Director of The Enterprise Project, Ernesto M. Luton, Sr, to Beam Aboard Good News to Discuss the Vision for a Full-Scale USS Enterprise Replica and Total Immersion Experience

Philadelphia, PA — Ernesto M. Luton, Sr., Director of The Enterprise Project, is scheduled to appear on the popular YouTube talk show, Good News, to discuss the ambitious plan to construct the world’s first full-scale, fully immersive replica of the USS Enterprise from Star Trek. The episode, will explore the project’s mission to transform Gene Roddenberry’s vision into a living reality.

The Enterprise Project is a colossal undertaking aimed at creating “The Galaxy’s Largest Immersive Experience.” This includes the construction of the massive starship replica, a Starfleet Visitor Center, and the “First Federation Town”—a planned green, high-tech community inspired by the principles of 23rd-century Star Trek. The core philosophy of the project is Total Immersion, designed to make visitors truly feel they have stepped into the future and onto a working starship.

As Director, Ernesto has been a driving force in advancing the project’s primary mission: building a global community of one million members to launch the design and construction phases. This endeavor goes beyond entertainment; it is positioned as a monument to human ingenuity, a catalyst for space and environment education, and an engine for creating a sustainable, modern community.

“This is more than just building a replica; it’s about building the future we want to live in,” said Ernesto. “Appearing on Good News gives us a unique opportunity to engage with fans and forward-thinkers alike about how we can collectively make this incredible, inspiring vision a reality. We are dedicated to creating a place where Gene Roddenberry’s dream of unity and exploration is palpable.”

About The Enterprise Project The Enterprise Project is a visionary initiative committed to constructing a full-scale, ground-based replica of the USS Enterprise, complete with a massive immersive experience, a Starfleet Visitor Center, and an accompanying sustainable community known as the First Federation Town. The project aims to be a global hub for science, sustainability, and the optimistic future envisioned by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. The project headquarters is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

#StarTrek

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This article is about the Lantern Festival in China. For related festivals in the East Asian cultural sphere, see First Full Moon Festival.

The Lantern Festival (traditional Chinese: 元宵節; simplified Chinese: 元宵节; pinyin: Yuánxiāo jié), also called Shangyuan Festival (traditional Chinese: 上元節; simplified Chinese: 上元节; pinyin: Shàngyuán jié) and Cap Go Meh (Chinese: 十五暝; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Cha̍p-gō͘-mê), is a Chinese traditional festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar, during the full moon. Usually falling in February or early March on the Gregorian calendar, it marks the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.^[1] As early as the Western Han dynasty (206 BC–AD 25), it had become a festival with great significance.^[2]

During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night carrying paper lanterns and solving riddles written on them (traditional Chinese: 猜燈謎; simplified Chinese: 猜灯谜; pinyin: cāidēngmí).^[3][4] In ancient times, lanterns were fairly simple, and only the emperor and noblemen had large, ornate ones..^[5] In modern times, lanterns have been embellished with intricate designs.^[4] For example, lanterns are now often made in the shape of animals. The lanterns can symbolize the people letting go of their past selves and getting new ones,^[6] which they will let go of the next year. The lanterns are almost always red to symbolize good fortune.^[7]

The festival acts as an Uposatha day on the Chinese calendar.^[8][9] It should not be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is sometimes also known as the “Lantern Festival” in locations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.^[2][10] Lantern Festivals have also become popular in Western countries, such as the Water Lantern Festival held in multiple locations in the United States.^[11]

Origin

There are several beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival. However, its roots trace back more than 2,000 years and is popularly linked to the reign of Emperor Wen of the Han dynasty.^[12] Emperor Ming, an advocate of Buddhism, noticed Buddhist monks would light lanterns in temples on the fifteenth day of the first lunisolar month. As a result, he ordered all households, temples and the imperial palace to light lanterns on that evening.^[13] From there it developed into a folk custom. Another likely origin is the celebration of “the declining darkness of winter” and community’s ability to “move about at night with human-made light,” namely, lanterns. During the Han dynasty, the festival was connected to Ti Yin, the deity of the North Star.^[1]

There is one legend that states that it was a time to worship Taiyi, the God of Heaven in ancient times. The belief was that Taiyi controlled the destiny of the human world. He had sixteen dragons at his beck and call and he decided when to inflict drought, storms, famine or pestilence upon human beings. Beginning with Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, all the emperors ordered splendid ceremonies each year. The emperor would ask Taiyi to bring favorable weather and good health to him and his people.^[14][5]

Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty directed special attention to this event. In 104 BC, he proclaimed it to be one of the most important celebrations and the ceremony would last throughout the night.

Another legend associates the Lantern Festival with Taoism. Tianguan is the Taoist deity responsible for good fortune. His birthday falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunisolar month. It is said that Tianguan likes all types of entertainment, so followers prepare various kinds of activities during which they pray for good fortune.^[15]

Another legend associates with the Lantern Festival with an ancient warrior named Lan Moon, who led a rebellion against the tyrannical king in ancient China. He was killed in the storming of the city and the successful rebels commemorated the festival in his name.^[15]

Yet another common legend dealing with the origins of the Lantern Festival speaks of a beautiful crane that flew down to earth from heaven. After it landed on earth it was hunted and killed by some villagers. This angered the Jade Emperor in heaven because the crane was his favorite. So, he planned a storm of fire to destroy the village on the fifteenth lunisolar day. The Jade Emperor’s daughter warned the inhabitants of her father’s plan to destroy their village. The village was in turmoil because nobody knew how they could escape their imminent destruction. However, a wise man from another village suggested that every family should hang red lanterns around their houses, set up bonfires on the streets, and explode firecrackers on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth lunisolar days. This would give the village the appearance of being on fire to the Jade Emperor. On the fifteenth lunisolar day, troops sent down from heaven whose mission was to destroy the village saw that the village was already ablaze, and returned to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor. Satisfied, the Jade Emperor decided not to burn down the village. From that day on, people celebrate the anniversary on the fifteenth lunisolar day every year by carrying lanterns on the streets and exploding firecrackers and fireworks.^[16]

Another legend about the origins of Lantern Festival involves a maid named Yuan-Xiao. In the Han dynasty, Dongfang Shuo was a favorite adviser of the emperor. One winter day, he went to the garden and heard a little girl crying and getting ready to jump into a well to commit suicide. Shuo stopped her and asked why. She said she was Yuan-Xiao, a maid in the emperor’s palace and that she never had a chance to see her family since she started working there. If she could not have the chance to show her filial piety in this life, she would rather die. Shuo promised to find a way to reunite her with her family. Shuo left the palace and set up a fortune-telling stall on the street. Due to his reputation, many people asked for their fortunes to be told but everyone got the same prediction – a calamitous fire on the fifteenth lunisolar day. The rumor spread quickly.^[15]

Everyone was worried about the future so they asked Dongfang Shuo for help. Dongfang Shuo said that on the thirteenth lunisolar day, the God of Fire would send a fairy in red riding a black horse to burn down the city. When people saw the fairy they should ask for her mercy. On that day, Yuan-Xiao pretended to be the red fairy. When people asked for her help, she said that she had a copy of a decree from the God of Fire that should be taken to the emperor. After she left, people went to the palace to show the emperor the decree which stated that the capital city would burn down on the fifteenth. When the emperor asked Dongfang Shuo for advice, the latter said that the God of Fire liked to eat tangyuan (sweet dumplings). Yuan-Xiao should cook tangyuan on the fifteenth lunisolar day and the emperor should order every house to prepare tangyuan to worship the God of Fire at the same time. Also, every house in the city should hang red lantern and explode fire crackers. Lastly, everyone in the palace and people outside the city should carry their lanterns on the street to watch the lantern decorations and fireworks. The Jade Emperor would be deceived and everyone would avoid the disastrous fire.^[16]

The emperor happily followed the plan. Lanterns were everywhere in the capital city on the night of the fifteenth lunisolar day and people were walking on the street and there were noisy firecrackers. It looked as if the entire city was on fire. Yuan-Xiao’s parents went into the palace to watch the lantern decorations and were reunited with their daughter. The emperor decreed that people should do the same thing every year. Since Yuan-Xiao cooked the best tangyuan, people called the day Yuan-Xiao Festival.

For each festival celebrated, a switch in the Chinese Zodiac takes place. For example, 2022—the year of the tiger; 2023—the year of the rabbit (water rabbit); and so on.

In the early days, young people were chaperoned in the streets in hopes of finding love. Matchmakers acted busily in hopes of pairing couples. The brightest lanterns were symbolic of good luck and hope. As time has passed, the festival no longer has such implications in most of Mainland China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong.^[10]

Eaten during the Lantern Festival, tangyuan ‘湯圓’ (Southern China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia) or yuanxiao ‘元宵’ (Northern China) is a glutinous rice ball typically filled with sweet red bean paste, sesame paste, or peanut butter.^[3] Tangyuan is different from yuanxiao due to different manual making and filling processes.^[17] It can be boiled, fried or steamed, each has independent taste. However, they are very similar in shape and taste, so most people do not distinguish them for convenience and consider them as the same thing.^[17] Chinese people believe that the round shape of the balls and the bowls in which they are served symbolize family togetherness, and that eating tangyuan or yuanxiao may bring the family harmony, happiness and luck in the new year.^[2][4]

6th century and afterwards

During the Sui dynasty in the sixth century, Emperor Yang invited envoys from other countries to China to see the colourful lighted lanterns and enjoy the gala performances.^[18]

By the beginning of the Tang dynasty in the seventh century, the lantern displays would last three days. The emperor also lifted the curfew, allowing the people to enjoy the festive lanterns day and night. It is not difficult to find Chinese poems which describe this happy scene.^[18]

In the Song dynasty, the festival was celebrated for five days^[12] and the activities began to spread to many of the big cities in China.

Today, displaying lanterns remains a major tradition across China on the fifteenth day of the first lunisolar month. Chengdu in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, for example, holds a lantern fair each year in Culture Park. During the Lantern Festival, the park is a virtual ocean of lanterns. Many new designs attract large numbers of visitors. The most eye-catching lantern is the Dragon Pole. This is a lantern in the shape of a golden dragon, spiraling up a 38-meter-high pole, spewing fireworks from its mouth. Cities such as Hangzhou and Shanghai have adopted electric and neon lanterns, which can often be seen beside their traditional paper or wooden counterparts. Another popular activity at this festival is guessing lantern riddles,^[19] a tradition which dates back to the Song dynasty.^[20]

Lion dance (舞獅), walk on stilts (踩高蹺), riddle games (猜燈謎), dragon dances (耍龍燈) are very popular activities during the festival day and the days following.

The lantern riddle, according to Japanese scholars, became popular as early as the Northern Song dynasty (960–1126). The lantern riddles are done by a host blocking one side of the lantern and pasting riddles on the remaining three sides of the lanterns. Participants will guess the blocked side by solving the riddles, which is called “breaking/solving lantern riddles”. The theme of riddles can be drawn from classics, biographies, poetry, the various philosophers’ well-known stories and novels, proverbs, (the names of) all kinds of birds, animals, and insects, as well as flowers, grasses, vegetables, and herbs. Participants can tear off the riddle of the lantern and let the host verify their answers. Those who answer the correct answer can get a “riddle reward”, including ink, paper, writing brushes, ink slabs, fans, perfumed sachets, fruit, or eatables.^[21]

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Listen to “THERE IS HOPE FOR ADULTS LIVING WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA   TO LIVE A FULL AND NORMAL LIFE   May is Mental Health Awareness Month ” on Spreaker.

The post THERE IS HOPE FOR ADULTS LIVING WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA   TO LIVE A FULL AND NORMAL LIFE   May is Mental Health Awareness Month  appeared first on Good News!.

                                           Lao Tzu

#needing #nothing #attracts #everything #become #full #empty #reborn #die #given #give #up #lao #tzu #you

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IN THIS MAILING 

SEPTEMBER 2021

SPECIAL “FREE EVENT” (Sun, Sept 26th) – “ON ZOOM” 

JODI SEROTA PRESENTS

    *** CELEBRATING THE POWER OF 3 ***

      * THE FULL HARVEST MOON 

      * AUTUMN EQUINOX 

      * MERCURY RETROGRADE  

This Sunday, Sept 26th, 2021

12:30pm – 2:30pm EST. (On ZOOM)

    ALL ARE WELCOME! Please Share!

---

---

FREE

“ON-LINE ZOOM” EVENT

CELEBRATING THE POWER OF 3

THE FULL HARVEST MOON * AUTUMN EQUINOX * MERCURY RETROGRADE

With Jodi Serota & Her Guides

Sun, Sept. 26th, 2021 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm EST

---

Hi Everyone,
Many of you know that I usually offer an annual event for the Full Harvest Moon Youthing Ceremony.

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“NOSEWORTHY” IS NEWSWORTHY!

Announcing the publication of Noseworthy, byHilltop30 Publication Group

For author, Barbara Caplan-Bennett, the appearance of a spot on her nosebegan as a mere annoyance, but quickly escalated into a full-out battle with melanoma.Barbara was given a choice, give up her entire nose or risk losing her life.

Barbara relays her story with unusual frankness – sharing both her fearsand her hope as she is faced with decisions that will determine her fate. JoinBarbara on her journey of big challenges and small victories that ultimatelylead her to a “new normal” – facing the world without her nose.

Whatthey’re saying about “Noseworthy”

Barbara Caplan-Bennett is a brilliant writer whohas written a personal, compelling, and ultimately uplifting tale about thingslost (her nose) and gained (badass optimistic attitude) during her victoriousfight over cancer. I promise you will love this book!

~Seth Davis, CBS Sports college basketball analyst and author of Wooden:A Coach’s Life

“Brave, honest and very funny. Barbara Caplan-Bennett found herself in acage fight not only with cancer but with fear, vanity, and self-worth. What shecame out with is more than an inspirational survival story—it reads like thejournal of a trusted friend”

~Cynthia Carle, co-writer THESIXTH MAN, Humanitas Finalist YOU WISH

Contact Barbara Caplan-Bennett for Information& Interviews

Email: Noseworthy2020@gmail.com

What Does Peace Mean to Barbara Caplan-Bennett: http://goodnewsplanet.com/what-does-peace-mean-to-barbara-caplan-bennett/

The post “NOSEWORTHY” IS NEWSWORTHY! A full-out battle with melanoma appeared first on Good News!.

Today, the full moon begins.  According to Jewish belief, it is time to heal.  Receive, don’t ask questions.  Segulot (spiritual medicine in Hebrew), only 28 words: “God, our Heavenly Father and our creator, please, come through my house and take all my worries and all my illnesses and, please, come  definitively heal my family. Amen. “This prayer is very powerful.  It is a Segulot which passes it to 12 people, including myself.  A blessing comes to you in the form of a new job, money and very  good health.  If it is received again, there is no need to pass, the energy flow will follow.

  

?

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At 6-foot-1, 250-pounds, Ovie Mughelli was a bruising fullback for more than a decade in the NFL. The former All-Pro player was known for punishing linebackers, but also for his engaging personality and ability to have fun with his teammates both on and off the field. Mughelli is a former network TV Sports analyst, so he still finds plenty of time to watch the Big Game while partying with friends. On January 25th, just in time for the Super Bowl (Feb. 3) in Atlanta, Ovie is available to share his can’t-miss Big Game party tips. Find out how this former NFL star and his friends plan to party.

OVIE’S BIG GAME PARTY CHECK LIST INCLUDES: SCORING WITH DIPS—New must-have chips and popcorn for hungry fanatics SUPER SIDES—Loving the hummus creations for a healthier game time snack BEVERAGE BONANZA—Ovie’s prime time special drink recipes GRILLING GREATNESS—Simples secrets for big game grilling perfection OVIE’S BACKGROUND – During his career, Ovie played for the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons. He was an All-ACC fullback for Wake Forest in college. He was formerly on ACC Gridiron Live on FOX Sports.

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www.bloomingcoutureflower.com

2216 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10024

(212) 787–0151

MON-FRI 8AM TO 7PM

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SUN 10AM TO 6PM

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