The world’s smallest monkey, the Pygmy Marmoset, lives in rainforest canopies of western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru, sheltered in holes in trees. These little primates range from five to six inches long (excluding the tail) and weigh only four and one-half to five ounces.

The Pygmy Marmoset’s tail is ringed, and when stretched out, is as long as their bodies. Because much of their diet comes from tree sap, their claws are specially adapted for climbing and boring holes into trees. They can spend two-thirds of their time digging out bark and wood fibre in their attempts to reach the gummy sap. The Marmoset’s incisors are shovel-shaped, designed for gouging holes in trees so they can lick out the sap.

These little creatures are difficult to observe in their natural habitat because of their small size. Researchers are not sure how long they live in the wild; in captivity, they can live from 10 to 11 years. In addition to tree sap, their diet consists of fruit, insects, birds and bird eggs. They live in family groups, sometimes with two males and several females (only one male is dominant and he controls access to the females) and several youngsters. Females typically give birth to two babies at a time.

The Pygmy Marmoset’s rating on the Worldwide Endangered Species List is LC, of ‘least concern’. However, because the rainforest ecosystem is an amazing resource that is quickly slipping away, the rate of species extinction generally is undeniably high.

Pygmies create colonies on edges of pastures, fields and orchards, in close proximity to humans. However, these communities are unlike the dense populations found in undisturbed rainforests. As rainforests are logged, mined and developed for agriculture, Pygmies will forever lose their homeland.

We’re living in prophetic times, says a newly-revealed ancient text inscribed by Egyptian scholars shortly after the Exodus. Having survived the millennia, these texts are now part of The Kolbrin Bible. They offer uncannily accurate predictions, and several have already come to pass.

Those yet to be fulfilled warn us that Muslim terrorists will soon trigger a world war that destroys the United Nations and then divides the world into bloody hegemonies. Following that, another prediction warns of a global cataclysm in which humanity suffers an E. L. E. (extinction level event) with asteroid impacts, massive earthquakes, erupting volcanoes and tsunami waves.

HOW THESE PREDICTIONS CAME TO BE

These predictions were first penned in Egyptian Hieratic some 3600 years ago in the Great Book. The historical accounts in this text show us that the Egyptians lost faith in their gods during the Ten Plagues.

As Moses led the Jews through the Sinai, Egyptian scholars and scribes conducted an anthropological field study across the full breadth of Imperial Egypt’s trading realm. Their singular goal was to find clues leading to the One True God of Abraham. Authored by hundreds of contributors, their encyclopedia-length secular anthology encapsulated the wisdom and folklore of many ancient cultures.

Later translated from Hieratic to Phoenician and then into English by Celtic Priests, this work includes several prophecies for the 20th and 21st centuries. To date, those which have been fulfilled include the invention of the airplane, the submarine and in-vitro fertilization.

Openly studied in Britain from the time of Jesus, the texts were secreted away by Celtic priests following the arson of the Glastonbury Abbey in 1184 CE. The attack was precipitated by British King Henry II on grounds of heresy, and much of the original work was destroyed.

The surviving priests hid what remained in Scotland, where it was merged with other Celtic wisdom texts to form The Kolbrin Bible. The full text was finally revealed in 1992, after the fulfillment of another long-awaited ancient Egyptian prophecy — the fall of the Soviet Union.

WHAT HAPPENS TO LIFE AS WE KNOW IT

Even more ominous predictions remain, and they herald the return of what the Egyptians say actually caused the Ten Plagues of Exodus. The flyby of a massive, reddish, object (such as a comet) they called the Destroyer through the core of our solar system. They also tell us it caused Noah’s Flood during a previous flyby and turned the Earth on its poles, much in the same manner described in Edgar Cayce’s pole shift prophecy.

The ancient Egyptians offer us clear harbinger signs for the next flyby of the Destroyer. Most notable are that Islamists will trigger a global war that causes the United Nations to fail and which then divides the world into vast, warlike regional hegemonies. Afterwards the Destroyer will return to wreak havoc on the Earth once again.

Their ominous prediction is clear. Humanity will survive this global cataclysm as it has in the past, but life as we presently know it will cease to exist.

DOES SCIENTIFIC PROOF EXIST?

Assuming an object such as the Destroyer is about to fly through the core of our solar system as predicted, does scientific proof of this possibility really exist? One such validation could be an ongoing interaction with our sun. NASA’s forecast this month for solar cycle 24 tells us it will be one of the strongest in almost 400 years of recorded sun spot history.

This puts Earth’s power grids and electronic infrastructure at risk from an unforeseen perfect solar storm. Just this month, NASA had to move its astronauts to a radiation-safe area of the ISS (International Space Station) in response to the health threat posed by the December 13 X-Class solar flare.

While you may not be the craft goddess or god, you can certainly make your own wedding invitations. Many couples look into this option because they think that it will be cheaper than the regular printed invitations, but this is not necessarily true. The pricing may be the same depending on the materials that you use.

What is more special about home made invitations is the heart that goes into them.

Getting the materials

Going to your local arts and crafts store can be a truly wonderful time, but only if you have a little bit of an idea of what you need. Where a lot of expense comes in is when you’re wandering around aimlessly looking at things to buy. You end up purchasing things that you’ll never use.

Here’s the way to shop smart (even if you don’t have a plan). First, know how many invitations that you need to make. This will help you to choose materials that won’t cost a lot if you have to make a lot of invites. Know a few colors that you think you’d like to see in your invites. And if there’s a theme that you’re considering, then think about that too.

Go through the aisles of the store and pick up things that you think might work for an invitation. Right now, you’ll only be buying enough to make a sample of your invitation. You want to see if you can make something before you buy a whole bunch of materials.

When you get home

Now that you have a little bag of crafts, start making your sample invitations. You don’t need to worry about the words just yet (these can be printed by a computer), so just make the rest of the invite. A lot of the time, what you plan to do doesn’t quite work out, or it takes too much time and materials. Just try a bunch of things, and when you find something that looks great, write down everything that you used to make it.

This will be your list for when you go back to the store.

Making the actual wedding invitations doesn’t need to be any more complicated than using a scissors and some glue. Try different colored ribbons and shells even. Use thick card stock paper for a background color and place a white sheet of paper where the wording will go.

And don’t worry so much about being perfect. Although you want to make your invitations looks great, you also want them to still seem like you made them. Don’t get too worried if something is slightly askew.

Is it available?

You don’t have a lot of time to reserve your reception site. The most popular sites go quickly. You should choose your location about one year prior to your event. It should be one of the first things you take care of on your wedding planning list.

Does it feel right?

It might seem silly, but first impressions are also important in deciding on your wedding reception site. If you walk into a venue and you have an uncomfortable feeling, or you are simply uneasy about the whole place, you might want to move on and continue your search. But, if you find the place charming, you might move on to the next question.

Is it big enough?

Yes, size does matter when it comes to wedding reception venues. The place has to accommodate your wedding party. It is a simple thing, but you need to make sure the place is large enough. You need to consider not only your wedding guests but also everything from your DJ to the dance floor to the place for your wedding cake. If you ask nicely, they might let you visit the place in action. Yes, it’s best to get a feel for the size of the place, as it is being setup for a wedding reception.

Is there enough parking?

If you live in an area of the country where people would most likely drive to your wedding reception (which is most of the country), you need to make sure your wedding guests can park. If parking is unavailable you should arrange a shuttle or a van to take your wedding guests from the wedding ceremony to the reception.

Is it private?

For example, if you would like a private reception, you shouldn’t even consider public places such as parks. If privacy is very important, you need to arrange a private estate. Even hotels and restaurants can be less private than you might think since they often host multiple events simultaneously. If this bothers you, you need to make sure there are no other events are scheduled for your wedding day.

Does it have a view?

A great view can add to the overall experience of your wedding guests. Whether it’s a dramatic ocean view, a beautiful mountain view, or a historic park, wonderful art, a great wedding reception will always have something fantastic to see.

Is it well lit?

In addition to the above, you should make sure the reception hall is well lit. Light can make or break your event. The lighting of the room sets the overall mood of the place, so make sure you see the place lit during your walk through.

How much does it cost to use the venue? How much do you have to pay up front? If you are asked to pay the entire cost up front, you should turn around and walk faster than you can say “Tank You.” You should never pay more than fifty percent of the total rental cost. If you put a deposit down, ask about their refund policy. Anything can happen, and you might need to cancel your reservation. You must get the cancellation policy in writing.

What exactly is included in the wedding reception package? You should never take their word for anything. You must get it in writing even if you think you have never met a more trustworthy person in your life. Are chairs, tables, plates, and such included?

What time can you occupy and what time do you have to vacate the reception site? How much are you going to be charged if you stay longer?

Are they insured in case an accident happens? Has an accident ever happened, and how did they handle it?

Do you have to use their caterer, or can you hire your own? Is there a kitchen or other available cooking facility?

Are you going to be the only event scheduled on your wedding day? Could there be any scheduling conflicts, if there are other events scheduled for the same day?

Do they have a liquor license? Can you bring in your own liquor to keep costs down?

Are there any references that you may contact? No references should be a showstopper.

Can you visit the venue as they setup for a wedding, so you can see what the site looks like for the big occasion?

How much flexibility do you have to move things around the room? Can you make the adjustments to the furniture and such to accommodate your event?

Is parking available, and how much does it cost? Is there valet service?

Are the bathrooms and other facilities clean?

Is there a dressing room available for the bride and groom?

Is there a dress code your wedding guests must adhere to? If there is make sure to notify your guests.

Who is going to be there during your wedding reception in case you need assistance? Is there security on the premises? Has there been any criminal activity at the venue?

It happens every day in the workplace. Those "sticky dilemmas." You encounter them all the time in marketing … like the CEO who wants to do his own TV spot when he is not only unattractive (that could be fixed) but comes off as deceptive in front of the camera (that would take a long time to fix).

How did I know? When you're a PR account executive, it's your job to know.

Is it your job to say so?

Well you aren't going to find this in the textbook. It's about emotional intelligence (EQ) and etiquette. It helps to learn the theory and how to apply it, because no textbook, no coach, can possibly anticipate all the surprises you will encounter even in one day.

The video of the latest multicultural blunder, when US photographer Annie Liebovitz asked the Queen of England to remove her crown in a photography session can be found on youtube.com. Some are labeling it "the BBC's groveling apology."

I don't agree that it's a "groveling" apology, I thought I was in order. The tape was grossly misleading. The scene implies she stormed out. It is, instead, tape of her arrival. That's the media for you.

That having been said, if you were photographing the Queen of England, would you tell her to take off her crown? In a line too good to have been scripted, the Queen replies, "What do you think this is?"

Quite a multicultural SNAFU here.  Annie Leibovitz, hired to photograph the Queen, asks her to remove the crown (ever how nicely), telling her it would be more "casual." Well, yes, that it would.

And British commentators are quick to tell us that every Brit would know it wasn't a crown in the first place, it was a tiara. The crown is a little hard to miss.
Why quibble. In any situation, with any person, there is simply "going too far," and that's what happened here.