tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73851263147540966162024-02-23T18:03:41.026-08:00Life "as is"Behind the scenes at Julies, life "as is" Follow in her path, walk with her on her journey. Chat along the way.Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.comBlogger263125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-77669957176976016642023-06-28T04:09:00.004-07:002023-06-28T04:11:12.131-07:00: A Deep Dive into the Center of Excellence Course: Truth and TransparencyFor many students worldwide, the Center of Excellence offers a wide range of online courses, serving as a gateway to knowledge, skills, and personal development. They offer a variety of subjects from the arts to sciences, health, business, and more. The appeal of the center lies in its convenience, affordability, and claim to high-quality content. However, like any educational platform, it is not without its imperfections.
In this blog, we delve into some areas of concern - issues of content quality and the communication of feedback - which have surfaced around some Center of Excellence courses.
Quality: Originality and Accuracy
While a majority of their courses have been praised for their comprehensive, well-researched content, there have been concerns about some courses, primarily revolving around originality and accuracy.
On the issue of originality, some students have pointed out that certain courses seem to resemble a "copy-and-paste" model, with content that seems to have been taken from various sources without significant modification. These courses appear to lack the depth and personal touch that is characteristic of a well-designed course. This doesn't just impact the learning experience; it also raises questions about the integrity of the content and its value to the learner.
Even more alarming are reports of inaccuracies within the courses, especially when it comes to historical data. In the quest to provide valuable and informative content, it's vital to ensure that all information is accurate. Incorrect data can lead to misinformation and confound the learning process, particularly in disciplines where fact-checking is paramount.
Feedback: Complaints and Censorship
When the above issues were brought up by students, many took to the Center of Excellence's Facebook page, expecting their voices to be heard and their concerns addressed. Unfortunately, several users reported that their comments were not published or were removed.
This form of censorship raises an additional concern regarding transparency and the freedom of communication between the platform and its users. It creates an echo chamber, which might give prospective students an unrealistically positive view of the courses. Moreover, it discourages open dialogue, an essential component of any learning environment.
It is crucial to remember that feedback, especially criticism, helps organizations grow and improve. By censoring negative comments, the Center of Excellence may be missing out on an opportunity to enhance the quality of their courses and the overall student experience.
The Way Forward
Despite these concerns, it's important to stress that many students find value in the Center of Excellence courses. But, for the platform to continue growing and serving its students effectively, it must address these issues.
The first step is to reassess the course creation process, ensuring that all content is not only original but also accurate. Rigorous fact-checking should be an essential part of course development.
In terms of communication, the Center of Excellence could benefit from more transparent policies. Allowing and encouraging feedback, even if it's negative, would create a more honest, open dialogue between the platform and its users.
The Center of Excellence has great potential to be a leading e-learning platform, but to do so, it must commit to delivering high-quality, accurate content and engaging in transparent communication with its students. Remember, every educational journey is marked by continuous improvement - for both learners and providers alike.
I would NOT reccomend them though.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOY_ezvxcbOk_62zK14kLjtJwODZ9T1x5qxdaZKb_kpwe6Bb9dZG1i5La2_Z4BcSUNk4IhhZV0X272uBkS0vop9YKzpKdBZRKQRQoXput5NEwY2NOtTUpPGAs-pAFIvcnRoRVZ28oI9gX5sX12O-EzCpKU0_ujm50tPaxZwbv1NkoxEoMJYsJ0nXisVS8/s180/0x0.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOY_ezvxcbOk_62zK14kLjtJwODZ9T1x5qxdaZKb_kpwe6Bb9dZG1i5La2_Z4BcSUNk4IhhZV0X272uBkS0vop9YKzpKdBZRKQRQoXput5NEwY2NOtTUpPGAs-pAFIvcnRoRVZ28oI9gX5sX12O-EzCpKU0_ujm50tPaxZwbv1NkoxEoMJYsJ0nXisVS8/s320/0x0.png"/></a></div>Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-70776037588714547452023-06-19T03:28:00.002-07:002023-06-19T03:28:52.996-07:00From Connection to Commodification: The Evolution of Social Media Giants
In the digital dawn of the new millennium, a wave of innovation swept through the tech sector, birthing the social media giants we recognize today. Websites and apps like Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram began as innovative platforms that promised to connect individuals like never before. The allure of these platforms was undeniable - they offered a means to keep in touch with friends, share moments of life, explore interests, and engage in vibrant discussions. Over time, however, these platforms have evolved, and not necessarily in the way users might have hoped. The shift from connection-oriented platforms to profit-driven entities is a development worth exploring.
The Initial Promise: A Digital Utopia
Facebook launched in 2004 as a Harvard-only network. It provided a virtual space where students could share interests, make friends, and keep in touch. Similarly, Instagram, unveiled in 2010, was initially a simple platform for sharing filtered photos, allowing users to express themselves creatively. Goodreads, on the other hand, began in 2007 as a hub for book lovers to review, recommend, and discuss their favorite books. The users of these platforms enjoyed the ability to connect with like-minded individuals, explore different perspectives, and cultivate a sense of community. Oh How wonderful it was to connect woth the lost and the lonley.
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The Turn: Profit Over People? YEA!!!
As these platforms grew, they had to monetize to sustain and scale their operations. This is a common stage in any start-up's growth trajectory, but the way many social media companies went about this was somewhat controversial. Rather than opting for traditional revenue generation methods like subscriptions, they chose to leverage their most abundant resource: user data.
User data is a gold mine for advertisers. With access to users' preferences, behaviors, and interests, advertisers can target their products and services to those most likely to purchase. Social media giants, recognizing this opportunity, created a business model that allowed advertisers to leverage user data in exchange for revenue.
But the collection and use of user data was not always transparent. Many users remained unaware of how extensively their data was being collected, analyzed, and sold. Over time, public awareness has grown, largely due to high-profile data breaches and the work of investigative journalists and privacy advocates.
A Twisted Trade-Off: Free Usage for Data
To a large extent, the bargain is straightforward. Users get free access to social media platforms, and in return, these platforms use their data for profit. However, the line between a fair trade-off and exploitation is murky. Without robust data privacy laws and with opaque terms of service, users may inadvertently give more than they intended.
Concerns over data privacy are not mere paranoia. User data can be, and has been, used for manipulative advertising, spreading misinformation, and even swaying political outcomes. Such instances have highlighted the risks of entrusting personal data to corporations with little accountability. I personally amd getting sick of being bombarded with ads and phishing requests, hacked accounts etc. Hacking seems to be a must these days.
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A Call for Change
The evolution of social media platforms into data monetizing entities underscores the need for stricter data privacy laws and corporate accountability. One solution could be greater transparency in how user data is used and giving users more control over their data. Another would be shifting the business model from advertising-based to something more user-centric.
The rise of decentralized social networks, where no single entity controls the data, is a promising development. Blockchain-based platforms, for example, ensure that users have control over their data. However, these platforms are still in their infancy and have yet to reach the critical mass of users that giants like Facebook and Instagram have.
Social media began as a way to connect people, and in many ways, it still fulfills that promise. However, the monetization of user data has raised complex issues about privacy and the value of digital connections. The challenge for the future will be to find a balance that maintains the undeniable benefits these platforms offer while safeguarding user data and trust.
Striking the Balance: The Way Forward
Although the criticism leveled at social media companies may seem daunting, it is essential to remember the value that these platforms have brought to our lives. They have enabled us to maintain connections across great distances, discover new interests, and participate in global conversations. The question is, how do we preserve these benefits while addressing the issues that have arisen?
The answer lies in fostering a digital ecosystem that values both connectivity and privacy. Implementing comprehensive data protection regulations, similar to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, is a start. These regulations should ensure informed consent, allowing users to understand and control how their data is used and by whom.
On the business side, social media companies can explore alternative monetization models that do not compromise user data. Options could include freemium models, where users pay for premium features, or subscription models, where users pay for ad-free experiences. Though this would mean moving away from the "free for all" model, it could result in a more sustainable and user-friendly platform.
Technological solutions, such as differential privacy (a system for publicly sharing information about a dataset by describing the patterns of groups within the dataset while withholding information about individuals in the dataset), could offer ways for social media platforms to share user data for advertising purposes while preserving individual privacy. Additionally, more robust encryption measures can secure user data and protect against breaches.
A New Digital Dawn
In conclusion, the evolution of social media platforms from facilitators of connection to data-monetizing entities is a significant development in our digital age. It underscores the need for greater transparency, robust data privacy laws, corporate accountability, and a shift in business models that prioritize user experience and trust.
Social media has undoubtedly transformed our lives, and its potential to connect people is unparalleled. As we move forward, let's use the lessons learned from this journey to shape a more balanced, user-centric digital landscape, where connectivity and data privacy go hand in hand. The challenges are significant, but so are the opportunities. We are on the brink of a new digital dawn, and we hold the power to shape it. Let's ensure it's a future we can all believe in.Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-41568477386523145352023-05-31T08:15:00.004-07:002023-05-31T09:27:30.053-07:00Cult or religion? Are they one of the same or are they here to control people? Here is a list I compiled, I was watching a 60 minutes Austrailia about the Cult of Scientology, firstly here is what I have researched about them.
The Church of Scientology is a religion that was established in the United States in the early 1950s by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. The church describes its beliefs as a religion and it is officially recognized as such in the United States and a few other countries, while it is seen as a commercial enterprise or a cult in others.
The doctrines of Scientology are based primarily on Hubbard's writings, especially a book titled "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health" (1950) and other texts that he produced throughout his life. Hubbard coined the term "Dianetics" to describe what he called the modern science of mental health.
Scientology's teachings revolve around the concept of the "thetan," which is comparable to the concept of the soul in other religions. According to the church, thetans are immortal beings who have lived through past lives and will continue to live in future ones. The church teaches that thetans accumulate negative experiences or "engrams" over these many lives, and that these engrams cause most of the individual's problems in the present life.
The Church of Scientology uses a practice called "auditing" to address these engrams. In auditing sessions, a member of the church (the "auditor") guides another member (the "preclear") through a series of questions and exercises intended to help the preclear confront and "clear" these engrams.
Scientology's organizational structure includes a range of internal policies and disciplinary procedures, as well as a distinct set of ranks and roles. The church also operates a number of related organizations, including the Sea Org, which is a group for the church's most dedicated members.
The Church of Scientology has been subject to considerable controversy and legal action over the years, with critics alleging that it is a cult that engages in coercive and abusive practices. Allegations against the church include financial exploitation, psychological manipulation, and abusive labor practices. The church denies these allegations and has taken legal action against many of its critics
<b>People's Temple</b> (1970s): Led by Jim Jones, it culminated in the Jonestown Massacre where over 900 people died in a mass murder-suicide.
<b>Heaven's Gate</b> (1990s): Led by Marshall Applewhite, the group believed in extraterrestrial salvation and committed mass suicide in 1997, resulting in the deaths of 39 members.
<b>Branch Davidians</b> (1990s): Led by David Koresh, the group had a standoff with law enforcement in Waco, Texas, which ended in a tragic fire that claimed the lives of 76 members.
<b>Aum Shinrikyo</b> (1990s): Founded by Shoko Asahara in Japan, the group was responsible for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack that killed 13 people and injured thousands.
<b>Order of the Solar Temple</b> (1990s): Led by Luc Jouret and Joseph Di Mambro, the group believed in a combination of New Age beliefs and Christian eschatology. It was associated with several murder-suicides, resulting in the deaths of more than 70 members.
Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God (1990s): This Ugandan cult, led by Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibwetere, was involved in a mass murder-suicide in 2000, with an estimated death toll of over 700 members.
<b>Manson Family</b> (1960s): Led by Charles Manson, this group was responsible for a series of murders in California, including the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969.
The Family/Children of God (1960s onwards): Founded by David Berg, the group faced numerous allegations of child abuse, sexual exploitation, and other harmful practices.
<b>The Movement for the Restoration of the Twelve Tribes</b> (present): A religious community with locations worldwide that has faced allegations of child abuse and labor exploitation.
<b>Nxivm</b> (present): Founded by Keith Raniere, this group operated as a self-help organization but faced accusations of sex trafficking, forced labor, and other forms of manipulation.
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So what do you think?
Should we just be able to belive in what we want? yes of course we should. Should we be led or bullied or cajoled into beliving? NO of course not....
Its a murkey waters we tread in when the line is crossed between having a faith and that faith be truned into a religion and cult to control and cash in on the innocents.
Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-56859679319144924282023-05-03T05:02:00.003-07:002023-05-03T05:02:33.441-07:00Social media has revolutionized the way we connect and interact with people, but it has also given rise to a phenomenon that has become a cause for concern: the amount of ads pushed at us through Meta social media outlets. Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms that fall under the Meta umbrella have become notorious for their aggressive ad targeting tactics.
Just look at the scale of the problem.Mindboggling to say the least.
According to a recent report, the average person is exposed to<b> over 5,000 ads per day</b>, and this number is expected to grow.
This overwhelming amount of ads makes it difficult for users to focus on the content they are actually interested in, and it can lead to frustration, stress, and burnout.
I personally am totally sick and tired of them..They are pushed through even yyour messages on any meta platform. Its been turned into a Meta Monster.
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<a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2023/01/how-meta-uses-legal-bases-for-processing-ads-in-the-eu/"></a> Meta pushes under a legal loophole... They will then start to use AI. I think as a personal user its ended. Time for something new or nada!
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Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-74170481139225124972023-04-04T05:49:00.003-07:002023-04-04T05:51:37.151-07:00Indian based scam callers.. beware...Indian scam callers are individuals or groups based in India who engage in fraudulent activities, usually by making unsolicited phone calls to people in other countries. These scammers often pretend to be representatives of legitimate organizations such as banks, tech support companies, or government agencies.
The scammers use various techniques to gain the trust of the victim, such as claiming that their computer is infected with a virus or that their bank account has been compromised. They then ask the victim to provide personal information such as bank account numbers, passwords, or credit card details. In some cases, they may even request remote access to the victim's computer, which they can use to steal sensitive information or install malware.
One of the most common types of scams that Indian scammers use is the "Microsoft tech support" scam, where they claim to be from Microsoft and tell the victim that their computer has been infected with a virus. They then offer to fix the problem for a fee, which is usually paid using a gift card or wire transfer.
It's important to note that not all Indian call centers are scams. Many legitimate businesses in India also provide customer service and telemarketing services to companies in other countries. However, it's always important to be cautious when receiving unsolicited phone calls, especially if the caller is requesting personal information or payment.
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They move quickly: Scammers may try to rush the relationship, professing love and devotion very quickly. They may also try to move the conversation off the dating site or app and onto email or messaging apps.
They ask for money: Scammers often ask for money for various reasons, such as medical emergencies, travel expenses, or visas. They may also ask for gift cards or wire transfers.
They avoid meeting in person: Scammers may make excuses for why they can't meet in person, such as claiming to be out of the country or in the military. They may also cancel plans at the last minute.
They have inconsistent information: Scammers may provide inconsistent information about their job, family, or other personal details. They may also use photos that are clearly not of themselves.
They avoid video calls: Scammers may refuse to have video calls or only use pre-recorded videos. This is because they may be using a fake identity and don't want to be caught out.
If you are suspicious of someone you are talking to online, it's important to trust your instincts and take steps to protect yourself. Don't send money or share personal information, and report suspicious behavior to the dating site or app immediately.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpfhNnVFqVGBZpPW4wCSPjJMJDCPCREOi5VaBzvk4V1CHzpUkDanM9SAjqZFisY54872ERi3uiqqeg6J_YIlix7MLDRjO-dulBkZckDyQlRu8SQ9AO5B7-rb2akmiIyizUieMjYpjjrQkRMEqCwdsCZSa1ouNi6P5KCWdYlpXjgR1Rks71XpoJzuI/s259/scam.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpfhNnVFqVGBZpPW4wCSPjJMJDCPCREOi5VaBzvk4V1CHzpUkDanM9SAjqZFisY54872ERi3uiqqeg6J_YIlix7MLDRjO-dulBkZckDyQlRu8SQ9AO5B7-rb2akmiIyizUieMjYpjjrQkRMEqCwdsCZSa1ouNi6P5KCWdYlpXjgR1Rks71XpoJzuI/s400/scam.jpg"/></a></div>
I actually get 4 or 5 of these a week now!!! LOL Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-43609463377787803492023-03-12T03:30:00.005-07:002023-03-12T03:40:35.026-07:00The BBC is being influenced by the Government! Deplorable.Firstly...
it is important to recognize that any government, regardless of its political leaning, can be dangerous if it disregards the rule of law, undermines human rights, or fails to represent the interests of its citizens.<b> It is up to citizens to hold their governments accountable</b> and ensure that they are acting in the best interests of their country and all its citizens.
Maintaining Power: Governments may repress minorities in order to maintain power and control over the population. Minority groups may pose a perceived threat to the government's authority, and repression can be used to suppress dissent and maintain order.
Prejudice and Discrimination: Some governments may hold prejudiced or discriminatory views towards minority groups and use repression as a means of expressing those views. This can be particularly true in cases where there is a history of conflict or tension between different groups.
Economic Interests: Governments may repress minority groups in order to gain economic advantages. For example, minority groups may be displaced from their land or denied access to resources that are then exploited by the majority population or government.
Gary Liniker was absolutly correct giving his oppinion and the BBC are muppets to think that people would not stand by him.
I am appaled at the BBC,but then again they have always sought there own interests, the Jimmy Savvile scandle went on for years and the BBC knew! Money talks....
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The BBC, or British Broadcasting Corporation, is a public service broadcaster in the United Kingdom funded by the license fee paid by UK households. The BBC is expected to be impartial and independent in its reporting, but it does have some level of government influence due to its public funding and the regulatory framework in which it operates.
The BBC is governed by a Royal Charter, which sets out its objectives, duties, and governance structure. The Charter is renewed every ten years by the UK government, which also appoints the members of the BBC Board and the Director-General. The government also has the power to set the level of the license fee and can influence the BBC's budget and priorities through this mechanism.
Additionally, the UK government has the power to regulate the BBC through the communications regulator Ofcom, which can investigate complaints about the BBC's impartiality and enforce compliance with the BBC's obligations under its Charter.
Overall, while the BBC strives to maintain its independence and impartiality, it operates within a regulatory framework that is ultimately set by the UK government and can be subject to government influence. So there is your answer! Sadly Goverments are in the pockets of everyone... Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-39657027810083663702023-03-10T10:05:00.002-08:002023-03-11T03:01:08.559-08:00What the DickensCharles Dickens was an influential 19th century author whose works have had a profound impact on literature, society, and culture. Some of the reasons for the importance of his works include:
Social commentary: Dickens' works often addressed the social and economic issues of his time, including poverty, inequality, and injustice. He exposed the harsh living conditions of the poor and drew attention to the need for social reform. His works such as "Oliver Twist," "David Copperfield," and "A Tale of Two Cities" have become classics of social commentary.
Characterization: Dickens was a master of characterization, creating memorable and complex characters that are still widely recognized today. His characters often embodied specific social types and classes, and his portrayals of them were both humorous and poignant.
Style and technique: Dickens' writing style was highly descriptive, vividly evoking the settings and characters of his stories. He also used techniques such as irony, satire, and symbolism to convey his messages. His works are known for their engaging storytelling, rich language, and vivid imagery.
Literary influence: Dickens' works have had a profound influence on literature, both in his own time and since. Many authors have been inspired by his style and themes, and his works continue to be studied and adapted in various media.
Cultural impact: Dickens' works have also had a significant impact on popular culture. His characters and stories
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdbbEfFTJAP2MkgEITSxZKNTXfFuYNfvxIPspaGjf2DdTEnZRA8VHwPWRPi13KG8aGddLqRFNRD22JIDjJ_H-PtalH6ayKr2rwE7RjrdwkAZkWK_Y0ckJWTmtB0Df9w_Wcqhl33yMOR54rLmAqNBgnpNlniQBaKe__er2EuXl77MrI9ts6YGE8i9F/s225/download%20%281%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdbbEfFTJAP2MkgEITSxZKNTXfFuYNfvxIPspaGjf2DdTEnZRA8VHwPWRPi13KG8aGddLqRFNRD22JIDjJ_H-PtalH6ayKr2rwE7RjrdwkAZkWK_Y0ckJWTmtB0Df9w_Wcqhl33yMOR54rLmAqNBgnpNlniQBaKe__er2EuXl77MrI9ts6YGE8i9F/s400/download%20%281%29.jpg"/></a></div>Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-76136667029842830392022-09-23T07:14:00.001-07:002023-04-06T01:30:24.845-07:00The Injustice of Justice I have noticed an alarming trend of people being incarcerated for life for doing a minor crime. The United States claims to be a 1st world country yet the actions and treatment of prisoners and the elderly and the poor in fact, give us a whole new picture!
What are prisoners’ rights in America?
Although prisoners do not have full constitutional rights, they are protected by the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. This protection also requires that prisoners be afforded a minimum standard of living. The word Minimum? must mean a bare existence? I know there is no privacy, whether you are in for a low crime or murder, I know you are chained like an animal, and subjected to unknown types of violence and not just by the prisoners.
How are prisoners treated in US prisons?
American prisons are dangerous. Most are understaffed and overpopulated. Overpopulated earning money for shareholders? check out https://investor.vanguard.com/corporate-portal/
Because of inadequate supervision, people in our prisons are exposed to incredible amounts of violence, including sexual violence.
https://www.aclu.org/issues/prisoners-rights An interesting read…
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CDCR#55488, Michael, who is married and has been incarcerated for 24 years for a minor crime? Why has he been in so long? why has he been forgotten? Why has he had hardly any parole hearings? Lots of WHYS but no answers. Could it be that prisoners work for a pittance? Could it be that prisoners are cheap/slave labour, that big companies use instead of paying a decent wage? The answer could be YES, and an alarming YES… A YES that could bring fear into the heart of an inmate that is in prison for a minor offence knowing that he would NOT get rehabilitation or help to make sure he goes back into society a changed man. But quite the opposite, a man that has been tortured and not cared for will most certainly have nightmares for the rest of his life! A man that could have been home with his loving wife, only to be ignored by parole panels, who don’t really give a damn about anyone? Is this true? so why do they have that job?Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-10495020199645669372022-08-14T02:17:00.001-07:002022-08-14T02:17:08.162-07:00Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Of the 1597 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and because it was considered to have sexually explicit imagesLawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicitAll Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicitOut of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicitThe Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agendaThe Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory termMe and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to womenThe Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicitThis Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content.Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.
Source Ala.orgJulanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-74217503818329421162022-03-03T03:42:00.003-08:002022-03-03T03:42:37.534-08:00The Wishing Shelf awards UK #wishingshelfawardsUK #finalsist #teenbookstagram #watchthisspace 🌍🥳These are the finalists for the Young Adult Wishing Shelf Book Awards in the UK. Each of these wonderful books will be having a special $.99 kindle day in March.
Mar. 3 - The Knowledge Seeker
Mar. 4 - The World Beyond Walls
Mar. 10 - HUNTED: Maegics Heir Bk 2
Mar. 11 - Renegade
Mar. 17 - Blood of a Fallen God
Mar. 24 - THE SAND POUNDER
Mar. 28 - Purple Moons and Coffee
Spoons
Mar. 31 - Behind the white City
GET EIGHT GREAT BOOKS THIS MONTH!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6oxp7ZLlyWxCM04_g1AG-_Nxxh9uQ7IrxyMcPqezJmTyFuuu_5nEoDxbtoGejUULP7IKdSvy6xGBN0z05iOsck_ChnEdF9-uV5YhnW9QHzIIH7gJkUd6DVoZVvk6Hs_uMxnQiNIAQvOykef-MMWlb_qehb6RyqhhjXmfDVWMtxG9ZV24wCT53lFI4=s1080" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6oxp7ZLlyWxCM04_g1AG-_Nxxh9uQ7IrxyMcPqezJmTyFuuu_5nEoDxbtoGejUULP7IKdSvy6xGBN0z05iOsck_ChnEdF9-uV5YhnW9QHzIIH7gJkUd6DVoZVvk6Hs_uMxnQiNIAQvOykef-MMWlb_qehb6RyqhhjXmfDVWMtxG9ZV24wCT53lFI4=s400"/></a></div>Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-44084872022649700042022-01-17T02:26:00.000-08:002022-01-17T02:26:03.944-08:00 As a pre birthday gift I was taken to Seville, just a few hours car journey( no planes or anything covidy) and with a masked audience we sat down to watch the stunning ballet.
As a pre birthday gift I was taken to Seville, just a few hours car journey( no planes or anything covidy) and with a masked audience we sat down to watch the stunning ballet.
On January 12, 13, 14 and 15, the Aalto Ballett Essen stages one of the great white ballet titles, 'Swan Lake' , a mythical ballet work that any company with tradition and experience has in its repertoire . It is one of the most famous ballets in the world, perhaps one of the most popular and the ones that have been performed the most in the big theaters. Its first performance took place at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow with choreography by Julius Reisinger, on March 4, 1877. At first it was not a very popular ballet, so success had to wait until the 15th. January 1895, with new choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, this work achieved great success at the Mariinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg. source https://sevilla.abc.es/
The High Ballet
The Aalto Ballet Essen is not unknown to the Maestranza theater. The prestigious German company presented 'Romeo y Julieta' at the Seville Coliseum in January 2016, also with the Seville Symphony in the pit. Do not forget that it is the only annual occasion to see ballet with live music. This time it is 'Swan Lake' also with the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville in the pit under the direction of Wolfram-Maria Märtig.The Aalto Ballett Essen is one of the German dance houses with the greatest international prestige due to the variety and quality of its productions. It currently consists of thirty dancers who come from thirteen countries around the world. This variety of different personalities and nationalities is typical of the company's cosmopolitan identity. The choreography for this version is the work of the director of the current cast director, Ben Van Cauwenbergh.In the fall of 2008, Ben Van Cauwenbergh takes over as Ballet Director of the Aalto-Theater. At the beginning of the 2013/14 season he is appointed Artistic Director. He is born in Antwerp, Belgium, and is the son of the dancer Anna Brabants. She began her classical ballet training at an early age and graduated from the National Ballet Institute. In 1976 he won the silver medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition, as well as the gold medal at the famous 'Prix de Lausanne'.He was a dancer with the English National Ballet and works closely with Rudolf Nureyev. From 1992 to 2007 he is Ballet Director and Chief-Choreographer at the Wiesbaden State Theatre. His productions are part of the repertoire of ballet companies around the world.
The lake
The first Odette/Odile of 'Swan Lake' was the Russian ballerina, Anna Sobeshchánskaya, but there have been other ballet virtuosos who have interpreted it, such as Anna Pavlova, Pierina Legnani, Margot Fonteyn, Maya Plisetskaya, Natalia Makarova Silvye Guillenm , among others. others. The Spanish dancer Tamara Rojo, today director of the English National Ballet, is one of the most renowned interpreters of the famous romantic role.The libretto of 'Swan Lake' is based on a story 'The Stolen Veil', by the German writer Johann Karl August Musäus, although other authors base it on the Russian popular tale 'The White Duck'. Thaikovsky's contemporaries believe that the musician had an interest in the life story of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, which had been marked by the sign of the swan.The story of Odette/Odile, Prince Siegphid and Rothbart, the antagonist of the story, an evil sorcerer who always conquers the public, and the large corps de ballet made up of the swans make this work one of the most renowned scenes in ballet. quintessential romantic.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZhQxDiIdqfbsp4_KhpYy6rTT5i19Mv8flWA63rLfBeSUIMi44K283jJURj1yBtbVX2JVTBmdSq_bRxcGQ1XiqYJXUGRsfnyLpxDVuOm-2Ffwz3ptMhptejA94lf_aqjVTG5fIMeDYXIqvHbYheG95lxAuqrqaSh_qhcRnTB4vhrlBel0MTTFiMoer=s620" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZhQxDiIdqfbsp4_KhpYy6rTT5i19Mv8flWA63rLfBeSUIMi44K283jJURj1yBtbVX2JVTBmdSq_bRxcGQ1XiqYJXUGRsfnyLpxDVuOm-2Ffwz3ptMhptejA94lf_aqjVTG5fIMeDYXIqvHbYheG95lxAuqrqaSh_qhcRnTB4vhrlBel0MTTFiMoer=s400"/></a></div>Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-10321769717406065232021-12-10T05:17:00.003-08:002021-12-11T07:30:42.500-08:00The Mirena coil...IUD................Lower back painMany years ago I have a morena coil fitted, I had no issues at all... then a few years on I had an horendous low back ach for a few days then it went. Over the pasy year it flared up again, I could not walk, the most dehabilitating pain ever. Then 4 weeks ago I had the coil removed a simple and painless procedure... And viola! two days later my back pain subsided! the intense crunshing pain has subsided treamendously!
The technical stuff...
Mirena is a hormonal intrauterine device, or IUD, that can be used for long-term birth control and to treat heavy periods. Mirena IUDs work to prevent pregnancy by thickening the mucus in the cervix, which stops sperm from fertilizing an egg, and thinning the lining of the uterus, which suppresses menstrual bleeding.
More from <a href="https://www.drugwatch.com/mirena/"></a>Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-78068016759344958212021-04-01T04:12:00.000-07:002021-04-01T04:12:11.345-07:00Incerpere Awards
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Delighted to anounce that my Mystery romcom book has attained first prize...
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-you-need-love-handbag-ebook/dp/B01IH657OM"></a>
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Its so cool to be recognised sometimes ...
Thanks to all who were involved, and of course the Judges... Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-31260335424965040232021-02-02T03:05:00.001-08:002021-02-02T03:05:35.914-08:00Jon Danzig's World: It was never 'just about trade'<a href="https://jondanzig.blogspot.com/2021/02/it-was-never-just-about-trade.html?spref=bl">Jon Danzig's World: It was never 'just about trade'</a>: It was one year ago that Britain left the European Union, and one month ago that we also left the EU’s Single Market and customs union. So f...Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-83860109482333939512021-01-26T10:30:00.001-08:002021-01-26T10:30:42.107-08:00A new day, fresh with no mistakes....Now that 2020 has gone we all seem to be looking forward to some sort of noraml reality to kick in.. I suspect Covid19 will continue to be the bane in our lives for a little longer until the vacines start taking effect.
Be kind to each other eh? many are suffereing being at home all the time, its not the safe haven for some...
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To all the esential and non essential workers... Thanks and stay safe....
Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-12580682131683271872020-06-24T05:01:00.001-07:002020-06-24T05:01:59.934-07:00Re blogging..... A face mask fact rant...Duncan Badine added a new photo to the album: Health..
Jtulne g1fSge6 hpuolat 5nsoo:rcfeneo3iidml1sr PM
RETIRED SURGEON Sam Laucks, has this to say about wearing masks:
“OK, here’s my rant about masks:
I have spent the past 39 years working in the field of surgery. For a significant part of that time, I have worn a mask. I have worked with hundreds (probably thousands) of colleagues during those years, who have also worn masks. Not a single one us of became ill, passed out or died from lack of oxygen. Not a single one of us became ill, passed out or died from breathing too much carbon dioxide. Not a single one us of became ill, passed out or died from rebreathing a little of our own exhaled air. Let’s begin here by putting those scare tactics to rest!
(It is true that some people, with advanced lung diseases, may be so fragile that a mask could make their already-tenuous breathing more difficult. If your lungs are that bad, you probably shouldn’t be going out in public at the present time anyway; the consequences if you are exposed to Covid-19 would likely be devastating.)
~ “But”, you ask, “can’t viruses go right through the mask, because they are so small?” (“Masks keep viruses out just as well as a chain link fence keeps mosquitoes out,” some tell us.) It is true that individual virus particles can pass through the pores of a mask; however, viruses don’t move on their own. They do not fly across the room like a mosquito, wiggle through your mask like a worm, or fly up your nose like a gnat. The virus is essentially nothing more than a tiny blob of genetic material. Covid-19 travels in a CARRIER – the carrier is a fluid droplet- fluid droplets that you expel when you cough, sneeze, sing, laugh, talk or simply exhale. Most of your fluid droplets will be stopped from entering the air in the room if you are wearing a mask. Wearing a mask is a very efficient way to protect others if you are carrying the virus (even if you don’t know that you are infected). In addition, if someone else’s fluid droplets happen to land on your mask, many of them will not pass through. This gives the wearer some additional protection, too. But, the main reason to wear a mask is to PROTECT OTHERS. Even if you don’t care about yourself, wear your mask to protect your neighbors, co-workers and friends!
~ A mask is certainly not 100% protective. However, it appears that the severity of Covid-19 infection is at least partially “dose-dependent.” In other words, the more virus particles that enter your body, the sicker you are likely to become. Why not decrease that volume if you can? “What have you got to lose?!”
~ “But doesn’t a requirement or a request to wear a mask violate my constitutional rights?” You’re also not allowed to go into the grocery store if you are not wearing pants. You can’t yell “fire” in the Produce Department. You’re not allowed to urinate on the floor in the Frozen Food Section. Do you object to those restrictions? Rules, established for the common good, are component of a civilized society.
~ “But aren’t masks uncomfortable?” Some would say that underwear or shoes can be uncomfortable, but we still wear them. (Actually, being on a ventilator is pretty darned uncomfortable, too!) Are masks really so bad that you can’t tolerate them, even if they will help keep others healthy?
~ “But won’t people think I’m a snowflake or a wimp if I wear a mask?” I hope you have enough self-confidence to overcome that.
~ “But won’t I look stupid if I wear a mask?” I’ve decided not to dignify that question with an answer!! 📷:)
~ “But I never get sick; I’m not worried.” Well, then, wear a mask for the sake of the rest of us who are not so perfect!
There is good evidence that masks make a real difference in diminishing the transmission of Covid-19. Please, for the sake of others (and for the sake of yourself), wear your mask when in public. It won’t kill you!
P.S. - And, by the way, please be sure that BOTH your nose and mouth are covered!
Recommendations around mask usage are confusing. The science isn't. Evidence shows that masks are extremely effective to slow the coronavirus and may be the best tool available right now to fight it.”
Thank you, Sam Laucks!Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-2351999641723857632020-04-15T07:24:00.004-07:002020-04-15T07:24:49.539-07:00Re blogging from nate White...why Brits hate Trump.... “Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?” Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England wrote the following response:
"A few things spring to mind.
Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem. For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed. So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.
Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing – not once, ever. I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility – for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman. But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is – his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.
Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers. And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults – he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness. There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface. Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront. Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul.
And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist. Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that. He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat. He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege. And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully. That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead.
There are unspoken rules to this stuff – the Queensberry rules of basic decency – and he breaks them all. He punches downwards – which a gentleman should, would, could never do – and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless – and he kicks them when they are down. So the fact that a significant minority – perhaps a third – of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think ‘Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:
• Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.
• You don’t need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.
This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss. After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum.
God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid. He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart. In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws – he would make a Trump. And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish: ‘My God… what… have… I… created?’
If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set." 😊Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-54351637826642424802020-04-07T04:31:00.003-07:002020-05-08T03:10:17.833-07:00Monday 6th April
I’m adding this to my blog so every year it will pop up on my memories. This is so I will NEVER forget the way the world changed in 2020...
Queen Elizabeth II 👑 addressed the nation at 8pm on Sunday 5th April. Shortly after this the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital himself with Covid-19 and now in intensive care.
The PM had previously implemented a lockdown across the country on the evening of Monday 23rd of March 2020 ⛔️
Excel in London is now known as the NHS Nightingale and will be a hospital for up to 4,000 patients, most of whom are on ventilators suffering from Coronavirus (Covid-19) disease. The Nightingale was officially opened by Prince Charles at 11am Friday 3rd April by video link.
Similar venues are being used in cities across the country.
Community support groups established, to support the vulnerable, elderly, immunocompromised and people in enforced isolation due to exposure, in their community 🧓🏻👴🏻
From Thursday 26th March at 8pm and every Thursday night thereafter, we all stood united on our doorsteps, balconies and open windows and applauded and cheered for all our amazingly brave NHS staff 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 who so courageously and selflessly battled on to try and save as many lives as possible ❤️
Petrol ⛽️ price close to home 🏡 was £1.03 per litre for unleaded.
Schools closed on Friday 20 March, potentially for the remainder of the school year. 👨🏻💻 Parents were home schooling and teachers were doing remote learning using apps like Zoom for a virtual lesson.
Social distancing measures required of a minimum of 2 metres ☹️
Tape on the floors at grocery stores 🏬 and others to help distance shoppers 🛒 from each other.
Limited number of people were allowed inside stores, therefore, queuing outside the store doors, still 2 meters apart 🏬
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated to closed 🚫 People who can are instructed to work 👩🏻💻👨🏻💻 from home 🏡
The Government Paid 80% of wages to all employees across the country who were furloughed due to Covid-19.
Every airline ✈️ grounded either all or at least 85% of its fleet. All crew were grounded and some used their skills to work for the NHS in Nightingale Hospital, the Ambiance Service, 111 telephone handlers or community support.
Air pollution improved. Rivers cleaned up. City & traffic emissions reduced. ♻️
Parks 🏕 trails, entire cities 🏢 closed or restricted to locals who can get there by foot. Not permitted to drive anywhere to exercise.
Entire sports ⚽️ 🏉 🎾 seasons cancelled. No Wimbledon, no end to the Premiership, no Boat Race, no London Marathon. A virtual Grand National was held on 4th April 2020.
Olympics postponed to 2021.
Concerts 🎫 tours 🚌 festivals 🤹🏻 entertainment events 🎭 all cancelled
Weddings 👰🏼🤵🏻 family celebrations 🥳 holiday gatherings 👨👩👦👦 cancelled 🚫
Families got creative and found entertaining ways of passing time by doing Tik Tok videos or going Live on Facebook. 🎥
Singers and bands played live sets on their driveways or on their balconies for all to hear 👂🏽
Households that can’t see their friends and loved ones come together across the country by using Zoom or Houseparty to play games or host pub quiz nights.
No masses, churches ⛪️ are closed 🚫
No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, then 10 or more. Now, Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home ⚗️
Children's outdoor play parks are closed 🎡
We are to distance from each other. Shortage of masks 😷 gowns 🥼 gloves 🧤 for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill 🤒 in many parts of the world. Formula 1 racing teams and Virgin Galactic designed and produced ventilators in the space of a week.
Refrigerated trucks for the dead outside hospitals in the USA 🇺🇸 Italy 🇮🇹 Spain 🇪🇸 China 🇨🇳 and more.
Panic buying 🛒 sets in and we have limits on toilet paper 🧻 disinfecting supplies, paper towels, staple foods, hand sanitizer 🧴 Flour is hard to get because the packaging comes from China 🇨🇳 and borders are closed 🚧
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses 🏢 switch their lines to help make visors, masks 😷 hand sanitizer 🧴 and PPE 🧤
Fines are established for breaking lockdown rules 🤑
Stadiums 🏟 and recreation facilities overseas open up for the overflow of Covid-19 🦠 patients.
Public Park 🏕 areas turned into caravan parks for stranded tourists to self isolate 🚐
Press conferences daily from the PM 👩🏻 and other government 🏛 officials. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths ⚰️
Government incentives to stay home. Barely anyone on the roads 🛣
People wearing masks 😷 and gloves outside 🧤
Essential service workers are terrified to go to work 👮🏻 👩🏻⚕️ 👲🏻
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families 👨👧👦
64,727 deaths globally so far as at 4 April 2020. 4,313 in the UK.
This is the Novel Coronavirus 🦠 (Covid-19) Pandemic, WHO declared March 11th, 2020.
Why, you ask, do I write this status?
One day it will show up in my memory 💭 feed, and it will be a yearly reminder that life is precious and not to take the things we dearly love for granted 💕
We have so much we need to appreciate that we take for granted.
Be thankful. Be grateful 😌
Be kind to each other - love one another - support everyone 🥰
We are all one! Stay home, stay safe. ❤️ share if you like... Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-57769881989644238862020-03-31T05:40:00.002-07:002020-03-31T05:40:58.954-07:00New writings.... No choir practice! covid19 please "Jog On" As we are most of us in some sort of lockdown, I am avidly rewriting some old stories I have written way back when...
"Excerpt"
“CAN anyone tell the class who the 4th wife of Henry the 8th was?” There she was again, asking those almost impossible questions and honestly expecting someone to actually know the answers. She stood arms akimbo, facing the class, you could see her probing eyes scanning the room impatiently behind her glasses. The trick used to fool the students; she made those eyes run around so fast, you wouldn’t know where exactly they were focused on at any given point, but now, the students had cottoned on to her. They knew all about her scanning-eyes trick so that when those eyes fell upon you, you knew your head was on the block! just like one of Henry's poor wives. As you’ de be called up to answer the question. Which usually ended in one of two ways. You either knew the answer, or you were entirely clueless and was ridiculed by her, in front of your classmates.
My WIP.......
I miss my choir practice, a lot... They are an adorable crazy bunch!!!!
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U322yK-qOU0s4V7He9j7G09iihj7Bljn5Pp7Cdo3sAQ0CkSr4ecw0YC0XrFrEe76b0Or2OG6KqVAgYG9ulsprE4baacfFZkn3OTHK3x4lDEZSM0MI5ceMYXjFdYD0pIKOvfBPrJ2vY4/s1600/k8059695.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U322yK-qOU0s4V7He9j7G09iihj7Bljn5Pp7Cdo3sAQ0CkSr4ecw0YC0XrFrEe76b0Or2OG6KqVAgYG9ulsprE4baacfFZkn3OTHK3x4lDEZSM0MI5ceMYXjFdYD0pIKOvfBPrJ2vY4/s320/k8059695.jpg" width="299" height="320" data-original-width="159" data-original-height="170" /></a>
I am playing world of warcraft with a couple of my grandchildren, and "tiktok" ing with my eldest grandaughter..also sync dancing across the world!!!
Hope you all are finding things to do in this crazy time....
Stay Safe...
Julie x
Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-86790267378022162012020-03-27T07:48:00.001-07:002020-05-08T03:10:38.403-07:00Schools postponed for now...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxs_UZv86q0O9PIaJPQpyeCfHaCBJVHiB5A3zYqwH9iLGwubkSxrNsWgEG6BgeDWEKBUHIoZuA_X3nhl6mYTzvzB9IE6iRu880KUpxQ-yMCmFTAcHXbg6qlbng0_FQKF8Cs-iUCZ68Q_w/s1600/53098662_968583773334550_7282333808777494528_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxs_UZv86q0O9PIaJPQpyeCfHaCBJVHiB5A3zYqwH9iLGwubkSxrNsWgEG6BgeDWEKBUHIoZuA_X3nhl6mYTzvzB9IE6iRu880KUpxQ-yMCmFTAcHXbg6qlbng0_FQKF8Cs-iUCZ68Q_w/s400/53098662_968583773334550_7282333808777494528_n.jpg" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="720" data-original-height="960" /></a></div>
For the moment my book signings and school visits are postponed due the the Covid 19 virus ravaging our planet....
Please, please stay home and stay safe.. For those who had got a copy of Third Born, I shall visit your school to sign it I promise.
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For those who asked where my twitter account had gone.. I had deactivated it due to it being too dark for my followers and fans... I still am on Instagram at this time..I am also on mastodon.. Link below...
<a href="https://mstdn.social/web/accounts/88737"></a>
You can email through my web, juliehodgson.com
See you all again soon
Julie xxJulanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-50938266221162202062020-01-29T05:57:00.000-08:002020-01-30T04:43:34.186-08:00Mastodon Platform a must for our freedoms sake...Hi all...
Having recently cut off all ties with twitter, due to the control of what we say and do on theirs. leaving it as a tantrum ground for one certain man who uses it to incite war! although Twitter seems to think that's ok...
I have looked for an alternative and found mastodon, it's a similar platform, but with no
As quoted in the India Times...
"By allowing each user the ability to create their own server, Mastodon lets you apply your own rules to your server and gives the community the ability to moderate it as well. If a user disagrees with the policies of a server, they can leave it without losing access to Mastodon"
This I fond wonderful... Getting our space back without being controlled by a multi-million dollar company! who bans people for saying things against the great orange man or similar things.
Also, take a read of this...
<a href="https://slate.com/technology/2018/08/mastodon-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-social-network-competing-with-twitter.html"></a>
very interesting.....
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Its time to take back control of what we think and say.. Of course, I am not suggesting we go and do things we shouldn't, but being controlled and our tweets manipulated are not a good thing.
For anyone wanting to follow me...
https://mstdn.social/@redragdolly I'm using the same name tag as I did on Twittsville... so #ByeByetwitter #HelloMastodon Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-62730970495657616532019-11-30T05:19:00.001-08:002019-11-30T05:19:11.337-08:00Polly Mae by Julie Hodgson<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DtKV5L4y-J0" width="459"></iframe>Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-7711613209077152532019-11-02T08:29:00.001-07:002019-11-12T02:34:57.251-08:00nanowrimo Virgin <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ipHb62KuiQl7BClELDX_-C0jqWelCPt-1wD_L5hygsEXOzKiMw7liZjQiVMMnvBKQDz1ds5ggleKfVT2qeXsY07ONoupPrKfuANe1_ZJIbtdkC34mZ02SmT5wX4UClLjCZVlbZ8oQSo/s1600/Day+1+writing+badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ipHb62KuiQl7BClELDX_-C0jqWelCPt-1wD_L5hygsEXOzKiMw7liZjQiVMMnvBKQDz1ds5ggleKfVT2qeXsY07ONoupPrKfuANe1_ZJIbtdkC34mZ02SmT5wX4UClLjCZVlbZ8oQSo/s400/Day+1+writing+badge.jpg" width="400" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="900" /></a></div>
What a wonderful thing this old Nanowrimo, gets people off their bottoms and start writing. Choosing genres we would not normally go for . me in this case, meeting new buddies and generally having a jolly time...
I was at a writing workshop a few years ago in Stockholm Sweden, where I met many # NanoWrimos what fun we had, chatting about a word count, titles, genre etc...
So as a total nano virgin, I shall keep you all posted...
May the Nano force be with you all....
Go forth and write...
Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385126314754096616.post-68607959272949463622019-10-07T02:09:00.001-07:002019-10-07T02:09:54.699-07:00In My Fathers Pockets... #Cancer #LosingAParent
In my father’s pockets
In my father’s pockets of most of his jackets, his old navy coat, his donkey jacket and his best suit even, I found boxes of matches, curious I asked him why he had so many, was he collecting them…?
He said “it’s to keep me warm when I get to heaven”
That’s the time when my heart missed a beat and went like a stone in my chest. I knew he had been ill, but at that moment and the look he gave I knew he was dying. All the coughing I had heard at night, made sense now, when you’re a child you just think your parents will always be there, will always live, immortal we think don’t we. Well, this was not to be and from that day on I knew the secret, knew that I would have to face his dying? His impending death! What awful words they are? How would I cope? I didn’t dare ask how long he had. I had heard the word Cancer whispered in tearful conversations before but as a kid you put these things to the back of your mind.
Dr Basu came to visit dad when he was at his worse, a nice doctor he was, his family had moved from India, like most of our doctors actually in our area. You never saw his wife though, a quiet woman, by all means.
Four days later after me questioning my dad, he said he was going take me to the cherry orchard and talk, the cherry orchard was a lovely place at the back of the old cemetery, lots of trees to climb up and swings and slides.
We walked in silence to the orchard, walking down the slopes of the big flags that were tombstones of the Victorian times. Just at the back of a huge Woolworth’s shop. The circus usually pitched its tents in the fields beyond in the autumn. Chipperfield's was the best, I remember the last time I saw the circus we all went as a family and one of the unicyclists fell of his bike and an ambulance was called.
He had broken his leg we had been told later. The lovely smell of candy floss always lingered after the circus left town. The only other fun thing to anticipate was the Fairground, which visited in October, the biggest fairground ever.
We got to the green wrought iron gates of the orchard; Dad swung them open and said I could go on the swings for a bit…
While I was swinging I watched dad, he was watching me get higher and higher, kicking my legs back for more force. He smiled at me. I smiled back, fighting back the tears that would surely fall so very soon. He sat on the bench and looked at the flowers the trees and the grass as if he was looking at everything anew again.
When my legs got tired I went over to dad and sat on the wooden bench next to him, he took a packet of sweets out of his pocket and handed me one, mm pear drops I loved them.
“Julie”… he said “what I’m going to tell you now, is sad for you but I don’t want you getting upset. “ I don’t have long left on this earth; my lungs are poorly with something called cancer. It’s not been helped by the fact that I have smoked most of my life. Even cutting down this past year and using a pipe was too late. The doctors say I have but three weeks left to live. Not sure how they came about the exact time, but then doctors only guess at things like this and they do the best they can.”
He hugged me... I felt his warmth next to me smelled the tobacco smoke, he didn’t usually hug, and dads in the 70,s didn’t usually hug. It wasn’t the done thing, well not in our family anyway.
“What’s going to happen now then?” I asked, not really wanting any answers
Dad explained that the treatment he would have had was too late and that cancer had taken over his lungs very fast. That explained why his chest looked weird and fell up and down as he breathed instead of a fluid movement of breathing that we would have. This was so hard to take in...My head screamed, why my dad, why why why was all I could think of. When you’re scared of losing something, you get an immense feeling of panic, the thought of not being able to control something, and the things you love are to be taken away without question or explanation, makes your body reacts in a very painful way, the stone weight of the pressure you feel in your heart is awful, and no amount of crying lets its release.
When it was time to walk back I held his hand, something which we never normally did, but then again things had changed forever in the conversation me and my dad had. He had said he was proud of me, which felt wonderful. Wish he would have said he loved me though, but words like that never came easy to my dad, and I understood that.
When we walked back through the cherry orchard, pushing the old green gate of the park, then making our way through the back of Woolworths, where the Victorian graveyard slabs were, then walked our way home.
As we went through the door, I went upstairs and sat on my bed grabbed my famous five books, I was halfway through five on Kirin Island. Anything to take my mind of the thoughts, which were cascading through my mind like a waterfall. I tried to read, but even as the text was read in front of me the words just jumbled into one big word WHY!
I heard mum and dad talking, so now the cat was out of the bag, she knew, I knew...
The next few days were like a dream; I could not focus and hardly eat anything.
Getting ready for school and walking across the road to meet Maureen was a blessing; she was a good friend and understood without asking any questions. At school I was so upset but never cried, I was in the hall just before assembly when I walked up to the big wooden cross and made the sign across my chest, the teacher came up and asked if I was a catholic. I had said no, but felt I needed to do it, not sure why. But then again nothing was sure any more. When assembly started the hymn was “firmly I believe and truly” that’s when the tears rolled quietly down my face, I hoped no one would see them. My only thought in my brain was my dad was going to die. It said it over and over again. As we said the Lords’ prayer at the end of assembly that day I prayed hard that my dad would be spared and that he could carry on as if nothing had happened. Tears spilt onto my flat black school shoes, and I needed to get out of their fast and wash my face in the school bathroom. As we filed out ready to line up for class, I went to the bathroom to wash my face. I looked a mess, tears streaked my face. Classes blended into one another and as usual, I liked to avoid Mr Tunley who I thought was a horrid teacher and always shouting at you. He had a habit of throwing the blackboard rubber at you if you were talking in class. Luckily that never happened to me as I was usually quiet anyway, especially in his class. I loved French classes as I liked to learn different languages; the best bit was when we played bingo in French to teach us all the numbers.
At dinner time we filed into the dining hall by class and queued for our dinner. Today would be faggots in gravy and chocolate pudding with a white sauce. I didn’t like faggots but picked at them and rolled the peas around my plate, we often sang we plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land at our dinner table, as we flattened out potatoes and spread the peas across them. The dinner ladies usually checked to see if we had eaten some I suspected today I would get told off for wasting food! But did not want to tell anyone why I had no appetite. How could you explain something like that? The bell rang for the next sitting so we cleared our plates and put the trays on the side and our scraps in the big plastic bin ready for the pig swill to be made. All the bins were sent to the farms to be made into pig food. Good idea I had thought, no waste at all, so why the dinner ladies told us off was anyone’s guess! The afternoon lessons were a blur, even at break time I walked over to the handicap school grounds which boarded the school and chatted to a girl there, who worked there. She was nice and often said that she would love to be my mum. I liked talking to her and she knew what was happening in our family to, she didn’t say too much but her eyes understood. That meant a lot to me.
When I got home that night dad was not there. Mum just said.
“He is at the hospital and won’t be coming back” mum had a way of making things sound harsh even though maybe she didn’t mean it.
“Can I visit him?”
“Yes but only on visiting hours, you can come with me later at 7 o’clock is the time”
When we walked through the wards the smell of disinfectant was everwhere, the hospital was always so clean in those days, the nurses looked like nurses, with uniforms and hats on, starched and proper. The matron was in charge of every ward and woe betide you if you came in early before the visiting bell rang.
Mum said as we walked in.
“You dads changed so don’t be upset in front of him” My heart skipped a beat. I walked towards his bed on C ward at the general hospital and was shocked at how thin he had got, his big beer belly that he always had was shrinking. His face was saggy and his eyes sullen.
My heart raced and I tried to think of happy things to say. Happy! What on earth was that word; I would never be the same again after this. I hated the world and everything in it.
Dad chatted as best he could, mum had brought him some grapes which he let me eat, well I tried to at least but when you are sick with fear food is the last thing on your mind, and I was skinny as it was. Even though, normally I would eat anything. I even got called a dustbin by my mum.
It was so hard the visits, ever night at 7 o’clock till 8 o’clock we would sit with dad. When we got us to leave I always hugged him and kissed him goodbye. Mum did the same, although I never saw her do that before. Not the done thing you see!
This went on for a few days. The one day my mum’s neighbour ran in from her house and said there was a message for her on the phone. We did not have a phone or a car so when we got the message from the hospital to in immediately we had one of Dads Lodge friends pick us u and drive us to the hospital. I remember when we were nearly there and had to stop because of the red traffic lights, I looked up and saw a cloud in the sky it was the image of my dad. Dread kept in...I knew! I hoped I was wrong.
As we walked into the ward, the nurse came up to us...
“I’m so sorry; you have missed him by ten minutes”
“Would you still like to see him?” she said, very efficient
Mum just nodded, as we walked towards the bed which had a curtain around it I wondered what I would see. I was shaking. When I saw dad lying there, with a small cut off from a daffodil on the pillow, I started shaking. I took his hand, willing it to close round mine like he had done before at the cherry orchard. But even if I would have had a million pounds in my back pocket, it would not have changed what had happened just 10 minutes before. The strange thing was I felt a bright light behind me but saw nothing when I turned. I whispered the Lord’s Prayer just like we were taught in school. I thought that he would be with Aunty Edna now, a lovely lady who was so kind to me. Nothing helped though. Why wouldn’t his hand close around mine! My mind screamed for answers. Why had we missed it, why did he go so soon? It wasn’t even 3 weeks, that wasn’t fair. Later we had heard that a nurse, told my dad the night before.
“Mr Howell, take it easy and stop moving so much, don’t you know you have only 3 weeks left to live” With that my dad just gave up waiting and passed away at 12. 50 pm on March 16th. A day that will be forever engraved in my mind never to be erased. My heartfelt like it had a lead weight in it. I couldn’t breathe and I felt a panic rise in me.
“Dads gone then now to heaven?” that was all I said that day
Mum replied in her ever cold tone “that’s it done”
As we went home, mum had decided to walk us through town, after the usual cups of tea from the hospital. Tea, the great British drink, cures all ailments and is a good thing to do when you do not know what to do with yourself. As we walked past the cherry orchard I started to cry. Mum didn’t say anything to me or comfort me, just carried on walking with her head straight. People stared in the street at me, I wasn’t making a noise but the tears made me gip and cough sometimes. Some just shook their heads at mum, but she just kept on walking till we got home. I went upstairs, on the way up I took dads pipe with me, put it under my pillow and left it there, the smell reminded me of him. I felt so alone so scared. I knew that dad would have to be buried and was dreading the funeral. Mum had spoken to the doctor and he said my dad would be delivered to the chapel of rest in readiness and we could see him if we wanted. I hoped that he wasn’t cold and that his matches would keep him warm like he told me. I had nightmares every night, dreaming of him being so cold.
My mum took me to the chapel of rest and said.
“Say goodbye Julie this is the last chance” her tone as always was cold
I walked up to the coffin, he had his slippers on, I thought that he would be comfortable in heaven with them on and managed a small smile. He had a cut on his head. They must have hurt him, how can people hurt those who are already dead? My mind was reeling with questions. When I kissed him on the forehead tiptoeing to reach him, I cried.
“Oh dad I’ll miss you, please be warm in heaven won't you” Mum was waiting outside when I got out of the chapel. She just motioned me to follow her. We went to an office just at the side of the chapel where mum made some more arrangements for my dad’s funeral. Mr Bloomer was his name, a very kind man who spoke to mum in a very gentle way. He was nice to listen to and always said my dad, not the body as the nurses had said.
On the morning of the funeral, it was cloudy and looked like rain. The big black car pulled up, the front room curtains were drawn in respect and so that the neighbours knew. We sat in the car, me at the very back and other relatives in front of me, I couldn’t remember who they were and didn’t really care either. I had this mountain of emotion to climb and it was not going to be easy.
We walked into the church and I saw dads Masonic friends there all smartly dressed and stood waiting. We sat at the front I hated the front row in the church as the vicar could tell if you were singing or not.
After a few minutes, everyone stood up... All eyes turned to the back of the church. Four men were carrying my dad in his coffin. Tears rolled down my already wet cheeks. My mind whispered to me as if to torture me. Your dads in there you know.
The vicar said words I did not listen to and then Amazing Grace was played. It was my dad’s favourite song, always had been as his family was of Scottish descendant and he was proud of that fact. I tried to sing but just gulped.
My mum said “Sing for your dad”
And with all my might and a heavy heart, I sang all of the verses, while looking at the box that contained my dad! My dad! No, no, no. my brain screamed silently while singing. I was sure the vicar was watching me too.
After the service we went outside into the cold wet March morning, it was raining; they say that if it rains when you're buried, it meant you did not want to go. My heart was broken into a thousand tiny pieces. I was alone, in the crowd, I felt so lonely.
“Dad?” I whispered could he hear me in heaven? Who knew! When his coffin was laid to rest we all threw some soil on top of the coffin. I hated doing this; I did not want to put him into the ground where it was cold and wet. Did they not know that he would be cold? That he needed his matches so he could stay warm?
Everyone started to make their way to the “wake” it was to be held in dad’s favourite pub. I sat on a stool and just watched everyone eating sausage rolls and having a drink. Someone came up to me and squeezed my shoulder and smiled at me, it was kind but that just made me cry. Someone being kind to me always made me cry. My dad was kind but fair too. Didn’t let me get away with things, and I knew it was for my own good really. I didn’t get hugged or my shoulders squeezed very often.
I went outside and looked up at the clouds, I saw my dad’s face as clear as day, and I waved at him.
“Are you warm dad?” I smiled through a tear-stained face. I did not get an answer.
That night I had awful nightmares, I dreamt I was talking to my dad when all of a sudden he turned green and rotted away before my eyes. I woke up sweating, alone and scared with nowhere to go for comfort. I was still sent to school out of mum’s way, I never saw her cry and she never comforted me psychically or verbally. I felt like a zombie, all the teachers at school knew why I was like that and were unbelievably kind to me, even let me sit in sickbay sometimes when it got too much. No one picked on me though, as bullying was strictly forbidden in those days and the teachers clipped your ear -hole if you were caught bullying no questions asked. Or you were sent to the Head Master who then makes you write a thousand lines or caned you, and you got no sympathy at home either as the parent would know you had done wrong if you had been summoned by the headmaster. That was how it was, but then there was total control of the school and everyone knew their place, especially the pupils. Respect was the thing they demanded most of all. And they got it too.
That night after days and days of nightmares, I dreamt that dad was chatting to me, in the biggest fur coat you could imagine, like the ones you saw the men wearing in the 50,s, that dream was comforting and after that I did not dream of him being cold again, so I guessed it was his way of letting me know.
My final dream was I saw my dad and he came and took me in his arms and sang “have I told you lately that I love you” in his own voice, that dream was so special; I did not have nightmares after that.
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Afterthoughts.
Isn’t it strange that when you lose a parent who you think will live forever, changes your whole life, thoughts and feelings in just a few seconds? It is so hard, no matter how much money you have or who you are, death does not have any boundaries and chooses who needs to go and that’s it. But time does heal I promise you and it gets better and better with every year that passes. I can now look at my dad’s photograph and smile, remember and breathe without the pain in my chest. I think when people try and comfort you, they are only trying their best and they really don’t have the words to comfort if they have not gone through it themselves.
If someone has lost a parent or other loved one, no words are needed, as the silence of utter understanding takes place of the mere words that could be uttered in an attempt to help.
As a “grown-up” I understand how hard it is for the young to accept that someone they love has gone. I am married now to John, a long and happy marriage cocooned in a loving family, just like he said. With a beautiful daughter and loving son, a gorgeous granddaughter too! What more could one ask for?
I feel blessed.
Julanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435061941801918820noreply@blogger.com4