Lyrics-Deliver Me, Enya and Sarah Brightman

"Deliver Me"

Deliver me, out of my sadness
Deliver me, from all of the madness
Deliver me, courage to guide me
Deliver me, strength from inside me

All of my life I've been in hiding
Wishing there was someone just like you
Now that you're here, now that I've found you
I know that you're the one to pull me through

Deliver me, loving and caring
Deliver me, giving and sharing
Deliver me, the cross that I'm bearing

All of my life I was in hiding
Wishing there was someone just like you
Now that you're here, now that I've found you
I know that you're the one to pull me through

Deliver me
Deliver me
Oh deliver me

All of my life I was in hiding
Wishing there was someone just like you
Now that you're here, now that I've found you
I know that you're the one to pull me through

Deliver me
Oh deliver me
Won't you deliver me

Begonias-Tips,Photos

photos from Martin Witter
Begonias where do they come from?
If you draw two lines around the earth between the ‘Tropic of Cancer’ and ‘Tropic of Capricorn’ in between those lines you will find a natural habitat of begonias.
There is every type of growing habit you can think of. Within this band there are many mini climates: Rain forests, cloud forests, mountain peaks, high plateaus, deep valleys, wide valleys, plains, and coastal beaches. Temperatures in these areas go from steamy heat to below freezing, and humidity varies too. Begonias are found in almost all climates, mostly but not exclusively, near water. There is a begonia to suit all types of conditions and growing skills.

Knowing the geographical distribution helps in understanding their care. They come from wooded areas, so they do not want full sunshine, but want a bright position. Too much sun burns the leaves. Keep them in a shaded greenhouse or indoors in a North, East or West window All plants are grown with a minimum temperature of 55F.

Keep these tips in mind when growing all types of begonias.

Spray against powder mildew as a prevention once a fortnight.
Begonias do not like:
Stagnant air
Draughts
Leaf shine
Dry air
Water logging
Dense soil
Dark position in winter
Direct sunlight
Too much fertiliser
Cold feet

Mainau Island Garden, Germany-Photos

Mainau - Flower Island - Lake of Constance - Germany - Featured Album October 10, 2007

A STROLL THROUGH THE GARDEN

An Island Garden

The island of Mainau is an ideal site for a garden. Washed by the temperate waters of Lake Constance, sheltered from the heavy snows of the Swiss Alps, Mainau enjoys an uncharacteristically mild climate for central Europe. Consequently the island has been planted with every imaginable tree and flower, and zealously tended by professional gardeners for over two centuries. Today the island garden is accessible by footbridge from Switzerland or by ferry from Meersburg, site of the oldest castle in Germany.

Mainau once belonged to the Grand Duke Frederick of Baden, who put in a stuffy, formal garden and planted hundreds of exotic trees. Some of the great attractions of the grounds--cedars of Lebanon, paulownias from Japan, and giant pines from the Himalayas--are today over 200 years old. Mainau's present owner, Count Lennart Bernadotte, covered the whole island with flowers. Tulips and hyacinths, 600,000 bulbs in all, carpet the ground in May. The 25,000 rosebushes erupt into a sea of color in June, and 18,000 dahlias blossom in September. A collapsible hothouse protects the tropical bamboo, fig, banana, and orange trees.

A giant floral map of Lake Constance orients the visitor geographically; the lakefront towns of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland being marked by the cities' flowers. Mainau takes its name from the wild mayflower.

The Black Mamba - Does This Snake Really Hunt Humans?

Other Myths About This Supreme Snake

The black mamba is a legendary snake that is much more well known for myth than fact. There are many "facts" about the black mamba that are actually African myths that have been passed down. Ironically, the truth about the black mamba is just as amazing as some of these myths. This article is to clear up some of the unusual facts about this amazing reptile.

Black mamba myth number one - A black mamba will attack you on sight and chase you down. The truth is, the black mamba will avoid humans at any cost. If they hear you coming, they will do all they can to get as far from you as possible. The black mamba will attack if it feels cornered, however, and it will attack with gusto. This snake is armed with speed, agility, and venom that is second to no snake as a package. When it strikes, it will strike repeatedly. One bite is enough to kill you if you do not get medical attention.

Black mamba myth number two - The black mamba's bite means certain death. This myth is somewhat shrouded in truth. In the days before anti-venom the death rate was near 100 percent. This has changed now that anti-venom and proper pre-hospital care is more widely enacted. If you skip the hospital and do not treat the bite, you will die. That much is true.

Black mamba myth number three - The black mamba waits in trees to attack humans - Again, this is far from the truth. In fact, the black mamba, unlike its fellow mamba species are not particularly tree dwellers. They spend more time on the ground and some never go to the trees. Even while in the trees, they are not hanging there waiting to attack the next helpless human who happens by. It would much rather save its venom for a meal than in self defense.

Black mamba myth number four - The black mamba is named for being black - Again, this is not true. The black mamba is actually more of an olive color. The black mamba is named for the fact that the inside of its mouth is black. The black mamba will show the black in its mouth to warn off predators of danger.
learn more

Other snakes at Kids Biology.com

Which Snakes would you like to view?

Anaconda or Water Boa
Anaconda or Water Boa
Boa Constrictor
Boa Constrictor
Boomslang
Boomslang
Burmese Python
Burmese Python
Common Garter Snake
Common Garter Snake
Common Kingsnake
Common Kingsnake
Common Viper
Common Viper
Death Adder
Death Adder
Eastern Coral Snake
Eastern Coral Snake
Egg-eating Snake
Egg-eating Snake
Emerald Tree Boa
Emerald Tree Boa
Eyelash Viper
Eyelash Viper
Fer-de-Lance
Fer-de-Lance
Gaboon Viper
Gaboon Viper
Grass Snake
Grass Snake
Indian Cobra
Indian Cobra
King Cobra or Hamadryad
King Cobra or Hamadryad
Mexican Vine Snake
Mexican Vine Snake
Puff Adder
Puff Adder
Rat Snake
Rat Snake
Reticulated Python
Reticulated Python
Ringhals or Spitting Cobra
Ringhals or Spitting Cobra
Sidewinder
Sidewinder
Taipan
Taipan
Wart Snake
Wart Snake
Wart Snake
Wart Snake
Western Diamondback
Western Diamondback
Western Whip Snake
Western Whip Snake
Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake
Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake

A Child’s Letter About Her Beloved Departed Dog

The kindness of a stranger is simply an amazing and touching moment.

Here is an email that Debbie, an Itchmo reader, sent us about the story of a child’s letter to God about her dog, Abbey, who had passed away and what happened after she sent the letter:

Our 14-year-old-dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could, so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, “To Meredith” in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, “When a Pet Dies.” Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope.

On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God

According to the San-Antonio Express-News, this story is true and it really did happen to the Scrivener family in August 2006.

Meredith’s mother said that the book and the letter comforted her daughter over the loss of Abbey. Meredith’s mother was tempted to go to the post office and see who sent the letter, but she decided against it. She kind of didn’t want to know who did it and said it was simply the work of an angel.

Itchmo:News for Dogs and Cats

How To Hug a Baby-Funny Photos

We don't know whose child or dog this is, but here is a very cute set of photos from someone who has a very happy dog and baby.

ATTENTION ALL DOGS!!!
THE FOLLOWING ARE IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR EVERY DOG TO KNOW

Instructions for properly hugging a baby:

1. First, spot a baby.

















2. Second, be sure that the object you spotted was indeed a baby by employing classic sniffing techniques. If you smell baby powder and the wonderful aroma of wet diapers this is indeed a baby.















3. Next you will need to make sure the baby is positioned properly before actually beginning the hugging process. Very gently smooth baby into the right position being very careful not to squash it.















4. The "paw slide".
Simply slide paws around baby and prepare for possible close-up.
















5. Finally, if a camera is present, you will need to execute the difficult and patented "hug, smile, and lean" to achieve the best photo quality.

Simple Tips On How To Live Green by Geoff White

click the image for The Poor Environmentalist's Handbook

Geoff White has been investigating how to live a greener life but still have a life. He says that it is possible to do this by carrying out a series of simple changes to your lifestyle that will barely impact it at all but will have a beneficial impact on the environment.
His tips include:
- Re-using your carrier bags when you visit the grocery store. Most plastic carrier bags are good for several journeys but only get used once.
- Replacing blown light bulbs with energy saving ones. He says the extra cost will be repaid with lower energy bills and longer bulb life.
- Turning off your computer’s monitor rather than just reducing the energy it consumes when you’re away from your PC by letting it go to standby.
Geoff has come up with 12 simple tips on how to live green that won’t take much effort but will help you to help save our planet.
There are also cost cutting tips that will help you live green and save money on Geoff’s site at http://www.squidoo.com/how-tolivegreen

Green Links!
America The Green - podcast!
An Inconvenient Truth
Campaign Earth
Changing The Present - Green Gifts!
Climate Ark
Global warming- KIDS Page
Greenhouse Network
Grist -Eco News and Opinion
Heat Is On - Making GW a Presidential Priority
Natural Resources Defense Council
Project Laundry List
Sierra Club - Global Wamring
Stop Global Warming
Sustainable Harvest
The Green Geek

Free Desktop Wallpaper-Space Pictures

Space Pictures-Free Desktop Wallpaper-NASA

Lunar Earthrise - our blue planet Earth rising like a big blue moon in the distance over the moon, seen from the Apollo 8 spacecraft at it circled the moon in 1968. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Ready for 1st flight - space shuttle Columbia on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center at the night before the 1st space shuttle flight in 1981. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Spacewalk - an astronaut floating free in space, high above the blue Earth below. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Deep space eye 1 - this beautiful eye-shaped red blue and orange form is a Helix Nebula far away, hundreds of light years from Earth. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Lunar landscape - astronaut Harrison Schmitt of Apollo 17 and his lunar vehicle over a typical lunar landscape. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Mars landscape 1 - the martian surface as seen from the Viking 2 spacecraft in 1976. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Skylab - the 1970s Skylab spacecraft in orbit around Earth, high above the big blue ocean and clouds below. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Rendezvous in orbit - just meters away, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft approaches the docking point of the International Space Station. Over 200 miles below, two lakes are reflecting the sun's light. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Rendezvous 2 - a Progress supply spacecraft approaches the International Space Station as the two pass over 200 miles above cloud-covered central Asia. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

See the complete collection at 1000 Pictures

Free Desktop Wallpaper-Space Pictures

Space Pictures-Free Desktop Wallpaper-NASA

Lunar Earthrise - our blue planet Earth rising like a big blue moon in the distance over the moon, seen from the Apollo 8 spacecraft at it circled the moon in 1968. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Ready for 1st flight - space shuttle Columbia on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center at the night before the 1st space shuttle flight in 1981. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Spacewalk - an astronaut floating free in space, high above the blue Earth below. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Deep space eye 1 - this beautiful eye-shaped red blue and orange form is a Helix Nebula far away, hundreds of light years from Earth. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Lunar landscape - astronaut Harrison Schmitt of Apollo 17 and his lunar vehicle over a typical lunar landscape. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Mars landscape 1 - the martian surface as seen from the Viking 2 spacecraft in 1976. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Skylab - the 1970s Skylab spacecraft in orbit around Earth, high above the big blue ocean and clouds below. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Rendezvous in orbit - just meters away, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft approaches the docking point of the International Space Station. Over 200 miles below, two lakes are reflecting the sun's light. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

Rendezvous 2 - a Progress supply spacecraft approaches the International Space Station as the two pass over 200 miles above cloud-covered central Asia. Picture by NASA, 1024x768

See the complete collection at 1000 Pictures

Cat's Eye Nebula Hubble Photo

In this detailed view from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, the so-called Cat's Eye Nebula looks like the penetrating eye of the disembodied sorcerer Sauron from the film adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings." The nebula, formally cataloged NGC 6543, is every bit as inscrutable as the J.R.R. Tolkien phantom character. Though the Cat's Eye Nebula was one of the first planetary nebulae to be discovered, it is one of the most complex such nebulae seen in space.

Visit Space.com to see more Space Photos

Cat's Eye Nebula Hubble Photo

In this detailed view from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, the so-called Cat's Eye Nebula looks like the penetrating eye of the disembodied sorcerer Sauron from the film adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings." The nebula, formally cataloged NGC 6543, is every bit as inscrutable as the J.R.R. Tolkien phantom character. Though the Cat's Eye Nebula was one of the first planetary nebulae to be discovered, it is one of the most complex such nebulae seen in space.

Visit Space.com to see more Space Photos

Deep Sea Creatures at the Drive In-Photos

Deep Sea Creatures at the Drive In-Photos

Red Sea Corals -Photos

Corals belong to a group of animals called Cnidarians. This includes hard and soft corals, sea fans, gorgonians, jelly fish and sea anemones. Amongst other common characteristics is the presence of stinging cells (nematocysts) which are used to catch prey.
A single coral animal is a polyp - the attractive "flowery" item looking like an anemone. The soft coral shown above is actually a colony of animals, each connected to its neighbour by living tissues. Soft corals are not reef-building, although they do secrete limestone. In their case this is as internal crystals called sclerites or spicules. Because soft corals do not have large skeletons, they grow faster than hard corals
Eight feathery tentacles surround the coral's mouth and whip food into it. They filter-feed: removing plankton from water flowing around the colony. Relatively recent data on soft corals indicates that they feed on very small planktonic particles, such as single-celled algae, rather than larger larvae as had previously been thought.
The photos above were taken in the egyptian Red Sea.

Red Sea Corals -Photos

Corals belong to a group of animals called Cnidarians. This includes hard and soft corals, sea fans, gorgonians, jelly fish and sea anemones. Amongst other common characteristics is the presence of stinging cells (nematocysts) which are used to catch prey.
A single coral animal is a polyp - the attractive "flowery" item looking like an anemone. The soft coral shown above is actually a colony of animals, each connected to its neighbour by living tissues. Soft corals are not reef-building, although they do secrete limestone. In their case this is as internal crystals called sclerites or spicules. Because soft corals do not have large skeletons, they grow faster than hard corals
Eight feathery tentacles surround the coral's mouth and whip food into it. They filter-feed: removing plankton from water flowing around the colony. Relatively recent data on soft corals indicates that they feed on very small planktonic particles, such as single-celled algae, rather than larger larvae as had previously been thought.
The photos above were taken in the egyptian Red Sea.

Lion's Mane Jellyfish taken at the Port Orchard marina dock,Tom Woltjer-Photos

Water Ballet by Tom Woltjer




















Lion's Mane Jellyfish taken at the Port Orchard marina dock.
Above photos courtesy of Tom Woltjer 08/2006
VIEW MORE OF TOM'S IMAGES

Fast Facts:
With tentacles up to three metres long and covered with stinging cells, it's better not to get too close to the Lion's Mane jellyfish. It's body can be up to 200 cm across making it one of the largest species of jellyfish.
The tentacles are arranged in eight bunches, with each bunch containing over 100 tentacles. The oldest tentacles are often coloured dark red. They have a very severe sting that can produce blisters, irritation, and muscular cramp and may even affect respiratory and heart function. Fragments of tentacles, left on buoy ropes for example, retain their stinging power.
This species does occasionally occur in large swarms, largely thought to be due to storms and tides that concentrate individuals together. They are predators, eating zooplankton, small fish and moon jellyfish.
You'll find the Lion's Mane in the cold Arctic and Pacific Oceans, the North and Irish Seas and around the coast of Australia. They are mostly no deeper than around 20 metres.

Lion's Mane Jellyfish taken at the Port Orchard marina dock,Tom Woltjer-Photos

Water Ballet by Tom Woltjer




















Lion's Mane Jellyfish taken at the Port Orchard marina dock.
Above photos courtesy of Tom Woltjer 08/2006
VIEW MORE OF TOM'S IMAGES

Fast Facts:
With tentacles up to three metres long and covered with stinging cells, it's better not to get too close to the Lion's Mane jellyfish. It's body can be up to 200 cm across making it one of the largest species of jellyfish.
The tentacles are arranged in eight bunches, with each bunch containing over 100 tentacles. The oldest tentacles are often coloured dark red. They have a very severe sting that can produce blisters, irritation, and muscular cramp and may even affect respiratory and heart function. Fragments of tentacles, left on buoy ropes for example, retain their stinging power.
This species does occasionally occur in large swarms, largely thought to be due to storms and tides that concentrate individuals together. They are predators, eating zooplankton, small fish and moon jellyfish.
You'll find the Lion's Mane in the cold Arctic and Pacific Oceans, the North and Irish Seas and around the coast of Australia. They are mostly no deeper than around 20 metres.

Coral Reefs-Photos

Spanish hogfish and other vertebrates were once plentiful in Florida’s coral reef barrier, which has been damaged by pollution, overfishing and disease, scientists say.


















A coral reef harbors as much life as a rainforest.
(Photo courtesy California Academy of Sciences)

Coral Reefs-Photos

Spanish hogfish and other vertebrates were once plentiful in Florida’s coral reef barrier, which has been damaged by pollution, overfishing and disease, scientists say.


















A coral reef harbors as much life as a rainforest.
(Photo courtesy California Academy of Sciences)

Plants of Interest-Cashew nut, Anacardium occidentale-Photos

Also known as: cashew apple

Botanical name: Anacardium occidentale

Family: Anacardiaceae

Description: This spreading evergreen tree grows 12-15 metres tall and has low twisting branches. Edible nuts hang from fleshy false ‘fruit'. There is an irritant oil in nutshell.

view large image of this plant
view plant collected by Sloane
read an extract from Sloane's Natural History

The Birth of a Pearl-Photos

Cultured pearls are simply real pearls managed in a semi-controlled environment.The culture of the modern pearl market drives an innovative process to develop pearls with reasonable quality and in quantity.For centuries, people have been trying to unlock the secret of nature and duplicate the mystical work of particular types of mollusk. Actually most pearls today commonly thrive from a breed of mollusk more closely related to the scallop than the oyster of pearl's lore.But it wasn't until 1916, when Kokichi Mikimoto patented his technique for producing round pearls, that the world was offered the means to enjoy and appreciate an abundance of these gems from the sea.Virtually all the pearls you see and purchased today are cultured pearls that have been aided by science.

Planting a mother-of-pearl nucleus into the soft membrane of the "oyster" develops the mollusk's natural protective response which is to secrete a conchiolin (soothing brownish substance) and covered by a nacre coating (the lustrous materials of pearls) to destroy the intruder. The longer it cultivates, the thicker the nacre and usually, the deeper the luster.The deeper the luster, the higher the quality of pearl is produced.

Cultured pearls have literally saved the pearl trade from extinction. If it weren't for cultured pearls, only kings and queens and the fabulously wealthy would be awarded the opportunity to treasure these gems. Thanks to Mr. Mikimoto, we can all marvel at the inner glow and magical beauty of pearls.

The Biggest Pearls in the World

Our attraction to pearls is timeless. Among the first gems known to early humans, pearls have grown in value and appeal from accidental finds by fishermen to a multibillion-dollar industry. Their rarity has made them a traditional sign of wealth, filling vaults from Ancient Egypt to Hollywood and gracing many of history’s famous figures.

What is a pearl? A pearl is mostly aragonite crystals, a form of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) which also makes up other marine organisms from coral to sea urchins. Pearls are produced by a variety of mollusks in warm fresh and sea waters around the world. They appear in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes

.
How do pearls form? The mollusk protects its delicate interior by coating foreign objects (usually a tiny piece of shell or parasite) with calcium carbonate, the same substance that lines the inside of their shells. This “seed” grows larger as the mollusk continues to coat it. Among the mollusks that can produce pearls are mussels, oysters, clams, snails, conch, and abalone.

Pearls vary in size from a pin head to pigeon's egg size. The largest ever found, called the Hope Pearl, is 2 inches (5 cm) long, 3.25-4.5 inches (6.5-11.25 cm) in circumference, and weighs 454 carats (about 90 grams). It was named for Henry Philip Hope, one of the owners, who insisted the name be kept as a condition of the sale of the gem (just as he did with the Hope Diamond). It may be seen in the South Kensington Museum in London, the British Museum of Natural History.

Myth
Many people think of wild oysters ingesting a grain of sand as the foreign body which stimulates nacre production.
Living in the sea, oysters are constantly ingesting and expelling sand and irritants.
Only when something becomes lodged - like a piece of shell, bone, coral or parasite does the oyster start nacre production.