On January 27, at 12:12 am (CST) according to NASA (www.nasa.gov to view video) a solar flare occurred and it peaked at 12:37 am (CST).  The flare caused a strong radio black out at low frequencies when it burst rated R3 on a scale of R1-R5.  Flares are rated 1-5 just like tornados and depending on strength given their rating.  The solar flare that occured on Jan 27 got rated R3 at initial burst, but then went to a lower rating of R1. 

Without NASA's technology and advanced sun filming capablilties, no one would even know when a solar flares occurs.  Solar flares are an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots. They are our solar system’s largest explosive events and can last from minutes to hours. 

12:12 am (CST) here in the states was 12:12 pm January 28th, in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh, but even they would not have noticed or seen the solar flare.  Without NASA we would be completely unaware that solar flares ever occured.  We would just experience the cellar and radio frequency nuisances during our busied lives of which we would be quick to blame the carrier of these devices rather than say "Dang, I just lost my cell connection because of a solar flare!" 

One thing I really love to do is hand out my author business cards to people I encounter when I'm out and about.  It's a great way to let people know about my book.  I will hand them to people when I'm at the cashier station.  I've never had anyone turn down a business card.  They either get very interested and if they aren't they take the card and thank me, look at it, and probably discard it.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who does it.  In fact I learned this little tactic of promotion on the show "Wife Swap".  The husband of the wife swap had his own realitor business and he handed out his business cards every where he went.  I usually carry around a big chunk of them as some places have a business card station where you can leave several of them.  Some places even have a bulletin board you can tack it up on.  So it's good marketing.

Today, however, I ran into one interesting person.  I was standing in line waiting my turn to pay and this man was in front of me.  He was very cheerful.  He was greeting everyone, talking to the people at the counter, and talking to the people behind the counter.  He engaged me in conversation, so I whipped a business card out of my purse and said "Here, have one of these".  He took it and looked all inquisitive as if he didn't know what it was.  Like I was trying to hand something funky off to him.  He read it and said very loudy "MAYA! I don't know nothing 'bout no MAYA! I only have things to do with Jesus Christ.  JESUS CHRIST my friends, I love JESUS CHRIST!"...  Oh boy... I wasn't expecting that kind of reaction.  And then it happened...He gave me back my business card.  E-Gads!  I was horrified!  It's my first business card rejection.  Meanwhile...his loudness was causing people to stare, which made it slightly uncomfortable. 

I took the card back, blushing, and was glad his turn was over.  It was my turn to pay, so I paid, and just set the lonely rejected business card on the counter for the sales lady.  I was past the point of no return.  Everyone knew I had it, so it had to go somewhere. 

It is a bit ironic in fact that the man mentioned Jesus Christ, as Jesus is in fact mentioned in my book "The Ancient Maya and Their City of Tulum".  You may be thinking right now...Jesus.?..The Maya?  What do those two have in common?  Should they even be used in the same the sentence? 

Interestingly enough, Jesus Christ's birth has a lot to do with correlating the Maya calendar to our calendar of today.  It is Jesus's date of birth that separates A.D. from B.C.  and in order to correlate the Maya calendar, A.D. and B.C. come into play.  It's a little difficult to explain without going into lots of detail and giving away what is written in my book, but the date of Jesus's birth is significant in determining calendar reckonings. 

Apparently, I should be asking this Guatemalan goddess to get rid of my insominia filled nights. According to Godtionary, she was the Guatemalan goddess of sleep, mostly in men.  I suppose Maya men had a harder time with insomnia than the women.  The men had to worry more about being sacrificed and going to war and providing for the family, so of course his mind must have created many a sleepless night. 

My nightly worries aren't about anything the Maya had to think about. In fact, the Maya would probably have a good laugh at the things we loose sleep over today. 

My new book release has caused me many a sleepless night.  I'm constantly thinking of the long list of things I have to do.  Since I don't have a hired staff of publicists, marketing managers, and assistants by my side, I've found myself entering into a brand new territory.  So far it's been a fun one, and I still have lots to learn.  I've been busy getting contact information for and sending out my press releases, and sending emails to announce my book's release. 

As I sit here in the frigid state of Minnesota on this January 19, where today the temperature outside is much colder than the temperature I keep my deep freezer in my basement, I debate on turning the thermostat in my house up and wish I was sitting on a beach enjoying tropical weather...say for instance...in the Yucatan Peninsula.

The Maya were smart in the fact that they migrated to Guatemala, Peru, and the Yucatan Peninsula when Alaska and Siberia were still connected via land bridge.  They were smart not to stay in the cold and go where the sun shines hot and fresh fruit is always in abundance.  Try finding good fruit in the grocery store in Minnesota this time of year.  It's slim pickings! 

It is amazing the Maya migrated all that distance when you stop and really think about it.  It is approximately 5,911.9 miles from Anchorage, Alaska to Tulum, Mexico.  Which according to Google would take 4 days and 15 hours to drive non-stop, that's not taking into consideration any potty or food breaks. Or even going through customs to get through Canada and Mexico.  Imagine driving all that way cooped up in a car with your family.  Yikes!..(and I thought the family driving trip from Minnesota to Wyoming was a long one!) 

According to Wikopedia, the average person walks  3.1 miles per hour.  So when we do our math....  5,911.9 miles divided by 3.1 miles per hour....It would have taken 1,907.0645 hours to walk from Anchorage, Alaska to Tulum, Mexico.  That's 79 1/2 days.!! .non-stop.  No one can walk non-stop. 

Thank goodness the Wright Brothers came along and invented flying!! 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Information Uncovered about the Maya End of Days December 21, 2012

     January 12, 2012- St. Paul, MN -  Just when you think you’ve read everything there is to know about the ancient Maya and their doomsday prophesy, comes an insightful, new book that uncovers revelations about who the Maya were and the real meaning behind the December 21, 2012 End of Days prophesy – The Ancient Maya and Their City of Tulum; Uncovering the Mysteries of an Ancient Civilization and Their City of Grandeur (979-1-4620-6272-0, trade softcover, 112 pp, 8 ½ x 11, $16.95)

     The Maya are indeed a mystifying and unique ancient civilization and with the approaching date of December 21, 2012, they are at the forefront of daily conversations.  Discover the ancient Maya civilization and one of their most popular toured ancient ruined cities of Tulum, Mexico in this detailed guidebook.

     The Ancient Maya and Their City of Tulum:  Uncovering the Mysteries of An Ancient Civilization and Their City of Grandeur, is an easy to read comprehensive guide to unlocking the secrets and mysteries of the ancient Maya civilization.  It answers the questions that so many people ask about one of the most interesting and amazing civilizations that existed in this world and explores in depth the biggest Maya mystery of all; The Maya Doomsday December 21, 2012 Prophesy.  It embarks upon the secrets and mysteries surrounding their calendars, their beliefs, the way in which they lived, what happened to them, and their ancient cities in this complete comprehendible guide with photographs and illustrations.

     Bonnie Bley lives in the suburbs of St. Paul, MN with her husband and two sons.  She took writing courses from the Institute of Children’s Literature in CT.  After a tour of the ruins in Tulum, Mexico she was inspired to investigate and write about the ancient Maya and the ruins of Tulum.  Extensive research for over a year and collaboration with expert anthropologists and archeologists led to the insightful book about this wonderful ancient civilization and uncovers new information regarding the December 21, 2012 End of Days debate. 

    The Ancient Maya and Their City of Tulum; Uncovering the Mysteries of an Ancient Civilization and Their City of Grandeur is available now for sale from www.iUniverse.com, www.Amazon.com, and www.BarnesandNoble.com.  It is available in softcover format and e-book formats.  For more information and to schedule an interview please contact Bonnie Bley at bbley@bonniebley.com