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OF BLOOD AND GLORY: VIENNA’S MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY, THE HEERESGESCHICHTLICHES MUSEUM

by Imre Bártfai

The museum features a tremendous amount of historical artifacts, related to the history of warfare. The 19^th century building was opened up to the public in 1869. Among the ones of defined the museum’s purpose was Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, who emphasized the importance to present Austria’s military glory in full splendor.

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WELCOME TO THE TOPAZ ISLANDS! - INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW LAITRES

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THE LADY OF RENAISSANCE - INTERVIEW WITH ANNIE HASLAM (PART 1)

The classic albums of Renaissance, for instance, ‘Ashes are Burning’, ‘Turn of the Cards’ and ‘Scheherazade and Other Stories’ show what key factors made the band special among the art rock community. The influences of classical and folk music, an operatic five-octave voice, the crisp clear acoustic guitar and piano, the strong melodic bass sound and orchestral sounding drums all work well within the lush, grand arrangements, and are the main factors which have made the sound of Renaissance unique. The cherry on the top was Annie Haslam’s five-octave vocal range, whose clean bell-like tones were similar to Joan Baez and the early Joni Mitchell.

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'FORWARD' - AN INTERVIEW WITH MARCIA BARRETT (PART 2)

Her book, ‘Forward: My Life With and Without Boney M.’ came out four weeks ago and getting rave reviews in the media and on the internet. While the first part of our conversation focuses on her Boney M. life, her later years are as interesting as the years of big successes. This is where we continue.

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“We need culture to know where we came from”

Interview with Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Tuscany Camilla Habsburg-Lothringen

“We need culture to know where we came from”, says her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Tuscany Camilla Habsburg-Lothringen. “At a time when society is complaining, is frustrated and not making the best of what we have, there we need culture. The cultural field enables us to build up dialogues better and faster than administrations can.”

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VALENTINE’S DAY – Do you know the real story behind the celebration of love?

How did 14^th February become the celebration of romantic love? Let us reveal some interesting stories which you might have not known about Valentine’s Day. Why do not we start where the story began?

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FAIRIES, HAGS, GHOSTS - SAMHAIN

It is a well-known fact that All Hallows Day is the celebration of remembrance and grace, and it was very important for the Celts as well. According to the traditions, the border which divides the living people and the world of death fades away these days. The spirits of our faithful departed return to the Earth in order to visit their relatives. Moreover, many Irish people have thought for long centuries that this is also the time when Fairies abandon their summer habitation and ride into the world of humans. The aim of my article is showing these mysteries whose center points are the supernatural.

Enjoy the wonderful videos!

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EMOTIONAL ABUSE - the invisible bleeding

We can see the black-eyes when somebody gets hit to the face. We can see the blood when somebody is injured. But we cannot see the heart which is "bleeding" emotionally. We do not see the wounds and scars in people's souls. That is what makes us blind and deaf to emotional abuse. If somebody abuses another human physically, we see that so we can act, but emotional abuse is much more dangerous because we do not always see the effects and we do not recognize that it is abuse.

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WE GOT LOVE - THE KELLY FAMILY IS BACK! INTERVIEW WITH KATHY KELLY

2000 was the year when the ’classical’ line-up split up and six members went on and record three albums, the last of them ’Hope’ was released in 2005. Although the later years of the decade was the right time for starting solo careers, there were several special occasions when some members joined forces and performed together. The big comeback was announced at the end of last year and since then six of the original members have come together to revive the band. As surprise, they released a brand new album,’We Got Love’ in March 2017.

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THE HUNGARIAN BACKWATER: SZIKRAI HOLT-TISZA

Would you like to have an own natural water? Now you can buy one of the most stunningly beautiful backwaters of Hungary. It is unique that a backwater is in private property not only in the Carpathian Basin but also in Europe. The Szikrai Tisza Backwater, which is located on the Great Hungarian Plain, is directly connected with River Tisza (or Tisa), which is one of the main rivers of Central Europe and Hungary (the other one is River Danube). Tisza used to be called "the most Hungarian river" due to flowing entirely within the former Kingdom of Hungary. Today, it crosses several national borders.

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NAPKIN RINGS FROM SILK RIBBON

It is very easy to make these wonderful roses from silk ribbons, though a bit time-consuming. You do not need to be very good at sewing to be able to prepare them. I have been making more than a hundred silk rose napkin rings for my own wedding party. For me, it takes about 20-23 minutes to prepare one but you might be more effective than me :D See the picture gallery in the article.

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A GENTEEL AND ELEGANT HOUSE

“It’s a genteel and elegant house” – my landlady kept saying – “from which no woman leaves with naked lips”. When the postman came with her pension she signed her married name, always with a half-smile, and added: “Though this ‘Mrs’ is no longer applicable.” In warm summer nights she was sitting on the balcony for hours, looking at the Buda Hills, the sparkling lights of Rózsadomb, fairy-tale world of actors, politicians, millionaires - The world, in which she left a husband and a villa behind, at some unclear point of the past.

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FERENC RÁKÓCZI II AND THE RÁKÓCZI MUSEUM IN RODOSTO, TURKEY

On the Hungarian literature lessons children read the letter collection of Kelemen Mikes, the faithful chamberlain fellow exile of Ferenc Rákóczi II then discuss these fictive (never sent) letters of Mikes, the “Hungarian Goethe”. We tend to feel sorry for Rákóczi and his fellow exiles because they could not return to our country. However, it could also be discussed from a different point of view. If Rákóczi had stayed in Hungary, he would have been executed by the Habsburgs. The Turkish treated him and his companions as heroes and the Prince could have his own “court” on the Turkish seaside.

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A TURKISH ORIENT IN HUNGARY

In the recent years, we have started studying the Ottoman occupation of Hungary from a different point of view. It used to be believed by many that the Turkish did nearly nothing but destroyed and ruined our country, and the several good aspects of the 150-year period were left out from the discussion. The Habsburgs forced the Hungarians into battles against the Ottoman army in order to protect their own territories and occupy our country.

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"Death Is Nothing At All"

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LET US MAKE AJVAR

Ajvar [ǎj.ʋaːr], which is originated in Serbian cuisine, is a chili pepper and aubergine cream. The ones who have already been to our Southern neighbours must have eaten this cream since Ćevapi (a type of skinless sausage) and Pljeskavica (a grilled dish of spiced meat) cannot be served without that. However, it also goes with roasted meat and sandwiches. It is not surprising since grilled meat can be perfectly combined with this superb vegetable cream. It goes without saying that we must make it.

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ACTRESS WHO DEDICATED HER LIFE TO PROTECTING ANIMALS

She is known to love animals. During her film career, in 1962 she raised her voice against the unacceptable treatment committed against animals. Banning the seal calfskin trade was attributed also to her (among others). She has bumped heads with Sophia Loren because she (Sophia) was wearing and advertising fur coats. After announcing her retirement in 1973, she dedicated her life to animal protection. She was only 39 when she became fed up with being highlighted.