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If you're still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember the special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don't really know the SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power the ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it.

June's Birthstone: Pearl

Birthstone Properties: Truth and beauty

Alternative Birthstones: Moonstone and Alexandrite

Pearl is the official birthstone of the month of June. It is also the accepted anniversary gemstone for the 3rd and 30th years of marriage. Pearls have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra, yet there are perfectly suited to young girls and are a popular gift for first communion.

Pearls come in a wide range of colors from delicate rose white to black. The higher the luster or "orient," the more valuable the specimen. Greeks believed that pearls were the hardened tears of joy that the Love Goddess shook from her eyes as she was born from the sea. In Arab legend, pearls were formed when oysters were lured from the depths of the ocean by the beautiful moon and then swallowed moonlit dewdrops. Ancient Chinese thought that these gems originated from the brains of dragons.

Whatever their origins, pearls are magnificent!

Round Pearl...and Her Shapely Sisters

It's hard to believe that the coveted pearl comes naturally from one of the humblest of life forms -- the mollusk. Divers find natural pearls in The Persian Gulf as well as in the waters off Japan, the South Pacific Islands off northern Australia, and the coasts of Panama, Venezuela, and California.

Besides the popular round shape most people associate with pearls, there are also large hemispherical cultured pearls (called mabe), fresh water pearls (elongated in interesting shapes and colors) and South Sea cultured pearls (from Australia and Indonesian waters) that grow to 10 mm and up!

Gems of unsurpassed beauty and elegance, pearls have been a passion and even an obsession of people throughout the ages. They have been ground up and used in cosmetics and as a medicine to treat heart and stomach conditions. Some cultures swear by pearls as an aphrodisiac.

Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child. Pearls are nature's perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown.

Alternate Birthstones

Moonstone is a type of feldspar that earned its name because of its resemblance to the iridescent sheen of the moon. Varying in color from clear to blue-white or peach, it was believed to endow the wearer with great spiritual understanding. A gift of this stone is symbolic of health and longevity.

Alexandrite. A yellowish or brownish green in color, this gemstone has the unique characteristic of changing color to a red hue when exposed to a glowing light source, such as candlelight. Because of this quality, it has been characterized by poets as "an emerald by day, a ruby by night."

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What Makes Australia a dream Tourist Destination

Apart from experiencing great shopping, great food and exciting entertainment in Australia, a tourist will be lured by the unique Australian attractions. Not many people know about the mind blowing attractions that Australia boasts apart from popular tourist attractions such as Sydney, Melbourne. Some of the most desired Australia tourist attractions include Fraser Island, Sydney Harbor Bridge, Great Barrier Reef, Scenic World, Kakadu National Park, Sydney Opera House, Port Arthur, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Amp Tower Centrepoint, National Gallery of Australia, Gold Coast, Ocean Road etc.

Great Barrier Reef :

One of the most visited tourist spots in Australia is the Great Barrier Reef which is also considered as the most well protected marine site in the whole world. The Reef is positioned close to the northern coast of Queensland and stretches for 2000 kilometers. The Great Barrier Reef with its awe inspiring coral beach islands offers a heavenly experience to the nature lovers. Divers and romantics consider the vibrant and colorful underwater reef to be a great treat for eyes.

Sydney Opera House:

Constructed by the famous Danish architect John Utzon in the twentieth century, Sydney Opera House is another world famous tourist attraction drawing a number of tourists from across the world. UNESCO has inscribed the Sydney Opera House as the World Heritage Building on the June 28 of 2007. People from across the world flock at Australia with the main purpose of catching a glimpse of this artistic monument which is also an Australian icon.

Uluru:

Visiting Uluru, Australia's famous and iconic rock monolith is an unique experience. It is better known as Ayers Rock and the best thing about this rock is that it changes its colors as the day passes by. Uluru which is 348 meters high, 3.6 kilometers long and 1.9 kilometers wide is the second largest rock in the Universe.

Sydney Harbor Bridge:

Another reason to visit Australia is to take a peek at the world famous structure of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. This Bridge was opened in the year 1932 and since then it continues to be one of the prime attractions of Australia apart from being the connecting factor of the central business district of Sydney and the North shore of the harbor.

Gold Coast:

The most popular Australian tourist destination is the Gold Coast in Queensland. Gold Coast is one of the major reasons what makes Australia a dream tourist destination. Golden beaches under the soothing sun makes it a paradise for honeymooners. The 30 plus kilometers long stretch of golden beach is what attracts the foreign tourists to spend their dream vacation here in Australia.

Ocean Road:

The famous Ocean Road is the famous coastal route leading to the Twelve Apostles of Australia and it continues to be one of the major attractions in Australia. The Great Ocean Road was built in memory of the slain soldiers of World War I. This historic road leads a traveler to the famous Philip Island where one can catch a glimpse of the penguins.

Sydney Opera House:

Constructed by the famous Danish architect John Utzon in the twentieth century, Sydney Opera House is another world famous tourist attraction drawing a number of tourists from across the world. UNESCO has inscribed the Sydney Opera House as the World Heritage Building on the June 28 of 2007. People from across the world flock at Australia with the main purpose of catching a glimpse of this artistic monument which is also an Australian icon.

Uluru:

Visiting Uluru, Australia's famous and iconic rock monolith is an unique experience. It is better known as Ayers Rock and the best thing about this rock is that it changes its colors as the day passes by. Uluru which is 348 meters high, 3.6 kilometers long and 1.9 kilometers wide is the second largest rock in the Universe.

Sydney Harbor Bridge:

Another reason to visit Australia is to take a peek at the world famous structure of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. This Bridge was opened in the year 1932 and since then it continues to be one of the prime attractions of Australia apart from being the connecting factor of the central business district of Sydney and the North shore of the harbor.

Gold Coast:

The most popular Australian tourist destination is the Gold Coast in Queensland. Gold Coast is one of the major reasons what makes Australia a dream tourist destination. Golden beaches under the soothing sun makes it a paradise for honeymooners. The 30 plus kilometers long stretch of golden beach is what attracts the foreign tourists to spend their dream vacation here in Australia.

Ocean Road:

The famous Ocean Road is the famous coastal route leading to the Twelve Apostles of Australia and it continues to be one of the major attractions in Australia. The Great Ocean Road was built in memory of the slain soldiers of World War I. This historic road leads a traveler to the famous Philip Island where one can catch a glimpse of the penguins.

About the Author

Rohan Arora is travel based writer. I like traveling & exploring new destinations. For more info on Australia tourist attractions visit www.travour.com/tours-to-usa/tours-to-usa-states/tourist-attractions-in-california.html

Does a convict in Australia get any time off for good behavior?

There is a guy I use to know, he is now serving a 14 year sentence for drug smuggling (among other charges), his co-conspirators; One got 10 and the other got 7 years.
In the USA, convicts usually only serve about 55% of their sentence (Good time; as in time credditted for good behavior while in prison, plus time creditted for county lock-up, ie awaiting trial in a local county jail)
So basically, is he going to have to serve his full 14 years locked-up in prison?

People do get their sentences reduced in recognition of good behaviour etc and they can apply for parole after serving a certain amount of time. I am not sure about the time your friend would have to serve but it most probably would not be the full 14 years.

Australia on tsunami watch following Chile quake
Australia has been put on a tsunami watch following a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile.

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