History of Leap Year

Wednesday, February 29 (Leap Day) in 2012 (Leap Year)

Leap years are years with 366 days, instead of the usual 365. Leap years are necessary because the actual length of a year is 365.242 days, not 365 days, as commonly stated. Basically, leap years occur every 4 years, and years that are evenly divisible by 4 (2004, for example) have 366 days. This extra day is added to the calendar on February 29th.

However, there is one exception to the leap year rule involving century years, like the year 1900. Since the year is slightly less than 365.25 days long, adding an extra day every 4 years results in about 3 extra days being added over a period of 400 years. For this reason, only 1 out of every 4 century years is considered as a leap year. Century years are only considered as leap years if they are evenly divisible by 400. Therefore, 1700, 1800, 1900 were not leap years, and 2100 will not be a leap year. But 1600 and 2000 were leap years, because those year numbers are evenly divisible by 400.

Julius Caesar, Father of Leap Year
Julius Caesar was behind the origin of leap year in 45 BC. The early Romans had a 355 day calendar and to keep festivals occurring around the same season each year a 22 or 23 day month was created every second year. Julius Caesar decided to simplify things and added days to different months of the year to create the 365 day calendar, the actual calculation were made by Caesar's astronomer, Sosigenes. Every fourth year following the 28th day of Februarius (February 29th) one day was to be added, making every fourth year a leap year.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII further refined the calendar with the rule that leap day would occur in any year divisible by 4 as described above.
~ By Mary Bellis

A person who is born on February 29 may be called a "leapling" or a "leap year baby". In non-leap years, they typically celebrate their birthday on either February 28 or March 1.

Some famous people born on February 29 include:

• 1468 – Pope Paul III (d. 1549)
• 1792 – Gioacchino Rossini, Italian composer (William Tell, The Barber of Seville) (d. 1868)
• 1904 – Jimmy Dorsey, American bandleader (d. 1957)
• 1916 – Dinah Shore, American singer (d. 1994)
• 1924 – Al Rosen, American baseball player
• 1960 – Anthony (Tony) Robbins, American motivational speaker
• 1964 – Lyndon Byers, Canadian hockey player
• 1972 – Antonio Sabàto Jr, Italian-born actor
• 1976 – Ja Rule, American rapper and actor
• 1980 – Chris Conley, American musician and songwriter/composer

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Dealing With Stress

Stress, anxiety, and depression influence your eating and physical activity habits and your weight. Some problems require professional assistance.

Here are some things that you can try to do to help yourself:

Your mood (sad, nervous, stressed, etc.) comes from your thoughts and what you tell yourself. In most cases, you can control your mood by choosing what you think about and what you tell yourself.

When you are feeling too much stress, be aware of what your are thinking. Are these thoughts making you feel worse? If so, then replace them with more positive thoughts. Make a list of 4-5 positive statements about yourself that you can use when feeling stressed. Here are some examples:

• I can control my reaction to a situation, even if I can’t control the situation.
• I am a good person.
• I am calm and relaxed.
• I am at peace with myself and with the world around me.
• I will accept the things I cannot change. I will have the courage to change the things I can and I will learn to know the difference.

Help Your Body Handle Stress:

• Make physical activity a part of every day.
• Eat a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of water.
• Get enough rest.
• Try a massage.
• Take a long shower or bath.
• Take a break from stressful situations: count to 10, take a deep breath, daydream, or take a vacation if you can.
• Divide big tasks into little ones, and tackle one at a time.
• Learn how to relax and practice this regularly.
• Arrange to have some quiet time for yourself each day.
• Talk over your troubles with someone you trust.
• Take the time to do things you enjoy.
• Plan ahead and pace yourself so you aren’t late or in a terrible rush.
• Listen to or make music, paint, or express yourself artistically.
• Picture yourself handling particular stressful situations calmly and effectively.

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Selling Your Home

As we prepare a home to go up for sale, there are certain things we can do that make BIG differences in obtaining a buyer:

~ Pricing - Find out what the home is worth. In today's market, buyers are looking for good value for their money. You will benefit from pricing the home reasonably.

~ Light - Showing a well lit home makes it look large and spacious. Clean drapes or take them down, clean windows and lampshades, increase the wattage in the light bulbs and trim trees and shrubs outside to allow more light in.

~ Closets - By emptying your closets to half full, you show there is ample space. Storage is a major concern for buyers. To see a closet half empty and organized gives the impression of more storage room.
~ Remove Personal Belongings - Give the buyer the benefit of imagining their own items in the home by taking your items out. Take down family pictures, plaques with sayings and knick knacks.

~ Pets - Not all buyers are pet lovers. Discreetly hide the food and water bowls, litter boxes and clean pet fur off of everything. Get rid of pet smells or pet stains on carpeting or flooring. If you have an Open House planned, take your pets out of the house for the day.

~ Kitchen - This is the most important room and one that can make or break a potential sale. Neutral colored walls help give a blank canvas to the buyer, to put their own colors in the room. Take away counter clutter. Buy one high end appliance to give the effect that everything is high end.

~ Updating - A complete makeover on your home is not necessary. Little subtle changes go a long way. Fix leaky faucets, change or clean drapes, clean grout, paint, replace cabinet hardware.

~ Show Ready - Have your home always ready to show. Keep it tidy, clean and uncluttered.
 
~ First Impression: Outside - As one is looking at your home the moment they pull in front of it, this is the first impression that cannot be repeated. Many times, the buyer has already made an opinion of the home before opening the front door. Spruce up the shrubs, put out colorful flowers, sweep walkways, clean the exterior of the home and clean the driveway.

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Meaning of Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the name given to the first day of the season of Lent, in which the Pastor applies ashes to the foreheads of Christians to signify an inner repentance.

In the typical Ash Wednesday observance, Christians are invited to the altar to receive the imposition of ashes, prior to receiving the holy Supper. The Pastor applies ashes in the shape of the cross on the forehead of each, while speaking the words, "For dust you are and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). This is of course what God spoke to Adam and Eve after they eaten of the forbidden fruit and fallen into sin. These words indicated to our first parents the bitterest fruit of their sin, namely death. In the context of the Ash Wednesday imposition of ashes, they remind each penitent of their sinfulness and mortality, and, thus, their need to repent and get right with God before it is too late. The cross reminds each penitent of the good news that through Jesus Christ crucified there is forgiveness for all sins, all guilt, and all punishment.

Many Christians choose to leave the ashes on their forehead for the remainder of the day, not to be showy and boastful (see Matthew 6:16-18). Rather, they do it as a witness that all people are sinners in need of repentance AND that through Jesus all sins are forgiven through faith.

Ash Wednesday, like the season of Lent, is never mentioned in Scripture and is not commanded by God. Christians are free to either observe or not observe it. It also should be obvious that the imposition of ashes, like similar external practices, are meaningless, even hypocritical, unless there is a corresponding inner repentance and change of behavior. This is made clear in Isaiah 58:5-7.

With this in mind, however, the rite of ashes on Ash Wednesday is heartily recommended to the Christian as a grand opportunity for repentance and spiritual renewal within the framework of confession and absolution.

By Dr. Richard P. Bucher

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Dealing With Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Stress, anxiety, and depression influence your eating and physical activity habits and your weight. Some problems require professional assistance.

Here are some things that you can try to do to help yourself:

Your mood (sad, nervous, stressed, etc.) comes from your thoughts and what you tell yourself. In most cases, you can control your mood by choosing what you think about and what you tell yourself.

When you are feeling too much stress, be aware of what your are thinking. Are these thoughts making you feel worse? If so, then replace them with more positive thoughts. Make a list of 4-5 positive statements about yourself that you can use when feeling stressed. Here are some examples:

• I can control my reaction to a situation, even if I can’t control the situation.
• I am a good person.
• I am calm and relaxed.
• I am at peace with myself and with the world around me.
• I will accept the things I cannot change. I will have the courage to change the things I can and I will learn to know the difference.

Help Your Body Handle Stress:

• Make physical activity a part of every day.
• Eat a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of water.
• Get enough rest.
• Try a massage.
• Take a long shower or bath.
• Take a break from stressful situations: count to 10, take a deep breath, daydream, or take a vacation if you can.
• Divide big tasks into little ones, and tackle one at a time.
• Learn how to relax and practice this regularly.
• Arrange to have some quiet time for yourself each day.
• Talk over your troubles with someone you trust.
• Take the time to do things you enjoy.
• Plan ahead and pace yourself so you aren’t late or in a terrible rush.
• Listen to or make music, paint, or express yourself artistically.
• Picture yourself handling particular stressful situations calmly and effectively.

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Mardi Gras and King Cake History

Mardi Gras (also called "Strove Tuesday") is a world wide winter celebration stemming from the carnival. "Mardi Gras" is French for "Fat Tuesday".  Some of the most famous Mardi Gras celebrations take place in the United States' southern region, particularly in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Brought to the area by French settlers in the 1699, the New Orleans Mardi Gras period begins on "Twelfth Night" (January 6) and continues until the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Mardi Gras is presented as a great festival, a boisterous carne vale--or "good-bye to the flesh"--that serves as the last sowing of wild oats before the onset of the sober season of Lent heralded by Ash Wednesday.

Even though the whole celebration period beginning on Twelfth night is referred to as "Mardi Gras," the name is most commonly associated with the weekend before Ash Wednesday. During these days, the population of New Orleans doubles, and there are parades every night where people throw candy, beads, and toys into the enormous crowds! The traditional Mardi Gras colors of gold, purple, and green are everywhere, and there are also balls, dancing in the streets, and contests to see who can come up with the most elaborate costumes and masks!

In parts of Europe, especially England and Ireland, the day before Ash Wednesday is known as "Pancake Day!" In the past many foods, such as eggs or butter, were forbidden during the Lent period, so people wanted one last chance to indulge before they gave them up until Easter. So while there are still Mardi Gras celebrations, on this particular day it's considered good luck to eat pancakes.
 
King Cake
The first week of January in New Orleans starts the King cake season. King cakes first appeared after 1872, when the Rex Krewe selected the Mardi Gras colors (purple, green and gold). The traditional King cake is a coffee cake, and is oblong and braided. It is iced with a simple icing and covered with purple, green and gold sugar. Each cake contains a hidden bean or small plastic baby, and custom tells that whoever finds it must either buy the next King cake or throw the next King cake party. One Mardi Gras organization uses the King cake tradition to choose the queen of its annual ball. Hundreds of King cake parties are thrown every year and hundreds of thousands of cakes are made, bought and eaten every year.

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President's Day

According to the federal government, the holiday observed on the third Monday in February is officially Washington's Birthday. But many Americans believe that this holiday is now called "Presidents' Day," in honor of both Presidents Washington and Lincoln, whose birthdays are Feb. 22 and Feb. 12, respectively. It turns out that whether you honor one or the other or both of these presidents may depend on where you live.

Washington's Birthday has a history as old as our country. It was celebrated publicly for the first time in the late 18th century, while George Washington was still president.

Washington's Birthday became official in 1885, when President Chester Arthur signed a bill making it a federal holiday. Meanwhile, there was President Lincoln's birthday on Feb. 12, which never became a federal holiday but was celebrated as a legal holiday in many states outside the old Confederacy.

Origins of the Monday Holiday
In 1968, Congress passed the Monday Holidays Act, which moved the official observance of Washington's birthday from Feb. 22 to the third Monday in February. Some reformers had wanted to change the name of the holiday as well, to Presidents' Day, in honor of both Lincoln and Washington, but that proposal was rejected by Congress, and the holiday remained officially Washington's Birthday.

Nevertheless, there was a popular misconception that the day had been officially renamed, a misconception only reinforced by the fact that the third Monday in February can only occur between Feb. 15 and Feb. 21. This means that the holiday is always after Lincoln's birthday and before Washington's birthday, without ever coinciding with either. Furthermore, some states which had previously celebrated Lincoln's Birthday dropped the observance after the federal holiday reforms, supporting the notion that the two presidential birthdays had been combined.

While the name change has never been authorized by Congress, it has gained a strong hold on the public consciousness, and is generally used on calendars, in advertising, and even by many government agencies. There have been attempts to introduce legislation requiring federal agencies to call the day Washington's Birthday, but these have never gotten very far. No matter what's in the law books, the popular usage is now well established.

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Cooking Terms

When reading a recipe, it's important to know what the terms in the directions mean.  What is the difference between to POACH or to PARBOIL or to BOIL or to BLANCH or to SCALD?   Here are terms and their definitions:

Au gratin – Toped with crumbs and/or cheese and browned in over or under broiler.

Au jus – Served in its own juice.

Baste – To moisten foods during cooking with pan drippings or special sauce in order to add flavor and prevent drying.

Bisque – A thick cream soup.

Blanch – To immerse in rapidly boiling water and allow to cook slightly.

Cream – To soften a fat, especially butter, by beating it at room temperature. Butter and sugar are often creamed together, making a smooth, soft paste.

Crimp – To seal the edges of a two-crust pie either by pinching them at intervals with the fingers or by pressing them together with the tines of a fork.

Crudites – An assortment of raw vegetables (i.e. carrots, broccoli, celery, mushrooms) that is served as a hor d’oeurve, often accompanied by a dip.

Degrease – To remove fat from the surface of stews, soups or stock. Usually cooled in the refrigerator so that fat hardens and is easily removed.

Dredge – To coat lightly with flour, cornmeal, etc.

Entrée – The main course.

Fold – To incorporate a delicate substance, such as whipped cream or beaten egg whites, into another substance without releasing air bubbles. A spatula is used to gently bring part of the mixture from the bottom of the bowl to the top. The process is repeated, while slowly rotating the bowl, until the ingredients are thoroughly blended.

Glaze – To cover with a glossy coating, such as a melted and somewhat diluted jelly for fruit desserts.

Julienne – To cut vegetables, fruits or cheeses into match-shaped slivers.

Marinate – To allow food to stand in a liquid in order to tenderize or add flavor.

Meuniere – Dredged with flour and sautéed in butter.

Mince – To chop food into very small pieces.

Parboil – To boil until partially cooked; to blanch. Usually final cooking in a seasoned sauce follows this procedure.

Pare – To remove the outermost skin of a fruit or vegetable.

Poach – To cook gently in hot liquid kept just below the boiling point.

Pruee – To mash foods by hand by rubbing through a sieve or food mill, or by whirling in a blender or food processor until perfectly smooth.

Refresh – To run cold water over food that has been parboiled in order to stop the cooking process quickly.

Saute – To cook and/or brown food in a small quantity of hot shortening.

Scald – To heat to just below the boiling point, when tiny bubbles appear a the edge of the saucepan.

Simmer – To cook in liquid just below the boiling point. The surface of the liquid should be barely moving, broken from time to time by slowly rising bubbles.

Steep – To let food stand in hot liquid in order to extract or to enhance flavor, like tea in hot water or poached fruit in sugar syrup.

Toss – To combine ingredients with a repeated lifting motion.

Whip – To beat rapidly in order to incorporate air and produce expansion, as in heavy cream or egg whites.

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Your Guide to Better Sleep

     A good night's rest makes everything else in your life easier. Along with good nutrition and mental well-being, optimal sleep fuels us to live our best lives. The following information provides insight into how sleep affects our health and how good sleep habits can provide just what you need to sleep like a baby once again.
     Our bodies turn their energy inward when we sleep. Instead of expending energy to walk, talk, eat, exercise and digest, our bodies focus on repairing damaged cells and tissues, recharging the immune system and giving our minds some well-deserved time to wander freely through our dreams. Without time to sleep each night, bad things start to happen -- and fast!

The cost of under sleeping:
     A recent survey by the National Sleep Foundation found that on average people sleep one and a half hours less per night than they did a century ago.
     Insufficient sleep over time has been linked to depression, decreased cognitive performance, immune suppression, blood sugar imbalance and even obesity. Just one night of poor sleep can cause fatigue, memory loss and decreased mental capacity.
     The bottom line? Sleep should be kept at the top of your to-do list each day. In the same way that making conscious choices about the food you eat helps to put you on the path to optimal health, getting sound, solid sleep each night can go a long way toward promoting your best quality of life.

Six tips for optimal sleep:
Running around frantically just before slamming your head onto your pillow is not an effective way to achieve optimal sleep patterns for most people. Getting into a pattern of consistent, optimal sleep takes some time and can be greatly helped by following some basic sleep hygiene tips.
1. Shut down your computer and turn off your cell phone and television 30 minutes prior to sleep. Create an environment that is quiet and calm.
2. Remove stimulants (television, stereo, computer, bright lights) from your sleeping area. Keep the bedroom clear from clutter -- remove any unnecessary furniture, piles of clothes, papers and books so things are kept out of sight and the space looks and feels calm and simple.
3. Make sure your sleeping area is as dark and quiet as possible. Consider a fan or other source of white noise to create a consistent environment.
4. Keep a notebook and writing utensil next to the bed. Use them to clear racing thoughts, calm the mind and promote peaceful sleep.
5. Dab a drop of essential oil behind the ears. It should be a scent you've chosen only for sleep time, not something you might associate with your shampoo, dryer sheets, hand lotion, etc. The idea is to associate this scent with the sensation of feeling relaxed and tired.
6. Establish a set sleeping time and try your best to stick to it -- even if your work schedule requires that you work odd hours and even if that means you're sleeping each day from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Creating a sleep diary:
     Once you've chosen a selection of sleep habits to follow, you can track your improvement in sleep patterns by creating a sleep diary. On a piece of blank paper create a grid with seven columns. Label the columns from left to right across the top of the grid, noting the date, time to bed, time to sleep, number of times awake during the night, number of times getting up to go to the bathroom, time spent awake, and time spent feeling groggy (1 = not at all; 10 = extremely). Keep this diary next to your bed with your notebook and a pen or pencil. Complete a row on your grid each morning before you get up. Over time, you can track your progress and identify specific aspects that are preventing you from reaching an optimal sleep cycle.
     Just as we all need air, water and food to survive, we also need sleep to be healthy. By making optimal sleep a priority in your life, you may be amazed at the positive impact you can have on your mental and physical outlook. With a few simple rituals in place, you lay the foundation for attaining optimal wellness.
    
~ Dr. Keegan Sheridan is a licensed naturopathic physician and Kashi's Natural Food and Lifestyle Expert.

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The Legend of St. Valentine

There are at three different Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, mentioned in the early martyrologies for the date of February 14th.

One is described as a priest in Rome, another a bishop (of Interamna, the modern Terni). Both apparently were martyred in the second half of the third century and buried at different places on the Flaminian Way outside of Rome. The third St. Valentine was martyred in Africa with a number of companions.

Almost nothing is known about any of these early Christian men -- except that they died for the love of Christ!

The popular customs connected with Saint Valentine's Day's probably originated in medieval Europe. At that time, when "courtly love" was in flower, there was a common belief in England and France that on February 14th, precisely half way through the second month of the year, the birds began to pair.

Thus, we read in the 14th century English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer's "Parliament of Foules":
For this was on Seynt Valentynes' day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate. (Chaucer's original spelling).

This belief about "love-birds" is probably the reason Saint Valentine's feast day came to be seen as specially consecrated to lovers, and as a proper occasion for writing love letters and sending lover's tokens. The literature of the fourteenth and fifteenth-century in both France and England contain allusions to this practice.

This association with romantic love, along with the medieval revival of interest in classic literature, no doubt led to the "paganizing" of this martyr's feast, so that the Roman god, Cupid (the counterpart of Eros in Greek mythology), supplanted the saint in the celebration of the feast. In Roman mythology, Cupid, the son of Venus, was a winged immortal who had the mischievous habit of shooting invisible arrows into the hearts of mortals, which inflamed them with blind and helpless passion -- for the next person they might see.

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Helpful Hints for Cooking

One never knows when one of these hints will come to mind when the necessity arises!

• Store dried pasta, rice (except brown rice), and whole grains in tightly covered containers in a cool, dry place. Always refrigerate brown rice, and refrigerate or freeze grains if they will not be used within five months.
• When freezing foods, label each container with its contents and the date it was put into the freezer. Store at zero (0) degrees. Always use frozen cooked foods within one to two months.
• To keep hot oil form splattering, sprinkle a little salt or flour in the pan before frying.
• When preparing a casserole, make an additional batch to freeze. It makes a great emergency meal when unexpected guests arrive. Just take the casserole from the freezer and bake it in the oven. 
• Never overcook foods that are to be frozen. Foods will finish cooking when reheated. Don’t refreeze thawed foods.
• A few drops of lemon juice added to simmering rice will keep the grains separated. 
• Green pepper may change the flavor of frozen casseroles. Clove, garlic, and pepper flavors get stronger when they are frozen, while sage, onion and salt get milder. 
• Don’t freeze cooked egg whites, they become tough. 
• For an easy no-mess side dish, grill vegetables along with your meat. 
• To dress up buttered, cooked vegetables, sprinkle them with toasted sesame seeds, toasted chopped nuts, canned french-fried onions, or slightly crushed seasoned croutons. 
• Souffle dishes are designed with straight sides to help your soufflé climb to magnificent heights. Ramekins are good for serving individual casseroles. 
• A little vinegar or lemon juice added to potatoes before draining with make them extra white when mashed. 
• To quickly bake potatoes, place them in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Pierce their skins with a fork and bake in preheated oven.
• To avoid toughened beans or corn, add salt midway through cooking.

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Types of Love

The different love styles are known by their Greek names. This is because the ancient Greeks recognized the different love styles. The types of love in the Bible are mentioned by their Greek name. The two types of love that are mentioned in the Bible are agape and phileo. Let us see the different forms of love in detail.

Eros
This type of love is about ideal beauty, passionate physical and emotional, lustful love. It usually refers to sex and this type of love in the Bible means love between a man and his wife. It is more than sexual ecstasy and includes yearning and caring. This love needs to be fulfilled and is kind of self-centered love. It is not concerned about the other person and is based on attraction and desire. The Eros type of love fades away with time.

Storge
This is the second form of love that is not directly mentioned in the Bible in its noun or verb form. This type of love normally refers to the love of friendship, family love, a love shared between parents and children. It can also be the love of one person for his leader. Here one wants the best for his friend or lover. Even after lovers part, this type of love will survive in the form of friendship.

Ludus
This is about a love game, where a lover wants to have fun and not get into a serious form of relationship. Here the conquest of love is the goal without a deep intimacy or intensity.

Agape
This type of love, mentioned in the Bible relates to a dutiful, selfless love. This love is between a mother and her child that is given without ever asking for anything in return. In this form of love, the lover views their partner as a blessing. They will do anything to take care of them. People who follow this kind of love are mostly spiritual or religious people.

Pragma
This is a practical type of love with realistic needs. People who tend to love on the basis of Pragma are searching for partners with a basic set of qualities. This kind of love may sometimes be unemotional.

Phileo
Phileo is the type of love, mentioned in the Bible that refers to brotherly love. This is deep-rooted emotion where love grows and both partners are benefited from the friendship. This love is going beyond the superficial needs in a relationship and striving for a deeper connection. The words being shallow or pretentious hold no meaning in this type of love.

Mania
Mania is a highly obsessive and volatile form of love. This type of love is usually seen in people with a very low self-esteem. In this form of love, the person tends to get too involved with the person they fancy. Their love changes into jealousy, possessiveness and carries great intensity. The person cannot concentrate on work or study and may tend to become a danger to their lover or even themselves.

Which style do you recognize the most?

~ By Batul Nafisa Baxamusa

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Cupid

In Roman mythology, Cupid (Latin cupido, meaning "desire") is the god of desire, affection and erotic love. He is often portrayed as the son of the goddess Venus, with a father rarely mentioned. His Greek counterpart is Eros. Cupid is also known in Latin as Amor ("Love"). The Amores (plural) or amorini in the later terminology of art history are the equivalent of the Greek Erotes.


Although Eros appears in Classical Greek art as a slender winged youth, during the Hellenistic period he was increasingly portrayed as a chubby boy. During this time, his iconography acquired the bow and arrow that remain a distinguishing attribute; a person, or even a deity, who is shot by Cupid's arrow is filled with uncontrollable desire. The Roman Cupid retains these characteristics, which continue in the depiction of multiple cupids in both Roman art and the later classical tradition of Western art.[1]

In Latin literature, Cupid's ability to compel love and desire plays an instigating role in several myths or literary scenarios. In Vergil's Aeneid, Cupid prompts Dido to fall in love with Aeneas, with tragic results. Ovid makes Cupid the patron of love poets. Cupid is a central character, however, in only the traditional tale of Cupid and Psyche, as told by Apuleius.

Cupid was a continuously popular figure in the Middle Ages, when under Christian influence he often had a dual nature as Heavenly and Earthly love, and in the Renaissance, when a renewed interest in classical philosophy endowed him with complex allegorical meanings. In contemporary popular culture, Cupid is shown shooting his bow to inspire romantic love, often as an icon of Valentine's Day.

Legend
In the Roman version, Cupid was the son of Venus (goddess of love) and Mars (god of war).[2][3] In the Greek version he was named Eros and seen as one of the primordial gods (though other myths exist as well). Cupid was often depicted with wings, a bow, and a quiver of arrows. The following story of Cupid and Psyche is almost identical in both cultures; the most familiar version is found in the Metamorphoses of Apuleius. When Cupid's mother Venus became jealous of the princess Psyche, who was so beloved by her subjects that they forgot to worship Venus, she ordered Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with the vilest thing in the world. While Cupid was sneaking into her room to shoot Psyche with a golden arrow, he accidentally scratched himself with his own arrow and fell deeply in love with her.

Following that, Cupid visited Psyche every night while she slept. Speaking to her so that she could not see him, he told her never to try to see him. Psyche, though, incited by her two older sisters who told her Cupid was a monster, tried to look at him and angered Cupid. When he left, she looked all over the known world for him until at last the leader of the gods, Jupiter, gave Psyche the gift of immortality so that she could be with him. Together they had a daughter, Voluptas, or Hedone, (meaning pleasure) and Psyche became a goddess. Her name "Psyche" means "soul."

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Chuckles

Nothing like a good chuckle each day to brighten it up!!

Why Go to Church?
One Sunday morning, a mother went in to wake her son and tell him it was time to get ready for church, to which he replied, "I'm not going."
"Why not?" she asked.
I'll give you two good reasons," he said. "(1), they don't like me, and (2), I don't like them."
His mother replied, "I'll give you two good reasons why you SHOULD go to church:
(1) You're 59 years old, and (2) you're the pastor!"

The Picnic
A Jewish Rabbi and a Catholic Priest met at the town's annual 4th of July picnic. Old friends, they began their usual banter. 
"This baked ham is really delicious," the priest teased the rabbi.
"You really ought to try it. I know it's against your religion, but I can't understand why such a wonderful food should be forbidden! You don't know what you're missing. You just haven't lived until you've tried Mrs. Hall's prized Virginia Baked Ham. Tell me, Rabbi, when are you going to break down and try it?"
The rabbi looked at the priest with a big grin, and said, "At your wedding."

The Usher
An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps.
"Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely.
"The front row, please," she answered.
"You really don't want to do that," the usher said. "The pastor is really boring."
"Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired.
"No," he said.
"I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked.
"No," she said.
"Good," he answered.

Show and Tell
A kindergarten teacher gave her class a "show and tell" assignment. Each student was instructed to bring in an object that represented their religion to share with the class.
The first student got up in front of the class and said, "My name is Benjamin and I am Jewish and this is a Star of David."
The second student got up in front of the class and said, "My name is Mary. I'm a Catholic and this is a Rosary."
The third student got in up front of the class and said, "My name is Tommy. I am Methodist, and this is a casserole."

The Best Way To Pray
A priest, a minister and a guru sat discussing the best positions for prayer, while a telephone repairman worked nearby.
"Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray," the priest said.
"No," said the minister. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven."
"You're both wrong," the guru said. "The most effective prayer position is lying down on the floor."
The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Hey, fellas," he interrupted. "The best prayin' I ever did was when I was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole."

The Twenty and the One
A well-worn one-dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty-dollar bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired.
As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation.
The twenty-dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the country.
"I've had a pretty good life," the twenty proclaimed. "Why I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City , the finest restaurants in New York , performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean ."
"Wow!" said the one-dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!"
"So, tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?"
The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church , the Baptist Church , the Lutheran Church ."
The twenty-dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"

Goat for Dinner
The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having.
"Goat," the little boy replied.
"Goat?" replied the startled man of the cloth, "Are you sure about that?"
"Yep," said the youngster. "I heard Dad say to Mom, 'Today is just as good as any to have the old goat for dinner.' "

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Lorie Marrero's Tips on Easy Small Habits that Add Up

Here are a few little things you can do regularly to make everything work better.

Closets: Each day, hang up everything and put away clean laundry. Put your shoes back in their places, straighten stacks, and have a regular habit of bringing empty hangers back to the laundry room. Remove clothing along the way as you decide to donate it, and put it in your "Donation Station," using a paper shopping bag or box to gather those items for Goodwill. Twice a year when you organize and change out seasonal clothing, these habits will keep everything more visible and manageable when you are ready to do a bigger project.

Garages: Break down cardboard boxes, manage your recycling and trash, sweep excess leaves and dirt to keep them from tracking into the house, and keep a path cleared between the car and the door. Return sports equipment, chairs, and bikes to their racks and shelves. And each time you fill up with gas, empty the trash from your car right there at the gas pump!

Pantries: Each time you return from the grocery store and put food away, stop and straighten up what's there. Move cans and boxes for greater visibility, throw away containers with only a few crumbs left, and check for moldy bread and stale chips. Reclose cereal cartons and cracker boxes that your family has left open, and remove excess packaging from large warehouse purchases like soft drinks, paper towels, and snack foods.

Entry and Exit Doors: Take shoes back to bedroom closets, put errand items in your car, and clear out mail and papers. Hang up coats, put dirty socks in the laundry room, and get the kids to handle their odds-and-ends of toys and school items once a week.

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

More Super Bowl Trivia

Q.Who was the MVP of the first Super Bowl? A.Bart Starr was MVP of the first two Super Bowls.

Q.Besides Bart Starr, what other player was awarded MVP for two consecutive super bowls?
A.Terry Bradshaw ’79, then ’80; not consecutive: Tom Brady & Joe Montana

Q.What state leads with five Super Bowl MVPs?
A.California, followed by Ohio and Florida with 4 each.

Q.Which MVP had his helmet stolen at the 1994 Super Bowl?
A.Dallas Cowboy, Emmitt Smith. It was safely and anonymously returned.

Q.Which two conferences have had the most MVPs come from them?
A.Pac-10 and SEC, 6 each.

Q.Which team has had the most MVPs awarded? Dallas Cowboys with 7
A.Who was the only player to be awarded MVP from the losing team? Chuck Howley, Dallas Cowboys in 1971

Q.How many MVPs are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
A.12

Q.Who was the first wide receiver to be awarded MVP?
A.Lynn Swan, Pittsburgh Steelers

Q.Who was the first player to be awarded MVP three times?
A.Joe Montana. '82, '85 & '90

Q: Where was the first Super Bowl held?
A: Super Bowl I was held in Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 1967. The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10.

Q: Which NFL team has played in the most Super Bowls?
A: The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys have each played in 8 of them. The Steelers have won six of those games (also a Super Bowl record). The Cowboys have a 5-3 record.

Q: Which NFL teams have never played in the Super Bowl?
A: The Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans.

Q: How many Super Bowl have the Patriots been in, including Super Bowl XLVI? How about the Giants?
A: This is New England's 7th trip to the Super Bowl. It's New York's 5th trip.

Q: Super Bowl XLVI is a rematch of Super Bowl XLII between the Patriots and the Giants. Can you name the other Super Bowl rematches (hint: there are four other sets of teams)?
A: The Cowboys and the Steelers collided in Super Bowls X, XIII, and XXX. The Steelers won the first two; Dallas won Super Bowl XXX.
     The Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills played in consecutive years in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII. Dallas won both games.
     The San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals met in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII. The 49ers won both games.
     The Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins tangled in Super Bowls VII and XVII. They split the series.

Q: Who holds the Super Bowl record for most rushing yards in a game?
A: Timmy Smith of the Redskins ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns in Super Bowl XXII against the Denver Broncos. Pretty amazing, considering that he only ran for 602 yards and three touchdowns in his entire NFL career.

Q: Who is the only player to earn the Super Bowl MVP honor from the losing team?
A: Linebacker Chuck Howley of the Cowboys won the MVP award after his team lost to the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V, 16-13.

Q: What was the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history?
A: The 49ers beat the Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV, 55-10. Ouch.

Q: What was the closest game in Super Bowl history?
A: The Giants beat the Bills, 20-19, in Super Bowl XXV. Bills kicker Scott Norwood missed a field goal as time expired. Interestingly, the Giants' defensive coordinator that year was Bill Belichick while the team's wide receivers coach was Tom Coughlin.
     There has never been an overtime game in Super Bowl history.

Q: Madonna will be performing the halftime show at Super Bowl XLVI. Who performed the halftime show in Super Bowl I?
A. The Universities of Arizona and Michigan bands. There were no reported wardrobe malfunctions.

By Eric R. Ivie

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Control Yourself!

Trying to stay on a particular diet regimen? Having temptations that are hard to ignore?

You CAN learn to control your urges to eat those forbidden foods! Here are some suggestions:

• Plan ahead, have a solution ready for difficult situations.
• Distract yourself – immediately find something else to do.
• Take a BIG drink of water, diet soda, tea or whatever you ARE able to consume.
• Put something in your mouth like gun, a mint, toothpick, etc.
• Do some exercise – make yourself move!
• LEAVE! - just get away from the situation.
• Call someone to get some support and encouragement.
• Learn how to relax yourself. Take a few slow, deep breaths. Tighten your muscles for a moment, and then let go.
• Come up with a “guiding thought” which will make you stop. Say it to yourself over and over again.
• Dream up some pleasant imagery of yourself being healthier, proud, more energetic, and happy.
• Think hard about all the benefits you have already gotten from your diet regimen.
• Pop yourself o n the wrist with a rubber band. Gives you something else to think about!

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

General Super Bowl Trivia

Q.Which company started their six-year Super Bowl ad run with the “When I Grow Up” ad campaign?
A.Monster.com

Q.In 2006, how much did it cost for a 30-second commercial?
A.$2.5 million

Q.True or False: No network footage exists of Super Bowl I.
A.True, supposedly it was taped over for a soap opera.

Q.What was the lowest amount of points scored in a Super Bowl?
A.3, by the Miami Dolphins in 1972 Super Bowl against Dallas.

Q.How long was the longest successful field goal, kicked by Steve Christie?
A.54 yards, in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXVIII vs. Dallas.

Q. Who was the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl?
A.Tony Dungy with the Colts’ victory over the Bears, in 2007.

Q.Out of the 32 NFL teams, how many teams have made it to the Super Bowl?
A.23 total. 13 from AFC and 10 from NFC

Q.The San Francisco 49ers won two Super Bowls back to back, under two different head coaches. Who were they?
A.Bill Walsh XXIII and George Seifert XXIV

Q.Second to one big holiday, Americans consume more of this on Super Bowl Sunday.
A.Food, second to Thanksgiving.

Q.Previously a common sight at the Super Bowl, Sept 11, 2001 grounded these Super Bowl staples.
A.Blimps, due to security and terrorism concerns.

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.