10/24/12

What’s All This About Birthstones?

      I have often wondered about birthstones, as they appear to be arbitrarily chosen and changed ever so often. While browsing the web I came across some interesting information that I retrieved from www.wikipedia.com that indicated the use of birthstones for many centuries, and is connected to the Gregorian Calendar.  As was not surprising, the use of birthstones is tied to myth and lore, yet I wanted to share some of what I found as it includes poetry. I have had 3 different birthstones since I was born as they keep changing. Enjoy!!!

 

 

Birthstone Chart Many Decades Ago

 

 Picture Credits: bloggers.com

 

Traditional Birthstones

 

Ancient traditional birthstones are society-based birthstones. The table below contains many stones which are popular choices, often reflecting Polish tradition.[10]

 

The Gregorian calendar has poems matching each month with its birthstone. These are traditional stones of English-speaking societies. Tiffany & Co. published these poems “of unknown author” for the first time in a pamphlet in 1870.[11]

 

 

 

By her who in this month (January) is born

No gem save garnets should be worn;

They will ensure her constancy,

True friendship, and fidelity.

 

The February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they an amethyst will wear.

 

Who in this world of ours their eyes
In March first open shall be wise,
In days of peril firm and brave,
And wear a bloodstone to their grave.

 

She who from April dates her years,
Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow; this stone,
Emblem of innocence, is known.

 

Who first beholds the light of day
In spring’s sweet flowery month of May
And wears an emerald all her life
Shall be a loved and happy wife.

 

Who comes with summer to this earth,
And owes to June her hour of birth,
With ring of agate on her hand
Can health, wealth, and long life command.

 

 

The glowing ruby shall adorn,
Those who in July are born;
Then they’ll be exempt and free
From love’s doubts and anxiety.

 

Wear a sardonyx or for thee,
No conjugal felicity;
The August-born without this stone,
`Tis said, must live unloved and lone.

 

A maiden born when September leaves
Are rustling in September’s breeze,
A sapphire on her brow should bind
`Twill cure diseases of the mind.

 

October’s child is born for woe,
And life’s vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,
And hope will lull those woes to rest.

 

Who first comes to this world below
With drear November’s fog and snow,
Should prize the topaz‘s amber hue,
Emblem of friends and lovers true.

 

If cold December gave you birth,
The month of snow and ice and mirth,
Place on your hand a turquoise blue;
Success will bless whate’er you do.

—Gregorian Birthstone Poems

 

 

 Modern Birthstones

 

 

In 1912, in an effort to standardize birthstones, the (American) National Association of Jewelers met in Kansas and officially adopted a list.[12] The Jewelry Industry Council of America updated the list in 1952[13] by adding alexandrite to June and citrine to November; specifying pink tourmaline for October; replacing December’s lapis with zircon; and switching the primary/alternate gems in March. The most recent change occurred in October of 2002, with the addition of tanzanite as a December birthstone.[14][15] Britain’s National Association of Goldsmiths created their own standardized list of birthstones in 1937.[16]

 

 

Birthstones by Cultures

 

Month

15th- 20th century[18]

U.S. (1912)[19]

U.S. (2012)[20]

Britain (2012)[21]

Hindu[22]

January

garnet

garnet

garnet

garnet

serpent stone

February

amethyst, hyacinth, pearl

amethyst

amethyst

amethyst

chandrakanta

March

bloodstone, jasper

bloodstone, aquamarine

aquamarine, bloodstone

aquamarine, bloodstone

Gold Siva-linga

April

diamond, sapphire

diamond

diamond

diamond, rock crystal

diamond

May

emerald, agate

emerald

emerald

emerald, chrysoprase

emerald

June

cat’s eye, turquoise, agate

pearl, moonstone

pearl, moonstone, alexandrite

pearl, moonstone

pearl

July

turquoise, onyx

ruby

ruby

ruby, cornelian

sapphire

August

sardonyx, carnelian, moonstone, topaz

sardonyx, peridot

peridot

peridot, sardonyx

ruby

September

chrysolite

sapphire

sapphire

sapphire, lapis lazuli

zircon

October

opal, aquamarine

opal, tourmaline

opal, tourmaline

opal

coral

November

topaz, pearl

topaz

topaz, citrine

topaz, citrine

cat’s-eye

December

bloodstone, ruby

turquoise, lapis lazuli

turquoise, zircon, tanzanite

tanzanite, turquoise

topaz

 

 

Birthday (Day of the Week) Stones

 

 

While this word has also been used as synonym of Birth stone (see above), there is a separate list of assignment according to the day of the week of the recipient’s birth:[25]

 

 See also

 

 External links

 

 

 

 Charlene’s Source: Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Birthstones&oldid=519382567“

 

 

 

10/12/12

The Prospect of Empty Nesting by Chaelwest

I have never anticipated the prospect of having an empty nest. You could call it denial or call it a desire to keep my children close and safe, but I have coasted along for many years not realizing how hard it would be to release my children to adulthood and thus to the world out there.

 

My daughters are well-trained. They are moral, productive citizens, and I am so proud of their accomplishments and abilities. We have always worked together as a team–their father and I as a minister of music and of the Word; they as musicians and sound technicians.

 

Over the years, there has been so much concentration on work that I missed the fact that my girls were also needing to find their own persons to love. After all, family love is one thing, but espousal love is something entirely different.

 

I truly believe that my girls will desire a man of integrity and honor; one who treats them well and respects them as persons. I would want this to be reciprocal because both parties in a union must respect and honor one another. I would encourage them to look for nothing less in the person they choose.

 

This is simply thought and the desires of my heart for them both. I pray that GOD will honor these desires. Nevertheless, I am aware that their choices are just that–their choices. I cannot choose for them, I don’t believe in arranged marriages, but what I can do is pray–fervently and unceasingly. I can trust in a GOD who has never failed me and in whose hands I will place my children. The thought of not having them asleep in my home is over-whelming and will become reality some day, but I pray for sons who will understand my mother’s heart and allow them to return to my bosom when they need to relate, and who will desire to relate also. I pray for beautiful grandchildren who will reflect the core values of their parents and grandparents.

 

Am I dreaming an impossible dream? No, I don’t think so. Life has proven that this is possible. Whatever the choices that my daughters make, whomever they choose to love and care for, their Dad and I will bless them and pray for them as my parents blessed and prayed for me and my choices so many years ago.

 

Credit: chaelwest

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10/1/12

[Trans] 121001 Yoochun – VJ Ken Wu Weibo Update

 

[Trans] 121001 Yoochun – VJ Ken Wu Weibo Update

 

(Omitted) There will also be news report on Park Yoochun’s visit to Taiwan. I took this photo with him right after he got off the stage and he’s already in his beloved slippers. Do watch today’s ‘I Love JK’!

credit: VJ Ken Wu Weibo
trans by: rachui@sharingyoochun

Charlene’s Source: sharingyoochun.net

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09/22/12

[News] 120921 JYJ’s Kim Jaejoong To Meet Jakarta Fans

 

Kim Jaejoong, a member of South Korean boy band JYJ, has confirmed his first fan-meet event in Jakarta on Nov. 3 at the Mata Elang International Stadium in North Jakarta.

The announcement was made by the event’s promoter SH Entertainment on Thursday.

“Kim Jaejoong’s first fan meeting in Indonesia is on Nov. 3, so mark your calendar,” read the announcement on the promoter’s Facebook page.

Tickets for the event were divided into three categories; Puppy Rp 600,000 (US$62), Bear Rp 1 million and Elephant Rp 1.55 million.

Tickets for the event have been on sale since Thursday at rajakarcis.com.

Jaejoong is a former member of Korean boy band sensation Dong Bang Shin Qi, who with two other members of the band – Park Yoochun and Kim Junsu – went on to form JYJ after they were involved in a contract dispute with their previous agency SM Entertainment.

Currently all JYJ members are focusing on individual projects, with Jaejoong and Yoochun involved in acting and Junsu in his solo career.

credit: The Jakarta Post
shared by: sharingyoochun.net

 Momma’s Source: sharingyoochun.net
 
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09/18/12

[NEWS] 120914 “Not Possible” In Domestic, “Welcome” Abroad – JYJ’s Paradox

[NEWS] 120914 “Not Possible” In Domestic, “Welcome” Abroad – JYJ’s Paradox

[PIC: Idol Group JYJ – first Korean singer who had a concert in SanTiago, Chile on March 09. The group is exploring overseas markets since its activities in Korea have restrictions. From the Left: Jaejoong Kim, Yuchun Park and Junsu Kim. – Photo from C-JeS Entertainment]

The trio group JYJ (Jaejoong Kim, Yuchun Park, Junsu Kim) is unique. It is difficult to see the group in the country, but the group is doing remarkable activities abroad. The team toured in Spain, Germany, Chile and Peru and the member Junsu Kim had his solo concert in Mexico – all as the first Korean singers who ever had concerts in each country. Why is the atmosphere from inside and outside is so different? You may see an equation of Korean Pop industry’s power structure.

? Aftermath of TVXQ Controversy?

 

[Junsu Kim who had solo concert in Mexico on Sep 6]

The three members of JYJ had their debut in the year of 2004 as the quintet TVXQ under SM Entertainment. TVXQ shortly stood at the top in Korean pop industry and had 100,000 members in its fan-club. In 2009, the three members moved to the present agency and formed JYJ after ‘application for injunction to terminate the validity of exclusive contract’ against SM, claiming that 13-year of exclusive contract was too long. The lawsuit with SM is still ongoing.

After this, they have had difficulties in album distribution, venue rental, TV appearances and other things. With tremendous number of album sales and popularity, the public has not seen them in any of music/entertainment programmes for the last 3 years at all.

For example, Yuchun Park appeared in ‘SKK Scandal(KBS)’ and ‘Rooftop Prince(SBS)’ as a leading role, but no one could see his face in entertainment programmes of the both broadcasters despite the fact that actors appearing in the same broadcaster’s entertainment programmes during their drama is an unwritten rule in order to promote dramas. Even in some cases, his appearances were flip-flopped after scheduling.

First, broadcasting companies’ stance is that ‘we cannot cast the singer under legal dispute’. However, JYJ insists that ‘Independent activities are guaranteed until the ruling of the lawsuit on the merits’. Some say that this situation is because of external pressure.

“I was concerned a lot about the present situation that I can be on TV only through dramas. But I decided that it would be better to do something I can do the best, (knowing promotion would be difficult) released a solo album in May”, said Junsu Kim at the press conference in Mexico. His music video of the title song ‘Tarantallegra’ which cost him half a billion Won to make, has never once been aired.

JYJ looked overseas instead. The group betted on overseas stages with the fandom they established since TVXQ.

? Idol’s new market

The Group JYJ has done..

 

The atmosphere at Junsu Kim’s Solo Concert at Blackberry Auditorio in Mexico City, Mexico on Sep 6 was just boiling. The concert was the part of his North/South American tour followed from New York and Los Angeles. 3,000 fans were shouting his name and ‘I Love You, Junsu!’ in Korean and sung ‘Besame Mucho(Kiss me much)’ together. Fans were all sung along his latest Korean lyrics such as ‘Set Me Free’. Junsu Kim is due to continue European Tour in the second-half of this year. JYJ also toured in 15 cities from the last year to the first-half of this year and met 210,000 fans around the world.

Paradoxically speaking, the restriction in Korea domestic has become the other way into the new steps. The agency says South American tours are deficit as they are too far from Korea, but it explains that “In the manner of investment, we are trying to go anywhere as long as fans are there”.

“JYJ’s case is a condensable example of the fact that the practical power belongs to management companies, the capital itself under this idol producing system, although the popularity is earned by an idol member”, Jakga Kim, the pop-music critic commented. He continued, “JYJ showed the possibility that an idol group CAN survive by themselves, not depend on the cartel which acts on collusion with management companies and broadcasting companies”.

Source: http://joongang.joinsmsn.com/article/aid/2012/09/14/8943944.html?cloc=olink|article|default
Translation Credit : http://dedicatee.wordpress.com

<Newspaper Image on JoongAng Ilbo, one of the most famous newspaper in Korea>

 

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Momma’s Source: iXiahcassie

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09/8/12

Forgotten Season with Sound of Rain

This is absolutely the most soothing, put you to sleep in a nice way song ever. The addition of the rain just lends another quality to the sweetness of the song. I realize that this is a cover, but Jaejoong made it his own. <3   :

Uploaded by: capcapmeomeo

Charlene’s Source: youtube

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