24 fire

The action takes place in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Attorney ordering a cigar box (24 pieces). Very rare and very expensive ($ 15,000 box). Once the box arrives, lawyers rush to insure them. Made cigars insurance against theft, all kinds of natural disasters including fire. For about a month time, before it made the first contribution to the policyholder, smoked cigars and lawyer filed claim against the insurance company.
The lawsuit, he explained that cigars were irretrievably lost "in a series of small fires" and insists that his insurance company to pay losses. The insurance company refused to pay, based on the obvious reason that the lawyer has consumed the cigars in the most popular method - smoked them f. Counsel judge them ... and won the case!
Ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim is trivial and meaningless. However, the judge said that the lawyer held a policy from the insurance company to insure the cigars against fire, without saying exactly what the policy fire is not acceptable.
Therefore, the insurance company is obliged to pay insurance.
Instead of wasting time and money in the long procedures and appeals, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid the lawyer $ 15,000 to cover the "loss" of so valuable cigars in a series of small "fire."
Once the lawyer cashes the check, the insurance company put a complaint to the police, demanding the arrest of lawyer. He is accused of causing 24 fires. Arrest him! In court, the insurance company brings out the policy and law certificate from the previous case. Lawyer is accused of intentional infliction of 24 fire at the insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in prison and a $ 24,000 fine.

Gaddafi treasures found buried in the Libyan Desert

    Discoverers suggest that the Libyan dictator was able to hide this large, resembling pirate treasure

A treasure of Gaddafi is really impressive - 20 tonnes (20,000 kg) of gold and 80 million. Of a quantity of precious metal may be the envy of even the Queen, which is one of the richest women in the world.

Financial experts who are aware of the richness of Gaddafi added that are not found another 4 tons (4,000 kilograms) of gold and 500 million USD. This condition downloaded from Gaddafi Libyan Central Bank, shortly before sending it in the Hereafter. And no less impressive wealth or stolen, or is buried elsewhere in the desert sands.

Before the days of the border with Nigeria, two Libyans were arrested while trying to connect with people close to Gaddafi, seeking information about the treasure dug. They were well equipped with prospectors. They were arrested for questioning and admitted what they know. So tones were unearthed precious metal and currency.

No one else belongs to this state, except Gaddafi. While his people destitute, and it is gaining millions of gold that lavish as it sees fit - even if he had erected a golden statue in the personal residence.

Christmas fire - Woman loses parents and 3 kids

The house in Stamford, Conn. where an early morning fire left five people dead Dec. 25, 2011. The house's owner survived, but lost both her parents and 3 children in the blaze. (AP)
STAMFORD, Conn. - A fire tore through the home of an advertising executive in a tony neighborhood along the Connecticut shoreline Sunday, killing her three children and both of her parents on Christmas morning.
Madonna Badger, who bought the large Victorian home last year, was able to get out of the house, along with an acquaintance.
Police Sgt. Paul Guzda said Badger's three daughters — a 10-year-old and 7-year-old twins — were killed. He said her parents, who were visiting for the holiday, also died. Police officers drove Badger's husband, Matthew Badger, from New York City to Stamford on Sunday morning.
Guzda said the male acquaintance was a contractor who was doing work on the home. Badger, an ad executive in the fashion industry, is the founder of Badger & Winters Group. A supervisor at Stamford Hospital said she was treated and discharged.
Neighbors awakened to the sound of screaming and rushed outside to help, but they could only watch in horror as flames devoured the grand home in the pre-dawn darkness and the shocked, injured survivors were led away from the house.
"It is a terrible, terrible day," Mayor Michael Pavia told reporters at a news briefing at the scene of the fire. "There probably has not been a worse Christmas day in the city of Stamford."
The fire was reported shortly before 5 a.m. Firefighters were able to rescue Badger and another adult from the house in Shippan Point, a neighborhood that juts into Long Island Sound, Acting Fire Chief Antonio Conte said.
"We had our hands full from the moment we arrived on the scene," he said.
Firefighters knew there were other people in the home but could not get to them because the flames were too large and the heat too intense, Conte said, his voice cracking with emotion.
"It's never easy. That's for sure," he said. "I've been on this job 38 years ... not an easy day."
Conte said fire officials don't yet know the cause of the blaze and likely won't get clues for a few days until fire marshals can enter the structure.
By Sunday evening, the roof of the blackened house had largely collapsed. A spokesman for Stamford Hospital said one of the survivors was listed in fair condition; he did not know the condition of the other.
A neighbor, Sam Cingari Jr., said he was awakened by the sound of screaming and saw that the house was engulfed by flames.
"We heard this screaming at 5 in the morning," he said. "The whole house was ablaze and I mean ablaze."
Cingari said he did not know his neighbors, who he said bought the house last year and were renovating it.
The 3,349-square foot (311.13-sq. meter), five-bedroom home sold for $1.7 million in December 2010, according to the Stamford assessment office's website.
Charles Mangano, who lives nearby, said his wife woke him up and alerted him to the fire. He ran outside to see if he could help.
"I heard someone yell `Help, help, help me!' and I started sprinting up my driveway," Mangano told The Advocate of Stamford. There were already numerous firetrucks on the scene.
"I just came out as neighbor," Mangano said. "There's really nothing I could do."
He told the newspaper he saw a barefoot man wearing boxers and a woman being taken out of the house. The outdoor temperature at the time was below freezing, according to the National Weather Service.
The woman said, "My whole life is in there," Mangano said. "They were both obviously in a state of shock."
CBS News

Christmas Eve and Christmas, according to Bulgarian traditions

On Christmas Eve (Little Christmas) the whole family gathers for a modest vegetarian dinner. According to Bulgarian folk tradition of the ritual meal (which is traditionally put on straw on the ground) rank 7, 9 or 11 meatless dishes: boiled beans, peppers stuffed with rice or leaves stuffed, boiled corn, pumpkin, dried fruit, garlic, honey, walnuts , wheat, fruit, bread ritual (bogovitsa, asks the gods, gods bun blagoslovnik) pie, Zelnik.

When you break bread, the first piece is called the dead and leave the icon, the following are given as appropriate, of each family member and pets.
The custom commands do not become a meal.
All get together and then the table is not harvested, because it is believed that the dead come to dinner and to cater for the welfare of the living.
The next day - great Christmas (colada, Christmas, Bozic) is the richest in terms winter holiday ritual and one of the biggest annual holidays.

 

  A ritual meal is put:
brawn, roast pork, fresh bread, pastry with meat, thrush, baked liver, pastrami with sauerkraut, grilled chicken. (In "Calendar Holidays and customs of the Bulgarians," brief encyclopedia of BAS, 2000)
In the twentieth century Bulgarians added to Christmas rituals is another element contributed by Western Europe - radiant tree, which is associated with many ancient myths  and gradually became a symbol in their image.

 

By tradition, before ordering festive meal on Christmas Eve, the owner of the house on fire in the fireplace a special log called the Yule log. Initially stir the fire with him, calling: "The sparks, so chicks, lambs, calves, kids in this house!" Then put the thin end of the tree into the fire, where it remains to smoldering all night and kept the flame alive. Wood is a pear, oak or beech. In pre-dug hole in it pour red wine, olive oil and incense for fertility. Before you put the fire shall be sealed with beeswax. Thus prepared Christmas Yule log, called kolednik or prekladnik is considered   and bright and can now be sacrificed to the gods. This custom is an echo of the old Slavic beliefs in our country. According to them the day he was supposed to be born child, the man lit lit tree to exorcise the ghosts of the dead premature babies, dead, evil fairies and wizard. After conversion they preserved this custom, but lighting made considered  tree in honor of the birth of the Savior.

 

  Christ descends to earth to redeem and sanctify the people their sins. With its embodiment is marked a new era - the Savior brings a piece of the sanctity of heavenly peace - beautiful, laden with fruit Paradise tree.
So the tree is decorated with figures of angels, silver ribbons, garlands, balls, and   candles, symbolizing Christ's nature - light, knowledge, purity, truth.

Today the Church celebrates Christmas in seven days - five pre-festival (20-24 December) and two holidays (25-26 December).
A little about Eve
Christmas Eve, or as called by the people - Dry Christmas, Krachoun, Nayadka, is celebrated on the eve of Christmas.
In the pagan holiday is traditionally associated with fertility and early growth of the day conquer the night. Why is celebrated as the table is put foods that swell when preparing.
If we go back in time many will find the day of birth to the sun. The holiday is celebrated by Egyptians and Phoenicians, and the Assyrian-Babylonians, and Persians.
This celebration had and Slavs. He was dedicated to the god of fertility Dazhdbog. The basis of his celebration was a magical ritual.
When Christianity had a religion, it could not completely reject the pagan traditions. So Christian and pagan elements are entangled together.
Christmas Eve and folk customs
Even with the coming of dawn began to prepare for dinner. The lady, the oldest woman in the family bread mix called "Yule log", "bogovitsa", "Evening".
The image of an ear of wheat, plow animals, etc. stands as a cake decoration. It is put coin, grain straw. All are symbols of fertility and wealth.
The sooner sit the official dinner, the sooner will the wheat is ripe, and as more dishes on the table, the richer will be the year, believe old.
The oldest man in the family breaks the bread and distributed to all. Waiting to midnight, the first coming of Christmas and the birth of Christ. Christmas Eve is the most important family celebration of home and hearth.

How the world celebrate Christmas

The first in this relatively modest evidence of representation of the Nativity were found in the catacombs of Rome Pristsila the end of II century

    Millions of people around the world welcome Christmas. The desire to reproduce the Savior's birth dates back approximately 2000 years ago. According to some researchers the roots of this custom are lost in ancient times.

    The first in this relatively modest evidence of representation of the Nativity were found in the catacombs of Rome Pristsila the end of II century. And the first who attempted to reproduce the live manger for the purpose of Christianity is St. Francis of Assisi in the XIII century.

    Austria

    With the holidays at the end of the year the Austrians donated their piggy - mascot reminds AFP. The tradition was born many years ago when a sworn spinster Gave a real pig, decorated with a heart of gold paper. Then she found a husband. Since it is considered that pig brings good luck. Today in some villages of Austrian Christmas table is served with rice milk. It is all hidden almond. Whoever finds it gets a prize pig from almond paste, for it brings good luck. Otherwise pig mascot, made of plastic, velvet, bronze and tin, used to decorate the Christmas tree. Sometimes it takes the form and the Christmas cake, topped with cinnamon, cloves and lemon juice. As to the table, it is traditionally served with a sauce of carp beer, ginger bread and donuts.

    UK

    And compulsory primary dish in the menu is turkey. The recipes are many and in most cases, the turkey is stuffed. Each housewife made Christmas pudding, which puts coin sixpence. Some families prefer pudding to pies or pastries from oil almond paste with a variety of candied fruits. And of course, before dessert menu includes the famous turtle soup. On the eve of Christmas, but the next day on the streets you can see numerous carnivals and plays in a mysterious masked actors who play. In old pagan costumes they are made of long, wide strips. The increase of the day is also celebrated in Britain. In several ways: swimming across the river on 25 December and hunting foxes 26.

    Netherlands

    For centuries Sinterklas (Santa Claus) comes from Spain by mid-November. All, even the queen meet him at the port. Just arrived, Santa went to check whether children are obedient. He has three weeks - until Dec. 6 to determine who deserves and who is not present. On the day of his departure all the children out on the streets, waving flags, write him letters .... And all this at the ringing of church bells and cannon bursts. Prepare a pair of shoes filled with hay and carrots for Santa's horse. Biscuits and sweets thrown into yards, predict its passage through the neighborhood. A constant companion is black Piet - he brings gifts for poor children.

    Italy

    On 24 December Italians celebrate the Day of the tree. Traditions are many, but common is the large cake, which is the Christmas cake. He kept the post dinner on December 24 and is preceded by various pastes and fish (mostly eel). Traditional turkey dinner is served on 25 December. Christmas markets closed their doors with great parade on 5 January evening, just before I came witch Befana, which distributes gifts to most of Italy. On the naughty children have only a piece of charcoal. But it is sugar!

    Spain

    Christmas in Spain is mainly a family holiday. After 22 pm on December 24, all restaurants are closed. People go home and wait Nativity Liturgy at midnight. The feast began then: cod, turkey and chestnuts in southern Spain, almond soup and goose - North. The total of both places is abundant food, sprinkled with fine wine. Dessert was almond cake with honey.

    Germany

    Preparations for Christmas begin in November. Pedestrian areas and shops are lavish decorations and lights. In Germany, Christmas is primarily a family holiday. Collect the whole family. Young goes to the old as far to live. All together sitting around a rich feast, to eat traditional German specialties - goose with apples, famous shtolen who makes at least a month before, and other delicious things, too Otdohni.ru.

    France

    The festive Christmas Eve around the tree to collect the whole family. On the table was served the famous French turkey with chestnuts, and no shortage of different dishes, bought specially for the occasion - mussels, abalone, salmon, foie gras. In Alsace - an area which in recent centuries was now part of France, now in Germany, the tradition says: roasted chestnuts and mulled wine.

    Argentina

    In Argentina, do not decorate Christmas tree, evergreen trees and snow, made of cotton. At Christmas dinner the whole family is gathered in the garden. Hot roast pork or bits of meat with garlic and hard boiled eggs are the traditional dishes of Argentina. Gifts come until January 6. Then small children leave their shoes under the Christmas tree or to the bed so that Santa can put them in lots of toys and candy. In gratitude to the kids leave the door water and hay for the tired deer.

    Brazil

    If you want to see Santa in a bathing suit, go to Brazil. Heat there do not allow the good old man to dress more decently. In early December, each family member choose a "secret friend". Relatives gather for dinner and then everyone writes their name on a little piece. Wrapper are shuffled and each took one - the man whose name is withdrawn, is his secret friend. On December 25 the secret friend has a special gift.

    Egypt

    In Egypt celebrate Christmas on January 7. Love is more affluent women to cook fish and donuts and to give to the poor. On the Christmas table is soup, meat and rice. In each house to try and special biscuit-shaped cross, called kahk. Besides the many toys and all sorts of other gifts children receive compulsory and set new clothes.

    India

    The Christmas spirit is felt in India, although there are few Christians. In the southern part of the country people are accustomed to decorate their houses with little oil lamps and colorful ribbons to put on the doors. The north did every night for a week Christians go to church where they sing Christmas carols. Tradition is between the houses and streets to burn large cardboard lanterns. Is missing and Christmas tree. It is exquisitely decorated with toys, garlands and mangoes or bananas.

    China

    In China, usually decorate their homes with huge lanterns and Christmas tree is called the Tree of Light. For Chinese kids Santa Claus is Che Lao Ren Ding, which translated means "Christmas Old Man." He brings gifts at the end of January, when Chinese New Year.

 Portugal

    Portuguese believe that on Christmas night guests come the souls of dead relatives. People leave the table bread and fruit to be able to eat the dead. Christmas ended on January 6, when the women knead bread and a special place picayune in it. Who found money, should draw the whole family and pay the next Christmas dinner.

    Greece

    Greek Christmas and New Year traditions are particularly closely linked with religion. Arrange tree on December 24 and 12 days spoils then - just after Fota or Jordan as the Greeks call it. On Christmas Eve, eat lean - dried fruits, pastry, strudel, beans. In Greece, Christmas is a family holiday. Together they go to church, and ornate table served pork, roast turkey with sauerkraut, baklava and other pastries. Gifts are given on New Year's. Saint Vasilis is the favorite saint of the Greek children. It is their Santa Claus.

    Finland

    The celebration of Christmas in the northern part starts with sitting around a festive table and stay in a sauna. This is an ancient Finnish tradition. The country sauna is so popular that a population of 5 million accounted for 1.5 million saunas, including private and even mobile. City Yuvyaskyula was even discovered the first sauna bar in the world.
 BTA