Ancient History : People and Places : Seven Wonders Plus One (or Two)

My late sister was an avid reader. She read anything and everything – books, newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, dictionaries. My appreciation for the joys of reading did not come until my university years. My sister's brain was a repository of all kinds of information. Why read? Just ask her your questions. :) She was the one who taught me about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. To this day, every time there is a mention of these “Wonders”, it opens up a floodgate of memories.

Found an article at Info Barrel and would you believe it? Nothing has changed. Yep. The pyramids, the Hanging Gardens, a statue of Zeus, etc.All seven of them are still holding their historical ground as the "Seven Wonders", marvels and monuments to man's ingenuity, intelligence, and skill.  Structures actually built without a CAD program.  (CAD = Computer Aided Design)

● REFERENCE:

OnlineInspiration. "The Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World." InfoBarrel.com. Hinzie Media Inc., 18 May 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.

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Here's something my sister did not teach me but it has always been a wonder to me; two wonders if you count each person separately.

Two of the most influential people in the history of mankind. One of them, you can't find their grave or burial place. The other, there's a tomb but no body. Moses and Jesus.

You would think, what with them being prophets and notable leaders on a Divine mission, that they would have left some sort of indisputable undeniable physical trace of their existence on earth. Like maybe ... a bone fragment for DNA testing.

Not trying to be blasphemous, irreverent, or disrespectful. Don't want to offend any true believers out there. Let the record show I'm a true believer. OK? But it does make me wonder.  (O.o)

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“The tomb is now open and the Nazarene is gone.”

Pure Flix. “AD: The Bible Continues.” YouTube, 2 Feb. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1ANOKSB060. 

That was the only impressive line in that TV series.  It was a very disappointing television show.  "... this production has got to be the most historically inaccurate, unbiblical presentation of a Bible story ever made!!"  (I'm quoting myself.)

Review:  TV Series : “A.D. The Bible Continues” Does Not Continue the Bible!

Review: Action Spy TV Series : Undercovers (2010) ~ Do Not Rinse and Repeat!

“Undercovers” was an American action spy TV series that aired briefly on NBC in 2010. 

First episode: September 22, 2010

Last episode: December 29, 2010

It had beautiful people and totally sucked!

Dear Producers:
If you ever have plans again for an American TV show starring actors of color as CIA spooks, please hire better writers!!  Do NOT rinse and repeat!  My one-word review for this program?  Abysmal.  And that's a word I hardly ever use!  But you gave me a reason.

In my book, the show would get more than two thumbs down, but I only have two thumbs. It was horribly disappointing. But give the producers an A++ for at least daring to try out "fresh content" on the American audience of guinea pigs.

Why was it so awful?

Hmmm … ?? Let me think.

Bad script. Mediocre acting.

But! – you say in defense - other shows have survived with a badly written script and substandard acting.

This is true.

But when you have watched a series like the BBC's MI-5 and you want an American show that has somewhat similar stellar performances, intricate plots, etc. and you don't get that … your disappointment can be likened to the queen in the “Alice in Wonderland” fairy tale – Off with their heads!!

Huge disappointment for me because I'm a fan of Gugu Mbatha-Raw (she played Samantha Bloom). My intro to this actress was by way of both Dr. Who and MI-5.  She only had minor parts.  Even if you only saw her for those few brief moments you would know that her acting talent was seriously underutilized in this American TV show.

Image Credit: Gugu Mbatha-Raw Sexy Fabric Wall Scroll Poster (16x27) Inches

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Related or Similar Links:

Undercovers | tv.com

NBC Cancels New Drama 'Undercovers' | deadline.com

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NOTE: This short review also appears at PersonaPaper.com.

Angels or Aliens? (My Thoughts. No Proof!)

I have always wondered what life was like in Bible times. Mainly because of the miracles that were described. I would love to have been an eye-witness to such events.  Also because it would have been awesome to have an encounter with an angel.  I have a theory about all those alleged close encounters with aliens. (A theory. No proof!)

• I don’t believe in aliens from other planets.

• I do believe in angels from another world; the heavenly realm.

My theory is that all those so-called “proofs” that aliens once visited the earth – IF there really are unexplained marks, residue, etc. that indicate activity of a non-human “essence” – my “best guess” is those non-humans weren’t aliens; they were angels. Show me all the proof you have, it won’t overrule or override my guess!  My genuine belief.

Interesting Reading :

• Proof Of Alien UFO Cover-up? NASA Accused Of Deleting Earth Orbiting UFO From Apollo Mission Space Photo

• 10 Most Compelling Pieces Of Evidence That Prove Aliens Have Visited Earth

Forgive me if my expressions of thoughts come out on paper the way they usually are in my brain — scattered … but make sense to me! 

Continuing this discussion by incorporating a reference to another article – What is the Merkabah? – because so many people out there are interested in the topic of either aliens or angels or both, and the study of things that seem to be related, like merkabah.

“The Merkabah was thought to be a divine light vehicle (a spiritual space ship of sorts) that transported people from one dimension to another and thus enabled people to access, connect with and communicate with beings of other dimensions. …”

Also sharing a link below to another site. Whether you agree with me or not on my angels versus aliens stance, you will still find this topic of “human angels” fascinating and worth exploring.  People committed to good works = human angels. 

• We Are Human Angels

Finally, my readings led me to this marvelous YouTube video which has background music featuring the soulful serene vocals of Sarah MacLaughlan; song titled “Delerium”.  

• Video Link:  Merkabah, The Chariot of Ascension 

“Heaven holds a sense of wonder”. (Quote lifted from the song lyrics.)

Aliens. Angels. Merkabah. You can see how these things all connect. Right? (O.o)

Image credit: “Merkabah” by Visionary Artist Jetter Green

See more of Mr. Green’s wonderful artwork at JetterGreen.com

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Another Link of Interest:

(Not about the merkabah, but along the lines of mystic beliefs)

Mysticism: What is the Akashic Experience?

"The Akash (your personal records) is everything/everyone you have ever been, both positive/negative (as viewed in our duality) and it can create the experiences and emotions felt in this life because it is in the now' which, is hard to grasp in our present life." ~ Graham Koster, Healer, spiritual counselor and Zen motorcyclist!

My original content also appears at LiteracyBase.com, Mar 26, 2017;
and at PersonaPaper.com, May 9, 2017.

ANOTHER INTERESTING READ:
** A brief history of the ancient monsters of the ancient world and the sea

Historical Places : Alternate Names for the Dead Sea

Almost everybody has heard of the Dead Sea. It is the lowest point on earth: 1,294 feet below sea level. Two things come to my mind when this body of water is mentioned: scrolls and salts.

Dead Sea (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• In 1947, scrolls which were writings of ancient biblical texts were found in a cave around this area.

• These days all the beauty and health experts rave about the wonderful things Dead Sea bath salts can do to your skin.

Have you ever heard this place called by any other name?

It has several alternate names:

Salt Sea

Eastern Sea

Asphalt Sea

Sodomitish Sea

Sea of Lot

Sea of Zoar

Sea of Arabah

Sea of Overwhelming

Last but not least, known simply as the Sea. Who knew?

People bathing in the Dead Sea

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Content also appears at Persona Paper.

Related articles

• Nine of the world's most tranquil places - according to you(telegraph.co.uk)

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Artists I Fancy: Inspirational Quotes Adapted Into Cartoons by Gavin Aung Than, Zen Pencils

Cartoon quotes from famous folks like Maya Angelou, who inspire us - Presented to you by ZenPencils.com.

Discovered this site because it showed up in the post stream via Tumblr.com. Someone has taken one of Maya Angelou's well-known poems - “Phenomenal Woman” - and presented it in comic strip format. Their artistic endeavor was … in a word … phenomenal!

The image supplied with this post is a partial view of his work. To view the entire comic strip, click here.

Gavin Aung Than is the talented cartoonist who creates these “essential” moments in time.

You can submit a quote and he will create a cartoon or comic for it. He has done quotes by Kahlil Gibran, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lao Tzu, Winston Churchill and many more.

If you have a few hours, a slow day, nothing much going on … spend some time perusing this site. You'll leave inspired.

♥ In Memory of: - Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014)

♦ Official Website: zenpencils.com

♦ Tumblr Blog: zenpencils.tumblr.com

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Celebrating Graduation: When did you suddenly realize that you were an adult?

“There is a good reason they call these ceremonies 'commencement exercises'. Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning.” ~Orrin Hatch ( Quote Source )

When did you suddenly realize that you were an adult?

Do you remember the day you graduated from high school?

High school graduation is a particularly special time for a teenager. They are getting ready to make life decisions for themselves, on their own. No more asking permission to go out. You're about to be fully in charge of your social schedule, your academic responsibilities, and …??? … you might even have to work!!

How did I know I had graduated and had officially entered the adult world?

One day, at my part-time college work-study job, one of the office workers announced it was break time and asked me if I wanted some coffee.

That was it! My transition into adulthood. At that moment, it dawned on me that the decision was mine to make for myself! My mom's permission was not needed to drink coffee. Growing up, in our house, children drinking coffee had been forbidden. Obeyed that house rule from about 5 years old until my teen years. Never even thought to disobey my mom.  :)

When did you suddenly realize that you were an adult?

I graduated from high school in 1972 and had made a decision to pursue a degree at a university in my hometown.  Every time I see a class of high school seniors the memory of my own graduation ceremony comes back to me.

●  For the record, although sports is not my thing, I do know who Shaquille O'Neal is and FYI … Shaquille O'Neal Earned His Doctorate from Barry University. The very same Barry University where my high school graduation ceremony was held. Just thought to mention it!

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Content also appears at Persona Paper.

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• Here's what 14 celebrities looked like in college(businessinsider.com)