How to make italian cupcakes

How to make Italian meringue icing (seven minute meringue frosting)

Italian meringue frosting is an easy meringue icing which is a nice, light alternative to ganache or buttercream (although there is a buttercream version which is deliciously sinful). It seems to have an unlimited amount of names: Italian meringue icing/Italian meringue frosting/7 minute frosting… but it all amounts to the same thing. It’s slightly similar to Italian Meringue in that the egg whites are ‘cooked’, and it forms a nice, stable easily-piped, fluffy icing which keeps its shape well and is beautifully white (which also means it holds paste colours well and keeps true, should you wish to colour your icing).

CRYSTAL CAVE OF GIANTS- NAICA, MEXICO

Crystal Cave of Giants

Naica, Mexico

Air Temperature of 50C(122F) + Relative Humidity of over 90% = Humidex Value of 105C (228F) !!

This is one of the most extreme places on the planet.

Each step had to be placed carefully. One slip and you could fall and become impaled on a crystal.	With such high temperatures, once you step inside the cave, your body begins dying. You are incapable of shedding body heat.

The Crystal Cave of Giants was accidentally discovered in 2000 by miners working in the silver and lead mine at Naica, Mexico. It lies almost 300 meters (900 feet) below the surface of the Earth and it contains the largest crystals known in the world, by far. The largest crystals are over 11 meters long (36 feet) and weigh 55 tons.   The crystals themselves are made of selenite which is crystallized gypsum, the same material used in drywall construction. Except these crystals formed over a span of about half a million years in a hot water solution, saturated with minerals. The the temperature inside the cave remained very consistently hot for the entire time the crystals were growing.   It is still incredibly hot in the cave due its proximity to a magma chamber, deep underground. The air temperature is 50C with a relative humidity of over 90%, making the air feel like an unbearable 105C (228F) Entering the cave without special protective suits can be fatal in 15 minutes. I will be entering the cave wearing a special cooling suit with chilling packs inside and a specialized backpack respirator which will allow me to breath chilled air. Even with all this equipment, I will still only be able to stay in the cave for no more than 45 minutes at a time.   In extreme heat, the body begins to lose higher brain functions which made the expedition much more difficult with the risk of falling into deep pits, or being impaled on a sharp crystal. All the camera gear needs to be slowly brought up to temperature beforehand by pre-heating it and most cameras with moving parts and tape mechanisms simply will not work at all.   It is as dangerous as it is beautiful.

 

When the call comes over the radio to get out... It is time to go.	Climbing up onto one of the larger crystals.

When we first arrived at the Naica mine, Manuel and his crew took us inside without wearing the special cooling suits. This was in order to get us used to what REAL heat is like. There is a steel door protecting the cave and as soon as you pass through it, the temperature hits you like a truck, but as soon as you get your first glimpse of the incredible crystals, you want to keep going deeper. We were inside for only 14 minutes, which was pushing the danger limits without cooling suits. When we exited, the staging area was a "cool" 41 Celsius. My heart was pounding and I was completely soaked in sweat, my shirts, pants, socks & boots... Everything. All we could do was sit, drink and rest.   The next day, the real exploration began. We had left our camera gear inside the cave the night before, sealed up in air tight bags so that it could slowly warm up to the ambient temperature of the cave. Without doing this, all the gear would fog up, form a layer of condensation and become totally useless.

Crystallized Gypsum is known as Selenite.	It looks like a scene from a science fiction movie.

Nik and I slowly moving across uneven crystal terrain.	Filming inside the cave... This not simple since the environment inside the cave is so harsh. Our main camera died towards the end of the day.

The Suits - The custom designed cooling suits only delay the inevitable. As soon as you enter the cave, you begin to overheat and heat stroke and death are inevitable if you remain inside too long. The suits will extend your stay in the cave but it is up to the individual to recognize when you've been exposed too long. 30-50 minutes is the maximum, depending on the individual.   Each suit consists of several layers of protection. First is an insulated vest which protects you from frostbite which you could get from having ice in direct contact with the skin. Then the ice vest which is a series of gel filled pouches, sewn into a mesh vest and kept frozen. This cools you body's core temperature. Overtop of all that is a set of rugged overalls. These keep the radiant heat from the cave away from the ice plus they protect you from the sharp crystals. Last but not least is the respirator pack. This custom built backpack is made of insulating foam and contains frozen metal ice bottles. A fan blows air over the bottles and it is pumped up a hose to a face mask which is similar to the type worn by fighter pilots. This system allows you to breathe chilled air as long as the ice remains frozen in the pack.   Wearing the suits, you feel like an astronaut that is about to go on a space walk. In reality, it is not all that different, considering the harsh environment.

My adventure partner for this trip, Nik Halik, enjoying the view.	Inside the "cool" staging area outside the cave. It was 41 Celsius with close to 60% humidity here.

Actually going inside, wearing the suits and exploring the cave was a dream come true. I've never seen such a spectacular place. It was like setting foot on a new planet. Many of the crystals were so large that I couldn't even wrap my arms around them and the terrain was so difficult to walk on that we had to be extremely cautious not to slip and fall. Doing so would could get you impaled on a sharp crystal and would require a dangerous and difficult rescue.   Each minute you stay inside, the more unbearable it gets. You begin to breathe heavy, your hear rate jumps up and sweat is pouring down your hands. I was actually concerned that the sweat was going to short circuit my camera. It becomes easy to get confused and disoriented from the heat and your higher cognitive functions start to shut down. When you finally leave the cave, your body is so weak that all you want to do is lie down and drink. Dehydration is an obvious concern and I was amazed at how many liters of water I drank.

Getting a closer look at the larger crystals.	Carrying the Explorers Club flag into the cave.

Manuel keeps track of everyone who enters the cave and how long they've been in. Getting my respirator hooked up. This supplied me with cool air to breathe.

How it formed - Naica lies on an ancient fault and there is an underground magma chamber below the cave. The magma heated the ground water and it became saturated with minerals, including large quantities of gypsum. The hollow space of the cave was filled with this mineral rich hot water and remained filled for about 500,000 years. During this time, the temperature of the water remained very stable at over 50 degrees C. This allowed microscopic crystals to form and grow. Due to the perfect conditions inside, they were able to keep growing until the silver miners pumped away the ground water in order to explore deeper. They accidentally discovered the cave when they broke through back in 2000. Since the cave is no longer submerged, the crystals have stopped growing and cooler air from the mine is lowering the temperature slightly more each year.

Fampus people.// Dance.

My favorite hobbie is dancing. I love dancing as much as I love eating food. I do dancing at afternoons and I know I want to dance all my life. My favorite dancer is Ana Pavlova and Rudolf Nureyev. And I am writing you about their lives and a little biography. Hope you find it interesting.

Anna Pavlovna Pavlova (January 31, 1881 (Old Style)/February 12, 1881 (New Style) - January 23, 1931) was the most famous ballet dancer of the early 20th century.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia to a poor peasant family, she trained at the Imperial Ballet School until she graduated at age 18. In the first years of the Ballets Russes she worked briefly for Serge Diaghilev before founding her own company and performing throughout the world.

Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev (17 March 1938 – 6 January 1993), Russian-born dancer, is regarded by many critics as one of the greatest male dancers of the 20th century.

Within two years Nureyev was one of Russia's best-known dancers, in a country which revered the ballet and made national heroes of its stars. 

These 10 great classical ballets are must-sees for anyone who enjoys the ballet. We consider them classical because they all have similarities in composition, costuming and style. The music of each one is classical, and the female dancers always dance en pointe. The choreography of each ballet has stood the test of time: no matter who choreographs the performance, the basic structure remains similar to its original. Enjoy learning about the following 10 classical ballets.

1. Cinderella

Most people are very familiar with the rags-to-riches story of Cinderella. Although countless versions of the Cinderella story exist, the ballet is based on the one we all know so well. Cinderella is the endearing story of a young girl who finds love and happiness through her acts of kindness. The ballet is based on the fairy tale written by French storyteller Charles Perrault.

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2. Coppelia

Light-hearted and entertaining, Coppelia follows the romantic games of sweethearts Franz and Swanhilda. This ballet classic, much like The Nutcracker, is a delightful performance for introducing young children to classical ballet.

3. Don Quixote

A historical ballet based on the epic masterpiece by Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote is a fiery tale of love, adventure and loss, sure to excite the senses. Don Quixote closes with one of the most popular pas de deux in dance history, the grand pas de deux for lead characters Kitri and Basilio.

4. Giselle

One of the most popular ballets of all time, Giselle is probably being staged somewhere almost all the time. The romantic ballet has attracted the best dancers in its leading roles since its creation. Giselle's ballet-blanc, or corps of women in white, has become a symbol of classical ballet.

5. La Bayadere

A story of eternal love, mystery, fate, vengeance, and justice, La Bayadere is an extravagant ballet about a temple dancer named Nikiya. (The word "bayadere" is French for an Indian temple dancer.) Nikiya is in love with a handsome warrior, Solor, who also loves her. But Nikiya is also loved by the High Brahmin, but does not love him in return.

6. La Sylphide

One of the earliest romantic ballets, La Sylphide is based on a rather silly, fantastical plot. James, a young Scotsman, runs away from his wedding to dance with his dreams in the forest. All does not end well, for either James or his dream, the beautiful Sylphide.

7. The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker is an annual holiday treat for the whole family. For many people, the holidays wouldn't seem complete without attending a performance of The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker Ballet is based on a story of a young girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.

8. Romeo and Juliet

Considered the greatest love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet is based on Shakespeare's classic tragedy of young love. Prokofiev composed the incredible ballet score in 1935 or 1936. The music has inspired many great choreographers to try their hand at Shakespeare's story.

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9. Sleeping Beauty

The first successful ballet composed by Tchaikovsky, Sleeping Beauty was the first ballet seen by a sickly 8-year-old child named Anna Pavlova. After the performance she decided that she wanted to become a ballet dancer.

10. Swan Lake

Often considered the epitome of classical ballets, Swan Lake is a tale of love, betrayal, and the triumph of good over evil. Swan Lake tells the story of Odette, a young girl doomed by an evil sorcerer. A spell is cast over her, condemning her to be a swan during the day and a human only at night. Odette is the queen of the swans, the most beautiful of all. In order to break the spell, a young man must acclaim his undying love for her.

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EXPENSIVE DIAMONDS

Let’s talk about most expensive diamonds worth millions first, then about the priceless ones. Jewelry stores sell excellent quality diamonds, no doubt about that. But the diamonds that are listed below are beyond the reach of the usual millionaires – if not all, most of them.

There you go!

10. The Allnatt Diamond

When and Where It Was Found: Major Alfred Ernest Allnatt’s surname was indeed used to name this stunning and one of the most expensive diamonds. The year and place where it was found is uncertain. However, if reports are to be believed, it was found at a place where De Beers Diamond mine is currently located. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has rated it among the best diamonds discovered so far. 

Estimated Price: $3 Millions

Carat: Cushion-Cut Diamond with 101.29 Carats (20.258g).

9. The Moussaieff Red Diamond

When and Where It Was Found: Discovered in Brazil by a local farmer, this is the largest red-colored triangular cut and is among the most expensive diamonds today.  It was found is 1990 and was named after and owned by Moussaieff Jewelers Ltd.

Estimated Price: $7 Millions

Carat: Triangular-Cut Diamond with 5.11 Carats (1.022g)

8. The Heart of Eternity

When and Where It Was Found: The year is uncertain, but the mine where this high-end diamond was found is located in South Africa. Gemological Institute of America has rated it as a Fancy Vivid Blue and is considered to the rarest of diamonds ever found so far.

Estimated Price: $16 Millions

Carat: Heart-Shape Diamond with 27.64 Carats (5.528g)

7. Wittelsbach Diamond

Image Credit: Wikipedia

When and Where It Was Found: Yet another of the most expensive diamonds in the world, Wittelsbach Diamond was once a part of Austrian and Bavarian crown jewel. London-based Jeweler, Laurence Graff, bought it in the year 2008, thus changing its name to Wittelsbach-Graff.

Estimated Price: $16.4 Millions

Carat: Before re-cut 35.51 Carats (7.11g), after re-cut 31.06 Carats (6.21g).

6. The Steinmetz Pink

When and Where It Was Found: The mine, the country of origin, and the year it was discovered are unknown. However, it was first unveiled in Monaco on the 29^th May, 2009, in Smithsonian’s exhibition named “The Splendor of Diamonds.” (as per Wikipedia)

Estimated Price: $25 Millions

Carat: 59.60 Carats (11.92g)

5. De Beers Centenary Diamond

When and Where It Was Found: One of the largest colorless and flawless diamonds ever, De Beers Centenary Diamond was found in a premier De Beers mine. There are no internal and external flaws.

Estimated Price: $100 Millions

Carat: 273.85 Carats (54.77g)

4. The Hope Diamond

Image Credit: Wikipedia

When and Where It Was Found: Loved, admired, and among most expensive diamonds in the world, The Hope Diamond, is priced at a whopping $350 millions. This isn’t for sale though. It is placed for Smithsonian Museum of Natural History located in Washington D.C., United States of America.

Estimated Price: $ 350 million

Carat: 45.52 carat (9.10 g)

3. The Cullinan Diamond

Image Credit: Wikipedia

When and Where It Was Found: The largest rough diamond ever discovered in the world, Cullinan diamond I & II are now part of British crown jewels. Cullinan Diamond I is referred as Star of Africa, and Cullinan Diamond II is referred as a Lesser Star of Africa

Estimated Price: $400 million

Carat: Rough Gem – 3,106.75 carats (621.35 grams); Cullinan Diamond I – 530.2 carats (106.0 grams); Cullinan Diamond II – 545.67 carats (109.13 grams)

2. The Sancy Diamond

When and Where It Was Found: Believed to be of Indian origin, the Sancy Diamond is named after the first owner Nicholas Harlai, Seigneur de Sancy. It is priceless. It is an extraordinarily beautiful pale yellow diamond with symmetrical facets. This is put at display at Apollo Gallery of the Louvre Museum located in France.

Estimated Price: Unestimated

Carat: 55.23 carats (11.05 g)

1. Koh-I-Noor

When and Where It Was Found: India’s most famous diamond, Koh-I-Noor,  discovered in Andhra Pradesh state, passed from one to ruler to another is now a part of British crown jewel. British East India Company seized this largest diamond ever before the Indian independence. This of course is the most expensive diamond along with the Sancy Diamond.

Estimated Price: Unestimated

Carat: 105 carats (21.6 g)

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SIDA is an acronym used in several countries for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

HIV is the cause of AIDS

"AIDS is caused by infection with a virus called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)."1

This is the standard explanation of what causes AIDS. But what evidence do scientists have to support the fact that HIV causes AIDS? And why do some websites say that the world has got it terribly wrong – that HIV does not cause AIDS at all?

As an independent AIDS organization founded in 1986, AVERT has taken a keen interest in the ongoing debate about what causes AIDS. As well as investigating the consensus position, we have followed and carefully considered the arguments of the dissident minority who claim that HIV is harmless or even that it might not exist. This topic is vitally relevant to how our organization works to prevent people developing AIDS and to help those who are suffering.

It is AVERT's considered opinion that the evidence that HIV causes AIDS is abundant and conclusive. This page outlines some of that evidence, while also mentioning how some dissidents have interpreted things differently. In particular, we'll look for proofs of the following:

AIDS is a new epidemic disease
AIDS does not occur without HIV
HIV infection is the only factor that predicts who will develop AIDS
Surveillance statistics support the HIV theory
Modern antiretroviral treatment is highly beneficial.