Russell Crowe

Russell Ira Crowe on 7 April 1964 in Wellington, New Zealand. Russell is an actor and a musician. He's career began in the 90's in the Tv series Police Rescue and Romper Stomper. After the success in Australia, he began acting in American films. The first American film was The Quick and the Dead. He won the Academy Award as the Best Actor in 2001 for Gladiator. On his 39th birthday he married an Australian singer and actress Danielle Spencer. They have two sons Charles Spencer born on 21 December 2003 and Tennyson Spencer born on 7 July 2006. He has played in the band called 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts. Russell is also a big Cricket fan. Most of the year he likes to stay in Australia, Russell has a home in Sydney at the end of the Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo. Some of the films that he has played in: Gladiator, A Good Year, A Beautiful Mind and State of Play.



Here are the trailers of the movies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-B6FsAAvmM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvTT29cavKo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS_d0Ayjw4o


Sources:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000128/bio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Crowe
Pictures:
http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/crowe.jpg
http://veraprima.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/a_good_year-dvd.jpg
http://www.thecinemasource.com/moviesdb/images/Russell_Crowe%20-%201.jpg

Hāngi

Hāngi is a traditional New Zealand Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven still used for special occasions. To do that you have to dig a pit in the ground, then heat the stones in the pit with a large fire, place the baskets of food on top of the stones and then cover it up, several hours later lift it up. There are many ways how to do or make a Hāngi. The Hāngi ''experts'' have improved the methods and they've been handed down for generations. The Hāngi is a part of their culture.


Here is the full method how to do a Hāngi: http://www.shelfordfeast.co.uk/hangi.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9eb6JmG7JE



Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C4%81ngi
http://www.shelfordfeast.co.uk/hangi.html
Pictures:
http://images.travelpod.com/users/nikkiviper/rtw0708.1220133600.hangi-dinner.jpg
http://www.freakystyley.co.nz/Mimiwhangata/images/May06-033.jpg

Kea

Kea is a parrot, who lives in the South Island of New Zealand. Kea is mainly olive-green and has a large narrow curved grey-brown upper beak. It is the only alpine parrot in the world. It mostly eats roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects. They live high in the mountains and nest in the forests. They're protected species and there are only 1000-5000 left of them. One of the most interesting facts about the bird is that they are one of the most intelligent bird species in the world. Kea is very curious and playful bird. It can solve logical puzzels. It can grow up to 48cm and weighs about 1kg. Kea eats also sheeps, to store fat for the winter. It's amazing that this little bird can eat an live sheep. They also examine tourists backpacks, boots or even cars and often fly away with smaller objects.



Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kea
http://www.newzealandfauna.com/kea.php
Pictures:
http://img.search.com/thumb/5/5f/Kea.jpg/250px-Kea.jpg
http://www.hickerphoto.com/data/media/40/nestor-notabilis_15995.jpg

King Arthur

King Arthur is a legendary British leader. He lead the defence of Britain against Saxon incomers in the sixth century. Arthur is a mythic figure in Celtic Stories. He is also presented as a military leader, the Dux Bellorum in the Latin chronicles. Later in romance he was a king and an emperor. Nobody really doesn't know if he is a historical figure or not. Arthur also appears as a magical figure of folklore, related with the Welsh Otherworld, Annwn. The legend tells that he was the leader of the Kinghts of the Round Table and owned the sword Excalibur. He developed as a figure of international interest largely through the popularity of Geoffrey of Monmouth's imaginative 12th-century History of the Kings of Britain. In the 21st century, the legend lives on, not only in literature but also in theatre, film, television and comics. In 2004 there was made a film of King Arthur who was played by Clive Owen.


Here is the trailer of the film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N6pZX0sDAk


Sources:
http://www.lib.rochester.edu/CAMELOT/arthmenu.htm#bib
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Arthur
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349683/
Pictures:
http://www.uhigh.ilstu.edu/english/arthur/book1/Chapter%2021/king_arthur_3.jpg
http://www.cineclub.de/images/2004/08/king-arthur-p.jpg

English folklore bogyeman

Black Annis also known as Black Agnes. She has blue face, iron claws, taste for human specially for child flesh. She is a hag or a witch. People believe that she haunts in the countryside of Leicestershire, lives in a cave in the Dane Hills and has an oak tree at its entrance. The Black Annis goes out at night looking for children and lambs to eat, then tanning their skins and hanging on the tree. Later she wears them on her waist. It's said that she creates her cave digging a hole into it with her iron claws. In the 18th century the parents were very concerned about their children, so they warned them by telling them that if the don't behave Black Annis will catch them. So you little children out there, better watch out!! I'm totally serious, Black Annis is going to get you and eat you alive!!





Sources:
http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/leicestershire/folklore/black-annis.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Annis
Pictures:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8koWwIvAEZXiQ8CJELONHdJmhfebiabV4AcMtRek2eGswv-YJX0iWPetKdEInSATSMG7rZskGN1QdbpUyUoklV4TTdT7ip3Ooq2bCBq2HNh9c_isKQLT1f6HBt_ekFw4V5araQr8cYw/s400/black-annis-4.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyyggY_lrgoZ6-XdsfIwOjnXOgiaBhOa-g-_PjTztcY3UB_-wM8INCe0Kgx5jICAjkLrzNINLzwYQrbsB5OZhhD6pPLAXrPkhwxGhcJDvxT4t72a3ylpgj8sqEFfNpzgcaNlMqnsRs6Q/s400/black-annis-5.jpg
http://sobreleyendas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/blackannis.jpg

A young photographer

Eleanor Hardwick was born in England, Oxford in 1993. She is a young English photographer. Eleanor found photography at the age of twelve. At first she took pictures of collectable Japanese fashion dolls. Later she became interested in portraiture and fashion photography. She is studying for her A-levels and also she is working as a self-employed photographer. Her work embodies the idea of daydreaming the banality and routine of everyday life into something more mystical, playful and beautiful. It's a reflection of a world where surrealism meets realism. Her most well known client is Harper's Bazaar. Her photos were noticed by the site Flickr. Eleanor has once said that photography is her number one passion in life.


Actually I found her randomly from the internet. I'm amazed by her work and achievements considering her young age. She is an inspiration to me, I'd really like to meet her :)

Some of her work:
































To see more of her work visit this site: http://eleanorhardwick.com/ or this site : http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenaah


Sources:
http://eleanorhardwick.com/#bio
http://www.magicalplacesfineart.com/blog/2008/12/an-interview-with-teenage-photographer-eleanor-hardwick/
Pictures:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UMQXiyTc3XQ/SvAm9gkDn_I/AAAAAAAAA3A/w4T1OsaouGE/s400/Eleanor_Hardwick2.jpg
http://www.netzwellen.com/.a/6a00e54ff2481188340105368c39c3970b-400wi
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhje1cfQUxkkk-ycKCNSJTH2zEvSYxjIjDljCheHHF5WNhNh1VMEBoHOC-jz3c72eghHoRk0Skm4r6JqHNWNqKFCnHaI_RIYg6TGPay3UCq7Kk5L8tx58YF5lfbC5xbvcZIvetjOhgEXVk/s400/eleanor-hardwick1.jpg

Red-Bellied Black Snake

The Red-Bellied Black Snake is a venomous species of elapid snake native to eastern Australia. Its venom is capable of causing significant morbidity. It's popular in woodlands, forests and swamplands of eastern Australia. They can grow up to 1.5 meters. It can give birth up to 40 live snakes at one time. The bite is very dangerous and immediately requires medical attention.It has 17 mid-body scale rows. It likes to stay close to dams, streams, billabongs and water. Commonly it's not an aggressive specie. It is active by day and night. It eats frogs, small mammals and reptiles, also they eat each other. Tiger Snake venom is used to treat bites from red-bellied black snakes.




Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-bellied_Black_Snake
http://www.australianfauna.com/redbelliedblacksnake.php
Pictures:
http://images-2.redbubble.net/img/art/size:large/view:main/562680-4-red-bellied-black-snake-macro.jpg
http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/ArchOLD-6/1136519330

Vegemite

Vegemite is a dark brown Australian food dough made from yeast extract. It's a grease for sandwiches, toast, crumpets, cracker biscuits and filling for pastries such as Cheesymite scroll. You can compare it to British, New Zealand and South African Marmite and to Swiss Cenovis. It is made from used brewers' yeast extract and various vegetable and spice additives. Vegemite is salty, rather bitter and malty. It is smooth and sticky. It hasn't been marketed in other countries. The owner is US food company Kraft Foods. In the United States Vegemite doesn't contain the Kraft logo. Vegemite was invented in 1922 by food technologist Dr. Cyril P. Callister. You can eat vegemite on toasted bread with butter or margarine. It has a lot of B vitamins in it.


For more information about vegemite visit this site: http://www.vegemite.com.au/vegemite/page?PagecRef=1

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegemite
Pictures:
http://aussiefavourites.com.au/cornershop/images/vegemite175.jpg
http://blog.theavclub.tv/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/vegemite-marmite.jpg
http://jilltxt.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/vegemite_ad_1930_1.jpg

Steve Irwin

Stephen Robert Irwin was born on 22 February 1962 in Essendon, Victoria, Australia and died on 4 September 2006. Nicknamed as "The Crocodile Hunter". His parents Lyn and Bob Irwin owned the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, which was later passed on to Steve. He renamed it in 1992 Australia Zoo. He was an Australian television personality, wildlife expert and conservationist. Stephen became popular by the television program The Crocodile Hunter. Together they co-owned Australia Zoo. In 1992 he married to Terri Raines. They have two children a daughter Bindi Sue Irwin born on 24 July 1998 and a son Robert Clarence Irwin born on 1 December 2003. In 2001 he released his book "The Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve . He died after being fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. He has once said "My job, my mission, the reason I've been put on this planet, is to save wildlife."






Here is an interesting video of him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4_mWRnmWEs


Sources:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410455/bio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin
Pictures:
http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens4027532module27093802photo_1239600327steve-irwin-croc-wrestle.jpg
http://im.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/04poster.jpg
http://files.myopera.com/Animal_farm/blog/2006_09_04t013923_450x290_uk_australia_irwin.jpg
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2006/news/060918a/steve_irwin3.jpg
http://www.yenra.com/steve-irwin/steve-irwin.jpg

Irish tattoos

Many people around the world wear Irish designed tattoos. People often get them to show their legacy. There are many kinds of tattoos such as Irish armbands, Irish clover tattoos, shamrock tattoos and more. It has existed here more than thousands of years. You can find it in stonework, in ancient manuscripts. An Irish Celtic knotwork is older than 400BC. To Irish people the tattoos hold a special meaning. So if you're going to get an Celtic tattoo, it's best to know the tattoo meaning, but sometimes the meaning can be personal. People don't know much about them. Most of the tattoos are inspired by Irish illuminated manuscripts. The Celts started tattooing when their stone and metalwork began.

Knot tattoos are with no end an do beginning, they symbolize the never-ending cycle of death and rebirth.


Celtic butterfly




For more information about Irish and Celtic tattos go to these sites: http://celtic-tattoo.net/default.aspx
http://irish-tattoos.net/default.aspx

Sources:
http://celtic-tattoo.net/default.aspx
http://irish-tattoos.net/default.aspx
Pictures:
http://crazy-tattoo-designs.com/celtic_cross_tattoo_designs.jpg
http://www.sillyjokes.co.uk/images/dress-up/makeup/fx/tattoo/tribal/celtic-knots.jpg
http://th06.deviantart.net/fs26/300W/i/2008/038/0/1/celtic_butterfly_by_roblfc1892.jpg

The Corrs

The Corrs is a Celtic folk rock band from Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. I actually didn't know that they are an Irish band , maybe because that i didn't hear the celtic or folk sound in it. The band members come from one family. They became famous in 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and their support in Celine Dion's tour in 1996 Falling into You. Their father Gerry Corr was a manager of the payroll department of the Irish Electricity Supply Board and their mom Jean Corr was a housewife. The kids grew up in Dundalk. Their parents performed together in a band called Sound Affair. Gerry and Jean had a great influence on their children. The Corrs have been active in many charity acitvities.In 1999 they received a British award for Best International Band. They have selled over 2.7 million albums. For their charity work they got a Order of the British Empire in 2005 by Queen Elizabeth II.In 2005 they did their last concert since then they've been passive.
Their albums:
1995 Forgiven not Forgotten
1997 Talk on Corners
2000 In Blue
2001 Best of Corrs ( i have that album, the album contains their very best songs.They have a positive and a good vibe in their songs.)
2004 Borrowed Heaven
2005 Home

Band Members:
Andrea Corr
Born on May 17 1974.Plays
the lead vocals and tin whistle.














Caroline Corr

Born on March 17 1973.Plays the
drums, bodhran, piano and vocals.





Jim Corr

Born on July 31 in 1964. Plays the keyboards, guitar and vocals.










Sharon Corr
Born on March 24 1970.Plays the
violin and vocals.













Sources:
http://www.thecorrswebsite.com/index2.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Corrs
Pictures:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00032/corr_32929t.jpg
http://www.sharewallpapers.org/d/348559-2/Caroline+Corr.jpg
http://www.rotherham.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/get-attachment.asp?action=view&attachmentid=36112
http://s4.hubimg.com/u/256099_f248.jpg

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are located on the west coast of Ireland, south from the village of Doolin. The cliffs are the biggest tourist attraction in Ireland and have an amazing view.The Cliffs rise over 213 meters and are 8 kilometers long. They mostly consist of Namurian shale and sandstone. The oldest rocks are on the bottom the cliffs. Cliffs of Moher are of 300 million years old. You can visit the Cliffs of Moher with you're whole family. There you can go on a Moher sea cruise, if you're more of a sports person then you can go surfing and bike riding. Easily you can hire a car and cruise around the cliffs or why not the whole island. On the cliffs they've filmed The Princess Bride, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Tentacles of Doom. The cliffs are a dream home for sea birds.
The most known sea bird there:

The Atlantic Puffin












Bike riding on the Cliffs of Moher.
























You can see virtual tours Cliffs of Moher here :
http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/TakeTheTour.aspx


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffs_of_Moher
http://www.cliffs-moher.com/index.php
Pictures:
http://www.tenfootsquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/cliffs-of-moher.jpg
http://www.animalfactguide.com/images/puffin.jpg
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/MPR_021004_100099_S.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSqezAuWAdtCZ8JspS-l8PYuip2X09PFZXa7Ebh9La_SoSm8pETwA52BY5m7biWpsv4-IYuMViBwW6LYE9E2LabgVUEKmCRn0Q6Wl9m3cNmEGSBwmBg8-N-AwLAdC-x_YwdYCP5nIHKc/s400/CliffsOfMoher01.jpg