Link: http://americanhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/new_years_more_than_a_glowing_orb

New Year's is an old holiday that keeps getting modern face lifts. Looking both backward and forward, we explore the past in an attempt to anticipate the future.

New Year's is by far this country's most venerable holiday, far more so than Christmas, and it's traditions are ancient. So forget about Times Square, glowing orbs, confetti, Dom, and kissing – well, maybe not the kissing - and put on your spring clothes.

Ancient New Year's Celebrations

The first written account (guessed to be around 2000 BC) of a New Year's observance came from the Babylonians as they welcomed it in with first new moon of the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring). For thousands of years this venerable observance was a springtime affair, but time inevitably marched on and soon the bullish Romans came to power. In 153 BC the Roman Senate declared a brand-new super-official much earlier beginning of year, and although it really had no astronomical or agricultural significance the date was nevertheless essentially written in stone in 46 BC with the advent of the Julian calendar.

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Link: http://www.mayfairgames.com/

The Settlers of Catan Award-winning strategy game where players collect resources and use them to build roads, settlements and cities on their way to victory. The board itself is variable, making each game a little different from the next. Ages ten and up.

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Link: http://www.olympic.org/en/content/Olympism-in-Action/

Aphrodite: Goddess of love, beauty and romance with a son named Eros but whom is not an Olympian. She can be a bit aggressive and lustful when she know what she wants.

Zeus: King of all the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus. God of thunder the sky and time. Sometimes can be unruly and selfish, lust gets him in trouble with Hera his wife he is always cheating on his wife with a young mortal girl.

Hera: She is the wife of Zeus and also his sister who is very jealous. Hera is the queen of the heavens and stars, marriage and fidelity.

Poseidon: He is the god of the sea.

Demeter: She is the goddess of agriculture and fertility. She is almost like the Greeks mother nature and will withhold everything from earth due to the love she has for her daughter.

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Link: http://www.creativetutors.com/northcarolina/blog1.php

Wildlife rehabilitator certification is exam-based. The only requirement to become a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) is to take and pass the CWR exam.

The Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator program is available to all that apply--there are no eligibility requirements.

Although IWRC will act as the certification body, CWR applicants are not required to be a member of IWRC or any other organization, nor is there a requirement to take classes or purchase publications from any organization, permitting agency, community college, or university. The only requirement to become certified is to take and pass the CWR exam.

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Medically Reviewed by: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Nine people drown per day in the US. That's the average. It does not even include drownings from boat accidents. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), drowning rates have declined over the years, but drowning is still the second-leading cause of injury-related deaths of children.

While most drownings of infants under a year of age occur in bathtubs, buckets, or toilets, most drownings of children one to four years of age occur in residential swimming pools.

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