tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62470501853645410072024-03-16T01:10:11.837+00:00PORTSMOUTH POINTThe official blog of The Portsmouth Point- PGS's magazine of ideas and culture.J. Burkinshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07521961323780567072noreply@blogger.comBlogger5059125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-4394289288961091822024-03-15T09:35:00.002+00:002024-03-15T09:36:53.444+00:00The Colosseum: Timeless Reminder of Human Creativity and Ambition<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by </i><b>Iona P</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBkLK11LamVh948I2xxcOvJlw5Z185CC9MewYtx3fsfEbT1CKaopWqsE1r7VwTy5g4C-CoCUVldfqeL_u596EszTLdiZQVctB7S9yPf-oXelT7Uy758R_4zMQu7N0qp5ckKiNl37Aedg2AUexJMnCAMeuJa-1Y0TZjLw20xDs65xviOHDwpuAlkdM_gwm/s618/col.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="618" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBkLK11LamVh948I2xxcOvJlw5Z185CC9MewYtx3fsfEbT1CKaopWqsE1r7VwTy5g4C-CoCUVldfqeL_u596EszTLdiZQVctB7S9yPf-oXelT7Uy758R_4zMQu7N0qp5ckKiNl37Aedg2AUexJMnCAMeuJa-1Y0TZjLw20xDs65xviOHDwpuAlkdM_gwm/w640-h482/col.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(image courtesy of Mrs Pearcey, taken during her honeymoon in 2023)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The mighty Colosseum in Rome is a major landmark, being one of the jewels of the Roman Empire, it is recognised around the globe. </span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It stands as an enduring symbol of ancient Rome's grandeur and excesses, captivating visitors with its imposing presence and intricate history. Erected in the heart of Rome, this architectural marvel has borne witness to a myriad of events, from gladiatorial combat to dramatic reenactments and executions; it remains an iconic landmark of human ingenuity and brutality.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Construction of the Colosseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, began around 70 AD - 72 C.E, under the Emperor Vespasian and was completed in AD 80 by his son Titus. Built on the site of Nero's extravagant palace, the Colosseum was intended to showcase the might and majesty of the Roman Empire. Its elliptical shape, towering arches and tiered seating could accommodate up to 50,000 spectators, making it the largest amphitheatre of its time.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The games held at the Colosseum were a spectacle to behold, lasting for 100 days and featuring gladiatorial contests, wild animal hunts, and naval battles reenacted on a flooded arena. These extravagant displays served to entertain the masses, distract them from the hardships of daily life, and reinforce the authority of the ruling elite.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gladiatorial combat (the most iconic of the Colosseum's events) pitted trained warriors against each other in brutal hand-to-hand combat. These fighters, often slaves or prisoners of war, battled for their freedom or the amusement of the crowd. The roar of the spectators, the clash of swords, and the sight of bloodshed created an electrifying atmosphere that has left an indelible mark on popular culture. After the fight, the emperor and crowd would decide whether the winner should slit the losers throat or if he deserved mercy. A closed fist represented lenience whilst a sideways thumb was a signal to kill him. Unlike unlike executions, their death was quick and dignified. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Beyond gladiatorial combat, the Colosseum hosted a variety of other events, including animal hunts known as venationes, where exotic beasts were imported from across the empire, often Africa, to be hunted and slaughtered for the entertainment of the crowd. These hunts showcased the empire's power and wealth while serving as a reminder of Rome's dominance over the natural world.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the Roman Empire declined, so too did the grandeur of the Colosseum. With the rise of Christianity, the public's appetite for bloodshed waned, and the amphitheatre fell into disrepair. In the centuries that followed, it was repurposed as a quarry, its stone used to build churches, palaces, and fortifications across Rome. The removal of its structural aid meant that it was less supported in Earthquakes, resulting in its partial collapse in 1349. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite centuries of plunder, the Colosseum has endured as a symbol of resilience and endurance. In the 18th century, efforts were made to preserve and restore the amphitheatre, transforming it into the iconic landmark that we know today. Today, it stands as a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of the ancient Romans, a reminder of their triumphs and magnificence.The Colosseum continues to draw millions of visitors each year, who come to marvel at its architectural splendour and immerse themselves in the rich history of ancient Rome. From guided tours to virtual reality experiences, there are countless ways to explore this ancient wonder and uncover the secrets of its past.</span></span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a world that is constantly evolving, the Colosseum serves as a timeless reminder of the enduring power of human creativity and ambition. It stands as a monument to the past, a beacon of hope for the future, and a testament to the enduring legacy of one of history's greatest civilizations.</span></span></p><div><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-6034158073483070432024-03-14T20:50:00.000+00:002024-03-14T20:50:30.412+00:00Photography: Spring?<p> <i>by </i><b>Tony Hicks</b></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Looks
like spring has arrived at last - just a shame about the weather.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5cYv0Iymrszf5DVNCqJoov2OnUzgGHOgSW2qV6Ls2mkXi5GK2UHPB0ib3wIkf1X0FIzCSrOI_Yz7Ftnkj2OzCMVam6MNT0N0TpLOgFFWFab_F53MMXg2qcbm-7zRYyGdoQF0A0DfjJoRmcfxN_vYjF7pC2uB55I7VHHo3jOxa8GW9dtrJpO5I6WkDwB1/s2048/light1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1940" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5cYv0Iymrszf5DVNCqJoov2OnUzgGHOgSW2qV6Ls2mkXi5GK2UHPB0ib3wIkf1X0FIzCSrOI_Yz7Ftnkj2OzCMVam6MNT0N0TpLOgFFWFab_F53MMXg2qcbm-7zRYyGdoQF0A0DfjJoRmcfxN_vYjF7pC2uB55I7VHHo3jOxa8GW9dtrJpO5I6WkDwB1/w606-h640/light1.jpeg" width="606" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKZhp5VPOF3N93N33SQ3dM4H1Aq7q3u_Ns1a_kh3B0y9cDfpFN8y2T_Mu68fFXyQDWqqoJeMJWknbZnNd2nbK-V-tDv9zYd_i3F6yt4Jp_HSr2GVQqPpFp5_fPHeiqfczCtRJ6qgjI2gDwDAhLy-mBJRsm6oSKwndz4EVpURv6YtkC80rIKMgqld7lbS5/s960/light2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKZhp5VPOF3N93N33SQ3dM4H1Aq7q3u_Ns1a_kh3B0y9cDfpFN8y2T_Mu68fFXyQDWqqoJeMJWknbZnNd2nbK-V-tDv9zYd_i3F6yt4Jp_HSr2GVQqPpFp5_fPHeiqfczCtRJ6qgjI2gDwDAhLy-mBJRsm6oSKwndz4EVpURv6YtkC80rIKMgqld7lbS5/w640-h480/light2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVUMXCrfHh-9i_enBMXS7FuUSwNf0v5aB2rsR4CX65AkRCRMwYBbIJiiVzDhM3FczKBu0xcyN9JLkhJt275l9XP1zJ2_d5ASkdrE-nW3IZcKeFJvRfhniW1KFsFgeRzFSaux7iwbRjkFXngcBwEK3rUefVHctisCPDI_JiUhAQONaH9prY1yOdvlu0ie4/s960/light3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVUMXCrfHh-9i_enBMXS7FuUSwNf0v5aB2rsR4CX65AkRCRMwYBbIJiiVzDhM3FczKBu0xcyN9JLkhJt275l9XP1zJ2_d5ASkdrE-nW3IZcKeFJvRfhniW1KFsFgeRzFSaux7iwbRjkFXngcBwEK3rUefVHctisCPDI_JiUhAQONaH9prY1yOdvlu0ie4/w640-h480/light3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaVIPg_qFKu4vJWvxpdE-BuaH187aEEWQv7pgyMJPWopJLdR-ra8MFoCSyLPBvNvIigUlkPVvPpSgs3VVa7JDIBX1j2Ia4Cc41ianxoCOpRnQfmgv25BdlBaKwrIE17eshya0SzTOWJRdwQTbYwvo9ohlnJPYGbKw0GuOq0Zz1ea3PeqDfFj2uWsOLeHN/s960/light4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="802" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaVIPg_qFKu4vJWvxpdE-BuaH187aEEWQv7pgyMJPWopJLdR-ra8MFoCSyLPBvNvIigUlkPVvPpSgs3VVa7JDIBX1j2Ia4Cc41ianxoCOpRnQfmgv25BdlBaKwrIE17eshya0SzTOWJRdwQTbYwvo9ohlnJPYGbKw0GuOq0Zz1ea3PeqDfFj2uWsOLeHN/w534-h640/light4.jpeg" width="534" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1jTOOC7Ej8qa5O85x7fJdGuDu3hVTobU8OQs_vgX__QASFDhf8EFpmeJ_7mqZ1AIiI09dCou1KTEMJ256-6XPV2F1QmgPJ0XeBvhE9KbMrfZOBvzfYPBgJjyB2mMTF4ZYzdd-2zl0cv1X7hdrLLDwDqloBbc1ivgsWGccJpJ6gR1t1sfST-FPhSPi0n8/s960/light5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1jTOOC7Ej8qa5O85x7fJdGuDu3hVTobU8OQs_vgX__QASFDhf8EFpmeJ_7mqZ1AIiI09dCou1KTEMJ256-6XPV2F1QmgPJ0XeBvhE9KbMrfZOBvzfYPBgJjyB2mMTF4ZYzdd-2zl0cv1X7hdrLLDwDqloBbc1ivgsWGccJpJ6gR1t1sfST-FPhSPi0n8/w480-h640/light5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqV4fj0CUh61oAbK2ayXIRIzoWb9rpSeDKCt6EiGYCOVM_MP8FoVycJ2tNUBOcsMMa1E9qn4hmj8uymQhO_iePvcebuKldmtNywV_PEkNiCz3kDwye2CNEogl8Tw8kAz2DltgdHw8t6M6kUhQEa6ulxb9JvC-AGQ1psvUlpaqMHZuxlGzTKfxK5__eLTT/s2048/light6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqV4fj0CUh61oAbK2ayXIRIzoWb9rpSeDKCt6EiGYCOVM_MP8FoVycJ2tNUBOcsMMa1E9qn4hmj8uymQhO_iePvcebuKldmtNywV_PEkNiCz3kDwye2CNEogl8Tw8kAz2DltgdHw8t6M6kUhQEa6ulxb9JvC-AGQ1psvUlpaqMHZuxlGzTKfxK5__eLTT/w640-h480/light6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-21863622143715043112024-03-14T20:39:00.005+00:002024-03-14T20:39:31.500+00:00Is a More Effective Cancer Treatment Just Around the Corner?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by </i><b>Isobella P</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtVfNXFcSATxCGilMBFiVrcurS7duDMsdDgp-kiz1APhUjbQz5KMwT8XVrA-P_8xGtM1y8lnzD01stb44cTnY-tSnc7dMdo1Kjo8L6i3kMVHvoO_JrDf2qrA7MCfiqMgsLdJZepWFzzeJDmO075oExCI6_j-Om8hS4C1MaYnvesAn-z8s_8ulPsPv8fz_/s330/medic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="330" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtVfNXFcSATxCGilMBFiVrcurS7duDMsdDgp-kiz1APhUjbQz5KMwT8XVrA-P_8xGtM1y8lnzD01stb44cTnY-tSnc7dMdo1Kjo8L6i3kMVHvoO_JrDf2qrA7MCfiqMgsLdJZepWFzzeJDmO075oExCI6_j-Om8hS4C1MaYnvesAn-z8s_8ulPsPv8fz_/s320/medic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">MRI showing glioblastoma</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Scientists at the University of Sussex have identified a protein which blocks cancer cells from responding to chemotherapeutic treatment for an aggressive brain cancer, known as a glioblastoma. <p></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Glioblastomas are known as some of the most common types of malignant brain tumours as well as being ranked among the worst types of all types of cancer by the US. In the UK, between 1995 and 2017, around 32 out of every 100 primary brain tumours were glioblastomas. The average life expectancy from this aggressive brain cancer after diagnosis is 14 to 16 months. However, approximately 1% of patients survive at least 10 years.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It tends to occur more often in men and older adults and the most common symptoms are: progressively worsening headaches, nausea and vomiting, blurred and double vision as well as seizures. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Normally, the patient undergoes surgery to remove the tumour. After the patient has undergone this surgery, they are typically treated with radiation and a chemotherapeutic drug known as temozolomide. Most patients usually respond well to the drug, however the cancer cells quickly develop resistance to it. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">PANK4, which is a type of protein, was identified to the researchers as the protein which has been blocking the cancer cells, therefore not allowing the drug to kill them. The researchers found that patients with high levels of PANK4 had lower survival rates. Additionally, they were able to remove the protein from cancer cells, causing the cell to die and as a result the patient responded better to the temozolomide. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore, the research group is now hoping to develop a drug to reverse the chemo-resistance. This could prove to be of massive benefit to the patients struggling with glioblastomas, and not only improve their quality of life, but also their life expectancy. </span></span></p><p><br /></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-48943985058970188712024-03-14T20:25:00.004+00:002024-03-14T20:55:40.126+00:00Did You Know: Formula 1?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by</i> <b>Nathaniel G</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrH8QCuk4ZNmbgaeOqyDTZxF24oHYTeGUr-p9lWQ9mErIfgxtyBybP5ELvEA9CLO0ypB9x49409F5oaDaDZqEfX8t5x319JD0N9dURpzskSY09Xj-wu5CzqfAQREa1ZqGK3gtPWNNa_bZwctIzBH6TEq2qiengvUaVa9qsanQYntp31nmzzkfrVJ1JjgnM/s891/Max%20V.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="627" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrH8QCuk4ZNmbgaeOqyDTZxF24oHYTeGUr-p9lWQ9mErIfgxtyBybP5ELvEA9CLO0ypB9x49409F5oaDaDZqEfX8t5x319JD0N9dURpzskSY09Xj-wu5CzqfAQREa1ZqGK3gtPWNNa_bZwctIzBH6TEq2qiengvUaVa9qsanQYntp31nmzzkfrVJ1JjgnM/s320/Max%20V.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />Formula
One or F1 is a sport in which different car racing teams compete in Grand Prix
races across the world.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Famous
teams that compete include Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Max
Verstappen, who races for Red Bull, is the 2023 champion. He also won
the championship in 2021 and 2022.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lewis
Hamilton and Michael Schumacher hold the record for the most Formula 1 World
Championships in history, with both drivers winning seven world titles each.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Formula
1 cars have just a single seat for the driver.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A
typical Formula 1 car can go from zero to 160 kph in just four seconds.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Formula
1 teams can have up to 600 people, including drivers, mechanics, engineers and
designers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
average car is worth seven million dollars.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There
is currently production of a Formula 1 film called Apex. It wil star the
American actor Brad Pitt and is produced by the British driver Lewis Hamilton.
It is hoped to be released in late 2024 or early 2025.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
Singapore Grand Prix is considered the most difficult race in Formula 1. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
hottest race ever was in Bahrain in 2005 where temperatures reached 42.5
degrees celcius.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
coldest race was the Canadian Grand Prix where the temperature was only 5
degrees celcius. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
temperature for the tyres of a Formula 1 car is critical. If they are too cold,
they will slide and wear out quickly. If they are too hot, they could blister,
even before the end of a single lap.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
drivers have to warm up the tyres, often by first driving around the track in a
zigzag way. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There
is a domestic cat called a F1 cat. The F stands for’filial rating’
which means how many generations removed from the African wild serval cat
it is : ie only one generation; 50% wild. It refuses to race cars.</span></p><br /><p></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-79391714752024686262024-03-14T20:18:00.006+00:002024-03-14T20:18:51.060+00:00Poem: 'Tornado Warning'<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by</i> <b>Dawn S</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGqiBBjCq2x0sTRlGmEvrJTRh7eBPmttzX6whGynUlK_eRIqW99j-YyTDV6g2wiSVQ_bPcoVVhbx_LnzQ5Uohu8Iz1AxFGGaRMJ3gFX-KLOV7HbZpUSZOQ8bXZBkqCTaQgdc5kE1-uMsznHO_p1ay-ORD43M-2JyWjx4w6YwHfiBT9arf9aAtRUSlLLKg/s1200/tornado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGqiBBjCq2x0sTRlGmEvrJTRh7eBPmttzX6whGynUlK_eRIqW99j-YyTDV6g2wiSVQ_bPcoVVhbx_LnzQ5Uohu8Iz1AxFGGaRMJ3gFX-KLOV7HbZpUSZOQ8bXZBkqCTaQgdc5kE1-uMsznHO_p1ay-ORD43M-2JyWjx4w6YwHfiBT9arf9aAtRUSlLLKg/w640-h480/tornado.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So this is how it ends,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">grey sea morphing into grey sky, horizon</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a thin balance beam today, white ice sun rays</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">skirting behind clouds & there is the tornado,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">does anybody know what it is? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ll be standing on greyscale pebbles</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">bunched together, a row of fading trainers drained </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of light. I think your face will be too gaunt</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to laugh or otherwise you would, the irony of it, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">really, because at the hospital they scooped</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">you into tubes and tapped out your life</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">on a screen, moulded your soul back together </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">until you were well & now there is</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What actually is it, though?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It’s all </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can think and if I asked myself as a six-year-old</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">she would know, or she’d believe she knew — God,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">at least it is me and not her, or she’d be frozen</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">skeletal to the bed whispering</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">her final confessions into the night & hoping</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the wind is strong enough to carry her</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to heaven. She thought in heaven they slept</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">in purple sleeping bags. Anyway, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">now I see it, column-vortex choreography</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">spinning and spouting between sky and sea</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">like a Grecian pillar holding up the heavens. I remember</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">you telling me what a frieze was aged six,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and it is us and it is Pompeii and it is silent suspension </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">& probably I should be worried about </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">pyroclastic flow but I am giddy </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and I think if we were filming this</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">we’d laugh years later.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I suppose we still could. It is only</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a warning. The shape of it</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">is always something that has pulled the soles</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">from my feet. Let us stand here, in a line,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">with no tornado, so that perhaps when the day comes</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">this is the frieze we will be locked in, & please</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">sit me down and tell me how it functions</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">before the day it kills us in our sleep.</span></span></p><p><br /><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A version of this poem was originally published in The Malu Zine</span></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-62049731083487185652024-03-14T20:14:00.006+00:002024-03-14T20:14:38.717+00:00Mindfulness: De-Stress at Your Desk<p> <i>by</i> <b>Niki King</b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t82wiIfNCBw" width="320" youtube-src-id="t82wiIfNCBw"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-85546511962948189982024-03-14T20:12:00.001+00:002024-03-14T20:12:14.232+00:00Is the Pontiff Qualified for Politics?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by </i><b>Marinela P</b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLehxR0i0aV4ED8hINEAL1dW8SZb3UytWb-pQQdRsASGrExv2i5afKHDrYPiY9eevMIK_tLmVEKhM91tLFLNRXWAXkhYY3tis5THA4JGo4OztdBb9LVL9cDuTiiHYaxQuwwwsBl2mbOvuPe8azr1lN3dzUom-AiZJtfm7NYd7UE-lmNhT-gpYcHneW2Pz/s1062/Francis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLehxR0i0aV4ED8hINEAL1dW8SZb3UytWb-pQQdRsASGrExv2i5afKHDrYPiY9eevMIK_tLmVEKhM91tLFLNRXWAXkhYY3tis5THA4JGo4OztdBb9LVL9cDuTiiHYaxQuwwwsBl2mbOvuPe8azr1lN3dzUom-AiZJtfm7NYd7UE-lmNhT-gpYcHneW2Pz/s320/Francis.jpg" width="241" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The Pope: the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, believed
by Catholics to be the direct successor of St Peter, a source of inspiration
and the image of an ideal catholic. Of the many accolades bestowed upon the
pope, political partisanship is not one of them. With Pope Francis seeming to
lack neutrality when commenting on the conflict in Ukraine, it brings to light
the question as to whether the papacy has a role in politics?</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently, Pope Francis has brought into question the
papacy’s role in politics with a comment made on the conflict in Ukraine. In an
interview, the Pope made the claim that Ukraine should have “the courage to
raise the White flag” and negotiate an end to the war with Russia. A statement
that unsurprisingly caused outrage, with many seeing the comment as siding with
Russia. It is not wrong for the Pope to comment on political matters and the
moral issues surrounding them. The Pope has drawn attention to climate change
in his encyclical on the environment Laudato Si, the chronic refugee crisis and
global economic injustice. Recommendations to Christians world wide on how best
to deal with these pressing, often highly politicised issues is not wrong, in
fact some will argue that it is the role of the Pope to offer guidance. The
place of the papacy in politics is a contentious matter, with strong arguments
on both sides. Should the papacy be politically involved? Does politics concern
faith and therefore intervention is necessary?<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The papacy, regardless of comments made by the Pope, is
politically involved. The Holy See has an established position in politics
globally, with the Vatican sending their equivalent to diplomats (apostolic
nuncios) to different countries in order to maintain a relationship between the
church and state. As well as being able to send and host ambassadors, the Pope
also has the ability to sign international treaties. This indicates great
political power held by the Pope, but it does not justify the Pope's political
partisanship.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible itself was somewhat a religious text. Brazilian
Archbishop, Helder Camara said, “when people tell me that religion and politics
don’t mix, I ask them which Bible they read?”. Through this he was referring to
the Gospels, which portray a number of conflicts that Jesus had with his
antagonists which were political in nature: healings on the sabbath, claims of
authority, differences over opinion as to ritual requirements and
interpretations of the law. So where does this leave the papacy, because the
gospels had moments of political tension. Does this justify the current Pope in
seeming to back a country in a major conflict?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Absolutely not, the papacy have historically misaligned
themselves during times of conflict, with WW2 not covering the Holy See with
glory. The papacy has such a great and yielding influence across the globe. A
vital figure in Christianity generally cannot be seen to have a stance so
divisive.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Society in the 21st century has veered away from religion,
some may argue that the Pope’s words are inconsequential. However the Pope’s
words are incredibly relevant and dangerous. With the Vatican appearing to toe
the line with Russia it seems that the Pope is supporting what Putin has been
preaching over the past two years. The words of the Pope are not fostering
hopes for peace in the Vatican, nor does it inspire hope for the war more
generally, providing now moral ammunition for a country that arguably can do
without.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With that in mind, it is safe to conclude that the Pope
should not be preaching politics, not only does the papacy fail to reflect the
popular view of Europe, as well as the world more generally, its spiritual
authority does not permit the Pope to have public political biases, deepening
rifts and giving justification to aggressors in war.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><b></b><p></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-25957271724989615472024-03-14T20:07:00.005+00:002024-03-14T20:07:59.478+00:00Headwear in the Ancient World: Its History and Legacy<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by </i><b>Rowan R</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLMo2NGl4QzkydnQsKf_ox6fFnQJHc6qAP1yFTB-Ngijo05lK9K72_7j0-i4TC9UOm9jZ1Zo3oxhK4ZZJKBXtmR2DCu-VLfQSI7yu3VFKukLc7Rmdl0-vI2FiHTdlyn9s3zsYLo95WUFSj7dZRkjt4IPeOLn3XdbItwB3WgEyuYbx9bQ0YcSD3WL8VlP7/s330/classic.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLMo2NGl4QzkydnQsKf_ox6fFnQJHc6qAP1yFTB-Ngijo05lK9K72_7j0-i4TC9UOm9jZ1Zo3oxhK4ZZJKBXtmR2DCu-VLfQSI7yu3VFKukLc7Rmdl0-vI2FiHTdlyn9s3zsYLo95WUFSj7dZRkjt4IPeOLn3XdbItwB3WgEyuYbx9bQ0YcSD3WL8VlP7/s320/classic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; text-align: left;">A conical pileus hat, 4th century BC</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hats are a ubiquitous part of our lives, although we do not often stop to consider them. They have remained virtually unchanged for thousands upon thousands of years, but, of course, they did not always exist. One of the first and most ancient paintings of a hat being worn can be found in a tomb, in Thebes, Egypt, depicting a man wearing a conical straw hat not dissimilar to the sunhats commonly worn today. This hat may have been an ancestor of some of the first widely worn and manufactured hats, which were first produced in Ancient Greece before spreading across the Mediterranean and eventually the world. <span></span></span></span><p></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Very few ancient hats, or even depictions of hats, survive, but it can be hypothesised that this ancient Egyptian straw hat may have been related to the petatsos, a kind of ancient Greek sunhat often made from woven straw, leather or wool. Its brim was broad to protect the wearer from the sun - in fact, it is the first recorded hat to have a brim. For women, the hat had a tall, conical crown, whereas for men it was usually lower, as this was more practical. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, women rarely wore hats - they typically did not work outside in the sunlight as men did, and so wore hats primarily as a fashion accessory or to cover their hair rather than to keep the sun or rain off. Women in ancient Greek art are typically depicted wearing veils or with their hair bound or garlanded with flowers, but men can often be seen wearing the pileus or petatsos in art, especially in red-figure pottery. A famous figure characteristically depicted as wearing the petatsos is Hermes - like most of his associated symbols, the hat has small wings. Another set of mythological figures often depicted as wearing hats are the Dioscuri, better known as the mythical twins Castor and Pollux, whose pileus caps were often explained as being the remnants of the egg from which they hatched. This significance led to the petatsos being regarded as somewhat of a status symbol, as well as being often used in art to denote certain important mythological figures.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ancient Greece, being a country with scorching summers and wet winters, had various different types of hats to protect their wearers from the elements. Likely the most famous of these is the pileus: a brimless, roughly conical felt hat </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The pileus was adopted by many cultures, including early mediaeval mainland and western Europe, as well as parts of Italy - especially Rome. The pileus bore some resemblance to the Phrygian cap, which was almost identical other than the fact its top point was curled forwards: it was a hat that became an important symbol in many cultures, especially in Rome, where it grew to be emblematic of manumission.Among the Romans the cap of felt was the emblem of liberty. When a slave was granted citizenship as a free man in Rome, their head was shaved, and they were allowed to wear a pileus - a right not given to those who were enslaved. The significance of the pileus as a symbol of freedom was also emphasised by the fact that Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, carried a pileus as well as a rod, another component of the ritual of manumission, as easily identifiable emblems of liberty. The pileus was such an ubiquitous part of Greek society that it was adapted into the form of a conical bronze helmet, sometimes decorated with a horsehair crest, from around the 5th century - this type of helmet was named the pilos helmet after it, and in fact the pileus was probably worn under it to protect the wearer’s head. This shape or helmet would have been useful for infantry as it allowed for a much wider range of vision and movement than traditional Greek helmets, but it was not widely adopted. </span></span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Overall, the pileus and the petatsos were without a doubt some of the most widespread and influential ancient hats, reaching a wide number of different countries and having great cultural significance.</span></span></p><div><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-43854058737753010182024-03-14T19:53:00.007+00:002024-03-14T19:54:31.678+00:00Mercury Arc Rectifiers<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by</i> <b>Damyy L</b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Rectifier is a device that primarily serves to convert high alternating current to direct current. Alternating current is the flow of charge in a backward and forward direction while direct current is the flow of charge in one direction only . Mercury Arc Rectifiers were used extensively in the 18th century and it has a significant impact on the history of electrical converters in the electricity industry.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a very popular device until the 1970s, because of the invention of solid state thyristors and many other solid state devices, predominantly because solid state devices are more reliable, they cost less to maintain, and pose less environmental risk .</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The mercury arc rectifier was discovered in 1902 by an electrical engineer from the United States; Peter Cooper Hewitt. The o</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">peration of the Mercury Arc Rectifier relies on an electrical arc discharge between </span><a href="https://www.detailedpedia.com/wiki-Electrode" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">electrodes</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> in a sealed envelope containing mercury vapour at very low pressure.The cathode used in the rectifier setup has a distinctive characteristic given that it is made up of a pool of liquid mercury, allowing it to function as a self-renewing cathode that does not deteriorate over time.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The mercury arc rectifier as the name implies makes use of the chemical element Mercury. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 282px; overflow: hidden; width: 234px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="282" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/cOBaXZupcNrwR14HdGjKy4OmWbh6aUxUSUhIlqnB_uukrLQy1HXSZAfX5YyiT2fzTFgbV0FzJqYDs0rT-oe-SfrpeU_y6-WqhsKYOT0oVw8sOpTNdD9Pwar2CvPe4nUejatMStpHKUc5p0NaAQl1504" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="234" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mercury is a metal which means it can conduct electricity, it has two valence electrons that are free to move</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How it Works:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A mercury arc rectifier is simply made up of a cathode and anodes; the cathode is a pool of mercury liquid, and the anode, which is connected to the source of alternating current, is made of carbon or steel, which is essentially positively charged.The cathode is heated, causing the mercury in its liquid state to vapourize. The anode then attracts the negatively charged electrons, while the ionised mercury vapour returns to the cathode.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This creates an electric arc an discharge between the two electrodes .</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Due to this process, electrons can only flow through the tube in one direction—from the cathode to the anode. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are two main types of Mercury Arc Rectifiers; glass tube and steel valve</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Glass tube rectifier:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 263px; overflow: hidden; width: 423px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="263" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/Q4Fmn5ZXl6f6vu7T0LPMOveeY1Ao9gpT4g3ErbRrC23EkaXD17-pfLElDHg-yfBiDqVDm0xk8D0Gju24I3s1ryT0-sSPb5Umsi8a0lb_Fd2nB53UbyRgAS0xIR9Z38FxjvuKMGHg7OOBc2SXHA-dyzw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="423" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Glass tube rectifier uses a glass bulb-like setup, with two or more anodes that are typically connected to an AC current. As previously explained, it functions as follows: The liquid mercury is ignited with an external source (excitation cathode) ; it turns to vapour and rises within the bulb. The carbon-based anodes then attract the negatively charged electrons from the vapour and this rectifies the alternating current. The ionised vapour condenses and returns to the surface of the cathode , this process also aids in maintaining the high temperature of the cathode.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steel Valve Rectifier:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 229px; overflow: hidden; width: 237px;"><img height="229" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/lyxXTp2pu-coHmQcFjItgkJq566LVzxSRLr3_v8ZQLsQrGQoO4oPqBqgHwPesYNyuqnigPtumM7YCySfF0riAT1p-pgisWbel939FYYpX5LZQ6Z6gMpMll5mmzZjTkRF8t2qyxyQKb4_GlcV0teNlzk" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="237" /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">;</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to the website detailed-pedia, steel valve rectifiers are used when dealing with larger valves, it is made up of a steel tank with ceramic insulators for the electrodes , with a vacuum pump system to counteract slight leakage of air into the tank around imperfect seals.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The mercury arc rectifier was an invaluable instrument in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in the field of power electronics because it could generate direct current, which was required at the time by numerous industries, particularly in the domains of radio transmission and electrolysis . Even the first batteries used to recharge electric cars were made using mercury arc rectifiers. Mercury arc rectifiers have since been replaced by semiconductors and solid state devices, but this was an inventive and useful technology nonetheless.</span></span></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-11415068252181820052024-03-12T08:01:00.004+00:002024-03-12T08:02:01.167+00:00Why Everyone Should Do Jigsaw Puzzles<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by </i><b>Isabel F</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKroAPEsL4bfavkgE_cSSO1SGwj093k60Uh4Z5czzadcDbRip9M4opXgawQVx-3LrKhtzBflkZp8sW2vc8mmrukL7fn7O_Ve9vxMPk1JZTdz6vy2mxvmQyhUifC94lWqtYkqvUFxf3VHooGiuX7BuUHRvImOJuU4rIOixX9wsu3KkBQo3j0fod4jd-Pza/s1200/jigsaw%20puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKroAPEsL4bfavkgE_cSSO1SGwj093k60Uh4Z5czzadcDbRip9M4opXgawQVx-3LrKhtzBflkZp8sW2vc8mmrukL7fn7O_Ve9vxMPk1JZTdz6vy2mxvmQyhUifC94lWqtYkqvUFxf3VHooGiuX7BuUHRvImOJuU4rIOixX9wsu3KkBQo3j0fod4jd-Pza/s320/jigsaw%20puzzle.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />A few weekends ago, my grandparents visited, and my mum brought out a jigsaw puzzle. I quickly got sucked in, subsequently spending a lengthy amount of time sorting pieces by colour and pattern, and then building the final image. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jigsaw puzzles were originally used as a tool for teaching geography. These first puzzles were wooden, and simply maps with the pieces cut along countries’ borders. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Puzzles experienced something of a boom in 1930s America during the Great Depression. Firms were able to produce them using cheaper techniques and materials. These puzzles were accessibly priced, and allowed for recurring entertainment, which was attractive to many. <span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic caused many people to rediscover home-based activities; the jigsaw puzzle being one of them. At this point, many people realised the mental and physical benefits of jigsaw puzzles, which further encouraged a return to this traditional form of entertainment. This quickly led to a trend akin to the adult-colouring book craze. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The telephone box refurbished into a bookshop near my home is periodically overflowing with puzzles (literally- they are often stacked on the floor, leading to polite signs requesting no more puzzles are left). Walk into any of my town’s numerous charity shops, and the volunteers at the counter will enthusiastically relate that there is such high demand that a jigsaw will often be donated, only to be bought the same day. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But why are they so popular?</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Puzzles tune your fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. They develop cognitive skills such as problem solving, spatial reasoning, critical thinking, and short-term memory. Jigsaws also reward those with an eye for detail (and occasionally, endless patience!). Many find them to be stress-relieving, and even therapeutic.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whilst absorbed in the puzzle, one is still able to hold low-level conversations. The lack of direct eye contact means even hard-hitting questions feel less confrontational. Jigsaws encourage communication, even on the very basic level of ensuring that you are working as a team, and not messing up bits that the other has tried to solve. You are able to control just how much thinking headspace you are giving the jigsaw. This provides a healthier alternative to social media, that many (myself included) turn to for its mindless content that numbs the brain.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A psychologist called Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi conceived ‘flow’; a state of heightened focus and complete immersion in a challenging, but possible task, resulting in an optimal experience. Jigsaws offer a way of experiencing this ‘flow’, which some medical experts recommend just before bed-time for its relaxing nature. Other scientists celebrate such flow-inducing activities for a whole host of benefits, from helping people to cope with their anxiety, to reducing the risk of dementia.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, whether you are attracted to puzzles for the health benefits, the creative outlet they offer, the opportunity to unwind away from a screen, or for the pure satisfaction that comes with completing one, I highly recommend you give one a go!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-36457844536565625612024-03-12T06:48:00.001+00:002024-03-12T06:48:06.588+00:00'The Screwtape Letters': C.S. Lewis’ (Sometimes) Compelling Exploration of Faith<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by</i> <b>Oscar M</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQMQeUm4V9XHGVBafzrOmChOFIHBEn9m99qCjoyosHxv4nXMjhFjsz3tUKoGSNPSU8jqcZFQAK5GHFegKBYJwXDCRBI8x-RwKx-W5BRXQ8rD4TH2etGn2tyovALJODcVsu43VfBbBxLhYKmExjtzPtSmgfbv2IIDF2WmzD451ayEYvvJJ3iYIDEcMa2za/s500/screwtape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQMQeUm4V9XHGVBafzrOmChOFIHBEn9m99qCjoyosHxv4nXMjhFjsz3tUKoGSNPSU8jqcZFQAK5GHFegKBYJwXDCRBI8x-RwKx-W5BRXQ8rD4TH2etGn2tyovALJODcVsu43VfBbBxLhYKmExjtzPtSmgfbv2IIDF2WmzD451ayEYvvJJ3iYIDEcMa2za/s320/screwtape.jpg" width="211" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">C.S Lewis’ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Screwtape Letters</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> presents to us a mentorship filled with passive aggression, yet within it, a deeper, more impactful commentary on what it means to have faith in God within a Christian setting. Lewis himself had converted to Christianity in 1931, with the help of his close friend, author of the Lord of the Rings series, and devout Roman Catholic, J.R.R. Tolkien</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. According to critic Douglas Loney, Lewis’ epistolary analysis of the demonic is “from explicitly apologetic intentions…as if from deep within the "Lowerarchy" of Hell”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Loney’s comment is, without a doubt, carefully considered from the foundations of the text, with a certain disdain from the author of the letters, Screwtape, a demon, of their nephew, and inferior, Wormwood. The book itself ends with increasingly obvious references as to the fate of Wormwood: Screwtape’s consumption of him, in an attempt to satisfy the hunger for suffering on which demons are said to survive. Lewis’ compelling exploration of the mundane parts of life, which are often brushed over in the Christian faith, in an attempt to encourage edification, appear almost rebellious. His presentation of a changing society’s effect on Christianity, the morals of demons and selflessness that is orientated for self-gain is radical and unprecedented. Therefore, how does C.S. Lewis present Christianity in such a short text?<span><a name='more'></a></span></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The later letters, being the most cogent, shift the narrative onto more desperate measures to turn Wormwood's human away from Christ, and in letter 26, Lewis’ exploration of ‘unselfishness’ is one that evokes a sense of familiarity. The scrutiny of human social pattern behaviours that Lewis undergoes is one that suggests the truly harmful nature of the paradoxical ego-centric selflessness. Lewis suggests that “a woman means by Unselfishness taking trouble for others; a man means not giving trouble to others” and that this may result in the “Generous Conflict Illusion”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The comment Lewis is making is that a trivial comment might be made, typically in a group activity, and that, upon the occasion that this is challenged by another member of the group and a decision must be come to, that each party will debate in an almost underhand way: devaluing the proposition they put forward and justifying it meaninglessly, in an attempt to evoke some kind of sympathy that results in their option being chosen. Finding this as the beginning of the disruption to domestic bliss, Lewis’ examination is one that not only explores the basic failing foundations of marriage, but also one that analyses the passion driven up from simple argument, and how an overanalysis of a simple decision leads to a real quarrel. Lewis’ aim to spiritually convict his readership throughout the whole book, but, most notably in this letter, is built on the mundane things in human, and stereotypically British, behaviours. In letter 26, when describing how “thanks to [Unselfishness] you can, from the very outset, teach a man to surrender benefits not that others may be happy in having them but that he may be unselfish in forgoing them”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the altruistic tendencies of a regular conversation are flipped on its head. They therefore go from being viewed as a behaviour to be condemned, to one that we see applied unknowingly in the daily lives of many people, and how our perception of selflessness is narcissistic or vain. What discredits Lewis’ argument is his gendering of altruism. Critic Gretchen Bartels argues that “Lewis’ problematic portraits of women [...] grow out of his theological understanding of humanity’s feminine relationship with God as masculine.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” Bartels is referencing the relationship between Christ and the Church: one where the Church is Christ’s bride</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and, according to the Epistle to the Church of Ephesus, is both subservient to it, and simultaneously joined in union with it. What Bartels argues here is that Lewis believes that humanity’s feminine relationship with Christ as his bride is one that is, in actuality, masculine. Gretchen goes on to argue that:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Although we may be tempted to conclude from Lewis's views on the emancipation of women and his fictional portrayals of emancipated women that Lewis was a backward-thinking misogynist, his practice and his theology complicate this straightforward condemnation. With regard to his personal </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;">life, Lewis was a complex combination of unease with women and respect for them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Therefore, what can be inferred is that Lewis’ theology, and potential personal reading of the Epistle to the Ephesians, interferes with his gendering of altruism. In Paul’s letter, the way the Church’s submission to Christ is modelled is through suggesting that a wife should submit to her husband.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> It also goes on to suggest that husbands should love their wives</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. This could suggest then that Lewis’ Biblical analysis of this passage is one that leads him to believe that he is superior to women, whilst also respecting and loving them, therefore suggesting that Lewis’ relationship with the female gender is highly linked to this excerpt. This begs the question of why Lewis then feels like he must gender altruism and Unselfishness. What the author argues when he writes that “a woman means by Unselfishness taking trouble for others; a man means not giving trouble to others”</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is that a woman in her altruism will, like a servant, take trouble for others. This has connotations of subservience, as suggested by Paul in the New Testament. Additionally, Lewis’ idea of a man avoiding troubling others connotes respect and love. This again fits in with the gender roles provided by the fifth chapter of the letter to the Ephesians. Therefore, Lewis once again, whether consciously or subconsciously, points us back to the Bible, which, for a Christian apologetic, is effective. If this was Lewis’ conscious decision, it is hard to agree or disagree with Bartels, as the author writes from the perspective of Screwtape, the narrative voice, and could be aiming to present misogynistic ideas founded on a misreading or under-analysis of the Christian religious text to argue the true evil of the demonic. Alternatively, if unconscious, then Bartels is undeniably correct in that Lewis’ theoretical misogyny shines through here. What is most interesting is that the Greek word for ‘head’ that Paul uses to suggests that husbands are head of their wife as Christ is head of the Church is κεφαλή</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, is also used in Matthew 21:42 to mean the cornerstone, the key foundation of a building.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Therefore, it is possible that Paul was suggesting that a husband supports his wife, rather than her being subservient to him. Therefore, if Lewis was misguided in his reading, potentially as a result of the misogyny which Bartels claims he has, then he has subconsciously allowed this to penetrate through into the text. Therefore, although Lewis’ highly relatable discussion of Unselfishness may be spiritually forgiving, it would not be unfair for his gendering of altruism to be discarded, depending on a reader’s understanding of the Epistle to the Ephesians, with which this segment so clearly intertwines.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What seems to be clear is how the reader’s religious opinions so clearly dictate their reading of the text, but perhaps more prominently, the author. This is a concept Lewis is not unfamiliar with, as in letter 23, he explores the idea of a ‘historical Jesus’</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, where Screwtape notes that over time, the Bible’s various messages are twisted through suppression and exaggeration to fit society at any given time, producing “a crop of new Napoleons, new Shakespeares, and new Swifts”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. A good example of this is John O’Sullivan’s idea of Manifest Destiny, which he published in an essay entitled </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annexation</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in 1845</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Michael T. Lubragge of the University of Groningen describes O’Sullivan’s idea as the “belief that it was God's will that Americans spread over the entire continent, and to control and populate the country as they see fit.” He later links this to the idea that “Many expansionists conceived God as having the power to sustain and guide human destiny.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Therefore, in the concept of Manifest Destiny, the force that drove many Americans to leave their lives on the Eastern side of the continent in search of a life on the West Coast, we find a key value of duty, founded on the notion of God. Perhaps this comes from the book of 1 Chronicles, where Ezra, the author, notes that Jabez cries out to God saying, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Therefore, as Lewis suggests within the text, there are periods of time throughout history, such as the American Expansionist movement, that create this idea of a historical Jesus, using scripture, sometimes flimsy, to provide religious backing to their cause. Lewis’ condemnation of this is interesting in comparison with Bartels view of his theoretical misogyny, where it can be argued, as Bartels does, that he uses the Bible and theology to support these views. However, Lewis’ views of gender are contentious, as Neil Gaiman’s idea of ‘The Problem of Susan’ (the situation in which Susan is the only character who does not return to Narnia, a conceit for salvation, in ‘The Last Battle’ as she was ‘interested in nothing nowadays except nylons and lipstick and invitations. She always was a jolly sight too keen on growing up.’</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Where some critics, such as Phillip Pullman, hold the view that Susan’s sexual maturation as the reason she is denied Narnia,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> others suggest that it is her idolisation of social acceptance above other things which prevent her salvation. Therefore, Lewis’ misogyny can be contended, but it does call into question the hypocrisy of the author being responsible for his own ‘historical Jesus’, whilst condemning it in the lives of others.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Additionally, as Lewis places this idea coming from the narrative voice, a demon, his vilification of a ‘historical Jesus’, alongside the other ideas he presents within the text, suggests that this concept is one of true evil. Therefore one may explore </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Screwtape Letters</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as an apologetic which is highly subtextually opinionated, and that, although the narrative is fictional, Lewis’ expression of evil and less obvious sin shines through as religious commandments. When the author then pairs this with the humour and the narrative that runs through the text, it becomes more light-hearted, which is a more powerful way of conveying religious conviction, as it encourages unconscious reflection, often verbally, as a reader discusses the text with their peers or acquaintances and thinks of the text they enjoyed reading to such a high degree. In some ways, it can therefore be argued that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Screwtape</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is polemic in its ability to convict, and challenge the unchallenged beliefs of believers. However, it is apologetic in its ability to defend the Christian viewpoint and why Lewis believes what he believes. Despite this, the hypocrisy he may be exhibiting, at least in letter 23, may disregard the validity of his beliefs.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the greater challenges for Lewis when writing the text would have been having to create an image of the demonic: one that is theologically sound, engaging and also one that is cohesive with the narrative. One of the greater tensions within the novel comes in letter 19, when Lewis implies that the demons have a sense of guilt, and thus, of personal morals, which seems paradoxical for creatures which are theologically, the incarnation of evil. Screwtape expresses to Wormwood that he </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“hope[s] you understand, too, that some apparently uncomplimentary references to Slubgob [another demon] were purely jocular. I really have the highest respect for him. And, of course, some things I said about not shielding you from the authorities were not seriously meant. You can trust me to look after your interests . But do keep everything under lock and key.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The implication of this is a mistake, as Screwtape appears to conceal the errors of his ways, by reassuring Wormwood that he is for him and not against him, and then preventing further exposure of his mistakes by ordering Wormwood to not speak to other demons about the advice he is giving. Lewis’ humour reemerges here, with the regret of the protagonist becoming almost comical through the paradox. However, beneath the text, the principal idea that a demon could make a mistake, and then feeling guilty (and thus attempting to gloss over this mistake) is theologically confusing. On one hand, how can an evil spirit feel regret after acting incorrectly, or sinning, when that is the very thing they encourage in order to distance humanity from their creator? On the other hand, and perhaps the more likely idea, Lewis’ sinning demon could simply be a device for suggesting the twisted effect that sin has on its perpetrator, acting as a way of pointing the reader to God. If the latter is true, then I would argue that Lewis’ portrayal of this is not as effective as it could be, as the suggestion that a demon could have morals, and understands when they make a mistake does not necessarily suggest that the Christian God is any more effective than Satan when dealing with evil in the world. What seems to be Lewis’ issue here is that he cannot seem to focus on the wider viewpoint, and he has, according to W. W. Robson, “general moral pettiness.” Robson laters goes on to question that although “‘take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves’ may be a sound maxim in economics, [...] is it so in morals?”</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Therefore, as Robson suggests, Lewis’ portrayal of the demons, and thus the implications it suggests about Lucifer, highlight that, in the author’s view, human damnation is dependent on small and petty things, which, when written in the time of the Second World War, presents God also narrow-minded also. This once again highlights how Lewis is so focused on detailed theology that he overlooks the bigger picture, resulting in intellectual criticism and discrediting his argument. Perhaps if published at a different time, Lewis’ work would have been viewed differently, without the burden of war overshadowing a highly-praised collection of letters which are successfully spiritually edifying. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other interesting facet to Lewis’ presentation of the demonic is through the ‘lowerarchy’ of Hell. In letter 27, Screwtape suggests that “You, being a spirit, will find it difficult to understand how he gets into this confusion [that “a granted prayer becomes just as good a proof as a denied one that prayers are ineffective”]”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This lack of understanding founded on the basis of Wormwood’s position within Hell suggests the power evil has in the world. Lewis, through presenting a strict hierarchy within Hell, brings the reader back to two ideas: Government, and battle. If the reader jumps to either, they are forced to accept the concept of the power of Hell, which constitutes the main theme of the apologetic. Ultimately, the faith that Lewis is defending is that Hell is an inescapable force that finds its way into the mundane and the things humanity often glosses over, and that the human race should be more conscious of the persistent effect that evil has. Nancy-Lou Patterson comments this:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“In sum, [Lewis] presents evil as defined by [...] the absence of good, as he explores the mythic structures of the War in Heaven. He describes a bureaucratic hell in which Satan and his fallen angels, unable to create so much as a single pleasure, continually struggle to understand the intentions of their Adversary, God.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Patterson’s view that Lewis is exploring the War in Heaven is founded on the idea of bureaucracy in Hell, which suggests that humanity has a lack of choice and agency in the attacks of evil, and thus the constant battle between Heaven and Hell is built on the inability of humanity to interfere with Hell without the assistance of the armies of Heaven because the physical cannot rebel against spiritual attack directly. Therefore, this could be seen as Lewis encouraging his audience to turn towards God in order to win the war against evil. However, Christian theology would suggest that this viewpoint is invalid, as humanity has been given the victory already through Christ.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Therefore, if Lewis is suggesting that humanity must draw closer to God as he will fight our side in the battle with Hell, then his theology is once again flawed. However, the Bible does suggest that there will be trouble in the world, implying temptations and challenges from Satan to get believers to turn from God. Despite this, in the same verse, it acknowledges that there is no need to fear the Devil’s attacks, for God has overcome the world.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Therefore, Lewis’ implication of the Devil’s war tactics to win against God by turning people from him accepts that the war is ongoing for the armies of Hell, but theologically, this is false. However, it is highly possible that Lewis is simply presenting the ignorance of Lucifer and his fallen angels, rather than suggesting that the war is truly ongoing. While this would make his theology sound, it does create a problem for new believers in the faith, who may become confused by this idea and perhaps, at an extreme, turn from the religion altogether. Originally published in The Guardian Newspaper, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Screwtape Letters</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> would have been read by many new believers, and, even more likely, unbelievers. Therefore, as an apologetic, the implications of ‘Hell’s war’ are effective for ‘mature Christians’, whereas as an evangelistic text, it fails, as it misrepresents elements of Christianity. Therefore, Lewis’ early publication in the Guardian Newspaper was not the most effective choice, especially considering his relative misogyny inferred from letter 26, and the ability for his narrative choices to be so easily misinterpreted. </span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To conclude, C.S. Lewis’ </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Screwtape Letters</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a compelling epistolary text, which take new angles on often overlooked elements of the Christian faith; however, Lewis’ theology, and exploration of these stances are often under-analysed by himself, with the connotations of some of his messages being so easily able to be misconstrued, or allowing room for contention. As an homiletic and apologetic text, the novel is engaging and achieves the goal of conviction in and edification of the reader, yet as an evangelical text, its arguments are less compelling. Despite this, Lewis’ </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Screwtape</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> presents an intriguing new angle to Christianity: one that views it from not just an outside perspective but an antithetical one. Considering the author’s venture out into this relatively unknown territory, of an opposing viewpoint used to make satire out of Hell in an attempt to spiritually edify his audience, Lewis’ exploration of God, of the demonic, of altruism is one that will remain literarily unchallenged, artistically beautiful but theologically contended for many years to come.</span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-18607532857390750122024-03-12T06:28:00.003+00:002024-03-12T06:29:08.962+00:00The Tragedy Of J Dilla<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by </i><b>James M</b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaviY5yR-SiCAz-Tztz9EirmD4fYk8XHpyIleH2GBEFi_xDir4oIsHoV3ghPMH-JPv7dQvUecuMiyX_AHDuWmrKthtJNmwa2pH0F_hdj6HcFR5-QbiP1m_qT_eUo9PwwuyxIR92TqfeKZzjtr2lSmwpugdTg7MnAZDFOZPzFzUothjnOUyANzfnbLxGihb/s1600/dilla.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaviY5yR-SiCAz-Tztz9EirmD4fYk8XHpyIleH2GBEFi_xDir4oIsHoV3ghPMH-JPv7dQvUecuMiyX_AHDuWmrKthtJNmwa2pH0F_hdj6HcFR5-QbiP1m_qT_eUo9PwwuyxIR92TqfeKZzjtr2lSmwpugdTg7MnAZDFOZPzFzUothjnOUyANzfnbLxGihb/s320/dilla.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">James Dewitt Yancey, better known on the streets as J Dilla, was arguably one of the most influential hip-hop producers in the game, perfecting his style which consequently leaving a legacy evident in many and various songs. Yet, despite his imprint on the hip-hop world, he died young at the age of 32 in 2006, setting a scene for tragedy.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Born and raised in Detroit, Dilla quickly became accustomed to the ropes of production. One of his earliest successes was “Runnin” by the Pharcyde in 1995, a now-retrospective staple of 90s hip hop. But, Dilla wasn’t any ordinary producer. He was known for adding humanity to his beats: a feature that went to define his style, recognisable even years after his passing. <span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, it is important to recognise Dilla’s contributions to the revolutionary technique of sample flipping. With the emergence of newer technology (such as Dilla’s preferred AKAI MPC 3000), it was easier than ever before to create a sample and essentially create your own beat from it: samples were often sliced, looped and pitch-shifted beyond recognition to create a totally unique and full-of-character track. This technique has had a long-lasting impact on the genre, even seen in modern classics such as Fred Again’s ‘leavemealone’. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, this wasn’t Dilla’s only trick. He was notably recognised for his drumming patterns, usually created on his MPC 3000. He created powerful low-end basslines, sometimes using the low-end frequencies from flipped samples, other times using kicks with the high-end cut out. But, it is often argued that it was his offbeat drumming technique that gave his beats a human-touch. Many emerging production machines auto-corrected offbeat drumming to align them properly with the time signature via a process called quantization. Dilla opted out from using this, deeming that beats created with it sounded too robotic. As a result, his subsequent beats sounded more human, never being perfectly in beat, resulting in very-slight offbeat drums, which did not carry the industrial ‘perfection’ of many other producers.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">His production was full of warmth. He was also credited for founding Slum Village, a popular and successful hip-hop collective among many underground fans. His true successes can clearly be seen through the vast amount of artists he’s produced for, such as ‘A Tribe Called Quest’ and ‘The Roots’ to name a couple. Unfortunately, this success was relatively short-lived during his own lifetime. Following his struggles with both lupus and a rare blood disease (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura), Dilla ultimately died in February 2006 at his home in Los Angeles. This tragic death marked the end of a rare talent who helped to progress the genre of hip-hop forwards, keeping his sounds interesting. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the story of J Dilla isn’t finished at his death. 3 days prior to his passing, Dilla released ‘Donuts’, an instrumental album, perhaps his magnum opus, which was later recognised as one of the most important albums to hip-hop in the 2000s. The album itself is a collection of short beats and skits, mostly produced during Dilla’s time at the hospital in his final days. Knowing about his upcoming death, whilst in the hospital, he released one of the saddest songs, at least in my opinion, of all time: ‘Don’t Cry’. Using all of his iconic production techniques, including sample flipping, the song was James Dewitt Yancey’s last message to his mother, telling her to not cry when his time on earth came to an end. He left his mark on the world. And genre. Albeit tragic. </span></span></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-64412172260179360572024-03-11T08:17:00.007+00:002024-03-12T06:43:26.361+00:00Photography: Hot Walls<p> <i>by </i><b>Tony Hicks</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrId2YeHTtncYJVXiEfqlR-hxN26FPngGW5047_fZGmK_CDhpG3EGNC6mZ8oq7bfYYXz3JLZ28W8bIAkdBvSqbsOSVx0mBPwnfrPuQ8sNnne7cjYmBZ2NIXNlj7BQ310fkZiWh5xBSFNamLYEGDGpwad2AzmtK7NnKUNivjMY69Pf9k5knJ6xiB4r5YWS/s2048/newpictony1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrId2YeHTtncYJVXiEfqlR-hxN26FPngGW5047_fZGmK_CDhpG3EGNC6mZ8oq7bfYYXz3JLZ28W8bIAkdBvSqbsOSVx0mBPwnfrPuQ8sNnne7cjYmBZ2NIXNlj7BQ310fkZiWh5xBSFNamLYEGDGpwad2AzmtK7NnKUNivjMY69Pf9k5knJ6xiB4r5YWS/w640-h426/newpictony1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3rg2V20SBGG_UTUXBVNUaxFSyUEn3izqTCjImjQWaiw8J5KltdRO8QigGzqW23a94S-YjbCQ8LhQp6swWZdhTxC2XcfPvnFSez0ANT3dMGhWmJd5xdJUzOgAg2QCSanPViAs9S7YuB45Rw_pMNMUnZQ1I8RrtZUcrNZdBQC0fem-fX5QsInWlOpveJiQ/s2048/newpictony2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3rg2V20SBGG_UTUXBVNUaxFSyUEn3izqTCjImjQWaiw8J5KltdRO8QigGzqW23a94S-YjbCQ8LhQp6swWZdhTxC2XcfPvnFSez0ANT3dMGhWmJd5xdJUzOgAg2QCSanPViAs9S7YuB45Rw_pMNMUnZQ1I8RrtZUcrNZdBQC0fem-fX5QsInWlOpveJiQ/w640-h426/newpictony2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSiXqTZzcunVBnnMVzFqf9cY0_cEVnFN1EbPB5mXsrLRe_rPB4_udK4kAMABlbqKBwylAM8nKTyXypWz2741DuEU9uCYxqTUsBIMikr33qAx_g5LLbTmHbaVwHYxITgKb4IlZVc_IAuemMIN4tfMPAnWGxc9ja0-4PeX1r-bmKQk663xcJK9yKAed6AVK/s2048/newpictony3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSiXqTZzcunVBnnMVzFqf9cY0_cEVnFN1EbPB5mXsrLRe_rPB4_udK4kAMABlbqKBwylAM8nKTyXypWz2741DuEU9uCYxqTUsBIMikr33qAx_g5LLbTmHbaVwHYxITgKb4IlZVc_IAuemMIN4tfMPAnWGxc9ja0-4PeX1r-bmKQk663xcJK9yKAed6AVK/w640-h426/newpictony3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKVzjXasVMTPhugjKFPkv0q2Qg3WsvIkxAgG1Ee-HpJZktuqhhqlqCbgoUm3Umix41m3n4pGSZVjTgrxF0tKGWiNjLC2hs-O4I8cBQ59eW6_Iab0IYF9tOd4lz8cRfgxTwjSi7oot91WQJKN-8-fwUGFCnlV6jGmAfyaNQY0MQ5PFCMdB6OeycdW0Bs6F/s2048/newpictony4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKVzjXasVMTPhugjKFPkv0q2Qg3WsvIkxAgG1Ee-HpJZktuqhhqlqCbgoUm3Umix41m3n4pGSZVjTgrxF0tKGWiNjLC2hs-O4I8cBQ59eW6_Iab0IYF9tOd4lz8cRfgxTwjSi7oot91WQJKN-8-fwUGFCnlV6jGmAfyaNQY0MQ5PFCMdB6OeycdW0Bs6F/w640-h426/newpictony4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Spirit of Adventure</i> visits Portsmouth Harbour:</span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK92FzTxuwKCCcCuaPOkiiqynQhxtHMhhbJsdIePMPGTRfsLSRaHAZp2ekuLjY9rdbKV4bpKe8_mxeIv5VdcT6-VqfQh_oDgL8ol3CQiGbdRP8VRaiYu2hh-lfa-nD5hGsqyjA-Y_Fj3tmjJHRAk8-5_8wkP9_y8APT3IXUJ-HTL_Nid_BmfXQnizh0K9z/s2048/thagain1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK92FzTxuwKCCcCuaPOkiiqynQhxtHMhhbJsdIePMPGTRfsLSRaHAZp2ekuLjY9rdbKV4bpKe8_mxeIv5VdcT6-VqfQh_oDgL8ol3CQiGbdRP8VRaiYu2hh-lfa-nD5hGsqyjA-Y_Fj3tmjJHRAk8-5_8wkP9_y8APT3IXUJ-HTL_Nid_BmfXQnizh0K9z/w640-h426/thagain1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-73kvBrupT-OtjmxT9gfspnE3gP782BXeb4ECs8AyiHb34kYVX_8pROG65gP_CeP5sU14xXJbqVYLnJy_sumf80uoPVsKjtbl7JTzXILHLgX5OHe7-0wTEwJhiK7y55Yz6q67BlK9gcDVACIb-YaOCOSNOWQyLKQfE6zNPvY13vgLN5QmIctsbTSznBNU/s2048/thagainpic2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-73kvBrupT-OtjmxT9gfspnE3gP782BXeb4ECs8AyiHb34kYVX_8pROG65gP_CeP5sU14xXJbqVYLnJy_sumf80uoPVsKjtbl7JTzXILHLgX5OHe7-0wTEwJhiK7y55Yz6q67BlK9gcDVACIb-YaOCOSNOWQyLKQfE6zNPvY13vgLN5QmIctsbTSznBNU/w640-h426/thagainpic2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKafmIO9pDSzjy1j3EwLWQr4M9AQu5pqcLuW7nIJ0hDYzhmjJh3-VsdopcIJbDdzGI7rlfKdgBJO-L5TnU23Kf8_YlWl8ypPkhQ5QYXED9hfPKD_jeY3CatX5O4-ll5MF9dDCMr9YYd5_TwJSJjws4gs3Xjbp_4uRYccC6_TjltM4VxPkZvlDbJc76wUw/s2048/thagainpic3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKafmIO9pDSzjy1j3EwLWQr4M9AQu5pqcLuW7nIJ0hDYzhmjJh3-VsdopcIJbDdzGI7rlfKdgBJO-L5TnU23Kf8_YlWl8ypPkhQ5QYXED9hfPKD_jeY3CatX5O4-ll5MF9dDCMr9YYd5_TwJSJjws4gs3Xjbp_4uRYccC6_TjltM4VxPkZvlDbJc76wUw/w640-h426/thagainpic3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /></div></div>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-36039226910757993982024-03-11T08:12:00.003+00:002024-03-12T06:28:21.130+00:00The Enduring Strength of China's Four Beauties<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by </i><b>Tishe O</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></h2><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEA_v2PQs26nsDnP9sj1z8r8HnPHe3-j4R5_TGflAecAL6b9svSaVS9ZSYivDQJ7wb7DFEzU4dZswaCPr6gS-jSMIPS9atYT67wJORKv_LK9fqZmTb8WmYve47gspl_4XMT60YAVTJwIWt50nwH507Hl2sA4ZBWgjq8Y4IroRxYwVykbQq_ezyPfHUUK2/s997/china5.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="997" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEA_v2PQs26nsDnP9sj1z8r8HnPHe3-j4R5_TGflAecAL6b9svSaVS9ZSYivDQJ7wb7DFEzU4dZswaCPr6gS-jSMIPS9atYT67wJORKv_LK9fqZmTb8WmYve47gspl_4XMT60YAVTJwIWt50nwH507Hl2sA4ZBWgjq8Y4IroRxYwVykbQq_ezyPfHUUK2/s320/china5.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In China’s history there have been many notable characters written in literature, a notable group being a foursome known as the “Four Beauties”; they’re known for their great beauty and the struggles they endure due to the cruelty of men. The four are usually referred to as Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diaochan, and Yang Guifeif. But much of their stories are just history with a large amount of mythical embellishment.They are associated canonically due to the Zhuangzi, which mentioned two of them as “great beauties”.</span><p></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Xi Shi was the first recorded character; born during the Chunqiu period in China’s history, and is traditionally known as Shi Yiguang and was discovered by the Yue minister Fan Li and given to King Fuchai of Wu by King Goujian of Yue in a honey pot operation which successfully brought down the State of Wu in 473 BCE. She was said to be so beautiful that fishes would forget how to swim and sink below the surface upon seeing her reflection in the water. A popular theory of her death is that once the kingdom of Yue won the war the king killed Xi Shi in fear of her beauty. Another story for her disappearance is that she lived in seclusion with Fan Li ;her lover.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wang Zhaojun was the next Beauty as she was born in 50 BCE during the Western Han dynasty. She was said to be so beautiful that her appearance would entice birds in flight to fall from the sky and to have skill in playing the Chinese lute. She was accepted into the harem of Emperor Yun. However, she was ignored by the Emperor because she angered her portrait painter so he painted her an unflattering portrait. In 33 BCE she was given in marriage to the leader of the Xiongnu empire. She was one of the only ones to live a somewhat prosperous life, she had two daughters with her husband; when he died she followed levirate customs and married her eldest stepson and has two more daughters with him. She is known as the consort who brought peace.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Diaochan was in the household of Dong Zhou,a military warlord remembered as a tyrant. She entered a relationship with his foster son Lu Bu and manipulated him into killing his Dong Zhuo. In folklore it is said that she was killed by men who wanted to marry her because they feared her betraying them.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last Beauty was Yang Guifei. Her story takes place in the 8th century and was the prized consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Her beauty was said to shame the flowers; she used this beauty to persuade the emperor to make her cousin leading chancellor. However, during the An Lushan rebellion people with vendettas against her cousin demanded that the emperor have Guifei put to death. Thus she was strangled to death by the ;emperor's attendant; Gao Lishi.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These women’s control over men could have been their strength or their downfall but no matter what they did their best to better the lives of their loved ones and keep to their values.</span></span></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-14529919327783747982024-03-11T08:06:00.004+00:002024-03-12T06:28:31.317+00:00Dune 2’s Fatal Flaw and Its Repercussions. <p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> by</i> <b>Thomas K</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3roOr7fg17NtAqzyQfNjlWIZvqZBY4jqyuUQVLIQpUHUIs02ueV_KQQDlmeOYvJnp0bEXn30479f2IkH9lazUfsKtIPUG4nkLDtGW6phDVMGEEvYKX78GOxz5rykdPSXnIHiZ9M2DQtX52Lzzw1u8p7e5rBZssdvWjDOBETxd42z-LeZNzRgIDZ-GAqoP/s225/dune.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3roOr7fg17NtAqzyQfNjlWIZvqZBY4jqyuUQVLIQpUHUIs02ueV_KQQDlmeOYvJnp0bEXn30479f2IkH9lazUfsKtIPUG4nkLDtGW6phDVMGEEvYKX78GOxz5rykdPSXnIHiZ9M2DQtX52Lzzw1u8p7e5rBZssdvWjDOBETxd42z-LeZNzRgIDZ-GAqoP/s1600/dune.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />While the first Denis Villeneuve film stays mostly faithful to the original Frank Herbert novel, the sequel has received some adaptations. These changes, although seemingly minor, affected the whole ambience of the film, turning it from something with the potential to be an epic, to something that falls short, whilst still surpassing all expectations. Luckily, the rest of the film was very good so, although this change grated on me, it did not ruin the movie by any means. </span><p></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The change comes with how in the book, during Paul’s time in the desert, Lady Jessica gives birth to his sister who reaches two years of age by the time Paul becomes Emperor, whereas in the movie, Lady Jessica is pregnant at the beginning of the film and is still pregnant at the end of the film. This means that the whole story happened within less than nine months. This severely decreases the scale of the work as instead of it being a multi-year epic and comeback story, it’s a couple-month blip that makes it look like Paul’s time in the desert wasn’t that bad. It also severely decreases the emotional value of the ending, again, instead of there being years in between when the Barron kills Paul’s family and when Paul kills the Barron, it’s a few weeks. There’s no time for emotional turmoil as the situation seems to fix itself just as quickly as it was caused. In reality, the situation wouldn’t have had time to settle by that point and it’s because of this that there’s a lack of resolution and closure.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do not fully know or understand why these changes were made. Perhaps it was to save time and be able to condense the sheer scale of the tale to a nice and short two and three-quarter hours. Perhaps it was to make the final scene more palatable for the modern audience as in the original novel, it is Paul’s two-year-old sister that kills the Barron. Perhaps it was something else that is beyond my comprehension. Whatever the reason, it made the ending of the first book significantly less impactful.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As a whole, I do not care when film adaptations vary from their written original since, after all, it is a different art form in which not everything is always possible. Likewise, I think it is trivial if a film about a historical character has inaccuracies as it is still a film and not a documentary. Upon </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Napleon</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">’s release, there were criticisms that some of the figures that exchange dialogue in the film never actually met each other in real life. The point of a movie is entertainment, if one wishes to learn about Naploen one should watch a documentary on his topic. I do care when film adaptations either lessen the impact that the original material has through the changes that were made or impose new themes and morals not intended by the original maker of said material. In the case of Dune 2, I do not think that these changes were done maliciously, and perhaps its effects on the impact of the film were not noticed until after the fact. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, almost contradicting myself, I do think that people should be able to do what they want with art, no matter what the audience thinks of it. Any kind of development in any kind of art form always derives from someone breaking the rules and taking something well-known and disassembling it. A quasi-rebellion in search of new rules to follow. Then the cycle repeats. Although the ending to Dune 2 was less impactful than the ending to the original novel, the movie was still incredibly good, which just goes to show that something is always as good as the bit the audience remembers most.</span></span></p><p><br /></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-29501198759153453662024-03-08T07:33:00.006+00:002024-03-12T06:28:39.257+00:00The Development of Anaesthesia <p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by </i><b>Siha H</b></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4a00d093-7fff-db80-9cfb-adae5bc506b2"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiGnlSckT801eC1mxr9MM51NlU_0WGxv1LkNUh5DxQmPLMx6XIm4gUKL1SjOElyi6izl6N4yKb7PabfXVpvD3Khi3k1wcJpZ-KD46NeRlq3h-a8xdFgCDTrraTM-_mH0J03Q2MxKOTvV8gWm1bZeFcGEDHQYTC_c1eYVbCPvzVZ3EKLUABN6QCjBvF1Ng/s275/siha5.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiGnlSckT801eC1mxr9MM51NlU_0WGxv1LkNUh5DxQmPLMx6XIm4gUKL1SjOElyi6izl6N4yKb7PabfXVpvD3Khi3k1wcJpZ-KD46NeRlq3h-a8xdFgCDTrraTM-_mH0J03Q2MxKOTvV8gWm1bZeFcGEDHQYTC_c1eYVbCPvzVZ3EKLUABN6QCjBvF1Ng/s1600/siha5.png" width="275" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Most of the surgery we hear about today is a successful, painless procedure, thanks to anaesthetics. Anaesthetics are substances, often a carefully calculated combination of gases and drugs used to control one’s sensation to avoid discomfort and pain during medical procedures. The effects of anaesthetics can range between partially numbing one area of the body (which is done by injecting that part with a local anaesthetic), or making someone unconscious by administering a general anaesthetic, typically as a gas. Before the 1840s, when they started being used more frequently, operations were emotionally distressing and traumatising for both the patient and the doctor, where the patient could be knocked unconscious beforehand or simply held down by other doctors.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The earliest forms of pain relief were crude forms of sedation - this would make a patient relaxed or less conscious - such as giving them alcohol or opium. Opium would be extracted from the opioid poppy, and it is a depressant drug, therefore it would slow down the messages travelling from the pain receptors to the brain. Other drugs such as cannabis (‘weed’) were often used too. Sedative potions like these can be traced back to approximately 200 AD, where Chinese surgeon Hua Tuo mixed and administered herbal extracts before complex operations, and he successfully performed numerous complex surgeries. <span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Middle Ages a sedative potion known as ‘Dwale’ emerged, and it was a combination of bile, opium, hemlock, vinegar, lettuce and other ingredients, all given to the patient with alcohol. Opium and hemlock are poisons which our bodies are very sensitive to, and it would not take much for an overdose, yet it is likely that when dwale was used the plants they came from would have been less potent, and even less so after the process of boiling. Dwale would result in drowsiness in the patients which was effective, yet sometimes caused hallucinations too.<span></span></span></span></p><!--more--><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the most influential early medical texts was The Canon of Medicine, five books forming an encyclopaedia, and it was written by Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, an Islamic philosopher and physician from Uzbekistan. Within The Canon, the use of a sponge soaked in herbal potions was described. This sponge or cloth would be placed under the nose of a patient during surgery to keep them sedated, and inhaling sedatives made from herbs was more effective than ingesting the potions, and likely far safer too.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEqgue_JQvacC1prXguK36JuYJoigx7ArysZocHJIfAAffxYYEBv6o0nKyySzqQ3ePlgc1EYTdO4VP0DL5w7rGh_d2Qp640tjdQ_EET9Bwg5MLA7DZjKtFI3TrhyP10lBM7_Xr8NW28fiu4mDgICEuO7rJ8RzO5DTSjUXMplNb5tEc_T9dXXuKpfPwfIX/s275/siha6.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEqgue_JQvacC1prXguK36JuYJoigx7ArysZocHJIfAAffxYYEBv6o0nKyySzqQ3ePlgc1EYTdO4VP0DL5w7rGh_d2Qp640tjdQ_EET9Bwg5MLA7DZjKtFI3TrhyP10lBM7_Xr8NW28fiu4mDgICEuO7rJ8RzO5DTSjUXMplNb5tEc_T9dXXuKpfPwfIX/s1600/siha6.png" width="275" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />One of the most well known forms of pain relief was laughing gas, or nitrous oxide gas, discovered as effective pain relief by Humphrey Davy in 1798, who inhaled it and found his toothache less painful. It was not immediately accepted when he proposed its use as an anaesthetic but was often used in parties due to the state of euphoria it caused in those who inhaled it. The gas would displace oxygen from the blood and cause an increase in the stimulation in the brain necessary for making dopamine - the hormone that makes you feel good. In the nineteenth century Henry Hill Hickman experimented on animals by administering carbon dioxide to them before amputating; seeing if they felt pain or not. His discoveries were dismissed by a president of the royal society, but despite that carbon dioxide is still used in anaesthetics today.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first general anaesthetic to become popular in surgery was ether. Ether however was first discovered by a Prussian botanist called Valerius Cordus and it was used as medication for spasms. It then became popular as a drug used in parties, similar to laughing gas, ‘ether frolics’ became a trend in America, and it was taken by inhaling the smell of the drug from towels. Dr Crawford Long, a pharmacist and physician, went to an ether frolic and noticed how after taking ether some people who got into fights did not seem to experience pain and so he decided to use this in his surgeries. The results were successful when he started in 1842 - a patient having a tumour removed from their neck said they felt little pain, yet he wanted to keep testing - and when he did publish his results seven years later, someone else had already done so. This was Willian T.G. Morton, a dentist. He used a combination of sulfuric ether, fragrance and colourings and called it ‘Letheon’ (the name of a river in Greek mythology that caused forgetfulness). He performed a surgical demonstration at Harvard Medical School using Letheon and after its success, Morton was seen as the person who discovered the potential anaesthetic purpose of ether. Morton had placed a sponge soaked in ether in a glass globe with two spouts, one of which the patient would breathe in through. Ether was officially used by the US Army from 1849.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chloroform was discovered as an anaesthetic and used in obstetrics by Professor of Midwifery James Simpson. It had been invented in 1831 however it was not studied thoroughly, though in 1842 it had shown to be a good though risky anaesthetic in animals by Dr Robert Glover. Simpson first tried using chloroform on humans in 1847, where he and his two assistants took it. The three of them often sampled different chemicals, experimenting with the effects of them. After taking the chloroform in the evening, they felt emotional changes before collapsing and regaining consciousness hours later in the morning. Simpson had been an advocate for using anaesthesia in obstetrics, and after he found chloroform to be a suitable substance for it, Dr John Snow administered it to Queen Victoria when she gave birth to her children. This gave it the royal seal of approval and surgeons in England began using it more and more. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Modern anaesthetics typically use the following substances: halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, nitrous oxide and methoxyflurane. Less dangerous and more pleasant for the patient to take than some of the previously discovered anaesthetics, these substances can be controlled better too. There are a few ways for these substances to work: some directly affect cells which results in a loss of sensation in specific areas, others pause brain function in specific areas. Overall, anaesthesiology is an area of medicine that has evolved significantly over centuries and developments within it have revolutionised surgery.</span></span></p><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-78122242098862140182024-03-08T00:12:00.002+00:002024-03-12T06:28:47.735+00:00Communication for Impact and Influence: a Case Study Using Georgia Ball<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Mrs Clarke, Mr Frampton </b><i>and</i> <b>Mrs Martin-Guruge </b><i>have set up a Yr12 group which explores communication for impact and influence and we are planning to roll this out to other year groups over the coming months. We were struck by the recent viral video of golfer Georgia Ball and would like to offer three different perspectives as a taster of the sorts of things we will be discussing and thinking about. If you are interested, look out for more information on joining!<span></span></i></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IBegDoFnE-8" width="320" youtube-src-id="IBegDoFnE-8"></iframe></div><i><br /></i><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1574cfa1-7fff-1109-3292-8911e210328d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mrs Clarke - As Mr Frampton and Mrs Martin-Guruge say Georgia is modest and polite in her response - I think that she shows a quiet confidence and it is impressive how measured she is and that she remains calm. She has since said she is a humble person who would not want to start an argument. To me, Georgia seems confident in herself and self-assured. These are all qualities which I admire but I wonder if this approach would be enough to get her noticed in the workplace? Would she be viewed as ‘safe’ and ‘competent’ rather than someone who is ‘ambitious’ and ‘determined’? Does Georgia give the impression that she knows how talented she is?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Helena Morrissey wrote in the Telegraph recently that women tend to believe that working hard will lead to promotion and success - it won’t if they aren’t noticed or recognised as having the skills and experience for the next step. Is this what Georgia is doing? She quietly and efficiently gets on with developing her swing but doesn’t feel the need to shout about her high level of expertise and chosen approach. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have been thinking about ‘career activism’ in our group with girls in Year 12 and how we can position ourselves to make an impact. The advice is simple - we need to speak up more as women, seek out opportunities to be noticed and not be afraid of expressing ambition. In short, we need a strategy if we want to make the jump from good to great.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mr Frampton - </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘He was </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">just</span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> giving advice,’ say the comments below the video. He was and, given in the correct way and in the right setting, of course, advice can be helpful. But there’s an awful lot of assumptions being made here. That Georgia wanted said advice, for a start. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘You </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shouldn’t</span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> be doing that,’ he says. Forthright, even aggressive in tone, but as Georgia has commented since the video, the advice was right. Still, as she says words to the effect of multiple times in the video, ‘I’m changing my swing and need to work on different aspects.’ </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It gets worse.‘See how much better that was,’ he continues, rather patronisingly taking credit for the perceived improvement. Georgia stutters a little, seems to start saying something, then reverts to repeating her point about working on different aspects of her swing, seemingly ignored. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this treatment because she is female in a male dominated golfing world? Is it because she is younger than him? Is it even something to do with her clothing? ‘Would you look at those terrible leggings,’ say comments from viewers of the video. Did he also make a judgement of her competence based on them? We will never know. Reading many other comments on the video, however, it seems Georgia is not alone in experiencing this treatment.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even if you wouldn't go so far as to call it ‘mansplaining’, surely we can agree that talking in this way, to anyone, is at best, cringeworthy, and worst, wrong? Does this man always offer unsolicited advice to random strangers, or to fellow male golfers? If he doesn't, then maybe it really does have something to do with her being female? Bias is often unconscious, and we shouldn't take it so personally if we are called up on it- you don’t realise you are doing it, that’s the point!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lots of people have commented that Georgia was too modest, too polite, and should have spoken up. Maybe she should have, but to my mind, it is obvious that the advice was not wanted. We should instead be focusing on the actions of the other golfer who steamrollered over any indications to the contrary. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In schools, we do lots of work on consent and I can’t help but feel that there are so many similar lessons to be learned here. On the importance of asking rather than just doing, of reading body language, of listening and responding to the actions of the other person. Time and time again I hear people say, in relation to sexual consent, ‘but, they didn’t say no.’ True, but that doesn’t mean they said ‘yes’ either. Is it too much to ask, in the bedroom, or on the golf course, to not assume?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go watch the video yourself and make up your own mind.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mrs Martin-Guruge - The media frenzy around this video had me watching it several times and considering how the conversation might have changed with a different communication style.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The anonymous man probably had very good intentions. Georgia Ball has explained in subsequent interviews that in the golfing community, people often offer each other advice and share expertise, which enables everyone to grow, and can be supportive and helpful.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I couldn’t help but wonder, however, what this conversation would have looked like if he had taken more of a coaching approach. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Personal development coaching, which is offered at PGS, has its origins in Sports Coaching. One of the pioneers was Timothy Gallway, a tennis coach who realised that rather than telling tennis players he coached what to do or not do on court, when he instead focused on the ‘inner game’ - the mind, confidence and internal aspects, it improved their play. This approach is explained in his multi-million bestselling book, ‘The Inner Game of Tennis’.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When someone is coaching, whether as a sports, career, executive or personal development coach (to name a few areas of coaching), they are listening carefully to the other person, using what is defined in coaching as ‘micro’ and ‘macro’ listening: picking up on the words and language used, plus noticing non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expressions and tone. Perhaps it is easy as the viewer of this viral video (sat at home, able to replay it) to notice that, whilst remaining polite and respectful, Georgia Ball’s tone, laughter, and very striking facial expression at one point, are signs that the advice is not in line with her intentions and goals in that moment.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Had he noticed this, and been more curious about what she was saying, would the conversation have taken a different turn?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What would the impact have been had he taken more of a coaching approach, treating the conversation as a partnership rather than fixating on offering advice? What would have happened had he asked open, coaching style questions, beginning with ‘what’ or ‘how’, such as: </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘How will the swing change develop your skill?’ or ‘What impact will this swing change have on your game?’</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘What types of swing have you tried before?’</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘What’s your goal?’</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What would have happened if he had followed his statement of ‘I’ve been playing golf for 20 years’ with ‘what’s your background in golf?’</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Advice has its place and people become better versions of themselves as a result of advice, especially when learning from someone more experienced. Sometimes, however, we have to go through life’s swing changes, try things out for ourselves, hit the ball into the wrong place, or miss the shot completely. When we find our own way (which might be supported by a coach), it can be far more empowering when we achieve our goals. </span></span></p><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-37241663002337367482024-03-08T00:04:00.002+00:002024-03-08T00:04:22.680+00:00How to Kill a Genre: The Death of Disco<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by</i> <b>Tadala J</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytHhM9ZGcpgYlqZm0o-qZZF9rsZsC4EYMCzNOoLr_p17B770MB2xCMN42sDHF0Egv-XiSAagIpIFFM_xvItg4j6_c0MGTbA5XHsH3ffIpkfuazspyL-hoo6zT7Twka6GYZcotNaZf_f0CSP8F9UIAGf_s83N5A5H964aA7rizSBWtacH_ADhcYqJsm314/s349/disco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="349" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytHhM9ZGcpgYlqZm0o-qZZF9rsZsC4EYMCzNOoLr_p17B770MB2xCMN42sDHF0Egv-XiSAagIpIFFM_xvItg4j6_c0MGTbA5XHsH3ffIpkfuazspyL-hoo6zT7Twka6GYZcotNaZf_f0CSP8F9UIAGf_s83N5A5H964aA7rizSBWtacH_ADhcYqJsm314/s320/disco.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pop
culture’s treatment of trends can be comparable to a child’s fluctuating love for
a new toy, with its sudden rise being just as fast as it falls into obscurity. However,
no trend’s decline has ever been so brutal as the downfall of disco.
Nevertheless, its remains are still leaving a stain on today’s culture. Whether
the groovy genre makes you want to ‘Rock Your Body’ or its continuous radio play
makes you want to scream ‘Give Me a Break’, there is no denying that disco has had
an everlasting influence on the mainstream music industry.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The energy-provoking genre can be recognised through its
noticeable musical characteristics. The rhythm often features syncopated
basslines paired with bouncy octaves providing the upbeat swing needed to fill
the dance floor. Instrumentation combines orchestral with modern string
synthesizers, brass instruments, electric guitars, bass guitars, and drum kits.
These accompany the powerhouses that would deliver the vocals that keep the
dance-filled nights rolling with airy, carefree lyrics.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Disco derives from the French word ‘discotheque’. It
originates from extravagant dance venues. These venues inspired the flamboyant nature
of the genre. The origins of disco can be attributed to the multicultural underground
venues of the early 1960s in New York, highly accustomed by African Americans, Latinos,
and the LGBTQ community. This reflected the type of music played, such as soul,
funk, and Latin American Music. This would culminate into the genre we know
today. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8i69xRWx1qZj6kL6ehOckUlkOT1tfAuzD9odS1OfpyQW4fAOIWae5kRxVn-ZumPFYu2-v7SVGWae0A_hXBmMeSkfULx5H3yyylyjjijDalcV9gCl8DeUNBbHtKVgC8_Q23soEAnnDEjT2K17uKVOQnHUfO-PJHn1z_YD1faG6tz52cxukS6IxOzykmd2F/s315/disco2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="315" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8i69xRWx1qZj6kL6ehOckUlkOT1tfAuzD9odS1OfpyQW4fAOIWae5kRxVn-ZumPFYu2-v7SVGWae0A_hXBmMeSkfULx5H3yyylyjjijDalcV9gCl8DeUNBbHtKVgC8_Q23soEAnnDEjT2K17uKVOQnHUfO-PJHn1z_YD1faG6tz52cxukS6IxOzykmd2F/s1600/disco2.jpg" width="315" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The origins of disco as a form of entertainment music can
also be seen elsewhere. During the late 1930s and 1940s, places in France and
Germany were adorned with DJs who provided entertainment through music using a
singular turntable. This would bring the idea of public, nighttime, dance parties
where disco music was mainly played. By the end of the 1960s, Black, Italian, and
Latino communities adopted the discotheque culture, along with traits from psychedelia
and hippie subcultures, to create the prominent club culture seen in disco.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the 1970s, disco would start to see an emergence
from underground nightclubs to the mainstream culture. This can be credited to
the successes of the 1977 movie classic ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and the rise in
popularity of Studio 54. Saturday Night Fever follows a story about a
19-year-old Italian American, played by actor John Travolta, living in Brooklyn
who is anxious about his future, using the dance floor as a means of escapism.
This gave the audience of the 70s an intriguing introduction to disco culture
and music through its iconic soundtrack, which featured songs from the Bee Gees
and The Trammps. This would inspire rock and pop musicians to use disco
influences in their music. Studio 54 was a former nightclub (now a theatre) in
Midtown Manhattan, New York. Entrepreneurs Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened
the venue on 26 April 1977. This club was infamous for its frequent celebrity
visits, rampant drug use, and gruelling entry process. This made disco more
appealing to the public eye.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By the start of the 1980s, the popularity
of disco music was starting to decline. The ever-growing commercialisation and
criticism for its lack of originality caused it to fall out of favour with the
public eye. In addition, disco's predominantly Black and gay audience made it
an easy target for racism and homophobia. Steve Dahl, a radio DJ, held a ‘Disco
Demolition Night’ at Comiskey Baseball Park on July 12, 1979. In this game, a
large pile of records was destroyed by Dahl. This was largely made up of disco
records and other types of music made by artists of colour. This caused disco
culture to regress to its underground roots.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite its heavy backlash, disco started to emerge into the
mainstream again during the 1990s, as pop music and film were beginning to
incorporate it into their art. This is
because devices such as nostalgia are popular among consumers and therefore can
produce great monetary value. The influence of disco can be seen in 1990s hit songs
such as ‘Groove Is in The Heart’ by Dee Lite, ‘Lemon’ by U2s and ‘Girls &
Boys’ by Blur. In the 2000s, artists, such as Kylie Minogue, Daft Punk and
Jamiroquai, pioneered the modified genre of ‘nu-disco’ which dominated
nightclubs and music charts. Additionally, Dua Lipa’s 2020 release of ‘Future
Nostalgia’ was widely praised for its noticeable disco influence. More
recently, the critically acclaimed movie ‘Saltburn’ has been beloved by popular
culture, fuelled by its use of nostalgia. The film’s use of Sophie
Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 hit ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ and a 2000s aesthetic draws
influences back to disco culture, bringing it back into the public eye and
introducing it to a younger audience.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1KOrYjhIjbq0mNCvkd8i20wwmiHSR1ATh38WbVs4gpc0DBj_-8gr3qBXlWmxMqqvOznXHTWk7F57e664MaTlAke2ZDh8XWpZVF4hF7odLhn68lPiEQZfWncOyjOwvmYGDXm23GgKGJeUIl3WOy4qQINaZzvHhaBcic0HxqNLqR1zN5dRTWm4F1EgKJc_/s352/disco3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="352" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1KOrYjhIjbq0mNCvkd8i20wwmiHSR1ATh38WbVs4gpc0DBj_-8gr3qBXlWmxMqqvOznXHTWk7F57e664MaTlAke2ZDh8XWpZVF4hF7odLhn68lPiEQZfWncOyjOwvmYGDXm23GgKGJeUIl3WOy4qQINaZzvHhaBcic0HxqNLqR1zN5dRTWm4F1EgKJc_/s320/disco3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To conclude, disco has never truly escaped popular culture
since its inception in the 1960s, integrating itself into popular media,
whether subtly or not. Its musical characteristics and aesthetic continuously
influence artists today, showing that disco has truly made its impact
throughout the years. </span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-70147189362505844322024-03-07T22:41:00.004+00:002024-03-07T23:14:23.916+00:00Did You Know: Slang?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>by</i> <b>Nathaniel G</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLaAQUHdJpvIodR0JAwt8Of0MJ8GCo1XdSqdQmPCUE2nNCUZoJoOykeaNEdVGovLLMRd1vnaZdYeFzfwRnxUWw0NM7oDRJT1luckLV-SsBH9XniXBBYtuevZ687N4VR3qMmYlW55vN1DuhOGYPJAX6oG60aBH-gL8YfLAe84XTE6_iJ10MU_J-WtGhprG/s960/pompey.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLaAQUHdJpvIodR0JAwt8Of0MJ8GCo1XdSqdQmPCUE2nNCUZoJoOykeaNEdVGovLLMRd1vnaZdYeFzfwRnxUWw0NM7oDRJT1luckLV-SsBH9XniXBBYtuevZ687N4VR3qMmYlW55vN1DuhOGYPJAX6oG60aBH-gL8YfLAe84XTE6_iJ10MU_J-WtGhprG/s320/pompey.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />Here
are some different slang forms from around the world…. And to help you in your
travels, I’ve added what the word is for ‘food’ so that you can survive like a
local.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">VERLAN
is a popular way to speak in France, with origins believed to go back as far as
the Middle Ages. It was used a lot by French people to puzzle the Nazis.
The verlan for food is la graille.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">COCKNEY
rhyming slang started in the East End of London in the early nineteenth
century. A word or phrase is replaced with another phrase, which rhymes with
the original.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
cockney for fish is satellite dish, and the Cockney for chips is solar eclipse.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">STRINE
is a term for Australian slang. It is spoken very quickly. If you are ever down
under and hungry, quickly ask for some dog’s eye and hopefully you will get a
meat pie. If you don’t fancy that, and want something safer ask for a
choccy biccy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span>The
term HILLBILLY used to describe people from the rural, southeastern parts of
America. It is an seen as an unkind term to use
now. Hillbilly for food is vittles.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span>POLARI
was a type of rhyming slang with many Italian based words. It may be traced
back as far as the sixteenth century. It was first used by sailors, and then
became popular among members of the gay community in the early twentieth century as a means of communicating discreetly. When people wanted food, they asked for jarry.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span>The
Italian Mafia in America during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century
had hundreds of their own phrases. Fancy some salami? Ask politely for
Gabagool. (As
an aside, I definitely recommend the film ‘The Irishman’ by Scorsese: all about
the Mafia in America.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span>Slang
used in Portsmouth is often called POMPEY. The city has the same name. One
theory is that it comes from 'Pom. P', a shortened version of Portsmouth Point
which was entered in ships' logs as they entered Portsmouth Harbour. If any of
your food is delicious when in Portsmouth, call it scrummy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-12159974559365739072024-03-07T22:34:00.004+00:002024-03-07T23:14:38.161+00:00Diverse Ways of Delivering Desired Substances into Cells<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>by</i><b> Christine Z</b></span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b9f9c43e-7fff-8030-ecaa-51f3726a148e"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDobtDj8F4HVkmwCqMWKjO-o81pOtv1S5rOH6OXmv2veyZrhQYDuYDmhHtlpj35dzCxEZA2IVzXXo7m3LikymUhWx0p8jLn_Q7v-A5J0I5tAuV546Px-54zxcO3PGiqlCCXpEPgYDHaP38AAi37Qg29EazLCmCh5PEOV7zagTasnHMUJim7toICjRhP_nv/s1920/viral%20vectors.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1920" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDobtDj8F4HVkmwCqMWKjO-o81pOtv1S5rOH6OXmv2veyZrhQYDuYDmhHtlpj35dzCxEZA2IVzXXo7m3LikymUhWx0p8jLn_Q7v-A5J0I5tAuV546Px-54zxcO3PGiqlCCXpEPgYDHaP38AAi37Qg29EazLCmCh5PEOV7zagTasnHMUJim7toICjRhP_nv/s320/viral%20vectors.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Delivery of desired substances into cells is a fundamental aspect of several biological applications, such as gene therapy, drug delivery, RNA interference and so on. Among them, substances like proteins and manually synthesised drugs, DNAs and RNAs need to be delivered into cytoplasm, organelles and nuclei to function. There are several delivery methods, including virus, lipid, polymers, and electricity. </span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the most well-established methods for delivering genetic material into the nuclei is through the use of viral vectors. Viruses have the nature to inject their genetic material into cell nuclei and join them to the cell’s DNA, thus making them be transcribed into mRNA and translated into proteins, therefore new viruses can be made. This aspect utilises this nature to deliver desired DNA into the nucleus, therefore gene editing or gene therapy can process. The choice of vector depends on factors such as the type of cells to be targeted, the size of the DNA, and considerations about safety. Once the type of virus is chosen, the gene of interest is inserted into the viral genome by restriction enzyme digestion, PCR and ligation. The deletion of virulence genes is also crucial for the safety of the receiver.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lipid nanoparticles, polymer nanoparticles and electric shock are the other three common methods of delivering. Lipid nanoparticles can encapsulate drugs or nucleic acids within their lipid bilayers and can be delivered into cells via endocytosis or passive diffusion. Lipid nanoparticles can be made from dissolving lipids and chemicals in an organic solvent such as ethanol, followed by the removal of the solvent to form lipid nanoparticles around the chemicals. To use polymer delivery systems, selecting a suitable polymer is the first step, which is based on the hydrophobicity, molecular weight and stability of the substance to be delivered. The delivery systems can be prepared using solvent extraction, nanoprecipitation and electrospinning. Solvent extraction is the same as the one mentioned in making lipid nanoparticles. Nanoprecipitation involves mixing a solution of the polymer and the substance with a non-solvent that is miscible with the solvent dissolving the polymer. The rapid diffusion of the non-solvent into the polymer solution leads to the precipitation of polymer nanoparticles. Electrospinning is a technique used to prepare polymer fibres surrounding the substance to be delivered. Electricity shock can also help with delivery into cells. The electrical pulses create disruptions in the cell membrane, temporarily increasing its permeability, allowing the charged molecules, ions, and small particles in the surrounding buffer to cross the membrane.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These methods have their respective advantages and disadvantages. For example, they might be efficient, specific and biocompatible, but at the same time toxic, having possibilities to cause immune responses and lead to irreversible damage to the body. Overall, delivery systems are important in delivering substances into cells, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The choices of method should be based on specific requirements and safety considerations.</span></span></p><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-20715975249250646792024-03-07T22:30:00.004+00:002024-03-07T23:16:40.418+00:00The Decline of Rugby Union in England<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by</i> <b>Rufus G-B</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaZgfnsJmit90VU7RjwjaB0SgpF75hmtoNipVsQgJI6MO_UOmCFyabYQoZ45I1JKBKrslHRPrwVEjuBkVPXXOadtDmRChoWHf1RdlAQtfD5St6_jBQl8E7h5jRo6xO9SuW7IRdlpgg_3HlibUs9UQx8q3k_sP929XVjIyWpkzln75m4dR4f9sWMogv3Vr/s1187/LondonIrishNew.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaZgfnsJmit90VU7RjwjaB0SgpF75hmtoNipVsQgJI6MO_UOmCFyabYQoZ45I1JKBKrslHRPrwVEjuBkVPXXOadtDmRChoWHf1RdlAQtfD5St6_jBQl8E7h5jRo6xO9SuW7IRdlpgg_3HlibUs9UQx8q3k_sP929XVjIyWpkzln75m4dR4f9sWMogv3Vr/s320/LondonIrishNew.png" width="216" /></a></div><br />On 17th August 2023, I was lucky enough to go to Twickenham to watch the final warm up game before the 2024 Paris world cup, an old England vs Wales rival game, coming off of a loss to them a week before. I sat in the stands and watched as we barely took the game out of the Welsh fans hands, but I noticed around the stadium the pockets of empty seats in what seemed to be mostly missing English fans. This lack of viewers is only one of the many reasons as to the decline in not only the quality of rugby itself, but the inability to fund both clubs and players.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Over the last three years, three clubs have gone into administration due to financial issues that not only arise from poor government of the club but also difficult rules and regulations set by the RFU. Worcester Warriors, Wasps and London Irish all suffered the same fate for an inability to pay their staff. The current salary cap to cover all players, reserves and staff payments (scouts, managers, coaches, specialist coaches, physios etc.) is at a low of five million per team after dropping from six million and four hundred thousand pounds the season the first team(Worcester warriors) went into administration. Focusing on paying their international players too much while not offering enough towards the rest of the team. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A prime example of this was the English fly half Owen Farrell who made eight hundred thousand pounds per year being one of the least played players each season for the club, due to being on international leave. Like a sponge, the money’s remains focused on the internationals and the most commercialised players that bring in the entirety of the viewing figures for any companies interested in sponsoring them. Not only does Farrell take his fair share but Maro Itoji and Jamie George both make the same amount of money as Farrell but to keep them playing their rugby in England the RFU has given them an extra one hundred and sixty thousand pounds on top of their contracts. So between three of a thirty three player squad, for thirty other players Saracens has only two million and six hundred thousand pounds left to control the rest of the team. Luckily, Saracens being one of the most successful teams in the leagues history, means they can afford to manage issues like this, while teams like Wasps,London Irish and Worcester Warriors die out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">While this salary cap can also help struggling teams, the quality of rugby often worsens in correlation to the value of players that are paid evenly. This then results in even less people becoming interested enough to watch the game in person, so not enough tickets are sold and with frequent injuries as the sport has a born nature of, the game is on a steady decline. English players therefore look elsewhere to make a living, and with a salary cap of ten million euros over in France, the pay and the quality of rugby is all too enticing. The only downside is that with the RFU’s rules set in stone for ‘</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">players must compete in England to be considered for the squad.’ so not only do England’s clubs lose some of its best players but lose international success as well. Unfortunately, it only gets worse as the projected viewing figures and people coming to watch the game live don't meet expectations, the ticket prices and food and drink and all live facilities become beyond the average person's budget, reducing the accessibility of the game for the average person.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">All these factors just feed into the demise of English rugby and rule changes and restrictions determined by the RFU, need a modernised change and soon, in hope no other clubs suffer and the game in England survives.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>Bibliography</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/england-selection-rules-should-you-have-to-play-in-england-to-play-for-england-151486" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/england-selection-rules-should-you-have-to-play-in-england-to-play-for-england-151486</span></span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/13030752/maro-itoje-and-jamie-george-agree-new-rfu-hybrid-contracts-to-stay-with-saracens-and-be-available-for-england" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/13030752/maro-itoje-and-jamie-george-agree-new-rfu-hybrid-contracts-to-stay-with-saracens-and-be-available-for-england</span></span></a></p><p><br /><br /></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-68243795043015171822024-03-07T22:22:00.002+00:002024-03-07T23:18:21.488+00:00Psychology of Penalties<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by </i><b>Jamie H</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="p1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqNKEGYxamdcJ6l8z1sRzjWasrOizd2RkHXhnzZaLasgAualCN7nyDNsoT9vPPmImIk71-qtg4hPLBoD1gFNo95R6sWrSD8oe7IXUJIWB-W3SV_au3oyGDjeDUliyzfKI32wUmEj3Hot1OClCgdLaY7bjBDMmJsjj3J_ZAKkYUxcxwytCFLXebv-afnzM/s584/pen.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="584" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqNKEGYxamdcJ6l8z1sRzjWasrOizd2RkHXhnzZaLasgAualCN7nyDNsoT9vPPmImIk71-qtg4hPLBoD1gFNo95R6sWrSD8oe7IXUJIWB-W3SV_au3oyGDjeDUliyzfKI32wUmEj3Hot1OClCgdLaY7bjBDMmJsjj3J_ZAKkYUxcxwytCFLXebv-afnzM/s320/pen.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can England
ever win on penalties? The dominant question that lingers when any major
tournament and a penalty shootout is around. 1990 West Germany, 1996 Argentina,
2006 Portugal and 2021 Italy. The curse. Are we cursed? Or is there a mentality
we are missing. There has been extensive research into the psychology of
penalties and what the best options available are for a team, so they have the
opportunity to perform to optimum ability in a penalty shootout.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background: white;">It may look <a name="_Int_pGU0zI7T">simple</a>; kick the ball into the net and prevent the
opposing team kicking the ball into the net- but nothing in sport is ever that
simple.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1">The
penalty kick comes under what is known as the non-cooperative zero-sum game and
is a form of game theory. The theory states that one person's gain is
equivalent to another’s loss, meaning that the net change is zero sum. So how
does this apply to penalty kicks? Due to the fact that the kicker and the
goalkeeper do not co-operate with each other, but each player pursues disparate
objectives. Meaning that the kickers gain represents the goalkeeper's loss and
vice versa. Furthermore, assumptions are made that the best penalty kicks are
made from optimal strategy and John Nash, a mathematician, states that
penalties have Nash equilibrium. This refers to the scoring probability for a
kicker and probability of making a save for a goalkeeper.</span><span class="apple-converted-space">
</span><span class="s1">Although
even with all the maths and the science behind a penalty, a main focus for many
players is not about the scientific knowledge, but rather about the mentality.
We can see this through the automatic tendency to take action even when the
better choice may be holding off on doing anything at all, this is known as the
action bias. For instance, it is common for a goalkeeper to act (jump to right
of jump to left) and optimise their chances of catching the ball. Many have
found that just doing something helps and perceive that they are going to stop
or save the penalty. Although, cognitive bias does not work in isolation
therefore even though in football, you want it to be a perfect mathematical
decision, in a stressful, overwhelming environment, the perception of control
is more key for a player. This refers to an individual perceived control in the
degree to which they believed that they have control over themselves and
activities, surrounding them. Showing us that when the player is forced to
perform in a way that is mathematically optimal, we take away their agency.
Landing in a form of paradox, as it increases levels of cognitive and somatic
anxiety. In addition, the degree of self control affects the participant’s performance
particularly when placed in a high-pressure situation.</span><span class="apple-converted-space">
</span><span class="s1">Therefore,
players don’t need to be in control to perform successfully, they just need to
believe they are.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1">For
that reason, can we ever successfully know how to take the best penalties. No.
The best strategy depends on what the others do, so there is no predicting. And
even with all the scientific knowledge and practice of a penalty, in this
sport, anything could happen.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1">The
biggest obstacle to face is the anxiety and pressure faced in this intense, all
eyes are watching, set of circumstances. For instance</span><span class="apple-converted-space">,
when</span><span class="s1"> Alex Morgan had a penalty kick denied in July 2023 it was
the first time a kick was blocked for the U.S women’s national soccer team
since 2003. To counterbalance, this anxiety and pressure many kickers turn to
breathing exercises such as the ‘sigh breath’. On top of that many teams will use
psychology to help perform successfully, rather than focusing on the
individual. For example, in 2023 round 16 Sardinia Weismann stated that her
coach employed specific tactics to ensure victory against Nigeria. These
included two details such as England players linked arms, forming a line near
the centre circle before the spot-kicks began and when they scored or Nigeria
missed, every player celebrated passionately. Showing that this is mental
battle between teams and the individual. Nothing will ever fully prepare you
for the penalty shot. But the right frame of mind is always the best to start.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>
<p class="p2"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2"><br /></p><br /><p></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-62063862299883309192024-03-07T22:17:00.008+00:002024-03-07T22:17:56.277+00:00Mindfulness: Guided Meditation for Relaxation and Body Tension Release<p> <i>by</i> <b>Niki King</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TcfBtoojO6g" width="320" youtube-src-id="TcfBtoojO6g"></iframe></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-41980801782176628512024-03-07T22:16:00.003+00:002024-03-07T23:22:52.963+00:00The Reformation: the Original Brexit<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by</i> <b>Sophie H</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-indent: 36pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 36pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQhRoNgPtQlJQ1sKyLyVXCiWZZFkFHkWVTrhasLom5HcGD9_nXwEbuxfVY5mlNilX_dFGYWV9WDrMwiIjoC-5-5JJxDZOzYLjJhJEX5ti9Xv8AWry0FSh-M5cEhC3hzy6nkS9g4niXtHFhExUUohjHdOhyphenhyphenAhEI0wnOMJYtEyLwXbPLCgu_VIOUSgfzNlK/s700/hviii.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQhRoNgPtQlJQ1sKyLyVXCiWZZFkFHkWVTrhasLom5HcGD9_nXwEbuxfVY5mlNilX_dFGYWV9WDrMwiIjoC-5-5JJxDZOzYLjJhJEX5ti9Xv8AWry0FSh-M5cEhC3hzy6nkS9g4niXtHFhExUUohjHdOhyphenhyphenAhEI0wnOMJYtEyLwXbPLCgu_VIOUSgfzNlK/s320/hviii.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 36pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-indent: 36pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p>Traditionally, the British Isles have been tied politically, economically or religiously to the European Continent for a good deal of our collective histories. This was especially true for our relationship with France; for centuries, English monarchs held Calais, parts of Normandy, and Gascony, and Henry VI was even crowned King of France in 1431. The complex melange of European dynasties was fully inclusive of the various English lines (such as the Plantagenets) and continued to involve English lineage despite the religious isolation caused by the break from Rome during the Tudor period, which removed them from the inner workings of the Catholic theatre. When Britain made its first steps into the wider European Union half a millennia later in 1973, we again reinforced our links to the continent. Both tenuous unions notoriously ceased, with Brexit aiming to remove Britain from the European sphere of influence, in a more political sense whilst the Reformation marked religious independence. It is clear that both breaks from the continent were not as definite as they may have seemed, but the two processes share fundamental similarities and repercussions. With such historic parallels to draw, to what extent can it be argued that Brexit is a second iteration of the English Reformation?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Religion in 16th century Britain was politically very important: the Pope wielded a huge amount of political power over western Catholic nations. This authority was rarely disputed, as the Pope, like Kings, was deemed to be anointed by God and therefore was deemed to possess legitimate political and religious jurisdiction. Because of this consensus on papal authority, when King Henry VIII wished to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, he sought papal permission, firstly, for a divorce, then subsequently for an annulment. Pope Clement VII himself (despite his great religious authority) was under great coercion from Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (from the famous Hapsburg dynasty) to refuse such a request, as Charles was Catherine’s nephew, and at one point, engaged to marry her daughter, Mary (the 1st)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. It was thus unsurprising that in 1527 Henry VIII was refused an annulment of the marriage, but the wider ramifications were less predictable. The ordeal raised an irreversibly damaging question of autonomy and authority in England, and as to whether the King of England could really be controlled by a Catholic over 1000 miles away. Similarly, some Britons harboured a degree of resentment over the authority of the European Union over the British Parliament, frustration demonstrated by the Factortame case, where EU law took precedence over British law for the first time. Such grievances played an integral role in the Brexit campaign; ‘Take back control’ was flaunted on buses, with UKIP’s official slogan being ‘We want our country back’</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. It is in this way that similarities can be drawn between the two, with mounting frustrations over lack of national (and individual) autonomy helping to trigger the respective breaks from Europe. <span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In both instances, this break from Europe was a legislative process, as opposed to a definitive moment. Henry VIII started his break with the 1532 Ecclesiastical Appeals Act, forbidding appeals to the Pope on any matters and making the King the definitive authority in England and Wales, establishing </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">praemunire</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> - the total rejection of papal authority. This was followed by the 1534 Act of Supremacy which declared the King the ‘Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England’ and was enforced by the Treasons Act, which deemed noncompliance a treasonous act, punishable by death. These acts cemented Henry’s authority and supremacy over the Pope on English soil. Similarly, nearly five centuries later, Brexit was achieved as an amalgamation of Parliamentary legislation, although far less efficient and more drawn-out as a process. This can be attributed to the increased importance of the modern UK Parliament and parliamentary procedure, as opposed to singular monarchical authority, which made it far easier to make decisions without prolonged bureaucratic processes, despite its other drawbacks. It is notable that to simplify the nation’s passage through the Brexit procedures, measures to streamline legislative abilities for the governing party were introduced, dubbed the ‘Henry VIII measures’. This succinctly demonstrates the significant links between the two events.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Both the break from Rome and the break from the EU were somewhat inspired by economic propositions. Just as we saw promises about significant fiscal benefits from Brexit (i.e. the pledges of £350 million/week on the red buses) so too did Henry see the reformation as a chance to take advantage of diverted income: tax money that had previously been destined for Rome could now stay with the crown, and the subsequent dissolution of the monasteries was a tempting economic proposition. It was estimated that the Catholic church had an annual income of £181 million per annum (in today’s money), a literal wealth of opportunity for Henry’s aims as a monarch, most prominently the continuation of English military endeavours in France. Therefore the Reformation was a multi-faceted tool for the Tudor potentate, one which not only helped to continue his lineage with the crucial male heir, but also cement his own rule. After all, his father had usurped Richard III to the throne during the War of the Roses. The role of the supposed fiscal benefits in motivating both splits should not be ignored. However, the degree to which these forecasted benefits were actually endowed on the country differs massively. The dissolution of the monasteries considerably bulked up the Crown’s finances, whilst, despite promising enormous financial gains from Brexit, in actuality, little materialised. The £350 million per week pledge was proved to be drawn from inflated figures</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, and Britain’s gains from the process were disappointingly low, with the withdrawal costing billions</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. Despite the discrepancy in outcome, it is interesting to note the way in which both the Reformation and Brexit were heavily influenced in part by economic motivations.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">However, though being officially severed from European authorities, there is doubt as to how much of a social change either event truly enacted. There is consensus amongst historians that Henry VIII was a devout Catholic throughout his life. Despite his break from Rome, he continued to attend daily mass and was initially reluctant to introduce an English language bible, preferring the traditional latin bibles, as used by the Catholic church. England even temporarily reverted back to Catholicism under Mary I, arguably a more significant and brutal change for the public than if Britain were to rejoin the EU. It is clear that formal (political) changes cannot immediately transform generational beliefs within society. Even though Henry VIII was the orchestrator of these changes, he too found it difficult to accept Protestantism. Henry was in a way forced into the break from Rome by his impending succession crisis without a male heir. However, more confusing was his indecisiveness over papal authority; following Martin Luther’s 95 theses in 1517, Henry had re-committed himself to Catholiscm by defending the Pope, to the extent that he was officially awarded the title </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Fidei Defensor </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(Defender of the Faith) - a title still present on British coinage and part of King Charles III’s official title. To then go on, later in his reign, to denounce papal authority and separate from the church posed a significant deviation from his prior actions. This contradictory position was reflected in the 21st century under the leadership of Boris Johnson. Viewed similarly as the one of the orchestrators of Brexit, Johnson has reflected this internal conflict contemporarily. It was discovered that just a week prior to endorsing (and subsequently heading up) the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Vote Leave</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> campaign, Johnson had written two columns, one in favour of Brexit and the other in favour of remaining in the EU, with only the former published. Though this may be more of a case of hedging one's bets rather than actual internal conflict, it does demonstrate the decisive and complex nature of both the Reformation and Brexit for those who led the nation through them.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-indent: 36pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fundamentally, the Reformation changed the British psyche. From the 16th century, Britain was the ‘odd-one-out’ in Europe, the non-Catholic nation. It forged a separate English identity, which would, 500 years later, come back in the form of fervent Euroscepticism and culminate in Brexit. It can be argued that it was Henry VIII’s decision to split from Rome that prevented Britain from ever fully integrating into the EU as other nation states have, demonstrating not just the way in which the two events are linked, but the significant impact the Reformation had and continues to have on our country. Would Brexit have happened without the Reformation? In a typical historian manner, it is hard to provide a definitive answer. But, as I have demonstrated, the similarities between the two are striking, and Brexit certainly builds upon the ideas of the Reformation epoch. Will Brexit end up being as influential on the political, economic and social geography of the UK as the Reformation? Watch this space.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span><br /></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: center; text-indent: 36pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><u>Works Cited</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cartwright, Mark. “Dissolution of the Monasteries.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">World History Encyclopedia</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 13 May 2020, https://www.worldhistory.org/Dissolution_of_the_Monasteries/. Accessed 6 March 2024.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Corvinus, Mathias. “Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wikipedia</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_V,_Holy_Roman_Emperor#Marriage. Accessed 6 March 2024.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FULL FACT. “£350 million EU claim "a clear misuse of official statistics."” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Full Fact</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 19 September 2017, https://fullfact.org/europe/350-million-week-boris-johnson-statistics-authority-misuse/. Accessed 6 March 2024.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Milliken, David. “London mayor says Brexit has cost UK over $178 billion so far.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reuters</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 11 January 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/london-mayor-says-brexit-has-cost-uk-over-178-bln-so-far-2024-01-11/. Accessed 6 March 2024.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mitchell, David. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Penguin Books Limited, 2023.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oates, Rosamund. “From Brexit to Bonfire Night: Why the Reformation Still Matters.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Conversation</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 9 November 2017, https://theconversation.com/brexit-to-bonfire-night-why-the-reformation-still-matters-86330. Accessed 6 March 2024.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reynolds, Leda. “'We want our country back' Farage rallies troops ahead of 'Independence Day' Brexit vote.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wikipedia</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 26 April 2016, https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/664333/We-want-our-country-back-Farage-rallies-troops-ahead-of-Independence-Day-Brexit. Accessed 6 March 2024.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sky News. “Boris Johnson vs Boris Johnson: Brexit arguments for and against.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sky News</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 16 October 2016, https://news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-vs-boris-johnson-brexit-arguments-for-and-against-10619817. Accessed 6 March 2024.</span></span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Springer, Markus, et al. “Brexit mit Heinrich VIII.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sonntagsblatt</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 11 April 2017, https://www.sonntagsblatt.de/artikel/meinung-kommentar/brexit-mit-heinrich-viii. Accessed 6 March 2024.</span></span></p><div><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247050185364541007.post-34060997163411101672024-03-07T22:09:00.004+00:002024-03-07T23:23:29.867+00:00How to Repair a Broken Heart<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>by</i> <b>Lissiana J</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4Pocu_XIoCzBEBJokrQQvDa9S7iBtiXlho1xLBMsM0Ek2Y0brBMF3ioKh-P4EN7V8cEjQulQXK1m74IZyLRrEFzp5PcJfisTlu1MdILRtmp-5TM9DtfZEUDiD9C9gp-1rl9_AQBXCPURUmgazINEaCeBkwMQTkP69vt8YknHTHry87oYsq5YtmarnKZ_/s512/liss2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4Pocu_XIoCzBEBJokrQQvDa9S7iBtiXlho1xLBMsM0Ek2Y0brBMF3ioKh-P4EN7V8cEjQulQXK1m74IZyLRrEFzp5PcJfisTlu1MdILRtmp-5TM9DtfZEUDiD9C9gp-1rl9_AQBXCPURUmgazINEaCeBkwMQTkP69vt8YknHTHry87oYsq5YtmarnKZ_/s320/liss2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />During half term, I had the exciting opportunity of completing my work experience at King's College Hospital. There, I was able to observe multiple incredible surgeries and procedures and meet professionals whose work is not often appreciated but extremely important. </span><p></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Firstly, I observed an Aortic Valve Replacement which was fascinating. I watched how the surgeons carefully removed the patient's calcified aortic valve and used tools to ensure that the size of the aorta was exactly what they were expecting. Then, the surgeons intricately sutured nearly 30 threads around the walls of the aorta which were then attached to the new biological heart valve outside the chest cavity. The next step was arguably the most impressive- the surgeons pulled the threads down resulting in the valve parachuting down to the aorta. As a result of the precise stitches, the valve was lowered down perfectly and when tested, there were no leaks. After a quick shock with defibrillator panels, the heart restarted and had a new stronger beat. I also had the chance to watch a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft which was an enthralling experience. Whilst one surgeon was opening the chest up, another was cautiously harvesting the saphenous vein from the patient's leg, working from ankle to groin. The surgeon, navigated by an Endoscope, used electrocautery to separate the vessel from the surrounding flesh as when flesh burns it seals, making the vessel easier to use as there is no risk of cuts or holes when it branches off. The surgeons carefully attached measured sections of the veins around the brockages and promptly closed up. Throughout both surgeries the patients were on a bypass machine, regulated by a perfusionist who responded swiftly to the surgeons every order and was incharge of altering the patient's body temperature. <span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjh7soDqZnzYWhYlBRDjotH_YNvVv2v3z5v8fk62JMznErwH4b4tVnu7zgJ829ALeI-1NE3fKyzDYmORgC7LFRcDZjxov9v3mAN9cK1Pmvfm6PNGWxmz5mvnettptvlIBk01fRIyM1yiYdmQlgMpD1sBOrSgB5bYqt7I3-qmKHf2VRdTpbkTJcIZDHRY5/s512/liss1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjh7soDqZnzYWhYlBRDjotH_YNvVv2v3z5v8fk62JMznErwH4b4tVnu7zgJ829ALeI-1NE3fKyzDYmORgC7LFRcDZjxov9v3mAN9cK1Pmvfm6PNGWxmz5mvnettptvlIBk01fRIyM1yiYdmQlgMpD1sBOrSgB5bYqt7I3-qmKHf2VRdTpbkTJcIZDHRY5/s320/liss1.jpg" width="273" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the cases which I saw in the Cardiology department was the amazing Impella device insertion.The Impella is a small device that is placed in the left ventricle, across the aorta and pumps blood up, alleviating the pressure on the heart. The patient has been denied heart surgery therefore the only other option was to undertake a non invasive approach. A great team of medical professionals: doctors, nurses, radiologists and anaesthetists took part in the procedure of placing the Impella device in the patient's heart, except the interesting thing was that they could only work from a cut in the upper arm. With the use of numerous tools such as echo scans and CT, the doctors were able to carefully guide the device up the vessels in the arm and into the aorta. However the procedure did not stop there. Once the Impella device was positioned, the doctors started the second part of the procedure- placing several stents in the vessels. Currently, there is a trial taking place where the patient receives the treatment before or after stentage. Although it seems that the best option is to add the Impella pump at the first chance, it can actually cause vascular complications. Therefore, the findings of the trial will help make a final decision regarding the optimum conditions for Impella device insertion.</span><p></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Overall, I had an incredible experience and gained so much knowledge, however one of the most important was to stay fit. Despite their age, all the patients I saw were allowed surgery only because they were fit and had a healthy lifestyle. The whole process of surgery is absolutely brutal on the body and so the post operative recovery is extremely difficult and painful. Only the patients who appear able to withstand the pressures are put forward for surgery whilst the others have to undergo other, non-invasive procedures. Although, being fit will not prevent one from developing a heart disease, it will certainly allow for the best treatment options and definitely an easier recovery. </span></span></p><p><br /></p>Portsmouth Pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04251504156705922645noreply@blogger.com0