Are You Scared

Halloween is a magical time celebrated by people of all faiths around the word on the evening and night of the 31st October every year. Children enjoy it more dressing up as ghosts and skeletons carrying hollowed out pumpkin lanterns and singing ghastly songs going from door to door trick or treating. They are rewarded for their efforts with candy and sometimes a few coins.

As people celebrate the modern version, most of the meaning behind history of Halloween has been lost. However its roots are still known very well and make a great children story before they set off on their mission to scar and entertain. Halloween was originally known by the Celtic name ‘Samhain’. Some historians believe that it might be the name from which the word ’summer’ originated.

Celtic people of Western Europe thousands of years ago believed that on the last day of summer, the barriers between the living world and the kingdom of dead would open allowing spirits and saints to pass among the living.

Evil spirits would go to every home scaring people and any unlucky person outside had to hurry before the spirits could catch them and take them back to the kingdom of the dead. To turned to the priests to protect themselves from that terrifying night. They would light great fires and offer sacrifices to calm down the evil spirits until the barriers were closed.

The evil spirits were often battled by gods and other good spirits but they needed the help of the living world to keep away the evil spirits from completely tearing down the separating barrier. Animal bones sacrifices were thrown into the fire that was called the bone fires. This is how the word ‘bonfire’ originated and became a part of the history of Halloween.

In return for the help, the gods made it possible for the priest to predict the weather and health of their king for the coming year. The priests also recited poems to the sun which they believe to be the god and that it would return the next year and warm the earth. The winter was cold and dark. The Celtic people believed that if the sun would not return, they would not have the strength to help the saints to fight evil spirits and the devil would ultimately win and the earth would perish.

Halloween has changed from being a religious celebration to an annual holiday in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is mostly for children dressed in costumes wandering from house to house and singing songs in small groups. A tradition which started in the US and now spreading to other parts of the world is the scary looking carved out pumpkin lantern known as jack o’lantern.

The story behind jack with the lantern is a classic, a man in Ireland stole from the villagers was being chased out of the village when he met a devil who came to claim Jack’s soul. Jack made a deal with the devil of exchanging the souls of the villagers for his freedom. The devil turned into a silver coin that Jack gave to the villagers as a as payment for his crimes. When the villagers were asleep, the devil returned to normal form and took the villagers. Jack cunningly put the coin in a purse that also had across, it trapped the devil helped jack to escape.

Jack died many years later and is turned away from Heaven because of his sins. However, the devil still remembered how Jack had treated it and forbids his entrance to Hell. Consequently Jack was doomed to wander forever in the dark nights. The devil gifted a sliver hot coal from the hell fires to Jack which he places in a lantern to help him in his travel.

The pumpkin lantern reminds of Jack’s deal. A big yellow or orange colored pumpkin is carved into a scary looking face and a lighted candle is placed inside, the reflecting light of the candle from inside gives it a creepy look.

Originally published here.

Also learn history of veteran’s day and history of Halloween

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I’d like to make you aware of the existence of some very unscrupulous websites that you should avoid. They sell fake anti-virus software through a technique the computer security community calls “scare-ware”, one category in a larger group of fraudulent software called malware.

There are a group of “scare-ware” websites that offer to provide “free computer scans” that will reveal and fix the problems with your machine.  However, what happens when you agree to one of these scans is that while the website pretends to be scanning your computer for viruses, it downloads a small program that suggests…then requires…you to purchase a license to remove and protect your computer from viruses. Here’s how the scenario usually plays out: it displays a very serious sounding alert that a multitude of viruses have been found on your PC which is intended to induce you to purchase their package to fix them.  Some of the sites say they will fix a small portion of them for free, but you’ll have to purchase the package to have them all addressed.

This is important…the software is fraudulent in that it has lied about the viruses found and it will never identify a real virus or remove it! Let me say that again: This is important…the software is fraudulent in that it has lied about the viruses found and it will never identify a real virus or remove it!

And if that isn’t horrible enough treatment, this type of scare-ware has the capability to deposit a program on your computer that will steal personal information such as your bank account, name and address, etc. in order to sell the information to those who make a living stealing identities. This flavor of malware is very prevalent right now, in fact organized cyber-crime groups in Russia, Romania, Korea and China have become very rich committing this crime all over the world.

Here are two of the recent scare-ware programs to avoid:

ProductScare-ware

PC Antispyware 2010 Trojan.Downloader.Bredolab.CZ

Windows Enterprise Suite Trojan.FakeAV.XP

If you think you’ve been “had” by one of these brutes, there’s a site called Virus Encyclopedia that gives a good description of the scare-ware and some instruction on how to remove it…however, I should warn you that, in some cases, it may take a computer security expert to completely remove it from your computer.

So how do you protect your PC from being “infected” ? There are many excellent products,  some for free and some for purchase, that will do a good job for you. Microsoft provides free software that can be used with Windows.  Otherwise, you can feel relatively safe ordering PC anti-virus cleanup software from a reputable company such as Norton Anti-Virus, McAfee, or Kaspersky (I have no relationship with either company).

It’s my hope that you’ll use this information to avoid any contact with these unscrupulous “scare-ware” vendors and their products. Highly effective, legitimate PC anti-virus software is available and affordable to protect your PC.

Originally published here.

Paul Lubic is a seasoned IT guy who’s used computers at home for many years. He uses his blog site to pass on lots of valuable information that you can use in your home computing endeavors. Check back often to see what he’s up to at Paul’s Home Computing Blog at http://www.paulshomecomputingblog.wordpress.com . Remember, home computing is a blast?keep it productive and enjoyable. Paul E. Lubic, Jr. paulshomecomputing@yahoo.com

What scares a man in relationships?  How do you avoid the mistakes that make a man want to run away but still show you care?  What do men wish women didn’t do?  Avoid the those little things you say and do that make him feel cornered and ready to end the relationship.

Keep him close without scaring him away with affection.  He doesn’t want to be smothered in kisses and sweet nothings in his ear.  You can put your head on his shoulder during a movie but constant snuggling may physically keep him close but not without possibly scaring him away.

Let him know once a day that you care about him but don’t be dramatic or lovey-dovey when he doesn’t want it.   Just be there for him each day when he needs you and be his best friend.  That is enough to keep him close without scaring him away.

Be careful with those three words.  It is wise to let him say, “I love you” first since he will know after you when it’s love.  As mentioned, be there for him to support him and be his best friend.  Build the relationship and let him know you really care about him.  Actions will speak when it is too soon for words.  Keep mum for now.

Give him the time and pace to let his heart catch up to yours.  Men take a lot of time to fall in love but their hearts are more fragile and stubborn than yours.  He will reach that point but it can take a year for some to feel comfortable to say, “I love you” and progress into the future.  Respect his time to keep him close without scaring him away.

Originally published here.

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This article is contributed by Tina Jones from the Unforgettable Woman Publishing Team. She works together with founder Alexandra Fox and writes dating/relationship articles for women. You can find more about Unforgettable Woman Publishing by visiting their website.