New age spirituality morning has been all night coming part 14

“Well, I tell you what,” he said. “Let me at least drop off a gift for you. What harm can there be in that?” “Why don’t you mail it?” I asked. “There’s no need to waste your time bringing it. I can assure you that I won’t be buying a set. My children have all the encyclopedias they will ever need.” “Your address is ... ,” and he rattled off my address. I assumed that he had gotten it from some mailing list. There was an annoying persistence about him as he continued. “It will only take a few minutes. Please, let me drop it offpany policy, you see.” “Well, what harm can there be? Only a few minutes you say?” “Yes, I promise that I won’t impose on you. This evening around 7:00 p. m. Will that be fine?” “Okay, I’ll see you then,” I said and hung up the phone. There was a vague familiarity in this conversation, a kind of dйjа vu. It seemed as if I’d heard every word he said in another conversation, years earlier. Well, this time would be different; no one was going to sell me something I didn’t want! There is an old saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” I knew there was no danger that I would become the owner of three sets of encyclopedias; in fact, I was thinking of having some fun with this situation. Returning home from work, I checked the mailbox at the end of my driveway. Just the normal stuff except for a large, unstamped envelope which appeared to contain a book. I greeted the children and sat down to examine the contents of the envelope. I didn’t recall ordering any books as I tore the mailer apart and pulled out a leather - bound volume titled The Ancient Light Within. There was a yellow note stuck on the cover that read, “This is your gift. I’m sorry I have to cancel our appointment for this evening, but I’ll be in touch with you soon.” It was signed, “Your Encyclopedia Salesman.” To read the rest of the story visit spiritual-simplicity

Giant squid facts

The giant squid is one of the monstrous creatures still alive and always alluring many researchers around the world but till this time seems more mystifying as none of the giant squids are captured alive and the research is based on the corpses which are washed ashore. This has led the scientists and researchers to study this mammoth sea creature from the carcasses washed ashore. With limited samples, the researchers have been able to know some amazing facts about this mammoth sea creature and one such aspect is its intelligence. Yes! The giant squids are intelligent creatures and it is no myth. Most of the giant squid are highly intelligent and at times very gentle There is an alien intelligence existing beneath the deep waters, a bizarre life form that appears to be breeding by the hundreds in cold black waters far below the surface. This intelligence resides in the giant squids that have three hearts, primate-like stereoscopic eyes, blue blood and brains large enough to suggest they are among the smartest creatures on earth. The giant squids are smart hunters and during their hunt for food they make use of this quality, the intelligence, very much. Giant squids have been called the most opportunistic killers in the sea. They have been observed employing cooperative hunting techniques, yet they will not vacillate to overeat upon one another should they sense the slightest possible opening. It is being found that they will attack anything over which they sense an advantage, including humans. Giant squids have been the most mystifying sea creature since a long time with more myths and tales than concrete scientific information. This has troubled the squid researchers as nothing was known about this giant creature. But recent studies have generated some success and a few details are now known about this creature. The food habit of the giant squid have also been a great mystery for the researchers but some of the recent studies on these creatures show that giant squid eat deep-sea fishes, such as orange ruffie, and hokie. They also eat some other species of squids, such as deep-sea squids, and not architeuthis, not the giant squid. Another interesting factor about the giant squid is the eight arms it has which can grow up to 3 meters in length, but eventually none of them are used to grab prey. These two longer tentacles actually catch the prey. Giant squid have tentacles that may grow a length of 10-12 meters. At the other end, away from the head, the tentacles expand to look like clubs. Both arms and tentacles are equipped with suckers, which are sub-spherical cups lined with sharp, finely jagged rings of chitin. Suckers use powerful suction to hold onto prey while the rings of chitin sink into the ill-fated animal. The arms have suckers arranged in rows from the base near the mantle to the tips, whereas the tentacles are smooth from the base to near the club where there are small suckers However, on records the largest squid found is Largest recorded giant squid was a female that washed ashore on a New Zealand beach in 1887 18 meters long (59.5 feet). Its mantle was 5 meters (16.4 feet). It weighed 1 metric ton. Scientists and squid researchers have being trying their level best to capture or study a living giant squid but till this time their hard efforts have not bearded fruits.

Different types of shorts and their uses

The great thing about shorts is the comfort they provide. Made from a variety of materials and styled in a number of lengths, they are appropriate gear for a variety of uses, including sports, walking, climbing, swimming and all around casual wear. Athletic shorts are used when playing racquetball, working out at the gym, and playing sports. They are generally loose fitting and made of nylon for shape or cotton jersey for breathability. "Bun huggers" are short, tight, and made from spandex and/or nylon. They are worn by girls and young women when playing such sports as volleyball. Their tight fit and ultra short length give the wearer an increased range of motion. For biking and running, special shorts are made from tight-fitting lycra and spandex to prevent chafing and extra movement. These shorts also make the athlete more aerodynamic, adding to his/her performance. Today, walking shorts are more for style than for walking. They come down to the knees or right above them. Women wear walking shorts when they want to be casual, without showing too much skin. They are perfect at a casual summer lunch or barbeque and can be worn to do light gardening. Swim shorts, or trunks, are used by men to swim or sunbathe. They are usually made of nylon or some other quick drying, shape retaining fabric. The length varies from mid-thigh to well below the knees. Bermuda shorts were not invented in Bermuda. They were designed in London, England, at the turn of the 20th century for British soldiers stationed in tropical and subtropical climates. Today’s Bermuda shorts extend to three inches above the knee, with a three inch, hand sewn hem, to make them hang properly. They come in a variety of colors and light weight fabrics in both pleated and flat fronts. Almost everyone had cut-off shorts when they were growing up and even into their college years. Cut offs were usually a pair of pants or jeans with the legs “cut off” after they became too worn to patch. The length depended on the wearer’s taste and extended anywhere from below the crotch to just above the knee. Shorts changed greatly over the years. In the 1960’s and 70’s, short shorts, or hotpants, were designed to emphasize the buttocks and legs and were very popular with young women. Culottes, or very long shorts, can substitute for skirts and are sometimes worn with tights in the winter. “Skorts” are shorts with an extra piece of fabric in the front that makes them resemble a skirt. Capri pants are shorts that extend below the knee. Cargo shorts have large “cargo” pockets, are made from khaki material, and may be khaki brown, OD green or camouflage colors. Currently, “Boy Shorts” are in fashion with young women. They are tight fitting shorts that extend from just below the navel to crotch level. There are types designed for the outdoors and worn as short shorts or a cover for bikini swimwear. As well, boy shorts are made in lighter weight materials and used as lingerie, usually incorporating lace or ribbons in their design. Both types are made from a variety of fabrics and come in many styles and colors. Although there are countless styles to choose from, one should pick shorts that flatter the form while concealing its weak points. Style and length matter when choosing shorts for any occasion. Most shorts come in both flat front or pleated styles. Some incorporate a drawstring waist, which allows the wearer to adjust the waist size. A salesperson can be of help by suggesting alternative sizes and cuts. As a person gets older, the style of their shorts should change. Shorts that are too short look tacky and those that are too long look frumpy. Well fitted shorts are a must. The larger a person is, the more their shorts should be tailored and lengthy to flatter their body.