Christmas

Saturday, 5 November 2011

Xmas Article - The Genuine Soul Of Xmas

Christmas is a very special time throughout the Christian world.
However, from November onwards, the Christmas spirit can be felt and seen everywhere with its wonderful traditions of gift giving, its beautiful Christmas

Carols, Nativity scenes, Christmas trees with all their glitter and tinsel and, Christmas Day, when the family will gather to celebrate their much-loved, Christmas traditions and customs with those they love.

CHRISTMAS STORY-THE BIRTH OF JESUS

The Christmas Story however, has Divine Origins that mark the Christian era with the Birth of Christ.
" Through Him, we find the light of love, peace, happiness, hope and, the true spirit of Christmas.
Christmas commemorates the Birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who was born in a humble stable in Bethlehem, on that first Christmas over 2,000 years ago, surrounded by farm animals and shepherds.

We go to church at Christmas to honor the Birth of Jesus and to hear the Voice of God.
It brings comfort, reassurance, strength, inspiration and a sense of connection to something much greater than we could ever imagine.

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING

Comfort and Joy is a phrase linked to Christmas.
So, Christmas is a time to understand the true spirit of what is meant by "its better to give than to receive" because, gifts from the heart are a part of the true spirit of Christmas.

We are living out the Vision of God and, we follow in the Footsteps of Jesus by giving generously to those less fortunate in any way we can, without asking for reward.

GIFT GIVING

It's hard to imagine celebrating Christmas without giving gifts to family, friends and charities.

God gave the wonderful Gift of Jesus Christ to mankind.
They bowed before Him to acknowledge His Deity and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

A THANKFUL HEART

A grateful heart strengthens the soul.
" (Psalm 100:4-5).
Christmas is a time to be thankful for what we have and to say, "May God bless everyone".
From the religious to the secular, they express the joyful and merry sounds of everything that Christmas stands for.

Some of the most beautiful and best-loved religious, Christmas Carols like Silent Night, O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, The First Noel and Little Drummer Boy are songs of praise for the Birth of Jesus.

THE BONDS OF FAMILY

Christmas has certainly always been about the bonds of family as they gather around on Christmas Day to celebrate it's rich Christmas customs and traditions.
There may be traditional Christmas pudding, enticing deserts and Christmas biscuits.

Very Best Fifty Xmas Songs (Unique)

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It's the time to share good times with great food, wine.
if it were not for the amazing choice of Christmas music available these days, Christmas wouldn't be as 'Merry' as it is expected to be.
First there were the traditional Christmas carols such as Silent Night, Away In A Manger, O Little Town Of Bethlehem etc.
Members of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers over the years have put together a number of songs popular known as 'Holiday Songs'

such as 'Silver Bells', 'Winter Wonderland' or the popular 'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)'.
In an attempt to add-on to these, artists further started creating their original songs.

I have always felt that Christmas Music I hear during the season, really inspire me in more ways I could have ever thought.
It adds to the cheer on the whole.

When it comes down to finding the right songs, the question at this time really is which ones, really add to 'spirit' of the season and actually give you

that feeling of warmth, love and Christmas cheer? What really do you want to hear from your favorite artist? Is it a carol, is it a popular Christmas song or

is it an original Christmas song? When I sit down to actually answer this question, I'd rather hear a new original song.
Kelly - World Christmas 05 Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton - The Greatest Gift Of All 06 Alabama - Angels Among Us 07 Alan Jackson & Alison Kraus - And The

Angels Cried 08 Celine Dion - These Are Special Times 09 Moody Blues - On This Christmas Day 10 Bryan Adams - Something About Christmas Time 11 Garth Brooks

- The Gift 12 Randy Travis - Labour Of Love 13 Rihanna - A Child Is Born 14 Wham! - Last Christmas 15 Queen - Thank God It's Christmas 16 Shakin Stevens -

Merry Christmas Everyone 17 Cliff Richard - Mistletoe & Wine 18 Sarah McLaughlin - Wintersong 19 Cliff Richards - Saviours Day 20 Alabama - Happy Birthday

Jesus 21 John & Yoko - Happy Xms (War Is Over) 22 Moody Blues - A Winters Tale 23 Ricky Martin - Ay Ay It's Christmas Time 24 Extreme - Christmas Time Again

25 Moody Blues - Yes I Believe 26 Chicago - This Christmas 27 Gloria Estefan - Love On Layaway 28 The Band - Christmas Must Be Tonight 29 Celine Dion -

Another Year Has Gone By 30 Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmas Time 31 Band Aid 20 - Do They Know It's Christmas 32 Garth Brooks - Baby Jesus Is Born 33

Dido - Christmas Day 34 Faith Hill - Where Are You Christmas 35 Natalie Merchant - Children Go Where I Send Thee 36 The Judds - Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem

37 Sheryl Crow - All Through The Night 38 N'Sync - The Only Gift 39 Billy Idol - Christmas Love 40 Belinda Carlisle - Christmas Lullaby 41 Hanson - At

Christmas 42 No Doubt - Oi' To The World 43 Peter Cetera - Alone For The Holidays 44 Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody 45 Norah Jones - Peace 46 Stevie Wonder -

Someday At Christmas 47 Macy Gray - This Christmas 48 Ten Sharp - When The Snow Falls 49 Lady Gaga - Christmas Tree 50 Mariah Carey - O Santa

Do find time to listen to these tracks.
Artists such as Eagles, Bon Jovi, Annie Lennox, Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Elton John.
to name a few, have all done Christmas songs, but either were just covers of popular tracks or songs which just didn't quite me in that 'Christmasy' mood, I so look forward to every year!

Xmas Vacation Spots

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Christmas celebrations are not just confined to buying gifts for loved ones or partying with them.
Christmas destinations proffer brilliant holiday opportunities.
A visit to these lovely holiday spots gives an additional dimension to the Christmas vacations of the holiday makes.
Caribbean's celebrate Christmas with admirable zeal and fervor.
Although the inherent religious aspect remains the same, Caribbean traditions and rituals associated with Christmas are unusual and unique in the various nations of the region.
Caribbean Islands is definitely one of the best places to enjoy the festive season amid crystal blue Caribbean Sea and some of the best beaches of the world.
People visit Goa for its brimming sun, golden sand, far stretched sea and delicious sea food.
A perfect mishmash of modernity and historical Portuguese heritage, Goa is definitely for those who wish to celebrate Christmas in highest spirit.

Paris: Christmas in Paris attracts tourists from every corner of the world.
Dazzling displays and festive decorations make this city of lights a mesmerizing Christmas holiday destination for one and all.
Extravagant decorations, sparkling lights and delightful events and shows attract thousands of people to this glamorous city.

Bethlehem and Jerusalem: Bethlehem and Jerusalem obviously take pleasure in being a unique and special destination when it comes to Christmas celebrations.
Endless shopping, scenic countryside, delicious food, lavish adornments, Las Vegas offers almost everything what it takes make a memorable Christmas vacation.
New Zealand is one of the best destinations for Christmas celebrations.
It is an ideal spot to unwind and celebrate Christmas.
It is the best place to visit in Italy.
The churches and cathedrals are beautifully decorated and lit he festive season.

Sydney: During Christmas, the largest city in Australia, Sydney, brims with life and joy with its exotic beaches, astounding landscapes, bountiful Christmas decor and scrumptious food.

Everthing Regarding the Historical past of Xmas Greeting Cards

Image by karenwithak via Flickr

A custom that has held its own in this age of electronic mail and instant messaging.

But, just when did the tradition of sending cards to friends and loved ones on Christmas originate?

The first ever Christmas card was created more than 150 years ago in England, and that, too, by pure chance.
He hit upon a novel idea to make his task easier.
A central panel was to depict a family enjoying the Christmas festivities.
And, thus was born the world's first ever Christmas card! Little did Cole and Horsley guess that this isolated instance would spawn one of the most honoured of all Christmas traditions down the centuries.

For about 30 years after England created the Christmas card, Americans continued to import theirs from the UK.
His designs included winter motifs and Christmas themes.
It was only much later that the focus shifted to snow landscapes, fir trees, decorated Christmas trees, glowing fireplaces and Santa Claus.
By the early 20th century, Christmas cards had conquered Europe and were particularly a big hit in Germany.
The card always involved some pulling of the string or lever to reveal some element of surprise! Pull out flower cards ruled the day.
Hall and two of his brothers - one of the biggest card making companies in the world today!

Around that time, in the early 20th century, several charities started selling Christmas greeting cards to raise funds for their organisations.

In 1953, US President Dwight D.

Today's modern Christmas cards sport a more trendy look with cartoons and funny verses.

Christmas cards boast a rich history, with many of the early greeting cards prized collector's items.

Top Rated Xmas Traditions That Most of us Can't Do Without!

Image by takfoto via Flickr

Think carols and up pops the image of Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer.

Here are the top rated xmas traditions that continue to dominate celebrations all around the world:

*There is perhaps no greater or more easily recognised symbol of Christmas than the graceful, evergreen Christmas tree.
The tradition of setting up a Christmas tree goes back a long way - in fact, the pre-Christian era.
The ancient Romans used to keep a decorated tree in their homes in honour of their Saturnalia festival.
It was the Protestant reformer Martin Luther King who first started the trend of lighting candles on fir trees - inspired by the sight of stars shining through the leaves of a fir tree outside.
It were the Pennsylvania Germans who brought the Christmas tree to America in the late 19th century.

*For a child, Christmas means just one thing.
The mythical figure of Christmas has his roots in the persona of a 4th century AD Bishop Nicholas who was known to be generous and particularly fond of children.
*An Anglo-Saxon version called him Father Christmas and he was supposed to punish the naughty children and reward the well-behaved ones.
However, it was the Dutch figure of 'Sinterklaas' that caught the imagination of all.
It was his name that was anglicised to the now well-known Santa Claus.
Mistletoe and Holly.
Any guesses on just how mistletoe got singled out? Well, this evergreen plant was used by Druid priests in their winter celebrations some 200 years before the birth of Christ.

While the ancient Celtics attributed magical healing powers to the mistletoe, the plant was regarded as a symbol of peace by the ancient Romans.

The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably originated from the Scandanavians.
Good luck and happiness followed those who kissed under the mistletoe.
Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer.
Rudolf, the famous 'red-nosed reindeer' is one such character.
May, a copywriter at the Montgomery Ward department store, was asked to write a Christmas-themed story to pull in sales.
However, a foggy Christmas Eve night catapulted him into instant popularity when Santa himself chose him to lead his sleigh that night.
A further three and a half million flew off the shelves when it was reissued in 1946.
And one of the most popular and beloved of all Christmas songs was born.
Christmas Stockings.
This tradition also has its roots in an ancient legend.
One evening, the daughters washed and hung their stockings near the chimney to dry in the night.
The next morning, a happy surprise awaited the beleaguered family.
And that's how the practice of children hanging their stockings at night came into being.

*The Christmas card was created in England more than 160 years ago - and that, too, born out of a desperate necessity! Sir Henry Cole, the first director of

London's Victoria and Albert Museum, was inundated with work commitments in the Christmas season of 1843.
The card featured three panels.
The card was inscribed with the words 'A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year To You'.

The Numerous Methods of Xmas

Image by Auntie P via Flickr

It is strange and wonderful how dissimilar all these Christmas habits are, ranging from waiting till January 6, "Dia de Los Reyes" (Day of Kings) to open up ones presents (tradition practiced in Spain) to Poland where people do not even delay till Christmas day; as their presents are opened as soon as the first star makes its appearance in the sky on the evening of Christmas.

As for myself I have been fortunate enough due to my many travels to spend Christmas in many a country where this holiday is upheld and thanks to this fact I have seen for myself the many ways people in the United States, Poland, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Italy, Hungary and the Soviet Union celebrate Christmas.
It was in this last country where I spent this day in a hotel (Cosmos) in Moscow in the year 1988 during the time when the words glasnosts and perestroika were becoming known to most Americans; thanks Gorbachov.

With Regards to Christmas I can not say much about what it is that Russians did or ate on this day, as the hotel did not offer anything special on the menu.
She also told us how people gave presents to each other on that day and how her and her husband would pay a man to dress up as "father Christmas" and go to their home to give their son his presents.
As this "empire of evil" as Ronald Reagan called it was eventually eradicated by history.
The year was 1987 but unlike in the Soviet Union I spent the day in a pension which was the apartment of a Hungarian family which out of some sort of kindness perhaps seeing that I was completely alone invited me to join them for their Christmas Dinner.
The meal I must say was not bad in its humble way though for the life of me I knew not what I ate as my hosts were unable to explain to me what I was eating which was some sort of meat which was probably pork.
It was while sitting down with them at the table that I noticed a certain dignity in this middle aged couple, infused with the tremendous joy and pride they took in not only the way they ate their simple meal which I could see in their faces but the way they spend this day.

I felt good after the meal and it was not because I had eaten something but because it had been that feeling of Christmas that makes people a little nicer that had propelled them to invite me so I would not spend this day alone in my room or walking through what was probably a very empty city.
It is funny how that might not seem like much to the average American or Hungarian now a days but then 10 dollars was the average weekly salary for many a person in Hungary.

The country which saw me spend the most Christmases is the United States which does not really celebrate the evening of Christmas but uses it as a time to get ready for the day to come.

It is the day of Christmas itself, the 25th of December and only this day that is of real consequence in the USA.
On this day after going through an emotional round of Christmas present opening, the turkey is carved for young and old; as families go about eating their meal.

Some around the world may find it strange how Americans (well some any way) go shopping on the 25th as many though not all the stores are open.
Naturally there is also the case of those teenagers whose wish is none other than to spend their present which was given to them in the form of cash or gift certificates.
There are also those who take advantage of open grocery stores to get those items they might have run out off or forgotten in all the rush of the season.
It was in Ecuador (in the city of Guayaquil) in the year of 1984 that I spent one of the most memorable Christmases due to the tropical weather.

As for the celebration of Christmas itself I can not claim to have noticed anything that distinguished it from the way the same festivity is carried out in Peru or Argentina.
It was with great hunger I noticed the meal is consumed in these countries as they abstain from victuals till midnight and for the most part have not eaten since lunch.
Another thing about Peru, Argentina and Ecuador that I found unique was the way in which fireworks are used at midnight to light up the sky.

As for Italy, the country of birth of my grandmother and where part of my heritage comes from, it is strange that I have only spent Christmas there once and it being not long ago in the house of my daughter's Godfather Erico Jannone; (who sadly passed away earlier this year) who lives near Torino which in English is known as Turin.
Apart from this there is not much difference between Americans and Italians as they both wait till the 25th of December to both celebrate and open presents though they part company when it comes to going shopping; for Italian strict social laws do not allow businesses to open on this day.
It was in the company of my now late compadre and his daughter and son that my wife, daughter (The Little Opera Singer) and I spent this most special of days on the Christian calendar.
Befana being the name given to the gift bearing witch who visits toddlers on Christmas.
It is at the moment when the evening's first star lights up in the sky that Polish people start in.
As far as I am concerned, I can not in earnest claim to have taken a fancy to this almost ceremonial act though I have nothing against it either as I simply do not take part in it; as I do not feel any emotional connection with it.
The dishes are for the most part cabbage composed along with other things that do not include meat as the Polish tradition (though not of the Church's) does not allow the eating of any meat that is not fish.

It is following the meal that presents are opened though in my case I save the presents I am giving, not only to my wife and daughter but others for the following day and how could I proceed other wise than also saving the presents which have been given to me for the same day?

As one can see there are many ways to spend Christmas and I have been blessed to see several of them thanks to my multicultural family and travels, so it is with the truest sincerity that I state that all of the methods of celebrating Christmas are great in their own way.
After all do they not carry the same purpose behind them which is sharing with one another? It is with this thought that I end this article by saying that no matter how one chooses to spend one's Christmas eve or day; may it be joyful as that is the purpose of this day to my way of seeing things.

Xmas Redecorating on a Small Spending budget

Image by garden beth via Flickr

Thrift Shops and Garage Sales: Many people like to buy brand new decorations every year, and they often give their older decorations to thrift shops.
Likewise, keep on the lookout for Christmas decorations at garage sales too, you can often pick them up for almost nothing there.
Buy some new bulbs, and then set to work to find out exactly which bulbs are blown.
This can really save a lot of money.
Set them together in a basket to make a colourful Christmas bauble display.

Candles: You can usually pick up nice looking candles fairly cheaply.
Then, cover the clay up with Christmas cloth, or ribbons, or pine needles.
You can also match silver, gold and blue to make a great Christmas color scheme as well.
Play Christmas music in the background, drink a glass of wine or hot chocolate, and start up your own Christmas tradition of baking.

Christmas Music: No Christmas is complete without Christmas music wafting throughout the house.
Make sure you have a big enough selection though so you're not listening to the same songs or album over and over again.

Pine Cones: If you live in an area where you can freely gather pine cones, do so.
Either leave them natural looking, or you can paint them silver or gold, or even spray 'snow' on them.

Decorate your Table and Bring out Christmas Table-wear: Look for your most Christmassy looking tablecloth and use that for your Christmas meals, and dinners leading up to Christmas.

If you want to, you can invest in this type of tableware during the year, or over a few years, so that you gradually build up a special Christmas set.

Table Piece: Design your own center piece for your table.
Be inventive and make up a natural looking Christmas center piece for your table.

Christmas Teddies and Dolls: Get your children in on the act.
If you don't have anything specifically Christmassy for them, just tie ribbons around them and give them a little Christmas present to hold under their arm or to sit on their lap.

These are just a few ideas of how you can cut costs this Christmas.
And, it can look just as nice as if you had spent a lot of money on expensive ornaments and decorations.

Here Arrives Xmas, Remembering The Birthday of God Christ Jesus on 25th of December

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Exchange gifts with your friends and relatives and make your own delicious Plum Cakes along with variety of other Christmas Recipes.

Christmas Celebrations

Modern day celebrations of the Christmas Eve are characterized by exchanging gifts, attending masses, singing Christmas carols, giving Christmas cards to one another, display of various decorations such as lights, candles, mistletoe, nicely decorated Christmas Trees etc.
Christmas festivities continue throughout the 12 days of Christmas and are symbolized by bright fires, the Yule log, exchange of gifts, carnivals (parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, holiday feasts, and the church processions.
The word Mass refers to celebration of the Catholic Church and Christs Mass refers to the celebration of the Catholic Church centered on Jesus Christ or the

Son of God.
The first word Christ has been derived from the Greek word Christos and Mass has been derived from the Latin word Missa.
This is because Chi which is the first letter in the word Christ is represented as X in Greek.

History of Christmas and the Birth of Jesus Christ

Prior to the 18th Century, Christmas was popularly believed to be the birth date of Jesus Christ.
This was because the true date of the birth of Jesus Christ was not known as even the Bible has references to more than one date.

However, the fact is that the history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years to the ancient Mesopotamians.
The Persians and the Babylonians also celebrated a similar festival which was called the 'Sacaea'.

The Romans celebrated their festival which was called Saturnalia to honor their God Saturn.
The celebration included visiting friends, big festive meals, masquerades in the streets and the exchange of gifts.
During this period also the masters and slaves would exchange places.
Initially, the Church forbid this kind of celebration but it was to no avail.
The Church was eventually able be make the Saturnalia festival unpopular by bringing the joy and cheer to the celebration of Christmas.
By the late 300's, Christianity had became the official religion of the Roman Empire and by 1100, Christmas had become the most important religious festival in Europe and Saint Nicholas was a symbol of gift giving in many European countries.
Thomas Nast.
By the 1880s, Nast's Santa had evolved into the form we now recognize.
Santa Claus lives with a large number of magical elves and flying reindeer, Rudolf the reindeer being the most famous with a Christmas Carol after him.
He accomplishes this feat with the aid of elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer that pull his sleigh.

Christmas Tree - A Ravishing Charm

The Christmas tree plays an important role in the celebrations of Christmas and as s part of the Christmas traditions, it is beautifully lit and decorated

with lights, candles, stars, balloons and other decorative materials along with edible goodies.
A Christmas tree is a beautiful sight and sparkles and shimmers with lights and other decorative materials.
I am including a recipe to make delicious Christmas Cookies for all you Christmas lovers out there.

The ingredients are:

3 cups flour Teaspoon Baking Soda Teaspoon Baking Powder 1 Cup Butter at room temperature 2 Beaten Eggs 1 Cup Sugar 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Teaspoon Salt

For Icing (Optional) 1 box Confection Sugar Several Different Small Colored Bottles of food coloring

Preparation:

Put all the dry ingredients together and mix them well.
Remember, both have to be mixed separately.
Take some amount of dough, not more than the amount that fits in your fist and flatten it with the help of a rolling pin on a to about a inch thickness.
Bake for 5-6 minutes and watch the cookies carefully to see when they are of right color.

Useful Tips to Buy Your Xmas Cards

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The sooner you get organized with those Christmas greeting cards the better.
Online: You select the design and type in the personalised details you want on your card and then add the completed information into the shopping cart.

Telephone: You can contact the online Christmas card Company directly on the number they supply and they will take all the relevant information from you by phone.
When the company has received the payment they will then start working on your Christmas cards.

Sometimes it is possible with online, email or by phone that you make an error in the information you request for your card.
You will be requested to confirm the final product before they get started with printing.

So what is a proof or the proofing process? A proof is documentation that will show you what will appear on your Christmas cards.
The proofing process will give you ample opportunity to make any changes and these changes should be free of charge.

What if you change your mind completely? Well in most cases if you decide not to go ahead with your order you will find that the reputable online Christmas card companies will offer you a refund.
You will often find that the reputable firms will have a clear and concise FAQ or frequently asked questions section included on their website.
In many cases you will find they can print for you in dual languages the same card so you have a lot of choices for your Greetings
Here are some of the options on offer:

Humorous Christmas-Cards

Traditional Christmas-Cards

Modern Christmas-Cards

Contemporary Christmas-Cards

Business Christmas-Cards

Fun Christmas-Cards

Classic Christmas-Cards

Charity Christmas-Cards

Bespoke Christmas-Cards

What about the envelopes for your Christmas cards?

All of the cards you order should come with matching envelopes and this should be included in the costs.

Now you have some basic information to get you started with your Christmas greeting card ordering.

Friday, 4 November 2011

Ring Xmas Bells! Xmas Ringtunes

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It is right time for buying presents for your friends and family.
Your cell phone should also add to the mood of the Christmas and make sure that everyone around hears Christmas Bells when your cell phone rings.

Ringtones are also considered special because they are a part of your personality.
Holiday and Christmas season is fast approaching.
Christmas ringtones are also important if you a person who wants to match with the latest trends.
There are thousands of good Christmas ringtones which can be downloaded.
When you send a ringtone to someone it means that you really care for that person.
We are presenting some popular type of Christmas ringtones.
You can easily download these songs and convert them to a melody or polyphonic ringtone.
There are many websites which offer free download of music files and you can search for good Christmas songs in these websites.
Funny Ringtones are a great way to make the environment light and get the feel of the Christmas season.

Traditional Christmas Ringtones: There are dozens of famous and melodious Christmas ringtones which are used for years.
Everyone is familiar with these ringtones and these traditional ringtones are best for maintaining the mood of Christmas.
These songs make the best Christmas ringtones.
We recommend that you should go for instrumental Christmas ringtone this year.
These songs are best for maintaining the mood of the Christmas and they make sure that the religious spirit is just around you.

There are also some famous jingle songs like Joy to the world, Jingle Bell etc.
There are many applications available which allow you to convert the songs to polyphonic and MP3 ringtones.

There are many applications available which can add beats and increase the tempo of the songs.

Some people are not just satisfied by Christmas.
There are many Christmas themes available on many websites which can be downloaded easily.

Saturday, 5 November 2011

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Friday, 4 November 2011