Macedonia, and Syria. All but one of these traditions claim an untimely death as a martyr for Christ. Unfortunately, none of these traditions are supported by convincing objective evidence.

According to Catholic tradition, Luke was martyred or died a natural death and was buried in Greece. In 356-357 AD his relics were taken to Constantinople. Later his head was supposedly taken to Rome where it is kept in St. Peter?s Basilica.

Before writing his gospel at an advanced age, John moved to Ephesus in Asia Minor shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem. At this strategic location he had a special relationship with other churches in the area, as we know through his letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation as well as through references in writings of the early church. After a period of exile to the island of Patmos, he is believed to have died of old age, around 100 AD, in Ephesus, where he was buried. The ruins at the Basilica of St. John are claimed to mark the site of the tomb.

As for Paul, some claim that after his imprisonment as described at the end of the Book of Acts, he visited Spain for a period of at least two years. Subsequently, he returned to Rome where during Nero?s persecution in 66/67 AD (about the same time as Peter) he was beheaded.

So no lucrative book deals for these writers, no lofty retirement on the French Riviera. The testimony of these men did not end with the completions of their gospels and letters. Their subsequent lives continued to proclaim the message. They lived in poverty, under the continuous threat of persecution, and at the end, most of them paid the ultimate price of an early death by martyrdom. What earthly motive could any of them have ever had for fabrication or even making the smallest change to the truth in their testimonies? They were writing for their Lord; they were writing to built treasures in heaven. Lying, exaggerating, spinning the truth, becoming famous, or gaining any wealth, was not on their agenda.

Veria is a city in Greece. It is build in the eastern slopes of the Vermion mountain. The city is a rich, lively town and is a fairly large town. Veria constitutes an important cross road connecting the region of Eastern Macedonia with the region of Western Macedoni.

Television arrived in the 1970s and the 1980s for the rural area.

It is mainly based on agriculture and trading. The main exported goods being fresh and preserved agricultural products, threads and cotton. Many of the goods exported through Veria come from other regions of Greece. It is complemented by Tripotamos, an estuary of Aliakmon, which traverses it and divides it into two.

Still visible today in Veria, is part of the Roman road the Egnatia Way. Veria is known for its Revani dessert.

Veria is renowned for its fruits and vegetables abundant with almond, peach, kiwi and pear orchards. The jam Naousa is the main and famous production of agriculture and jams here.

Veria has one of the largest and most complete public libraries in Greece. Originally a small single-room library with limited funds and material, it exploded into a four-stories building offering multimedia, special and rare editions. The Library belongs to the Hellenic Ministry of Education and Religious affairs. Veria Central Public Library has today more than 21.000 active members.

The area experiences cold wet winters and hot dry summers. Towns like Veria are ski resorts and have been for many years, and guarantee snow for many months during the year. It is one of the largest ski centres in Greece.

There are more than 50 Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches with interesting frescoes Some of the churches date back to the 11th century, making Veria an important centre of Byzantine ecclesiastic architecture. Many of the churches contain wonderful wall paintings. The bema of St. Paul, was where Paul stood and preached the gospel to the people of Veria, as well as the beautiful white marble monument built in honour of St. Paul.

Not far from Veria lies the village of Kastanies, which is usually snowed-in during the winter. This is the site of the monastery of the Panagia Soumela, founded by refugees from the Pontos. The Monastery of Soumela, which had been founded in the 4th century by a Pontian Monk Christopher of Trepizond, During the First World War the Monastery was destroyed. The monastery had the famous icon of Panagia brought from the monastery of Our Lady of Mount Melas, in the mountains of Trapezounta district.

The Turkish language is spoken by more than 70 million people throughout the world, making Turkish the most commonly spoken language of Turkic origin. Turkish speakers reside primarily in Turkey, though very significant populations of speakers now reside in Germany with smaller communities existing in Cyprus, Bulgaria, and other parts of Eastern Europe.

Kurdish is spoken by approximately seven to ten percent of Turkey’s population. Even minorities in Turkey however are usually bilingual, speaking Turkish in varying levels of proficiency.

In more recent years several million Turkish speakers have immigrated to Western Europe, primarily to Germany. The Turkish language also holds an official status in the Prizren District of Kosovo and several municipalities of the Republic of Macedonia depending on the levels of Turkish-speaking local population.

The Turkish language is a member of the Turkish subgroup of the Oghuz language family which includes Gagauz and Azeri. The Oghuz languages form the Southwestern subgroup of the Turkic languages. This language family comprisesof 30 or so living languages spoken across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Siberia. Interestingly,mutual intelligibility between Turkish Azeri does exist.

The literary and official language during the Ottoman Empire was in fact a mixture of Turkish, Persian, and Arabic that differed considerably from the period’s everyday spoken Turkish, and is termed Ottoman Turkish.

The Turkish language has its roots in Central Asia. The first written records are dated to 1,200 years. The rise of the Ottoman Empire extended the geographical reach of Turkish. Turkic occurred during the Middle Ages from the 6th through the 11th centuries, with people speaking Turkic languages spread across Central Asia, covering a vast geographical region stretching from Siberia to Europe and the Mediterranean.

The aftermath of World War I and the fall of the Ottoman Empire brought about a number of political and nationalistic reforms. In 1928 the Turkish leader Atat?initiated a number of reforms which included the modification of the Turkish alphabet by the adoption of a phonetic variant using the Latin alphabet.

The Turkish Language Association was established during this time and attempted to reform the Turkish language by removing Persian and Arabic loanwords in favor of adopting native variations from Turkish roots.

These linguistic changes, including the implementation of the revised Turkish alphabet, shaped the Turkish language as we know it today. The influence of the Turkish Language Association continued though in 1951 in became an independent body. Today Istanbul Turkish is the official standard for Turkish.

The Gumball 3000 was founded in 1999 by Maximillion Cooper, an ex-Armani model, who was inspired by the “Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash”, an unofficial, almost outlawed, coast to coast road race from New York to Los Angeles that took place four times during the 1970s before being cancelled due to concerns over road safety from police.

Maximllion Cooper set out to revive the spirit of the original Cannonball races in the summer of 1999, combining long drives throughout the day with decadent nightly parties. The original rally featured fifty of Cooper’s wealthiest friends, who drove to Italy in extravagant and customised cars, before arriving in London and crossing the finish line. In an attempt to avoid trouble from the authorities, the Gumball rally was set up with no official timing and no prizes awarded, emphasising that it was a rally and not a race, although this didn’t stop many of the drivers being fined for speeding offences during the rally.

In 2000 the rally returned, this time beginning in Spain. Once again stars from film and music lined up to compete, including drum and bass legend and erstwhile James Bond villain Goldie. The third rally in 2001 garnered tremendous publicity for the Gumball, mostly thanks to several members of the “Jackass” cast taking part and filming the adventure for an MTV special, which earned MTV their highest ratings for the year. The event was also covered by terrestrial British television for the first time in 2001, with BBC 1 broadcasting regular updates of the rally.

In 2002, the spirit of the original Cannonball races was well and truly in the air, as the Gumball Rally competitors raced from New York to the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, covering the original route from the 1970s. 2002’s Gumball 3000 featured more drivers than ever before, with 175 cars entered into the race.

The Gumball continued over the next three years before 2006 heralded the year of the most ambitious Gumball Rally yet, with drivers scheduled to start in London and finish in Los Angeles just eight days later. Bam Margera and Ryan Dunn of “Jackass” entered the rally as did extreme sports legend, Tony Hawk with the drivers enjoying a post race party in L.A hosted by hip-hop aficionado Snoop Dogg. Unfortunately, the success of this race couldn’t be replicated the following year.

Upon arrival in Amsterdam for the start of the rally on 2007, participants were met by Dutch police with 14 police cars and 7 unmarked cars. Rap star Xzibit had his license revoked for a speeding violation, and two cars were confiscated. Things got worse however, when German police stopped close to 70 cars for speeding offences the following day before tragedy struck just days later when two participants in the rally were involved in a high speed collision in the Republic of Macedonia. The drivers reportedly smashed into another car while they were doing speeds in excess of 200 kilometres an hour. The elderly couple they hit both died on the way to the hospital.

Despite the disastrous events of last year, Maximillion Cooper is running the Gumball 3000 once again this year, scheduled to begin in San Francisco and end in Beijing, China. The 2008 Gumball Rally is also set to feature many regular car enthusiasts with many car credit companies presumably rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of the money motoring fans will splash out on the ultimate car, all of them itching to rub shoulders with the celebrities involved in a true adventure of a lifetime.

I had mentioned that my oldest daughter, so sweet and adorable, was a fussy eater, and yet after much play and zooming the airplane spoon past her mouth, with my mouth open, we got a meal down, effort by effort. I treasure the memories to get healthy lifestyles into her as an early habit.

And if like me, you found out that finally some years later, if you kept at through every rebellion and growth spurt and houseful of attitude, there will come a moment. You hear your child lecturing her friends about the junk they put into their bodies.

And you notice she looks more radiant and wholesome and healthy than they do, and you smile deeply and imagine how well based she is. Her healthy lifestyles are now better than yours, forty years later, and she rem And all those airplane trips from plate to mouth around mount Dad pay off. Well done. And they even all love you.

Good examples must be lived, not just lectured from a pulpit. And wonderful to realize that some of what you hear your kids say as if it is their original thought- and to them it is- something that decades earlier they had said yeah, yeah, dad, you do not know, things are different now.

Timeless values are eternal, and the more we get to our most healthy roots, the better. Spinach roots, cabbage roots, carrot roots, beet roots. Back to our roots, the wisdom of the ages, is in every spoon that goes into your Shirley Temple.

Let’s see all our good ship lollipops have plenty of fruits and veggies aboard, and we make whatever silly actions necessary to grow our kids naturally, to whatever they may naturally best become. Enjoy the journey! I am drawn to how the ancient stories can be adapted to now, and I enjoy making appropriate to the moment some age old story.

Rare children’s books tell these stories, all the way back to Dr. Seuss, my modern favorite. But then when wise King Phillip of Macedonia called Aristotle to meet and promise to teach his newborn son Alexander right from wrong, and love from hated, and wise contemplation rather than rash actions, and the deep questions he had recently discussed with legendary Socrates. So, from some time past, wise tutors have been out there, defining right for wrong. And so we should continue, whether we will wear ourselves out early with the massive energy needed to be Great.

Or, like most, with less fever, we can apply ourselves to at least be good and just. As Socrates told Aristotle, and he told Alexander, and, as you may have heard, his horse told me. America has more followed the gentle teaching of those Greek values.

Europe has tended to be like Rome and cane them into being better, more loving persons. Gentle understanding and deep reaches into the soul to understand that a life lived well and in fairness to others more likely ensures a better death and afterlife. No cane allowed, but you must be able. Sigh.

But when our little angels do well, you must remember to give rave attention to appropriate behavior. A great report card may deserve an update to the computer, and let your brainy hero have a budget, and see what she or he discovers. It will not break the bank, but it is a very effective way to have that brain studying away, and you are not giving a bribe- remember that always. You are rewarding great behavior, which makes more great behavior likely.

In contrast, if we gave a murderer a reward, we are mad; although we do that all the time. Best sellers by wrong doers should at least have the money go to the poor and the writer go to jail. Right the wrong. Our kids understand those issues while we over complicate even basic right from wrong.

Let us listen to that innocent loving child within, and by staying in touch with our children and then our grandchildren we can ensure we stay involved in helping the moral center stays in place as issues come and go.

And later you get to fondly recall with fondness all those efforts to eat a healthy lifestyles for all of us to set the good examples. And if you this so consistently, your grown daughters buy organic and fear you may not get it and you have to agree that may be so, compared to them.

Does anyone know of a site where I can get newer bestseller audiobooks for free? Oprah and Friends” to teach course on New Age Christ Jesus Christ being reinvented, redefined, and blasphemed and, this false New- Age Christ teaching is about to make huge inroads into the world, with the help of the queen of television talk shows, Oprah Winfrey. I know this is really strange asking for its awards because it s a great book, but I need the awards for school work. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life, and, bluntly states: “This is a course in mind training” and is dedicated to “thought reversal.” The Course in Miracles-in reality-is the truth of the Bible turned upside down. haha im just curious, cuz ive seen a bunch of books that say #1 bestseller and i was just wondering what book has sold the most copies ever. But the minute you pick up the Bible and crack it open, you had better believe that he will try to distract you with everything he has.

“Do not make the pathetic error of clinging to the old rugged cross. Jose: Typical O supporter.I dont care what color he is. from where i can buy it if u have a copy send it to and get a lot bestseller e books in return. The only reason people take this course because they can no longer live in fear of be held accountable by a higher power then themselves. I certainly wouldn t reject polling methods, far from it, but the question of what people think about evolution is not so simple. I m looking for specifically young adult novels, like middle and high school. The two main actors are Kirsten Stewart and Robert Pattinson. i dont knw how to put that in simple words. Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset-a New Age worldview that include the beliefs that there is no sin, no evil, no devil. also, what do u think of those deities (thumb down clowns). Is it because they right books and reports that usually require reliable sources for research, which disincludes daily talk radio rants and Ann Coulter s bestsellers? 2 Timothy 3 (King James Version) King James Version (KJV) 2 Timothy 3 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Girlfriend favorite color is green, so I thought of sending her green flowers. I mean seriously, don t people understand that its behaviour like this that gives people power over you, and with all that power anyone can become corrupt. Elvis: June 12, 2007, 06:41Sell the ultram pill!

Just to make sure this was true, I went on Oprah s website and there it is. Yes Indeed there r more examples of bad Christians then there r good. Anyone who lived in the slums of New Orleans, for example, would do well to consider what the poor white trash in poli I guess it s to long to copy here is the link.

This “Jesus”-who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible s Jesus Christ-began delivering channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology, Helen Schucman. If not atleast something interesting and keeps you hooked. books like: how my private personal journal became bestseller click here to find out how i survived seventh grade. Questo bizzarro incrocio, stato avvistato ai piedi di famosissime donne fra cui la bellissima Kylie Minogue.

1 US bestseller, but my teacher said that was marketing. My family and whole community share this mass delusion.

He doesn t care if you read the latest novel on the bestseller list. books like: how my private personal journal became bestseller click here to find out how i survived seventh grade. Fill the memory banks God has given you with Scripture, because the devil will attack you in the realm of your mind. What does it take to survive on writing alone because I want a job I can enjoy, which is writing books:o) The Westing Game sounds interesting. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. also is just recommended tag ok?or is it a compromise.because sony w 55 or w 80 are above average according to DPREVIEW but still they are bestsellers.basically i want more than a point and shoot one but should be portable.so m planning for sony h3? In general the beliefs people have about evolution have a twisted history and it is doubtful if Darwinists are competent to study the question. I know, it s like starting your own Fight Club because Tyler Durden on screen said so, so don t laugh. What current bestseller book was this poem referenced in? So commit yourselves completely to theses words of mine. I going to collect all Greek hate messages and insults about Macedonia like these: from Greece: get a veto for the moment and wait for the albanian c.

How can anyone possibly suggest that Obama wasnt acutely aware of his pastor s racist and anti-American leanings?

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