MOBILE PHONES HAVE MADE OUR LIVES MUCH BETTER

Nowadays mobile phones have a major impact on our lives and the way that we perform everyday tasks.

Twenty years ago it was not possible to talk to the office while being at a grocery store or dealing with your work while being in vacation.

But now mobile phones have enabled us to do various tasks all at the same time.

Mobile phones have enabled families to keep in closer touch with each other. Children can call their parents at any time for any reason and even if the parents won’t answer right back, they’ll get a message for sure, telling them their children tried to reach them.

Teenagers also find very useful the possession of a mobile phone. This technological tool has changed their way of communicating too because now they feel free to talk to their friend every time they want to without first asking the permission of the adults.

You can add a list of the numbers of anyone you want to your mobile phone so you can actually communicate to everyone else who owns a mobile phone. When we call someone, we’re actually calling the person and not a place like they used to do in the old days. This enables us to be more spontaneous when making plans.

The use of a mobile phone also enables us to do much more than just personal conversations. In our everyday lives we all can be part of a situation where we can’t handle everything by ourselves and we absolutely need help. In that case a mobile phone can solve the problem. If we suddenly become witnesses of an unfortunate event we can always use our mobile phones to change it all.

However mobile phones have disadvantages too. As we’re using our mobile phones more and more these days, we’re beginning to lose face-to-face contact. So, in conclusion mobile phones can really affect our lives in a good but sadly in a bad way too.

5th May (Martyrs Day)

Qemal Stafa (20 March 1920 in Elbasan - 5 May 1942) was a founding member of the Albanian Communist Party, and the leader of its youth section. He was very active in the National Liberation Movement (Albania) during World War II. He was killed in a house at the outskirts of Tirana by the Italian fascist forces, who had occupied Albania. It is believed that he may have been betrayed by one or more of his comrades, possibly Enver Hoxha (the first secretary of the Albanian communist party & leader of Albania), who gained much from his death. The source of these allegations may derive from the deaths of many communist party members, during & after WWII, caused by the same Enver Hoxha. The 5th of May, his death anniversary, was chosen after the end of the war as the Martyrs' Day of Albania to commemorate all those who gave their life for Albania's liberation.

Many streets, squares and schools in different cities bear his name as well as a military base and the most important stadium in the country.

Independence day of Albania

Independence Day is a Public Holiday in Albania.

An Independence Day is an annual celebration commemorating the anniversary of a nation’s assumption of independent statehood. Most countries honor their respective independence day as a national holiday. Proclaiming Albanian independence after 500 years of Ottoman Turkish occupation; in a furthermore decisive act, the Congress officially issued the Vlore proclamation which marked the formal declaration of Albania’s independence on November 28th.

Albania Independence Day History

During the fifteenth century Albania enjoyed a brief period of independence under the legendary hero, Skanderbeg. Aside from this exception, the country did not enjoy independence until the twentieth century. After five hundred years of Ottoman domination, an independent Albania was proclaimed on the 28 November 1912.

Beginning with late 14th century the Ottoman Turks expanded their empire from Anatolia to the Balkans. By the 15th century, the Turks had brought under subjection nearly all of the Balkan Peninsula except for a small coastal strip which is included in present-day Albania. The Albanians’ resistance to the Turks in the mid-15th century won them acclaim all over Christian Europe. Albania became a symbol of resistance to the Ottoman Turks but suffered an almost continuous state of warfare. One of the most successful resistances against the invading Ottomans, was led by Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg from 1443 to 1468. Under a red flag bearing Skanderbeg’s heraldic emblem, an Albanian force of about 30,000 men held off Ottoman campaigns against their lands for twenty-four years.

The leadership of Skanderbeg was invincible, After the death of Skanderbeg, resistance continued until 1478, although with only moderate success. The loyalties and alliances created and nurtured by Skanderbeg faltered and fell apart, and the Ottomans conquered the territory of Albania shortly after the fall of Kruje’s castle. Albania then became part of the Ottoman Empire. This period also saw the rising of semi-autonomous Albanian ruled Pashaliks and Albanians were also an important part of the Ottoman army and Ottoman administration like the case of Köprülü family. Albania would remain a part of the Ottoman Empire as the provinces of Shkodra, Manastir and Yanya until 1912.

Albania Independence Day Customs and Activities

The Empire State has a longstanding tradition of acknowledging significant milestones and events of historic importance to its many citizens of Albanian ancestry. A popular celebration known as “Flag Day” is held annually within the Albanian community as a means of commemorating November 28, 1912 — a significant date in their history as a country and throughout the Albanian Diaspora.

Fossils from the ''Missing Years'' in Africa

Researchers say they have identified animal fossils from 27 000 000 years ago in what is now Ethiopia. The remains are from the middle of a time called the "missing years" or the "dark period." This is because scientists have so little information about the mammals that lived then. The period began 32 million years ago. Africa and Arabia were a single continent, a huge island known as Afro-Arabia. The period ended 24 000 000 years ago, after a land bridge formed with Eurasia.

John Kappelman is an anthropologist at the University of Texas in Austin and leader of the American and Ethiopian search team. Mr Kappelman says 8 000 000 years is a long time to lack information about a continent. He says scientists have only been able to guess what happened to African mammals during that period. The remains found in the Chilga area of Ethiopia offer important evidence.

The remains include teeth, skull pieces and other bones. The scientists found them in a farming area about 2000 meters above sea level, in the highlands of Ethiopia. Satellite pictures helped the researchers decide where to dig. The fossils came from about 70 different digs. The magazine Nature published the findings. The scientists say the fossils come from before large numbers of animals began to arrive in Africa from Europe and Asia. The fossils also show that some animals existed millions of years before scientists had thought.

The researchers found several kinds of ancient proboscideans. These are animals with trunks. Modern elephants are proboscideans. Scientists have long thought elephants began in Africa. They say this discovery proves that theory. The ancestors weighed about 1000 kilograms, a lot smaller than African elephants today.

John Kappelman says the elephant ancestors were one of the few African mammals that survived the invasion of mammals from Eurasia. He says elephants got their start in Africa during the eight-million-year period, and then spread around the world. The researchers also found the remains of an ancient animal with two horns on its head, called the arsinoithere. The scientists were excited, because this is the youngest set of such remains yet discovered. The animal is much larger than its ancestors. Earlier forms were about the size of pigs. But the arsinoithere found at Chilga was about two meters tall and weighed more than two tons.

They were similar to the modern rhinoceros. The two are not related. In fact, scientists thought arsinoitheres had disappeared from the Afro-Arabian continent once rhinos arrived from Eurasia. One researcher says it now appears they did not compete for survival. Scientists say they expect more discoveries to come about the mammals that lived during the so-called missing years.

Charlie Chaplin

Date of Birth

16 April 1889, Walworth, London, England, UK

Date of Death

25 December 1977, Vevey, Switzerland (natural causes)

Birth Name

Charles Spencer Chaplin

Nickname

Charlie Charlot The Little Tramp

Height

5' 5" (1.65 m)

Mini Biography

Charles Chaplin's parents, Charles and Hannah Chaplin, were music hall entertainers. His first stage appearance, at age five, was singing a song in place of his mother who had become ill. At eight he toured in a musical, "The Eight Lancaster Lads". Nearly 11, he appeared in "Giddy Ostende" at London's Hippodrome. From age 17 to 24 he was with Fred Karno's English vaudeville troupe, which brought him to New York in 1910, aged 21. In November of 1913 he signed a contract with Mack Sennett at Keystone and left for Hollywood the next month. His first movie, Making a Living (1914), premiered in February of 1914. He made 35 films that year, moved to Essanay in 1915 and did 14 more, then jumped over to Mutual for 12 two-reelers in 1916 and 1917. In 1918 he joined First National (later absorbed by Warner Bros.) and in 1919 formed United Artists along with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith. His first full-length film was The Kid (1921); his first for UA, which he produced and directed himself, was A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923). In 1929, at the first Oscar awards, he won a special award "for versatility and genius in writing, acting, directing and producing" The Circus (1928). In 1943 he was accused of fathering a child; the papers made much of the scandal, but it was proved in a court trial that he was not the father. The same year he entered his fourth marriage, to Oona Chaplin, daughter of playwright Eugene O'Neill. They had eight children. Tired of political and moralistic controversies and plagued with tax problems, he left the United States for Switzerland in 1952. He published his memoirs in 1964. In 1972 he returned to Hollywood to claim a special Oscar honoring his lifetime contributions to movies. He was named Knight Commander of the British Empire in 1975.

Mini Biography

Thought of by many as the greatest comedian of all time, Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in London, England on 16 April 1889. In 1908 he joined Fred Karno's touring stage company with his brother Sydney; Stan Laurel was also a member of the same company. In 1912 the troupe went to perform in America, and Chaplin decided to stay. The following year, producer Mack Sennett saw him perform and decided to take him on at the Keystone Studio, which already boasted such names as 'Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle' , Mabel Normand, the Keystone Kops and Mack Swain. However, Chaplin moved on to become an even a bigger star than any of the above legendary names, making a staggering 35 pictures in one year alone.

His first movie was Making a Living (1914); however, his next film, Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914), was destined to change his entire career. This picture saw him wearing baggy pants borrowed from 'Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle', size 14 shoes belonging to Ford Sterling (and worn upside down to keep them from falling off), a tiny jacket from Keystone Kop Charles Avery, a bowler hat belonging to Arbuckle's father-in-law and Mack Swain's mustache trimmed down to toothbrush size.

From 1915 onwards Chaplin wrote, directed, produced, scored and, of course, starred in all his movies. He joined the Essanay Company the following year and in 1917, The Immigrant (1917) and Easy Street (1917) were both released. In 1918 he and his brother opened their own studio in Los Angeles, and in 1919 he teamed up with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith to form a joint venture they named United Artists, for production of their own films. However, Chaplin did not make a film for the company until 1923 when A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923) was released; this was followed in 1925 by the classic The Gold Rush (1925) and in 1927 by The Circus (1928), for which he received an Academy Award.

For the premiere of City Lights (1931), Chaplin traveled to London, and stayed there until 1932 before returning to the U.S. His next film was Modern Times (1936), which proved to be one of his greatest successes, followed four years later by The Great Dictator (1940), which was an indictment of the Nazi regime. Chaplin played a dual role, as a Jewish barber who fought in World War I and as the evil Adenoid Hynkel, dictator of Tomania. In 1945 he started working on a new picture, Monsieur Verdoux (1947), which was based on an idea from Orson Welles; he is thus credited in the film. In 1952 he released what is probably his best-known "talkie", Limelight (1952), which also featured his longtime friend, Buster Keaton.

That same year he was found himself swept up in the anti-Communist hysteria known as the McCarthy Era that was engulfing the U.S., and found himself accused by U.S. authorities of having Communist tendencies. Outraged and depressed, he left the U.S. for Switzerland. During his absence from the States he made two more films, A King in New York (1957), released in America 20 years later, and his final film A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), which starred Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren. This last film proved to be Chaplin's only failure and was a box-office flop.

In 1969 Chaplin began new scores for a number of his films, including The Kid and The Circus (1928). He also planned to make a film called "The Freak" with his daughter Victoria Chaplin in the lead role, wearing the wings her father had worn 50 years earlier in The Kid. However, by this time Chaplin was already into his 80s, and he retired to live in Vevey, Switzerland.

In 1975 he was knighted by the Queen of England. He died in his sleep on Christmas Day, 1977.

Places to eat 2

''Eating at home''

Saving money by NOT dining out has it’s obvious advantages to put cash back into your pocket. But what are the other benefits of making a choice to cook at home instead of paying a premium to eat at a restaurant.

1. Healthy Lifestyle – After saving money, the greatest benefit from dining in compared to eating at restaurants is promoting a healthy lifestyle. Overall, cooking at home is much healthier than dining out. While some restaurants now offer healthy entrees and choices, the options are limited. Food consumed at restaurants typically has a lot more calories and fat than food you have prepared at home.
2. Lower Health Care Costs – Going a step further on promoting a healthy lifestyle – eating in can lower your overall health care costs. Consumption of fatty and high caloric foods overtime can lead to diabetes and heart disease, among other health issues. If you can eat meals at home and adopt a healthier lifestyle, you are less likely to develop health conditions. Reducing the risk of developing diabetes or heart disease will actually save you a lot of money in the future on health care related costs and prescriptions!
3. Family Time – An important benefit for any family with children. Eating at home instead of at a restaurant gives the entire family time to talk about their day. If you are constantly on the run and are always eating out – you lose that quality time to communicate with your loved ones. Cooking at home gives you a chance to connect and talk about school with your children and discuss your days events with your spouse.
4. Knowing What You Eat – This is a big one as some people have food allergies. Do you ever get worried about who is cooking your food and are they doing something with it they shouldn’t? Even if you can find something on a menu that does not contain peanuts, eggs, or milk – the food still has to be handled and prepared by humans. Humans make mistakes and they also do things they shouldn’t sometimes. Cooking your own food at home alleviates any doubts as to what you are truly eating!
5. Reducing Temptation – Anyone on a diet dreads dining out with family and friends. The temptation to order fried or high caloric foods is outstanding when you eat at restaurants. There is just something about eating out with others and the atmosphere at most restaurants that makes it difficult to eat healthy. While many people on a diet are able to avoid these temptations, it is better to avoid the situation entirely. Eating at home more reduces these situations where you may be tempted to order something unhealthy!
6. Increase of Energy – Another result of living a healthier lifestyle – eating at home can increase your overall energy levels. Since you are eating healthier foods, you are likely to be more active and have more energy compared with a sedentary lifestyle.
7. Education – Eating at home is an excellent opportunity to educate your children on topics about saving money and eating healthy. If you raise your children in an environment where most of their meals come from a restaurant, more than likely they will end up living that way. As mentioned earlier – dining in promotes a healthier lifestyle which is another important thing to teach your children.

Make Money – Not only will you save money by eating at home, you can actually make money! I am not saying that you should never eat out at restaurants. However, there seem to be a lot more benefits from eating at home which always seem to win out in our household.

'' Eating in canteens''
Schools should consider "lock-ins" at lunchtime to stop pupils from buying junk food, the School Food Trust said today, but school leaders called the proposals unworkable.

A survey by the trust, set up by ministers in 2005 to encourage schoolchildren to eat more healthily, found secondary schools have an average of 23 fast-food outlets within a mile of their building.

Many pupils are not benefiting from the new nutritional standards found in school food because they prefer junk food, which can reduce their ability to concentrate and learn during the afternoon, it said.

The trust wants to see schools look into the feasibility of adopting a "stay on site" policy restricting pupils to school grounds during lunch times.

This policy was popular with 90% of 1,014 parents it surveyed, while 67% agreed that children would eat more healthily if they were not allowed to leave school at lunchtime.

''Eating in fast-food restaurants''

There are some good reasons for eating fast food. It's convenient, inexpensive, and appeals to older folks as much as the little ones. And sometimes, when you're at the mall, on the road, or have to grab and go, it may be the only, or the easiest, option available. But health food it's not. A single fast-food meal can easily pack more calories, fat, and sodium than most people should get in a day. That's why you need a survival plan when you venture into the fast-food jungle. Don't be too reassured by the efforts of some restaurants to become more healthful. For example, Wendy's ditched the "biggie" language for its fries and drinks but didn't actually cut portion sizes. In fact, its drink sizes increased—a large soda is now 40 ounces, more than the amount in three 12-ounce cans of soda. Similarly, the growing concerns about trans fats, which simultaneously raise LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower HDL (good) cholesterol, have prompted some chains to swear off trans fats. But Consumer Reports tests have continued to detect the substance in the french fries served at some fast-food franchises. And while most chains offer at least a few token healthful items, such as Burger King's BK Veggie Burger, far more typical is its new BK Quad Stacker, "a mountain of meat and cheese" that features four hamburger patties, four slices of cheese, and eight slices of bacon, all slathered with a Stacker sauce that's loaded with sugar.

PLACES TO EAT

World's Best Cities To Eat Well

These spots offer up the ultimate in global cuisine.

Paris is known for its patisseries, Michelin-starred restaurants and perfectly prepared steak frites.
Rome, square slices of pizza topped with zucchini, Caprese sandwiches and of course, gelato, tempt foodies. In Tokyo, upscale favorites like sashimi and robatayaki rule alongside street food mainstays like Gyudon, a beef and onion mixture served over rice.

Tradition is a powerful sentiment. That's why these pillars of global cuisine remain the top cities for foodies.

Mexico City and Barcelona round out the top five. While some Americans and Canadians might not regard Mexico City's as a culinary hotspot, those in Europe and Asia do. "What they believe, whether it's true or false, is what they're conditioned to believe," says Anholt. "Mexico City gets huge scores from Egypt, Russia, Sweden and Australia to name a few, which shows that Mexican is becoming an increasingly important cuisine globally."

In Mexico City, you'll find top-notch tamales at El Monasterio, traditional poblano dishes at Casa Merlos and hot chocolate at El Cardenal. Spots like these--beloved by both tourists and locals--are part of the reason why Mexican has morphed into a global cuisine over the last 20 years. Across the Atlantic Ocean, Barcelona's seafood paella, traditional Catalan dishes like Escalivada--made of roasted, smoky vegetables--codfish salad and pan con tomate, a requisite tapa, have helped it land on the gastronomic map.

One would assume that Mexico City and Barcelona's governments have touted their respective culinary scenes through advertising and marketing to tourists. Anholt says no.

"You can spend a couple of million dollars on an advertising campaign, but if the food isn't really that good, people aren't going to eat it," he says. "If [it] actually changes, then people will come on their own accord."

He says Mexico City and Barcelona have benefited from an increase in continental tourism overall--due mostly to cheaper flights--as well as a heightened interest in culinary travel. The Portland, Ore.-based trade group the International Culinary Tourism Association says that the term "culinary tourism" didn't enter the lexicon until around 2001. In 2007, just in the U.S. alone, 27 million travelers embarked on food-centric vacations, according to the most recent data--making up 17% of overall leisure vacations--according to the U.S. Travel Association, a trade group based in Washington, D.C.

While the top five best cities for foodies represent what are probably the top five most popular cuisines worldwide, there are some other contenders climbing the ranks. Chinese food, for example, is becoming a cuisine that food-lovers take seriously. There's even a culinary travel tour group--Beijing-based Hias Gourmet--dedicated to culinary tourism throughout the country. Three Chinese cities--Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai--placed seven, eight and 10, respectively. Cantonese food rules in each of these cities, and delicacies such as Shanghai's hairy crab, Beijing's beggar's chicken and Hong Kong's dim sum add local flavor.

Notably missing from the list are London--which, over last 20 years, has become somewhat of a foodie paradise--and New York, the restaurant capital of the U.S. Unfortunately, for these inarguably delicious cities, the local cuisine just isn't as dynamic as in other parts of the world.

While Morimoto serves melt-in-your mouth sushi in New York, his culinary ideas are deeply rooted in Japan. And although Hakkasan is one of London's most beloved restaurants, its food is Chinese, not British. "Both the UK and the U.S. are wonderful for eating out," says Anholt. "But it doesn't change the fact that people still think American food means McDonalds .