All in the theme of the season "Christmas Fashion."
  Jordan, officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is an Arab country in Southern Levant region of West Asia. Bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudia to the south, and Palestinian territories to the west. The Jordanian River flowing to the Dead Sea, is located along the country's western border within the Jordan Rift Valley. Jordan has a small coastline along the Red Sea in it's southwest, separated by the Gulf of Aqaba from Egypt. Aman is the country's capital and it's largest city, as well as the most popular city in the Levant. Jordan as we know it today was occupied since the Paleolithic period. The three kingdom that developed during the Iron Age are: Ammon, Moab, and Edom. In the third century BC, Arab Nabataeans established their kingdom centered in Petra. The Greco-Roman period saw the establishment of several cities in Transjordan that comprised the Decapolis. After the Byzantine period the region became part of the Islamic caliphates. Following the 1916 Great Arab Revolt during World War I, former Ottoman, Syria was partitioned, leading to the establishment of Transjordan in 1921, which became a British protectorate. The country gained independence in 1946, and became officially known as Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This country is a semi-arid place, covering an area of 34,495 square miles, with a population of 11.5 million making it the eleventh-most populous Arab country. Ninety-five percent of its occupants is Sunni Muslim, with the rest being being Arabs Christians. Jordan is also a constitutional monarchy, with the king holding wide legislative and executive powers.  Seasonal Depression  Seasonal depression also known as seasonal affective disorder(SAD), is a mood disorder that happens every year about the same time every year. It usually starts in fall or winter and ends in spring or early summer. These mood changes may affect how you feel, think, and act. SAD may affect 11 million people in the U.S each year, and 25 million more may have a milder form called winter blues. A rare form of seasonal depression known as "summer depression," begins in late spring , or early summer and ends in fall. While we don't know the exact causes of SAD, some scientist think that certain hormones made deep in your brain trigger attitude-related changes at certain times of the year.  One theory is that less sunshine during fall or winter leads your brain to make less serotonin, a chemical linked to brain pathways that help control mood. When these nerve cell pathways don't work the way they should, it can result in feelings of depression, along with fatigue and weight gain. SAD usually starts in young adulthood and is more common (and those identified as female at birth). Some people with SAD have mild symptoms, feeling out of sorts or cranky. Others have symptoms serious enough to interfere with relationships and work.  It is not clear what causes SAD that starts in the spring or summer. Some believe it is linked to higher levels of light that may disrupt sleep patterns. It also may be linked to increased social pressure, as more events are scheduled during the warm weather.  People with SAD sleep much more than usual and crave carbohydrates. They also have the normal warning signs of depression, including: * Feeling das or down most of the time * Less energy *Trouble concentrating Fatigue *Increased appetite * More desire to be alone * Thoughts of suicide * Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy * Feeling of guilt and worthlessness The main feature about SAD is that your mood and behavior shift along with the calendar  Treatments differ depending on how serious your seasonal affective disorder symptoms are. The type of treatment also depends on whether you have another type of depression or bipolar disorder.
Traditional antidepressant are often used to treat SAD. Bupropion XL is FDA approved specifically to prevent major depression episodes in people with SAD. But your doctor may suggest other medications. Credit: WebMD  1. How do you help someone who has lost the Christmas spirit?
Nurse them back to elf! 2. What happens if you eat Christmas decorations? You get tinselitus! 3. Why did Santa Claus get a parking ticket on Christmas Eve? He left his sleigh on the snow parking zone!   PopSci estimates that Santa Claus would have to travel at an average speed of 5.083 million miles per hour based on a 24-hour cycle to hit each household on Christmas Eve. It bases this on 2.67 children per household, with a 75 million households worldwide. The speed of light is 671 million mph. So if we ever get there, presents for everyone.  Two of Santa's reindeer originally had different names. In the 1823 poem, A Visit from Saint Nicholas, which originally introduced the world to Santa's reindeer, two of the flying animals, had slightly different names according to Syracuse.com. Donner and Blitzen instead of Dunder and Blixem, the Dutch word for "thunder and lightning."
 1. " I'm not what happened to me. I'm what I choose to become."-- Carl Jung
2. " Sometimes life is about risking everything for a dream no one can see but you." --Ray Lewis 3. " If you change your mindset you have the ability to change your whole world."--Damien Thomas 4." Every next level of your life will demand a different version of you."--Leonardo Dicaprio SHORT STORY
Her six children were all fatherless. Their ages ranged from 16-5. She alone worked to support them. She was a stocker at Walmart. Yet still she was determined to let them have a merry Christmas. Her night shift gave her more time to be with her kids during daylight. The mother dutifully ensured that they all attended school everyday. She packed lunch kits for the younger ones but the eldest and second in line took whatever small change she could muster to buy something at the school's canteen. Sometimes they were lucky when the ladies at the canteen gave them a little extra or a few damaged but wholesome snacks. They never complained. In fact they were the most pleasant to interact with at anytime. Mama taught them that everyone is going through something, regardless of the appearance. On Mama's off-days they would go window shopping. They dreamed of owning some of the toys in the store and wearing some of the clothing they saw, but restrained themselves- remembering Mama's mantra. The sight of the delights brightened their hearts. They made fun with each other on how they would look wearing the various pieces on display. Most times at the end of their shopping, they would take home ice-cream and some chips. They were ecstatic. As the special day grew closer, Mama was able to buy a few pieces of decorations at her workplace. The company offered special discounts for all employees during the festive season. So, Mama with all her kids in tow went shopping. Oh, two a shopping carts were bursting at their seams with goodies. This family was rich. They bought rice, corn, flour, yeast, cooking oil , cornmeal, oates, milk, beans, fresh fruits, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, rolls of bathroom tissue, paper towels, bath soap, two mops, and more, and more. They gleefully exited the store and made their way home. © Wallace Paul, December 2024 (Look out for Pt II in next issue.)  This song perhaps more than most embodies how Christmas is celebrated. It's Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song." First recorded sometime around 1945 but re-recorded a few times after. This song became a massive hit on the pop and R&B charts and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974. And in 2022, was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically, significant."  The Christmas Song
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yuletide carols being sung by a choir And folks dressed like Eskimos Everybody knows A turkey and some mistletoe Help to make the season bright Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow Will find it hard to sleep tonight They know that Santa's on his way He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh And every mother's child is gonna spy To see if reindeer really know how to fly And so I'm offering this simple phrase To kids from one to 92 Although it's been said many times , many ways Merry Christmas to you. (Repeat) Writres: Robert Wells/ Mel Tormé © Capitol Records 1945 |
