THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A FAMILY AT THE CHRISTMAS TABLE - LAST CHRISTMAS

 In October 1996, 32-year-old Patty Vaughan filed for legal separation. She was married to Jerry Ray for 11 years. The couple lived in Texas with their two sons and daughter. Jerry has always been known for his aggression toward his wife. After the separation, the man moved to an apartment in San Antonio, and Patty stayed at home with the children. In a relatively short time, the woman became involved with her former ex-boyfriend Gary, whom she introduced to her relatives during the Christmas Eve dinner. On Christmas Day, Patty's husband was supposed to come to Patty's house to have Christmas dinner with his children. Later, Patty was supposed to take them to her cousin's, but she never showed up or told him she wasn't coming. The last person to speak to Patty was her sister, who called on Christmas Day morning. Jerry answered the phone. When he handed the receiver to his wife, she sounded like she was crying.

  At around 1:30 p.m. on December 26, the missing woman's boss discovered her abandoned car on the highway about 15 miles from her home and 5 miles from her workplace. The boss and other co-workers were on the same road in the early morning, but they all agreed that the car wasn't there at the time. During police questioning, Jerry testified that he spent most of Christmas arguing with his wife over her new relationship. His own sister, Marilyn, also attended the Christmas dinner, but she did not see Patty. Jerry told her that his wife was in the bedroom and didn't want to talk to anyone because she wasn't feeling well. Then he asked his sister to take the children to him. After she left, he got into another marital quarrel. According to him, at 6:30 p.m., Patty got into her car and drove away. The day after she went missing, he filed for divorce and returned to San Antonio.

A forensic examination of the missing woman's van was conducted and traces of blood were found. It was also evident that someone had recently cleaned the carpets. The tire was deflated on purpose, and a red worker's overall with the JM emblem was found inside the car. During a forensic search of Patty's home, traces of blood were found in the bathroom and bedroom. Fluorescence examination showed that the blood was smeared on the floor. The same test carried out on a mop in the garage confirmed that someone was trying to clean the apartment thoroughly. Surprisingly, Jerry and his sister stayed at home during the forensics, and Marilyn tried to disrupt the technicians' work. When investigators wanted blood samples from the children, Jerry refused DNA testing. He agreed only when he was forced to do so by a court order. Examination confirmed that the blood was Patty's. Significantly, the missing woman's new boyfriend had a very solid alibi, and was cooperative and active in the search, so he was never considered a serious suspect.

At the time of Patty's disappearance, Jerry was a construction worker working on the construction of an elementary school. There were rumors that he may have walled up his wife's body in the building's foundation, but a search of the facility turned up no evidence to support this theory. The records showed that the concrete had been poured four days before she went missing. In 2012, new DNA tests were conducted. Tests revealed that some of the items in the van contained traces of female DNA that did not belong to Patty or anyone related to her. While police believe Jerry is the main person of interest in the woman's disappearance, it is likely that at least three people may have helped him cover up the crime. So far, no one has been publicly named. Jerry eventually moved to Colorado with his three children and now lives in Idaho under a different name. The children are completely estranged from Patty's family and have not had contact with them since she went missing.

The history of baubles, or how the most famous Christmas tree decorations were created

 The bauble is the most popular Christmas decoration in the world. It's hard to imagine Christmas Eve without a tree decorated with colorful baubles. How were the first bombs made? What did they look like and who exactly came up with the idea of creating them? When did baubles appear in Poland and what is the process of blowing out baubles?

Baubles are probably the most associated decorations with the Christmas tree. They decorate Christmas trees every Christmas. Traditional baubles are made of thin glass. They are usually painted by hand and silvered from the inside. The first baubles that appeared in our country were made of blown glass. Many of them imitated nuts and fruits, as well as animals and objects that we use every day (e.g. shoes, and umbrellas). It is interesting that over several dozen years Poland has become an expert in the field of making baubles to such an extent that to this day it exports Christmas decorations all over the world.

Before we discuss who exactly came up with the idea of creating the first bauble in the world, it is worth telling you about the custom of decorating the Christmas tree. Well, the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree is pagan - it was only later adopted by the Catholic Church. The tradition of decorating Christmas trees was born in Germany around the 16th century when Protestantism was dominant at that time. It was in Germany that the first coniferous trees were placed in houses, and then they were decorated with, among others, ornaments. food and paper decorations. For example, Martin Luther was a huge proponent of practicing this custom. During the time of the German religious reformer, however, there were no round glass baubles that we hang on our Christmas trees today. They were not invented until several hundred years later.

At first, Christmas tree decorations looked completely different than those we know from stores. The pagans hung mainly food on their trees. So candies, cookies, apples, nuts, and gingerbread hung on most of the conifers. Between them also dangled spectacular paper ornaments in various shapes and colors. There were also decorations made of tissue paper and eggshells. Twigs were often covered with straw or blades of grass - there were no shiny chains like those available in shopping malls today. There were also no lights shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. Instead of them, candles were used, which were carefully placed on the branches of the tree - this was of course a very dangerous solution but at the same time the only one that allowed you to light up the Christmas tree. Interestingly, all the ornaments had their own special symbolism. Nuts, for example, were a symbol of prosperity, apples were supposed to ensure the health of household members, and a paper or straw chain reflected family ties.

The first bauble was produced only in 1847. The creator of this unique Christmas tree ornament was Hans Greiner. It was he who came up with the idea of creating a thin glass shell. According to historical records, Greiner invented the bauble when he was poor - lack of money to buy Christmas decorations motivated him to create his own decoration. The man worked at the Lauscha glassworks in Germany. He knew very well that the money he earned would not be enough to buy an apple or buy cookies, nuts or even colored paper with which he could decorate a Christmas tree. So he thought for a long time what to decorate his Christmas tree with. Finally, he managed to blow a round bauble out of thin glass and decorate his Christmas tree with it. Greiner decided that the ornaments came out really interesting, so he started making more and more of them. This is how the mass production of baubles began. People fell in love with them! With his innovative idea, Hans Greiner saved the steelworks from bankruptcy, because over time it began to earn huge money from the sale of baubles. More and more people wanted to decorate their Christmas trees with round, blown baubles. Over the next hundred years from the day when Greiner blew the first bauble, a multitude of craft workshops opened around the world, where similar Christmas tree decorations were made.

It's hard to believe that baubles were born out of poverty. Today, looking at some of them, you can grab your head - mainly due to the exaggerated prices of some of them. People looking for unusual Christmas decorations can afford innovative solutions today. Currently, there is no major problem to buy baubles in interesting patterns, with various accessories, and even hand-painted and dedicated - even the luxurious ones, from the greatest fashion designers in the world. Before we get to the process of their creation, it is worth recalling the history of baubles just after the great success of Hans Greiner.

After baubles reached the peak of popularity in Germany, they also gained a huge number of fans in the UK. It was the British who first began to import German baubles to their country. One of the first Christmas trees in England to be decorated with round baubles was the Christmas tree at Windsor Castle. The fame of baubles then spread throughout Europe, and in the second half of the 19th century, many factories began to be established where Christmas decorations were blown out, decorated, and then sold. In the United States, the first decorated Christmas tree appeared in 1856 in the White House. More or less at the same time, the baubles reached Poland.

At first, our compatriots imported baubles from their German neighbors, but later the first factories producing Christmas decorations began to appear in Poland. At first, Poles were blowing round shapes of baubles, but later they started creating completely different glass shells - for example in the shape of everyday objects (such as hats or shoes). Over time, angels, animals, snowflakes, and snowmen also appeared. In the middle of the 20th century, the largest manufacturer of glass Christmas decorations in Poland was opened in Milicz. From that moment, the factory operated continuously until 2008, producing up to a million different baubles each year.

Today, the largest bauble factories still rely on blowing them themselves. Trained employees blow baubles out of glass pipes at a high temperature, to which the glass is heated using burners - usually it is about 900 degrees C. It is at this stage that the decorations can be given the desired shape. How to make a bauble perfectly round? The walls of the glass tube should be evenly heated. To make a different shape than the traditional one, an aluminum mold is used. The next stage of bauble production is its silvering. When the interior is silvered, i.e. covered with silver nitrate, the bauble is immersed in warm water. This makes silver nitrate mirror-like. This allows you to get more expressive colors of any paint on the bauble.

What's next? Only the last touches remain, i.e. finishing the baubles. Dried decorations can be immediately covered with any varnish intended for Christmas decorations - in this way they are given a uniform color. Then you can decorate the bauble with any ornaments, of course by hand. Some choose only paints and glitter, while others add e.g. beads or sequins. After drying, you can finish the bauble by shortening the edge of the tube that was left after it was blown. It remains only to insert the cap with a loop, thanks to which you can hang a ribbon, hook, or thread through it and hang the decoration on the Christmas tree. There are bauble factories in Poland that regularly organize demonstrations of the production of Christmas decorations. It is worth going on such a trip at least once in your life to see for yourself the craftsmanship and amazing art of making baubles by hand.

Curiosities about baubles - did you know?

1. Poland is currently one of the largest and most desirable producers of baubles in the world. Our baubles go to the European market, but also to the United States, Canada, and Australia.
2. In 2012, Nowa Dęba, there is the most popular Museum of Christmas Tree Baubles in Poland. There you can see Christmas tree decorations from different eras.
3. In Germany, in 1923, the world's first art school was founded, where you could master the art of shaping glass in the fire of a burner.
4. In 2013, in the Creative Multifunctional Facility, the first Christmas tree bauble was created using the 3D printing method. It was a limited series because only three pieces of these modern ornaments were created.
5. The most expensive bauble in the world was made of 188 rubies, 18-carat gold, and 500 diamonds. Artist Mark Hussey from Hampshire, UK, worked on it for a whole year. The bauble is stored in a steel box, which is additionally surrounded by thick glass.

Bibliography:

1. Fr. Józef Naumowicz: The Story of the Christmas Tree, Wydawnictwo Literackie, Kraków 2007
2. Brand Sofie Maria: Holidays in the world, Znak Emotion Publishing House, Warsaw 2021

Weird Christmas Traditions Around the World You Didn't Know About

 Christmas is celebrated in many different ways around the world. In all corners of the globe, where holidays are celebrated, there are completely different customs. Some of them are close to Polish, and others are really surprising. Check out 7 weird Christmas traditions and find out how people celebrate Christmas in other countries.

1. Cucumbers on the Christmas tree (Germany)

One of the most surprising Christmas customs is hanging Christmas decorations in Germany. It would seem that there is nothing strange about this tradition, right? Well, no, our western neighbors decorate Christmas trees not only with round baubles, colorful chains, and lights but also with ornaments in the shape of ... cucumbers. Usually, these are baubles that look like cucumbers. Fortunately, there are no real pickled cucumbers on the Christmas tree!

Cucumber baubles are hung in German houses in the most visible places possible. For what? So that children can easily find these green ornaments. According to German tradition, the first child to spot a cucumber bauble will be the first to receive his Christmas gift and will be lucky in the coming year. The bauble found by the child is then hung on the top of the Christmas tree and is then treated as the most important.

2. Caga tió and turron instead of wafer (Spain)

Among the strange Christmas customs, it is impossible not to mention the one that made Spanish Catalonia famous. It is about Caga tió, i.e. the custom of carving specific figures from tree stumps, whose main task is to ... defecate. According to Catalan legend, Caga tió was a creature that ate table scraps. In exchange for a meal, having eaten his fill, he excreted gifts for the children. In the past, whole families would gather around such a stump and help it defecate by hitting it with a stick and singing motivating folk songs. However, before the family started helping such people, they first spread a blanket around him - gifts and sweets were supposed to fall there.

In our country, it is a tradition to share the wafer. In Spain, on the other hand, people share a specific type of nougat, which is commonly known there as turron. It is a delicious nougat formed into a roll and wrapped in a white wafer. The most popular are turrons from Alicante, which are as fragile as our Christmas wafer. It is this "wafer" that Spanish families share with each other on Christmas Eve.

3. Traditional broom hiding (Norway)

In Norway, it is a Christmas tradition to hide brooms on Christmas Eve. Where did this custom come from? Well, in the past it was believed that on Christmas Eve evil witches can wake up, who catch brooms from someone else's house, and fly away on them to do evil. The inhabitants of Norway, therefore, look for good hiding places at home every year to hide their brooms there. That way the witches won't find them, and so won't take over the festivities.

It is worth noting that the Norwegians do not share the wafer, and their Christmas Eve is mainly meat dishes (including lamb ribs). In Norway, no one goes to midnight mass either. The main holy mass takes place around 5:00 pm. Families then go home to celebrate Christmas Eve with their loved ones.

4. Fortune telling from plants (Czech Republic)

In our country, we make fortune-telling by wax or shoes on the last day of November, when Andrzejki falls. However, it turns out that this is not the only good day for fortune-telling. For our Czech neighbors, the best day for divination is… Christmas! Women, however, are most interested in fortune-telling, because it concerns them directly.

At the beginning of December, every Czech woman carefully cuts a cherry, apple or forsythia branch. If a twig blooms for Christmas, its owner will get married next year. However, if buds appear on the twig before Christmas, the woman will have a child first - only then will she marry. But what if the twig doesn't bloom? Well, its owner will spend the next year alone.

5. Christmas dinner at KFC (Japan)

In Japan, as a rule, Christmas is not celebrated because the Japanese have a completely different religion than we do. However, they like to celebrate Christmas because they like the Christian traditions of decorating houses with lights, decorating the Christmas tree and sprinkling artificial snow on the windows. Unlike Europeans, however, the Japanese celebrate Christmas in a completely different way.

The Japanese Christmas tradition includes a Christmas dinner in the form of a KFC bucket. Yes, the Japanese visit KFC on Christmas Day – they often stand for several hours in front of the entrance to eat a classic bucket of chicken pieces. During the holiday season, the KFC restaurant even prepares a Christmas offer for the Japanese, so that none of them will forget to order their "Christmas" bucket.

6. Christmas fruit trees (India)

In India, due to a completely different religion, Christmas is not celebrated. However, not only Hindus and Buddhists live there, but also Christians. Unfortunately, in India it is difficult to find a Christmas tree, so Christians have to think hard to decorate the tree for the holidays.

Indians who are Christians decorate banana or mango trees and palm trees. They decorate them with baubles, colorful chains, and lights just like we spruces, pines, or firs. It is an excellent alternative for those who want to smuggle a bit of European Christmas magic to India.

7. Mari Lwyd – fearsome mare (Wales)

Wales is famous for one of the strangest Christmas customs. The most popular is Mari Lwyd or Gray Mare. This tradition comes from pagan times and is cultivated every year by the people of Wales. Who is the mysterious Mari Lwyd? Well, a horse's skull, is covered with a sheet. Men follow her.

Every year the Gray Mare visits families who celebrate Christmas in Wales. He always asks a riddle at the doorstep of the house, to which the household must find the answer. If they succeed, Mari Lwyd will be allowed inside. This will mean that in the coming year the family who guesses the riddle will be very happy.

Bibliography:

1. Fr. Józef Naumowicz: The Story of the Christmas Tree, Wydawnictwo Literackie, Kraków 2007
2. Brand Sofie Maria: Holidays in the world, Znak Emotion Publishing House, Warsaw 2021

It's almost New Year's Eve and you have no plans? We have original ideas on how to spend it

 Every year it's the same: a house party, a club party or (like many of us last year) sitting at home in front of the TV. Or maybe this time to do something original and unusual for New Year's Eve? Something that will distinguish this December 31 from the previous and next? New Year's Eve doesn't have to be boring.

New Year's Eve on the go

A New Year's Eve away from home is a great idea for those who both want a change of scenery for a few days and a break before returning to work. It is also an amazing adventure and fun, especially when you go with your other half or a group of friends. Where to go on New Year's Eve? You can choose your destination yourself and look for New Year's Eve attractions on the spot (e.g. in Paris, Amsterdam or Berlin) or take advantage of ready-made New Year's Eve offers. Or maybe you prefer more exotic climates, like the Great Barrier Reef? There are a lot of ideas, but be careful: get interested in foreign New Year's Eve already during the holidays, because later there will simply be no more places.

New Year's Eve at the theatre, opera or philharmonic

Among the original ideas for New Year's Eve is also spending it with culture with a capital "K". How about a New Year's Eve night at the theatre, opera or philharmonic? Many institutions organize performances or concerts on December 31, which will appeal to those who prefer to celebrate the arrival of New Year's Eve in a more refined and peaceful way. A great spectacle, elegant costumes and a glass of champagne - what could be better?

New Year's Eve at the cinema

In turn, fans of pop culture will find an idea for New Year's Eve in front of the screen. But not the TV one in your own living room, but the cinema one. Many cinemas organize special New Year's Eve screenings or marathons, often with refreshments or other attractions. Check out the December 31 theatrical offer at your local cinemas - maybe this will be your New Year's Eve hit?

New Year's Eve in the forest wilderness

Or maybe you only need one thing for New Year's Eve - peace? So spend it away from civilization, for example in a house in the middle of the forest or in the Bieszczady Mountains - in an armchair by the fireplace with a loved one. Renting houses in the mountains or forests for New Year's Eve is becoming more and more popular, especially after the outbreak of a pandemic. A momentary break from the crazy world will really do us all good.

New Year's Eve in the monastery

Those who need peace, breath and escape on New Year's Eve will also find it in monasteries. Believers can participate in the New Year's retreat in silence. Others may simply seek asylum in a monastery and escape there for a few days. Turn off the phone and calm down to return to the daily treadmill rested, recharged and in tune with yourself.

New Year's Eve in the water park

New Year's Eve at the pool? Why not! Many parks and water parks organize New Year's Eve water parties for the whole family. The program includes madness at the pool, loud music, fireworks and laser shows ... Look for offers in water parks and find the one for which you want to jump into a bathing suit.

New Year's Eve at yoga and tantra workshops

Tantra is the eastern art of sensual love, and yoga is exercises combined with meditation and breathing techniques. With both you can spend New Year's Eve at special workshops. You will taste tantra with your partner and with - if you haven't had anything to do with tantra before - it won't be anything you've experienced so far. Not saying you'll strengthen your relationship. Do you prefer to spend New Year's Eve alone and focus on yourself - your body, emotions and breath? Take a mat in your hand, put on your yoga clothes and fly to the workshop.

New Year's Eve on the ferry

Or maybe spend New Year's Eve not so much by the sea as... at the sea? These are usually grand, elegant parties on the high seas (which of course depends on the weather). One thing is for sure, at sea from great fun... you can't escape.

New Year's Eve on the run

What to do on New Year's Eve? Maybe... run? Every year on December 31, New Year's Eve marathons are organized in many places in Poland. Get comfortable shoes and a thermal outfit ready and run far!

New Year's Eve by the sea

If you prefer the sea to the mountains, go north! Rent a cozy room, and at midnight go to the seashore with your loved one to admire the fireworks show. New Year's Eve parties are often organized on the pier or in seaside restaurants, thanks to which you will welcome the new year with an impressive view.

New Year's Eve in the mountains

You can also spend New Year's Eve in the mountains (although you have to book accommodation or buy a ticket for a party a few months in advance and expect high prices). Why don't you go to a highlander's feast at an inn, welcome the new year by the fire, take part in a fairy-tale sleigh ride or go crazy on snowmobiles? You can combine such a mountain New Year's Eve with a few-day holiday (e.g. after Christmas) and a skiing trip. There's nothing like New Year's Eve in the majestic surroundings of the mountains.

New Year's Eve in a bar or restaurant/hotel

This has been the most popular form of spending the last night of the year for many years. It is chosen by people of all ages. To get to the banquet organized by the best hotels in the city, you need to make a reservation even a few months before New Year's Eve. However, the attractions invented by the organizers will certainly be worth watching for the announcement of entries. Such events are prepared at a high level - you can expect live music, full catering and many attractions.

The organizers will make sure that you have a great time and start the new year with a smile. Many of them will present a wide range of attractions - from bartenders juggling various bottles of alcohol and glass, to dance leaders leading dances and games. Traditionally, you can expect a spectacular fireworks display, which will intertwine the sound of champagne glasses and New Year's greetings.

It will be a great idea to choose an attractive New Year's Eve package at the Hotel, which, in addition to the attractions mentioned above, will guarantee a unique atmosphere during thematic fun.

The offered package, in addition to the New Year's Eve party, will guarantee a comprehensive offer of stay: accommodation in comfortable rooms, breakfasts and lunches in the hotel restaurant and access to the coffee buffet. To regenerate the body after intense fun, it is worth taking advantage of the offer of SPA treatments or in the wellness area. The offer is an excellent choice for both couples and families.

Immortal house party with friends

This is the most popular way for Poles to spend New Year's Eve, which is why we suggest how to prepare a house party well, which you and your guests will remember fondly for a long time, even if you have no experience in organizing this type of event.

Bubbles 

Where there is a lot of fun, there is usually a variety of alcohol - starting from low-percentage beer, through wines, to highly spirited vodkas, rums and absinthe. It is worth asking guests what kind of alcohol they would like to enjoy on New Year's Eve. Remember to also provide non-alcoholic drinks, especially for drivers.

On New Year's Eve, champagne should not be missing, with which you will raise a toast at midnight. It is an alcohol that in its pure form is drunk in small amounts, so in order not to waste what is left in the bottle, the bartender can mix it with other drinks and create well-known cocktails, e.g. Kir Royal, Absolutely Fabulous or French 75.

New Year's Eve menu

At parties and house parties, fingerfood menus have long reigned supreme, consisting of snacks that can be eaten quickly and without the use of cutlery. There are many catering companies where you can order such a treat. It is also worth asking guests to prepare their favorite treats. Involve them in the preparations, and you will have more time to deal with other matters.

Not only dances

As the hosts of the event, you can determine its approximate schedule. Of course, it's hard to predict what the mood of the guests will be, but it's worth having a few fun ideas up your sleeve that will integrate previously unknown people or will be an alternative to dancing.

Theme

When to organize themed parties, if not on New Year's Eve! The times of the People's Republic of Poland, pirates from the Caribbean, characters from Disney fairy tales... You can choose from a lot of interesting motifs. To create the right atmosphere, guests' clothes and decorations should be inspired by the theme of the event. Food and drinks should also refer to the main theme in details. Also remember to prepare a suitable music playlist.

Romantic New Year's Eve for two

Falling snow, lights decorating the streets, an aura of magic spreading in the air... Isn't this the perfect time to spend romantic moments with your other half? In times when everyday life is rushing like crazy, time alone will certainly strengthen your relationship and give space for moments of intimacy.

Do you love mountains? If so, hide in a forest cabin with a view of snow-capped peaks, away from crowds and loud parties. By the sparkling fireplace, with a mug of mulled beer or wine, you will be able to reminisce about the beautiful moments together. If you don't like skiing, bonfires, sleigh rides and walks are waiting for you.

How about a trip to the spa together? There you can rest and relax, taking advantage of massages, saunas, swimming pools and many other attractions. You can combine your rest with a romantic dinner for two or dancing organized by the resort.

Spending New Year's Eve at home does not sound attractive, but home-lovers who value the company of their loved ones will have a great time. You don't need anything special or a big budget to organize a fun party. For starters, you can prepare your favorite dish and eat it by candlelight and the sounds of romantic music. After dinner, it's time to play. You can watch a good movie, play board or computer games or even dance to the sounds of your favorite songs.

New Year's Eve for the active

Not everyone associates New Year's Eve with partying until dawn or carefree lazing around. People who like to spend their time actively will certainly take advantage of the opportunity to go skiing or snowboarding. There are many resorts that are located near the slopes and provide equipment and attractive accommodation offers. You will also find there instructors who will introduce you to the secrets of winter sports, if you are just starting this adventure.

More and more tourist resorts are preparing a holiday offer for people who expect something more than high-quality hotel and restaurant services on New Year's Eve. Therefore, if you dream of trekking in the mountains or sightseeing trips, there is a high probability that there will be no problem finding a place that will provide these attractions. An additional advantage will be the opportunity to meet new people with similar interests, with whom you will be able to exchange experiences and sit by the winter campfire.

Christmas Eve traditions in Poland - see the 5 most common Christmas Eve customs

 Christmas is associated with various customs and superstitions. Christmas Eve customs in Poland have a long tradition. Some are older than the Christian tradition. Many of them have more than one meaning. Even for those who do not believe in Christmas Eve traditions, knowing about them can be an interesting addition to the annual Christmas celebrations.

Polish Christmas traditions have been developing since the time of the adaptation of Christianity in our country. Interestingly, some customs and superstitions are even older. All the people of ancient Europe celebrated festivals related to the winter solstice. For people whose lives depended on the rhythm of nature, a very important time of the year was the period when daylight began to come back. Christmas was established on the ancient day of the victory of light over darkness. The Slavs called their holiday Bountiful God or Kolęda. It was probably already then that hay was placed under the plates and divination was made from straws, bread was shared and joyful carols were sung. On this day, on the border of autumn and winter, it was also believed that the passage between the world of the living and the dead was opening. Special dishes were prepared for the spirits associated with the family.

Pagan customs were superimposed on the Christian tradition, which Poles partly share with Christians around the world. Many Polish Christmas traditions, however, are celebrated locally or differently than in other countries.

Describing Christmas Eve traditions, we will mainly talk about the most popular typically Polish customs. Although today we cannot imagine Christmas without a Christmas tree, tuning the whole tree is a late custom adopted from Germany. Instead, we will talk about sharing the wafer or leaving extra space at the table, which is typical for Poland.

12 dishes

Christmas Eve dishes in Poland are fasting, which means they do not contain meat. Although an important element of Christmas dinner is fish. Nowadays, the most popular fish for Christmas Eve is carp. However, this is a recent tradition from the times of the People's Republic of Poland. Previously, these were often river fish, e.g. pike or trout, which were easily available throughout the country. Sea cod or salmon were also prepared as exquisite fish on Christmas Eve.

The key element of Christmas Eve dishes was and still are dishes made from grain plants. Grains of beans, peas, groats, or hemp in the traditional hemp soup were supposed to ensure abundance throughout the year. To this day, you can meet the term "cash for money". A similar role was played by poppy seeds, added to bread and Christmas sweets.

One of the popular superstitions is also the association of poppy seeds with fertility.

Dumplings should be among the dishes. Although they do not have the same symbolism, stuffed mushrooms and cabbage symbolize the rebirth of life, and strength, as well as contact with the world of the dead.

Hay under the tablecloth

A bit of hay must not be missing under the tablecloth or under the plates. It is one of the most typical Christmas Eve customs in Poland. It has several meanings. In a more Christian version, it refers to the birth of Jesus in a stable. However, the symbolism of hay under the tablecloth dates back to pagan times and is associated with pulling out straws. They were supposed to show whether the coming year would be successful. To this day, this custom is cultivated in some regions of Poland. Putting hay under the tablecloth thus combined the pagan symbolism of abundance and the Christian symbolism of Jesus' poverty.

Extra space at the table

During Polish Christmas, there should be no shortage of additional covers. This custom has been explained in several ways. It is most likely associated with the spirits of the ancestors, who are invited to dinner. This allows them to enjoy Christmas Eve dishes without having to organize a separate feast on the grave (which was also a popular custom). Another translation is related to the tradition from the time of the January Uprising. Some explain it more religiously - it is a place for Baby Jesus, whose family did not find a place in the Bethlehem inn.

Sharing the wafer

This is one of the oldest Polish Christmas traditions. It was probably founded in the 10th century. It is also known in Lithuania and Slovakia. The wafer symbolizes family unity, sometimes extended to include pets. It is also a symbol of friendship and love. An important element of the custom is making wishes while sharing the wafer.

caroling

Singing New Year's songs has been known since antiquity. Today, carolling is most often practiced between Christmas and New Year's. Apart from singing, it is also a tradition to dress up as traditional characters (Turoń, Gwiazda). It is associated with superstitions regarding prosperity and fertility in the new year.

Christmas in Poland and around the world

Christmas Eve traditions look very different in different parts of the world. Thanks to the popularity of Hollywood movies, we know those from the USA well. In Protestant homes, roast pork or turkey is served instead of fish on Christmas Eve. Burning pudding is also a popular dish in England.

One of the interesting customs is the Mexican Posada, which is a procession held throughout the week before Christmas Eve. It symbolizes the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Similar customs can be found in other Latin American countries.

If someone is tired of all-day fasting as one of the Christmas Eve customs in Poland, we can say for consolation that some Armenians go on hunger strikes for the whole week before Christmas. After such a fast, they must slowly accustom their stomach to food.

Christmas Eve traditions in Poland reflect the rich history and culture of our country. Even if we do not intend to practice all of them, it is worth knowing their history and meaning.

The peak of the Geminid meteor shower tonight 14/12/2022

 The Geminid shower, one of the most powerful meteor showers of the year, will peak tonight. Astronomers expect up to 150 "shooting stars" per hour, but the bright Moon will interfere with observations.

The Geminids are one of the most powerful annual meteor showers that occur from December 4 to 17 with peak activity on the night of December 14. According to the forecasts of the International Meteor Organization, up to 150 meteors are expected per hour.

The meteor emission region (radiant) will be located near the star Castor in the constellation Gemini. First of all, it will rise above the horizon around two in the morning, so it is better to start observations after midnight. In northern latitudes, the radiant will be above the horizon in the early evening.

Due to the position of the Earth in space, the swarm will catch up with our planet, which is why the speed of the meteors will be low - about 35 km/s. White and bright meteors can fall very often, but this year the moonlight will interfere with observations. The conditions for observing Geminids in 2022 are not favorable. The moon is nearing its last quarter and will be interfering with meteor watching.

Unlike most other meteor showers, the progenitor of the Geminids is not a comet, but an object discovered in 1983 and named 3200 Phaethon. Astronomers call it an intermediate object, which is a cross between asteroids and comets.

Robert Wójtowicz – were the priests involved in the student's disappearance?

 January 20, 1995 seemed like an ordinary day. In retrospect, however, it can be said that he turned the lives of Robert Wójtowicz's relatives upside down. A 23-year-old man left the house around noon to take out the garbage for a while. He was then last seen by one of the neighbors.

In the sources on this case, it is often mentioned that Robert was then supposed to go to lectures at his university, i.e. the Jagiellonian University. It is worth adding, however, that the psychology student not only did not appear on them. He also missed classes that started at 10:00. This is interesting because he was always a very diligent and punctual student.

The Wójtowicz family was an ordinary loving family from Kraków. The couple had three children - a daughter and two sons. The head of the family, Lech, left to find bread in Russia. The man worked in Magnitogorsk and earned much better than in his native country. Due to the distance between them, members of the Wójtowicz family rarely had the opportunity to spend time together. However, they remained in contact by letter and telephone.

Lech, who worked in Russia, planned to return to Poland for some time. His wife and daughter worked, and the son studied at one of the best universities in the country. Everything seemed to be heading in the best direction until the ill-fated January day.

The concerned family wanted to report Robert's disappearance to the local police. The officers, however, did not care much about the case. They said they had to wait 48 hours. The distraught student's mother called her husband. The man decided to return home as soon as possible to help in the search and support the others.

Investigators finally began to investigate the disappearance of a young student. At the beginning, a scenario was checked, which assumed that the missing man joined the sect. In the 1990s, a record number of suspicious religious associations actually operated in Poland. The spiritual and relatively lonely boy could become an easy target for the sect's leaders. Additionally, spirituality was very important to Robert. The man was also interested in religions in general and even in the paranormal. However, no evidence has been found to support this theory.

The investigators also considered that the psychology student might have consciously cut himself off from his previous life and started a new one completely somewhere else. The relatives agreed, however, that the man was very attached to his family members, with whom he got along well. While escape is a fairly common cause of disappearances, in this case it seemed rather unrealistic.

One of the main investigative theories from the beginning was suicide. Robert's family strongly denied such a possibility. The 23-year-old was very devout and attended church regularly. He was also active in academic chaplaincy. As you know, taking one's own life according to the Catholic faith is a very serious sin that a man would not commit according to his relatives.

The Wójtowicz family also claimed that Robert had no reason to decide to commit suicide. Admittedly, opinions are divided here. The boy didn't have a girlfriend or many friends. He spent most of his time alone or in the company of his family, with whom he was very close. On the other hand, that was the character. He was said to be extremely serious and mature, far beyond his age.

It is also worth adding that Robert used to live away from his family in the past. He graduated from the Aviation High School in Dęblin, and then studied for three semesters at the Military Medical Academy in Łódź. However, he missed home, so he decided to return to his hometown of Krakow.

It cannot be ruled out that the 23-year-old suffered from depression or depressive states, but it has never been confirmed. However, it should be remembered that relatives almost always rule out the suicide of a missing person or a person who died in unexplained circumstances. Family members in similar cases also often claim that she did not have major problems from which she would like to escape. In reality, however, it is sometimes different.

Of course, there was another possibility - that Robert had been abducted or murdered. At first, investigators thought this was an unlikely hypothesis. In the context of the information that came to light many years later, this scenario suddenly turned out to be very likely.

In the course of the journalistic investigation, it turned out that priests from the Archdiocese of Krakow could be related to the disappearance. Father Adam's behavior was particularly suspicious. The curate was then the guardian of the pastoral ministry to which Robert belonged. The psychology student spent a lot of time with the priest. Wójtowicz was also supposed to visit a priest in his apartment.

After the disappearance of the 23-year-old curate, he was very depressed and behaved strangely. The priest also started to drink alcohol. He reportedly had the biggest alcohol problems when the round anniversary of Robert's disappearance was approaching. On the occasion of a journalistic confrontation, Father Adam's brother, Andrzej, became very nervous while talking about Wójtowicz. He started screaming that the two of them had killed him, wrapped his body in a carpet, put it in a car and taken it away. Then he added that he was only joking. You have to admit, it's a very specific sense of humor...

Priests were also examined using a polygraph. The results indicated that male involvement in the student's disappearance was very likely. Interesting information was also to be revealed during the trip to Malta. It took place in 2018 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the priestly ordination. Two priests were to admit that Robert died, and they know exactly what happened to him.

After the publication of an article from 2018, which contained new information about the disappearance of Wójtowicz, the investigation was resumed. The District Prosecutor's Office in Kraków became interested in new leads and wanted to verify them. Several more years have passed since then. Although it seems that we are close to knowing the whole truth, the investigation is officially still ongoing. Let's hope that it will be possible to determine what happened to Robert Wójtowicz, and those responsible for his disappearance will be punished.

INTERESTING: DOES A HUMAN COME FROM ANOTHER WORLD!?

 You have probably noticed that human life on this planet is a lot of challenges and hardships that we have not dealt with as a civilization to this day. And there are many indications that our technical advancement, which we have made since the beginning of the agricultural age, may even harm us.

Below I will list the anatomical and psychological features of man, which prove that he is not adapted to this planet, and the local environment is simply harmful to him.

1 ️The subconscious and the entire human psychology seem to be adapted to the realities of the hunter-gatherer "Eden", matriarchal, anti-hierarchical, and polygamous at the start. Currently, already in fetal life, various injuries and traumas accumulate in the human psyche, and further life after childbirth is a massacre.

There is what I have called "cognitive desynchronization." The human personality is divided (fragmented). In the so-called "mentally healthy" people, this is a division into left-hemisphere (male) and right-hemisphere (female) functions. For those who are labeled "mentally disturbed," the fragmentation of the personality goes on and on. In the optimistic version, this causes a constant dissonance between, for example, aggression and empathy, willingness to compete or willingness to cooperate, and so on.

It is important to remember that the subconscious, as a result of the process of "cognitive desynchronization", becomes a storehouse of traumatization and wounds. As a result, it begins to interact with the information field called the "collective unconscious" in an incorrect way. All mechanisms described by esotericists as karma, the law of attraction, and Hellingerisms - in consequence, bring life disasters to such traumatized, demented, oversensitive and introverted individuals.

After all, go-getting, neurotypical extroverts (in the negative version - demonic psychopaths, in the neutral version - the county casanova, in the positive version - the feisty leader of a charity foundation) go through life like a steamroller and somehow they don't have these constant problems, strange cases, constant bad coincidences, etc.

2 ️⃣ Human diet. Nightmare of nightmares. The Internet is literally bursting at the seams with fierce fanatics and apostles of various diets. Fat and meat, keto, gluten-free, veganism, raw food, paleo, up to the complete extreme, i.e. complete cessation of eating - i.e. the so-called breatharianism.

Well, there is irrefutable scientific evidence that the human body is damaged in various ways and in various ways by-products such as:

🔴 Meat (rotting in the intestines, causes cancer and other diseases).

🔴 Milk, cheese, and milk products (lactose and casein are not recognized and digested by our body at all, anyway milk is not intended not only for the human species but even for adult cows. Only small calves can drink it. hypnotics and brain-stunning casomorphin).

🔴 Cereal gluten, but not only. Also various other gliadins and prolamins from groats, barley, oats, corn, and all other grain-like plants. Together with the ingredients of dairy products, they cause inflammation in the body and the immune system attacks its own tissues - Hashimoto's and many, many others).

🔴 Sugar. Industrial isolated crap, total disaster. But various other carbohydrates from potatoes, groats, and oats are also not very friendly to us. Sweet fruits such as apples are also not really intended to serve us.

🔴 Spinach, broccoli, beets, nuts, seeds, grains, lentils, soybeans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower. They contain so-called anti-nutrients (lectins, oxalates, phytins, NSN). They prevent digestion and absorption of substances from food. They also cause other damage to the body.

🔴 Coffee, tea, alk0hol, p@pierosy - it's best not to touch it, even through a tight suit and through the packaging from the market...!

🔴 Raw vegetables, and raw fruits - contain anti-nutrients, because almost every plant wants to defend itself against herbivorous animals. In addition, they contain numerous parasite embryos, including even those unknown to parasitology (i.e. the science of parasites) (sic!). It's a total nightmare.

🔴 After dinner, do you have a strong reflex to drink, for example, a glass of water? It's natural to want to drink after eating. But did you know that you shouldn't do that because you dilute the digestive juices and it is very harmful to the body, emptying the intestines!?

➡️ SO EVERYTHING HARMS US!

Now just wrap yourself in the carpet and start crawling towards the Sematary. And how to live here? Seriously, over the years, I've come across various inspired apostles of all possible diets and nutritional approaches, who, with conviction worthy of the highest cause, told me what I have described above.

Similarly, since 2009, I have come into contact with various ideologies, religions, and spiritual doctrines. And let me tell you that now I have distance from all this. I drink coffee. Alcohol 3-4 times a month max. I eat gluten and cheese. I have a huge distance from esotericism and I often score and check these doctrines. But still important to me are vegetarianism, natural methods, vitamins, iodine (200 - 400 mcg/day), as well as spirituality in a strict, mathematical, Gnostic fashion. 🙂

3 ️⃣ Spine. Legends can be written about it. If you got a prescription for tr@madol and you don't have to torture your stomach with 200 mg of diclofen@ku or 2500 mg of asp1rin, you are very lucky in Poland. Those who are already at a certain advanced age and suffer from major problems with the spine, know what I am talking about. So are the knee joints, which also often break down. The reason for this is that we are not adapted to the earth's gravity, which is too strong for us.

4 ️⃣ Radiation of the sun. Our star emits a whole spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, which is especially strong during solar storms. They also include what we call radioactive contamination - X-rays and gamma rays.

Microwave radiation, which is toxic to us, is also important. Yes, exactly - the sun is simply poisoning us! And these ingredients, against which there is no strong enough protection on Earth, cause extreme acceleration of the aging of the body and shorten the lifespan to a maximum of 70 - 120 years.

Yes, remember that! The sun is the first and most important poisoner in our world. It gives life (visible light, heat), but also quickly takes it away (microwaves, X-rays, gamma).

5 ️⃣ We need to protect ourselves from heat as well as from cold, we don't have natural protection like animals. We will die quickly both in the full sun in Spain in July and in the cold and rain in November in Poland. We are also affected by rain and excessive drought.

I do not have to add that the high humidity and stuffiness typical of the tropics are also not very good for us. So we protect ourselves with shoes, long johns, socks, panties, shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, etc. Plus a shelter (a flat surrounded by windows) of course with protection against heat (roof and shade) and against cold (insulation, heating, sealed windows and walls).

What animal in nature uses such protection measures? Well, you guessed it - none, except for a human.

➡️ So ladies and gentlemen, all these and other examples not mentioned in this article make up an interesting image of a man "out of this Earth" (from another planet?), or a man as an unfinished project, a faulty project or an artificial creation (manipulations genetic?)

And what do you think about it? What is your opinion? I invite you to comment and discuss. 🙂

DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE POWER TURNS OFF!?

 So far, we know power outages either from the 1980s, when, compared to today, few devices and systems required electricity or from breaks lasting several minutes or several hours, which are rare anyway.

The entire civilization depends on electricity and few people realize how much. The effects of the interruption of a chemical plant producing nitrogen fertilizers, when no alternative means of cooling the equipment can be found, may resemble the explosion of a small atomic bomb. Of course, it's not about the power of the explosion, but about air contamination with a cloud of poisonous ammonia and other gases. On the other hand, if the so-called Carrington event, i.e. a strong explosion on the Sun, happened today, it would result in burning out all electrical devices on Earth, shifting civilization back to the Middle Ages and the death of an unimaginably large number of people.

Szczecin experienced this for several days in 2010, when the main transmission cable from the Dolna Odra power plant was damaged. Lack of light, broken contents of refrigerators, weakening mobile phone coverage, chaos in the streets, increasing nervousness of people - this was a foretaste of what may happen this winter. In the city of Police, the entire staff of the SPPK Police bus depot was put on standby in the event of a disaster in the nearby chemical plant and the need to evacuate people. In this enterprise, they bent on their heads to ensure the uninterrupted operation of power generators and prevent a tragedy.

➡️I invite you now to read the article below about what other effects a blackout can bring.

➡️ When the lights go out, when the electricity is turned off:

Quote:

“As I have been dealing with electricity for over three decades, I have also touched my life with the times when "failures" of electricity were not something strange, but even quite normal and candles were always ready in the kitchen. In addition, I lived for several years in a country where power outages are still normal, so I know a little about what to expect in such situations and I will try to shed some light on this topic. 😉

Not that I'm scaring, of course, because that's what the media and other flashing boxes are known for, which were already scaring with flying balls with teeth and spikes, or other clouds, something from the radio, or the radio and it was supposed to be active. Just treat this post more as informative.

Because if you think about it for a moment: what if ... the next fejkiem will be a shortage of electricity and people will turn off the "prunt"?

➡️ So what awaits us when the light goes out?

When the electricity goes out for several hundred minutes, it can be said that not much will happen. Most devices that require continuity of power have UPSs. Today, elevators in new buildings also have devices that, based on a battery pack, allow you to safely stop on the nearest floor and open the door in an emergency so that no one gets stuck between floors. I once installed something like this in one hotel.

Apart from the lack of light, televisions, refrigerators, etc., not much will change. At home, most will light candles after finding them with a phone flashlight, or another flashlight in the evening, and wait for the "light" to return. There will also be no emergency lighting in companies, institutions, streets, hospitals, etc.

But the most important thing is to stay calm anyway ... When the electricity goes out for a longer time, a few hours or days, then more problems will start to pour out. Most of the UPS will discharge, the generators will also turn off if there is no more fuel.

➡️ What else can we expect?

In most cases, there will be no water in the taps (houses, companies, institutions, public buildings - hospitals), there will be no sewage system, no furnaces (heating) that need access to the power grid to operate (if the furnace works, the pump is still the issue) ).

Also, the traffic lights will not work, and this means a threat on the roads in the current brainless times. Well, there are no lights, how to get here?

After a few hours, the mobile network will stop working, including the Internet.

Radio stations are unlikely to have aggregates, so they will also stop working. Maybe few have, or at least larger UPS, but rather to safely turn off everything. But maybe some have aggregated. I do not know. And of course, the population would have to have battery-powered radios to pick up the signal, if any.

The same goes for TV stations.

➡️ Agriculture, industry.

The animals will be at risk. Automatic feeding, watering, milking, etc. equipment will stop. If this continues for several days, we have a terrible disaster for livestock.

Egg incubators will not function, and chicks will never hatch. And this is another huge loss and, consequently, a problem.

Without electricity, no refrigerators or freezers will work, millions of such devices will stop working and cooling, and after a few days, thousands of tons of meat, cheese, milk, and other products will spoil.

➡️ Trade

You will not be able to make purchases both in stationary and online stores. Maybe only in small, local ones, but for how long? And of course, cash only. Anyone with plastic in their wallet will have a problem. Unless they eat it.

Gas stations will become useless, without electricity, fuel will not be able to be pumped. After a short time, the fuel will start to run out for those who are on the move.

➡️ It's safe to say that all trade, industry, and everything based on the operation of some system will stop. For example, couriers will not deliver anything, all services, and workshops will also have a forced break. Unless they have generators. But this does not ensure long-term work.

Factories and production lines will stop, and there will be many cases of disasters or fires because the safety devices will not function.

Of course, banks and ATMs will also not work, there will be no transfers or withdrawals. All virtual money will cease to have any meaning during a power outage.

And how long will they function and how will all services be? That is, those who are intended to serve the nation, or at least they should, such as the police, army, guards, etc. What about prisons? How long can such places function without electricity?

➡️ There is still a question of the time of day, year, etc.

If there is no electricity in the spring or autumn, the losses will be smaller. But in the hot summer, no air conditioning will work, although it's not a tragedy yet, because people used to live without it, but everything in cold stores and fridges will break down much faster. In winter, nowadays, when all stoves have electronic controllers, they will become completely useless. Only those stoves, most of which have just been recently disposed of due to global warming, would heat properly. But finally, it's worth mentioning the possible problems that may occur when electricity is suddenly restored.

Many of us know the problem with starting the refrigerator from the inverter, right? Well, good example. The refrigerator at the start consumes for a fraction of second many times more current to start. Now imagine that thousands of refrigerators will be launched at once, literally with one switch. And apart from refrigerators, all the lights left on, hungry, discharged devices, etc. Millions of devices. And how many heaters if it's winter? And how many of you would be out and about in the dark and leave something on in the garage, basement, etc.? What if it causes a fire?"

➡️ Author: Toscanner

Is Rh-negative blood our extraterrestrial heritage?

 Many ancient texts claim that humanity is the result of a genetic mutation that intelligent beings from outer space created with prehistoric humans. Ancient Sumerian researcher Zechariah Sitchin, who had a huge impact on ancient astronaut theories, believes that an advanced race of intelligent beings came to Earth 450,000 years ago in the Neanderthal era and genetically engineered modern humans. Moreover, another theory that could support Sitchin's claims is the mystery of Rh-negative blood that connects people to alien ancestry.

If humanity descended from the same African ancestor, all human blood would be compatible, but it is not. Where did Rh-negative people come from? Why does a Rh-negative mother carrying a Rh-positive baby try to reject her offspring? Could it be that humanity is not a single race, but a hybrid species.

The population with the highest density of the Rh-negative blood group is located between the border of Spain and France in the Pyrenees mountain range. The people of this isolated region are known as the Basques and have long baffled anthropologists and historians. The language spoken by part of this territory is unrelated to any other in this part of the world. As many as 35% of the Basques have a Rh-negative blood type, which is the least susceptible to mutations or interactions with other blood types.

There are 8 most common blood types (A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, AB-); The classification is based on proteins found on the surface of cells, which are mainly designed to wage war against bacteria and viruses in the human body. About 85% of people in the world are Rh-positive and there is no problem getting blood from positive or negative donors.

The question of whether Rh-negative blood is a mutation or not is a controversial topic among researchers. If it's a mutation, then why are people with Rh-negative blood known to have extra vertebrae? This, like blood type, is scientifically explained as a mutation. However, according to modern DNA sequencing, it has been proven that humanity is not just one race descended from one ancestor in Africa, but a hybridized species behind which lies a much more mysterious truth.

The fact is that if the mother is Rh-negative, her immune system perceives the Rh-positive fetal cells as a foreign substance. The mother's body produces antibodies against the fetal blood cells. These antibodies can cross the placenta back to the developing baby. They destroy the baby's circulating red blood cells. This suggests that somewhere in our ancestors, Rh-negative and Rh-positive are perceived as profoundly different.

Rh-negative rhesus is very rare. It was not spread worldwide until the beginning of colonization in the 15th century. Rh-negative did not exist in the Americas, South Africa and Asia. Was only in Europe. According to scientists, modern man originated in Africa at least 250,000 to 300,000 years ago. All of them are Rh-positive. They don't have a single Rh negative factor, so where did that come from?

Proponents of the ancient alien theory assume that there were highly developed civilizations on Earth before us, which were destroyed by some great global catastrophe, as history mysteriously tells us. Could an Rh-negative blood type be evidence of a very different pre-human evolution than what the history books make us believe? Can it serve as irrefutable evidence of extraterrestrial intervention in the distant past? But if so, have experiments with sentient hominids ended or are they still ongoing?

Indeed, it is among the Basques of France and Spain that we find the strange predominance of one human blood type, known as Rh-negative. The use of Rh here means "rhesus" because the origin of the blood type was determined by a common factor that is shared by humans and rhesus monkeys. The most common manifestation of Rh blood in humans is Rh positive blood. By studying the common factors between blood types, for example, in humans and rhesus monkeys, it becomes clear, with respect to the genetic information present here, that at some point in our ancient past, humans must have shared a common ancestor with this species.

Many believe that Rh negative blood is a legacy that our Anunnaki creators, among others, left on Earth.

British physicist Melvin Vopson has proposed a way to find out if we are living in a computer simulation

 By now, most people have heard of "simulation theory" that we live in an advanced virtual world - but one theoretical physicist now says he not only has a way to test the concept, but is raising community funds to make it a reality. Dr Melvin Vopson, a British scientist at the University of Portsmouth, has come up with a new method of checking whether our universe is a computer simulation. Its approach is based on the achievements of information physics.

Vopson notes that he was prompted to create a new method by the theory of the American physicist Landauer, who in 1961 formulated the principle that digital information should be considered a special form of physical matter. One of the main theoretical consequences of Landauer's principle is the rejection of the understanding of space-time and matter as the fundamental foundations of the world. In their place is a bit of information from which, as researchers of this theory, our perception of other physical phenomena is derived.

In an essay for The Conversation, Melvin Vopson laid out the theory of his simulation test, which is based on the assumption that "a simulated universe would contain many bits of information everywhere" and that these bits "represent a code". "Therefore," Vopson wrote, "the detection of these bits of information will confirm the simulation hypothesis."

Based on his recently proposed "mass-energy-information (M/E/I) equivalence principle", which suggests that "mass can be expressed as energy or information or vice versa", the physicist believes that bits of information would have little mass. He adds that if the mass of these bits could be found, theoretically the bits themselves could be detected.

Consistent with the M/E/I theory, Vopson suggested that information could be considered the fifth form of matter in the universe after solids, liquids, gases, and plasma. The resulting experiment makes a beautiful, if somewhat complicated, sense. The experiment is designed to erase the information contained in elementary particles by allowing them and their antiparticles (all particles have "anti" versions of themselves that are identical but have the opposite charge) to annihilate in a burst of energy by emitting photons, or particles of light.

Vopson wants to show that information bits exist by inserting the particles that contain them into their opposites, causing them to explode and emitting releasing photons. To do so, as Vopson wrote on his website, the physicist wants to "build a workshop positron-electron annihilation system" containing "custom components that will allow the simultaneous detection of gamma and [infrared] photons."

So far, the campaign has only raised about $1,000 from the approximately $219,000 goal. Nevertheless, it is exciting that someone is finally going to test the "simulation" theory - though it is not known what will come of it.

Just moved out from one of the worst landlord

I lived with my previous landlord for almost 8 years (1 month short to 8 years). It wasn't best to start with. But it wasn't worst. Fact that housing officer of the company pocketed money we payed for a first week rent was a sign. But at the time that was only one place Me and my partner could rent at the time. We needed places quick.

Around 6 months later things start showing more. Like people who work for the company who call themselves landlord and rent crappy properties to people started trying to get in to our flat with their own key. But we had signs they might not use it when we at work. 

A year after moving in it was only getting slowly worse. Trying to refuse or delaying repairs. Example, toilet handle to a toilet keep breaks and according to them you no need it. bucket will do boiler brakes down you don't have money on a meter and when you tell them you have according to them you no need immediate repair because you no need heating or hot water? Why you need to clean yourself or have heating in a winter? Right?

Window in a kitchen refuse to shut, doesn't matter it rains or snow, you need fresh air... Cracks on a wall, because pipes leaking or mould problem you imagine it it doesn't exist. 

They lost with one of the neighbour in a court who lived in a flat downstairs due to not doing repairs god enough. He had a leak cause buy wrong maintain pipes etc. With the winning money he moved out. Since June after he moved out they started covering up problems like leaks and mould in his flat and they wanted do our bathroom while we there and leave us without bathroom for weeks claiming that they can put new bath, toilet sink and walls and heating etc new whole bathroom in 4 days while flat down stairs it took them around 3-4 weeks and leave us without bathroom facilities.

Subcontractor who suppose to do it is related to a housing officer. According to subcontractor and housing officer Main landlord office bully them to rush it but when we sign out tenancy with them office said that according to housing officer we requested new bathroom. We never did but even for us to agree they still need to provide alternative facilities. Also, subcontractor was following us and stock us since mid June. Where and when we went he was there bully us to let him do a "new" bathroom.

According to asbestos testing when housing officer requested with subcontractor apparently they asked him to check whole flat for asbestos because they wanted re-do whole flat while we live there...

By the way the company already have an asbestos scandal, lots of mouldy unliveable properties on their name.

Their properties are overcrowded. They don't see a problem with that. Same as they don't have a problem with having people, some on drugs and alcoholics who just go round car park or share laundrette (where washing machines do not work most times) and trying start fight and threat people to stab them or try to start a fight. That is perfectly fine for them. For some reasons. But asking them to do repair isn't fine.

Also, in a last months we caught them using our flat and stuff and food and drinks for their workers personal use. They stole some of our stuff. Seems like their workers don't get pay enough or they just greedy. Saw some of their workers claim universal credit benefits jobseekers part. So they don't work enough hours or they pay them of the books and don't work officially in company and officially claim benefits. And it is bad for a company big like that.

When you leave bad review about them on an internet they try to take it down and silent how bad they are.

Staff mostly rude to tenants. Some of them aggressive and abusive. Online you can find a lot of accusations towards them that they are racist, ageist or against disable people. Yet they buying out care homes....!!!!

Before We moved out they started do repair on my and next door block of flats and it just make leak worse to a point couldn't take my bed sofa and table with us. All get wet and mouldy. Because of their treatment, disrepair and getting to our flat this cause my cooker get broken.

They are also really expansive. They charge around £90 per week just for bed sit!!!

Stay with them for 8 years. 7.5 year far too long. If I need a repair they try find a reason not to do. Also if they want to do something they will knock on your door at any time a day or a night. They DO NOT book appointments with you. DO NOT CARE about personal space etc. Housing Officer from Lower Gornal area is one of worst worker. Rude, horrible. Loves argue and harass tenants on a daily basis. Didn't care book any appointments on long enough notice saying that your work, health or bereavement isn't important she doesn't care and using that is abrasive towards her. They really drain your pocket, mental and physical health. Roof is in bad state. They put scaffolding which made roof leaking even more. Also, according to housing officer when they want do improvements to your bathroom they come any time, they don't care for permission or anything. Also, they think that you no need have a toilet or a bathroom at all. Also, housing officer is possible related to one of sub-contractors and they love stalk tenants, come over at night to knock on a door for non existent emergency, take pictures of a property and they stole some of my stuff, use my drinks and food when I am not home. They expect you are home for them 24/7 but if you need anything in emergency for you they do not have time or staff. Also, housing officer favourite tenants are the one who take drugs, threat people etc. Housing officer there treat her tenants like garbage. Many times come at night. In their eyes its always tenants fault You need share communal washeteria. Washing machine never work and they refuse to repair.

When neighbour downstairs called for leak they were coming to our flat like 11 pm or 12 pm take picture and saying we all imagine problems. They thought we called for a repair when it was neighbour downstairs and telling us their is no problem when of course it was because guy won in court and moved out.

Seems like on trust pilot even their own staff complain about staff above them. Which is really bad sign. I was planning move in 2 years but lockdown happen so it slow us down to move.

50 things to throw when moving

 If you're going to move, you don't want to take everything with you. It can be hard and costly. At the same time, resist the temptation to throw everything away. Even if your belongings don't have to travel with you, that doesn't mean their life is over. Sell ​​or donate your items whenever you can.

Be honest with yourself: you have things that were no longer useful when Rachel's haircut was still in style. Now that you're moving, it's time to reassess. Get rid of things that are actually garbage. Recycle or bring other things home whenever you can.

1. Clothes that don't fit

2. Shoes you once wore and then put in the trash

3. Outdated electronics like old phones or VHS players

4. Posters bought in college

5. Expired food

6. Expired medications

7. Expired makeup

8. Stray Cords

9. Irrelevant Documents - I shortened it

10. Worn bedding and towels

11. Shower curtains - these can get gross, get a new one

12. User Manuals

13. Tax returns - shred and store an electronic copy in the cloud

14. Old Bills and New Bills

If you're like me, you don't realize you have enough office supplies, so you buy them over and over again. The same can be said for a lot of the things we seem to accumulate, especially when we live somewhere for a while. Moving is a great time to take stock of what you have. Sell, give or give away your surplus for someone else to use.

15. Denmark

16. Cookware

17. Glasses and mugs

18. Stained or mismatched containers

19. Spices, especially those you bought a decade ago

20. Clips, twists, trinkets and ends

21. Basically your entire garbage drawer

22. Towels that don't fit or have discoloration

23. Tools you've never used (and have no plans to use)

24. Additional vases or trinkets

25. Water bottles

26. Think - and you only need a few

27. Office supplies

28. More than two sets of sheets

29. Unused blankets or duvets

30. Excess baggage - and You only need three pieces per person at most

31. Chargers and other miscellaneous electronics

If you haven't seen your belongings in years, it may be time to reassess your relationship with them.

32. Books you've had for years and never read - take them to the library instead

33. Old magazines

34. Outdated formats like VHS, cassette tapes or CDs (if you don't use them)

35. Devices and gadgets you don't use

36. Christmas decorations that stay in stock - even on holidays

37. Toys or games your children have outgrown

38. Unused serving dishes

39. Big: Kirsten Fisher, a professional organizer, officially gives you permission to get rid of gifts you hate but avoid feeling guilty

40. Baby equipment, especially if you don't plan on getting another one

41. Broken things that cannot be easily fixed

42. Old greeting cards

43. Clothes that don't look good on you

Odds are your new dig will be different from the old one. In some circumstances, this can change what you should bring, what you'll use, and even what might fit.

Donate anything you won't use in your new place, advises Eileen Roth, author of Organizing for Mannequins. For example, if you are moving to a warm climate and no longer need a snow shovel or sled, donate them. Keep that winter coat and pair of boots in case you come back for a visit. If you're moving into an apartment, you probably won't need gardening tools or a hose. If you now have a pool and your new place doesn't, you can probably get rid of the pool toys.

Also use this time to clean out the things you want to replace: My main advice is to get rid of any heavy and bulky items you don't like, says Ali Wenzke, author of The Art of Happy Moving: How to Clean Up, Pack Up, and Start Over While Staying Sane and finding happiness. Consider how much it will cost you to pack, move and unpack in a new place. Would it be easier and cheaper to sell an item or pass it on and then buy it again if you really missed it?

44. Filters for the current AC unit

45. Lighting made especially for your current luminaires

46. ​​​​Curtains

47. DIY decorative items such as flooring, wallpaper, tiles and paints

48. Dining set

49. Bedroom set

50. Sectional furniture