An aging monarch has died, rather suddenly, and without a second thought the Establishment has fired up the archaic, grinding, heavy machinery that will install a replacement. There has been no pause, no chance for people to think about the role of the royal family, and whether we want to continue with this ancient, undemocratic regime.
The history of the monarchy is one of oppression and cruelty, of ultra-privilege for the lucky few, and of extreme poverty for the majority. The role, and power of the monarchy may be much reduced on what it was in the past, but we shouldn’t think of the king or queen as merely a symbol.
Remember that the monarch, as well as being the head of state, is also head of the church of England. What that means is that a nation made up of people of varying religious beliefs, and none, are effectively subservient to the established church. Remember that we are the only nation in the world, other than Iran, where religious leaders sit in government by right (the twenty-six bishops in the house of lords). Charles has, in the past, said that he doesn’t just want to represent the C of E; that he wants to be ‘Defender of faiths’ rather than ‘Defender of the faith’, but even that ignores and shuts out the majority of the population who don’t believe in religion.
Make no mistake, there are dark forces at play. The threatening, mysterious, unelected and unaccountable monster that is the City of London for instance, is central to the process of replacing one unelected head of state with another. The media has come together to promote the Establishment model of monarchy as a wonderful thing we should all love; setting the tone of sycophancy we are all expected to copy. Where are the dissenting voices? Who speaks for the large proportion of the population who have little respect for the royal family, and who don’t want them?
I know I’m not alone. There are many people who, like me, want to see the abolition of the monarchy. We believe in equality, the withdrawal of privilege as birth right, and the principal of the people having the right to elect leaders, rather than having them imposed upon us. We don’t believe that anyone in a free and fair society in the twenty-first century should be required to address one of their fellow human beings as ‘your majesty’. Who knows, maybe we’re even in a majority? Whether that’s the case or not, we deserve to be heard, and the people should have a choice.
I have a difficult relationship with throw-away metaphors like ‘The Perfect Storm’. They can be amusing. They can make language more colourful. And occasionally, they may even put across an idea more effectively and succinctly than plain language. But mostly, they do exactly the opposite.
‘The Perfect Storm’ is perhaps the most over used metaphor-turned-cliche in the media today. Used casually, we assume we know what it means. Think about it a little more, and it seems a careless, inaccurate description – the opposite of what we actually mean to say. Maybe it’s just my obsessive mind, but picture this…
The Perfect Storm
You’re walking through a beautiful, imagined English landscape of soft contours, with fields and hedgerows, and little copses dotted around. It’s mid-afternoon on a hot day. There’s no breeze, and the air feels stale. The land is dry, but not excessively so (we’re in England). But it needs rain. It’s been warm and dry for a week or more, but today, there’s an increased humidity, making the heat stifling.
But then, you notice a line of cloud rising up from the horizon, and quite quickly, even as you watch, great towers of cumuli-nimbus bubble up, creating fantastical shapes and effects. There’s movement in the air now, and the wind builds – not to a gale, or a tornado, but a warm breeze that gently soothes away the discomforting heat. There’s a flash, followed soon after by the deep bass rumble of thunder. The animated cloud moves closer, obliterating the blue of the sky.
There’s another flash of lighting, and then another, followed in quick succession by thunder. Now the cloud is almost overhead, and the first drops of rain begin to fall. But you don’t run for cover. The rain is warm, and you welcome it with arms outstretched, face turned up to the sky. The raindrops splash on your face, building in intensity, until it’s like standing under a warm shower; refreshing and exhilarating, making you feel more alive than you’ve felt for a long time.
In less than five minutes, enough rain falls to rejuvenate the parched landscape. And then it stops. You can see the rain falling from the clouds as they move away, and as the sun emerges once more, a rainbow appears, brighter, and more intensely coloured than any you can remember having seen before. The wind has dropped to the slightest of breezes, the air is cooler and fresher, but still comfortably warm. There is a moist, earthy smell rising from the ground, and you can almost hear seeds swelling, and plants drawing moisture up into their leaves. The sun, re-instated, warms and dries you as you continue with your walk. All is, indeed, well with the world…
That’s how I would describe the perfect storm. But ‘The Perfect Storm’ is used to mean a situation where numerous factors combine to make it as bad as it could be; rain so heavy as to cause landslides, wind strong enough to destroy buildings, and lighting strikes that take out the power network. All of which is anything but perfect.
During my time in the IT industry I faced an on-going struggle to get my colleagues to use plain English. Reports intended to communicate processes and policy to a wide audience, with varying IT knowledge, would end up being unintelligible to anyone who wasn’t up to date with an ever-changing, ever more absurd catalogue of in-crowd clichés. I think people in most industries will have experienced something similar. Clichés tend to confuse the meaning of language – it’s easier to repeat a popular metaphor than to actually consider what it is you want to express. Words are the tools of the trade for the media. I wish they’d choose them more carefully…
Double meaning intended! I’m old enough to remember the queen’s silver jubilee. That at least was tempered by some robust criticism, as a friend recently reminded me (my own memory being only marginally better than that of a goldfish) by the Sex Pistols…
God save the queen, She ain’t no human being, There is no future In England’s dreaming.[1.]
A clever piece of marketing, designed to appeal to the large proportion of the population who don’t want to be ‘reigned over’. That may have boosted sales, but in my opinion it was head and shoulders above most of the pop music of the time, and certainly of anything that’s around at the moment. Apparently it reached number one in the charts, but in a shameful, if not entirely unexpected act of censorship to appease the establishment, it was curiously missing from Top Of The Pops.
Forty-five years on, and this time around I hardly noticed any dissent – so much for progress! We’ve had to suffer weeks of sickening sycophancy by the media, with the royal frenzy cheer-led by the monarchy’s partner in crime (against the people) the Church of England.
But hearing the national anthem for the first time in a long time brought back into my mind a rather tricky ethical question – if I were to find myself at an event where the national anthem is played, and everyone else stands up, what do I do? This was very nearly tested a few weeks ago at the English Haydn Festival (yes I know; not very trendy, but Haydn’s music is considerably better even than that of the Pistols). The opening and closing concerts were to start with a rendition of the national anthem. In fact I decided only go to one concert from the week-long festival, so it was easy enough to avoid these two.
But the dilemma remains – what would I do if I were to find myself at an event where the anthem is played, and everyone is expected to get to their feet? For me the national anthem, which entreats a character I’m certain is fictional (god) to ‘save’ (whatever that means) a head of state there by right of birth, is an insult to my beliefs. The idea I should be expected to honour it by standing up is ‘like, against my human rights and shit’. What do I do? Remain resolutely seated, the subject of the disapproval of everyone around me, and risking verbal, or even physical abuse from one or more of my fellow human beings who happen to be joyfully unburdened by the affliction of free-thinking? Or abandon my own principles and stand to attention with the rest of the herd?
Flash Fiction is not a format I’ve tried before, but on holiday in Spain last week, I was inspired to have a go. Here’s the result…
Cold, damp and windy; strange weather for a holiday in the sun. At the Alcazabar – the hill Fort overlooking the pretty town of Antequera – the wind blew cold through the shivering cypresses. We climbed the bell tower, and then left just in time to avoid hearing the giant metal cone ring the hour. But we couldn’t stop the cold wind ringing through our heads.
Back at the entrance, ancient Moorish guitar music played through plastic outdoor speakers on an endless loop. Coffee was called for, and came, rich and complex, at a cafe at the bottom of the hill, accompanied by indulgent, flavoursome cakes. Outside, the plaza was alive with an eruption of excited school children frolicking beneath the magnolia trees. We retreated to our hotel for a siesta. Visit Spain, live Spain.
Later, we woke to an orange glow. Outside our window the sandstone church, with its ancient brick tower, the plaza that it overlooks, the shops and the balconied apartments, all had been transported to Mars; we were vacationing on the red planet. And then it rained. It was still raining when we went out to eat. The streets ran red with dissolved red dust, and I couldn’t help but think of the streets of Ukraine running red with the blood of innocents, slain to feed the greed, the ambition, the twisted hubris of a crazed dictator, the red rain in this medieval city mirroring the medieval bloodshed; the war being waged by Russian oligarchs.
We sheltered from the red rain, first in a bar, and then in a restaurant, where we ate among religious iconography, and drunk the blood of Christ till our heads spun. We retreated to our hotel room. Our clothes, shoes, bags; everything was spattered – contaminated – with the red dust. Would the sun ever shine again?
Note: I’m going to come clean and admit that unfortunately I didn’t think to take a photo from the hotel window when I saw the sky had turned red. The one I’ve used is from the Alcazabar, earlier in the day – I coloured the sky orange in Photoshop.
It’s hard to comprehend the ability of supposedly well-educated, intelligent people to shut out the blatantly obvious. Britain holds the Presidency for COP26, and at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow at the end of last year, our leaders asked the world to turn its back on coal. And yet, just three months on, the UK government is busy issuing new licences to dig for coal and drill for oil.
Change will be forced upon us…
The people making these decisions know we need to move to sustainable forms of energy, and quickly, or face catastrophe. Most of them have children, and will have grandchildren too, if they haven’t already. And yet, just a few months after being immersed in the grim reality of anthropomorphic climate change, they’ve allowed themselves to be tempted back to the path of destruction by the potential wealth-giving powers of the fossil fuel lobby (who, presumably, also have children). The question is, how long will our politicians and industry leaders have to enjoy the riches they are amassing, before the entire ecosystem collapses in on itself and the human race is wiped out, along with most other life forms on the planet?
It would be very convenient to blame ‘The Establishment’ for our impending demise, but are us lower mortals any better? When so many people still choose to jump into their car to make a two-hundred metre journey? When the number of over-sized, over-powered vehicles on the roads continues to rise? When the road-sides are strewn with litter? When so many people can’t even be bothered to put packaging into the recycling, rather than the rubbish bin? I could go on (some people might say that I do!)
Dogs are a case in point. There was a long running campaign (possibly by the RSPCA) intended to make people consider the responsibility involved, rather than just thinking, ‘ooh, that looks cute; lets get one’. Today, dogs are trendy; a fashion accessory. And company while working at home during the pandemic. But what happens when you have to go back to work? There are now around twelve million dogs in the UK alone, and a study has indicated that the sheer quantity of faeces and urine from dogs is actually changing the ecosystems of our natural spaces. We know that meat production has a disproportionate effect on the environment, and that we should be eating less of it. Dogs, on the other hand, eat almost nothing but meat.
Having a conversation about the contribution to climate change of population is difficult. It touches nerves, runs contrary to people’s animal instincts. You only have to suggest that maybe people should show some constraint with their family planning, rather than having just as many children as they choose, to find yourself being compared to the Nazis. But if we can’t even have that conversation about populations of species other than our own, then what chance do we stand?
What is it with us humans? How is it that an animal with such a large brain and an impressive intellect can possess such an innate ability to ignore the obvious, even at the expense of its own survival? As a species, we’re running towards a metaphorical cliff edge, and apparently enjoying it so much we just can’t bring ourselves to change direction. We know that if we don’t stop we’ll go over the edge and fall to our deaths, but somehow, we just can’t imagine it happening. Surely we’ll just launch ourselves into the void and fly away?
So what can writers do about climate change? We can write, of course. Journalists and article writers can write factual pieces to make sure the public is informed about the damage human activity is doing to the world we live in, and what can be done to reduce the damage. Novelists can be more creative, in helping people to understand what the future could look like if we don’t act.
People trust the written word – more than they ought to. It’s why fake news gathers traction, and why British newspapers get away with dis-ingenuity and lies to further the interests of their wealthy owners. It’s up to us to balance things out; to make sure the truth is out there. Who knows; maybe we can make a difference?
My first forays into writing, around four decades ago (a frightening amount of time) were as a lyricist, and I’m still writing songs, now and then; when I can spare a little time. So I thought, why not share with you the ideas that have worked for me. Not everyone will agree with what follows, but these are my tips for budding song-writers:-
Subject Listening to contemporary music, it may not be immediately evident that not every song you write has to be about your love life. When every track on your planned latest album is about your marriage break up, that’s not art, it’s therapy – better keep it to yourself.
Be creative. There’s a whole world of subjects out there, from the personal to the universal – politics, culture, nature, the cosmos. Lately I’ve been dealing with big subjects, including climate change, anthropomorphic mass extinction, and even the nature of existence (I must be getting old):
‘On through the void, avoiding all question Of emptiness and, any suggestion, Existence profoundly is lacking direction.’
Lyrics don’t have to be literal; they can be allegorical or fantastical, comedic or satirical.
Responsibility Remember that your lyrics may influence others. Glorifying crime, normalising the carrying of knives or guns, promoting homophobia and misogyny may well have a detrimental effect on other people’s well-being, and certainly won’t do anything to create the free, fair and safe society we should all be striving for.
Lyrics as Poetry If you want to write great lyrics, simply fitting words to a tune isn’t enough. The very best lyrics are poetry, rather than prose. If your lyrics aren’t at least close to being good enough to work, without music, at a poetry reading, I would say you’re letting down your craft. Great music deserves great lyrics.
Get help… Musician and lyricist are different disciplines; the skill sets overlap, but are not identical. You might be brilliant at the musical side of things, but if you’re not a writer, why not collaborate with someone who is? Look for aspiring writers who may be open to forming a mutually beneficial relationship, where they produce the words to your music. Money need not necessarily change hands. You could come to an arrangement where they are credited with the lyrics, and will receive a percentage of any earnings. If you make it big, you both win. If your musical career doesn’t take off, it will have cost you nothing, and you’ll have carefully crafted words to sing. But if you really want to write the words yourself, then read on…
Repetition You might not want to over-burden the singer (especially if that’s you!) with too many lines to learn, but the mind-numbing repetition employed by some artists is enough to drive listeners mad. Avoiding excessive repetition means writing more words. But you’re a wordsmith, aren’t you? Don’t waste the opportunity to practise your craft; to show your skill, and to make your songs special.
Repetition You might not want to… oh, hang on; we’ve done that one!
Rhyme Like poetry, lyrics don’t have to rhyme, but it can add to the rhythm and flow of the music. Just make sure your rhymes work. For me, if you’re struggling to find a rhyme, making up a word, or using slang (e.g. rhyming ‘kinda’ with ‘find her’, or ‘wanna’ with ‘Prima Donna) in most instances really doesn’t work.
Rhyming can be at the end of every line, alternate lines, or a more complex pattern. Although there’s no need to stick to a rigid pattern. Throwing a rhyming word into the middle of a line can work well – the poetic equivalent of ‘off-beat’.
It’s easy to get carried away with rhyming. Recently I’ve taken to using rhyming triplets, finished with a line without a rhyme. This is from a slightly tongue-in-cheek song about the despair felt after returning to the cold, dark UK winter after a long holiday in the sun…
‘In spite of intense emotional pain, Stifle your disdain, Embrace the icy rain As the rain embraces you.’
Too many rhymes can be become distracting and irritating. I think I feel some more non-rhyming lyrics coming on…
Complication I’ve discovered over the years that it’s possible not just to fit surprisingly complex words to music, but to make them work beautifully…
‘There’s magic in the way that life evolves, No depth of thought, no profound contemplation, Has yet been found to resolve The complexities that life involves.’
Don’t be afraid to use complex language, long words, or words that you didn’t know the meaning of. I love finding new words (though I have a dreadful memory, so it’s a struggle for me to hold on to them). One word I’ve discovered recently is ‘melismatic’ – where you sing more than one note to a syllable. It’s something I’ve had the courage to do more of recently (my voice being less than great). Be careful though, because as many pop artists are currently proving, too much melisma sounds ridiculous.
Grammar So many contemporary lyrics are written in ‘street speak’; the more they mash up the English language, the cooler the artist – or at least, that’s how it’s presented. But why follow the herd? We all have grammatic flaws in the way we speak (well, apart from the Queen and Jacob Rees-Mogg) but why accentuate them? In every-day speech the errors may slip by unnoticed. When we write, I believe it’s good to polish our language, rather than to shred it. In any case, if you don’t speak like a gangster rapper, why sing like one? Which brings me to…
Finding your own voice Beware of using language you don’t own. For instance, do you actually refer to your significant other as ‘Baby’, or ‘Girl’? If you do, perhaps you might like to consider whether these terms are somewhat patronising; misogynistic, even. If you don’t, why use them in lyrics? Isn’t it time you made your own voice heard, rather than just copying what you hear elsewhere. Don’t be a sheep.
What comes first – music or words? Either, of course, but there are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. Writing the lyrics first gives you more freedom, but it can be difficult to get started, and there’s the concern over how easily the words can be set to music. It can be helpful to have some idea of the rhythmic effect you want from a tune. Writing words to a tune is certainly much more restrictive. You have to be more disciplined (though that can be a good thing.)
I’ve worked both ways in the past, but these days I tend to work on the music and the words at the same time. Developing both together is a more flexible approach, and for me, it can give a better result than trying to shoe-horn words into a tune, or stretch a tune around words.
So there you are; my tips for song lyrics. Happy writing…
So, it’s over. COP 26 – possibly the largest gathering of world leaders, advisors, scientists, lobbyists and general hangers on the world has ever seen. Indicative of what was to come, some of the first reporting was of Joe Biden’s obscene motorcade; surely one of the most blatant examples of piss-taking on the world stage we’ve been unfortunate enough to have seen. Or is the president really that stupid?
Faced with the job of agreeing the drastic changes needed to mitigate the worst effects of anthropomorphic climate catastrophe, our leaders and representatives chose to commit to a few, gradual changes. Possibly. And not yet. Let’s leave it for a few years, shall we?
The guests of honour at the extravagant party were around 500 fossil fuel lobbyists, metaphorically swirling around like seagulls following a trawler, while those whose voices really needed to be heard were largely left out in the cold.
A new buzzword was ubiquitous at COP – ‘transitioning’: ‘How can your country claim to be tackling the climate crisis when you’re building new coal-fired power stations?’ ‘It’s okay, because we’re ‘transitioning”
Reduction of fossil fuel use was discussed, and some moderate targets agreed on, although none of them are compulsory. Most sinister was the farming lobby – so influential, so powerful, so successful that the impact of their sector, such a destroyer of environment, such a massive contributor to climate change, wasn’t dealt with at all.
This was a conference where the president of the United States of America reportedly trumped (pun intended) loudly in front of a royal personage; the irony of the president’s personal methane emissions mirroring those of his country was difficult to ignore.
News channels pointed to the hypocrisy of the limo engines idling, while the chauffeurs waited for their dignitaries. Easy to sneer, but it’s not just the rich. Walk across a motorway services car park and you’ll see no end of cars with their engines running, pumping out toxic fumes, while the people inside drink and eat from single-use plastic containers. I mean, really – what chance do we stand?
Every year, in the UK, water companies pump vast amounts of raw sewage into rivers and the sea. Last week, while news coverage concentrated on COP 26, our government was busy voting down an amendment to the environment bill which would have held water companies accountable to reduce the amount of sewage they pump out to sea. As the host of COP26 you would expect the UK government to have set a good example. Instead, they are happily signing up to yet more fossil fuel projects.
There were things to admire. Greta Thunberg was, as ever, an inspiration. So diminutive, so young, and yet such a clarity of mind. Humbling. And she wasn’t alone.
But the people inside weren’t listening. One of the commentators said that climate change denial had all but disappeared… to be replaced by greenwash! There was, as far as I heard, no mention of population. There’s a simple formula:
Total emissions = Average emissions per person x the number of people
If we’re serious about getting emissions down to a safe level, we need to work on both sides of the equation. I live in a country (England) which is so over-populated we no longer have any wilderness left, and our forest cover is tiny. Oh, and by the way, pets – particularly dogs – contribute to global warming too, not least by consuming food, which means more of that damaging intensive agriculture. In the UK we’re in the midst of massive increase in dog ownership, which is incompatible with tackling the climate crisis.
As if all that wasn’t enough, there was just one more thing my country did to embarrass itself last week, right in the middle of the climate crisis conference. Across the country we lit huge bonfires, and set light to vast amounts of explosives in the form of fireworks. Just for the fun of it, of course. Climate crisis? What climate crisis…
I used to think the old folk were making something out of nothing when they complained about forgetting what they went upstairs for. I used to think I’d always done that, even when I was young. Let’s face it, we’ve all done it now and then, haven’t we – gone upstairs, downstairs, into another room, out to the shed, or the garage, got distracted, and come back without the thing we’d gone for?
But recently I’ve taken it to a whole new level. I no longer need the distraction. I’ll open the fridge door and find myself standing there urgently scanning the contents for a clue to what it was I wanted, scanning my memory – ‘come on, concentrate; you’re wasting energy’. So far, it’s always come back to me before the fridge starts bleeping at me – ‘bleep, bleep, bleep; take what you want and shut the door, fool’. Correction – ‘old fool’.
Some people would say I’ve always been a bit… distracted. But in the last few weeks I’ve come down with a really bad case of ‘what was it I came upstairs for?’ And I’m wondering how this will play out in other areas of my life. As a horticulturalist, all those Latin names are rattling around in my head. I’ve got a photographic memory. The photographs are all there, but the indexing system doesn’t work. I can suffer three days of frustration before suddenly, in the bread isle of Sainsburys, I’ll blurt out ‘ Phalaris arundinacea ‘Feesey’! [1.] with a sense of relief matched only by a sufferer of constipation finally managing to squeeze one out after a three-day hiatus (hopefully not in the bread isle at Sainsburys).
I’ve got around three hours of musical repertoire committed to memory, including a fair amount of lyrics (in four different languages – three of which I don’t speak!) And I can’t read music. What could possibly go wrong?
And then there’s the writing. Memory is important when writing a novel. The further in you get, the more information you need to hold in your head – who said what to whom and when, the order of events, what each of the characters know and don’t know, and so on. Get it wrong, and you risk continuity errors, or even making a nonsense of the plot. If you can’t hold these details in your head, things become difficult. You have no choice but to hunt through the text to find them. Actually, it’s a good idea to check you’re getting it right now and again anyway, as memory can sometimes be unreliable.
So far, my ‘What was it I came upstairs for’ syndrome doesn’t appear to be affecting my writing. Perhaps it’s just a phase I’m going through, rather than a permanent mental deterioration.
[1.] A tall, variegated grass, commonly known as ‘Gardener’s Garters’ – the name of which it actually only took me four hours to recall today (I call that a victory!) Actually, it came to me while I was writing this post, so I see it as a fitting example.
Could it be that the Taliban’s greatest strength is not ruthlessness, lack of compassion, or their powerful external backers, but instead, their subservience to what they consider to be an unquestionable ideology? And surely then, the Western allies’ biggest mistake was their failure to challenge that ideology. Just when will our society wake up to the fact that questioning the voracity of religion is not just a basic human right; it’s a duty?
Even after Afghanistan was supposedly liberated by the West, Afghans (and especially Afghan women) continued to suffer the repression that is inherent in all societies that are largely based on religion. We should understand that, because our own history is one of repression and cruelty at the hands of the church.
Following a religion is fine, so long as you enter into it freely, and don’t try to impose it, or any associated moral decrees, on others. The assertion that the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam is wrong was weak, and always doomed to failure. Afghan’s were always going to question the authority of Christian American and European leaders to tell them the correct version of Islam.
We wanted to give Afghans access to the same freedoms we enjoy; particularly with regard to a balanced education that allows people to think for themselves. But we failed to understand the limits of our own freedoms. We asked Afghans to consider that what god really wants from them is different from what they’ve been told. But we didn’t offer them the true freedom of thought to question whether this god character actually exists. Because after all, why should they have something we don’t?
The Taliban use religion in the same way it has been used by repressive regimes across the globe and throughout history, back to the Caesars and beyond – questioning what the regime tells you god wants from you is the same as questioning god him/her/itself, which is in turn unthinkable and subject to extreme (human) punishment. Questioning the idea that god (or gods) are real, is something we in the so-called developed world still don’t have full freedom to do. When did you last hear this kind of challenge on TV or radio, in a newspaper or magazine, or on a mainstream web site? Yet we’re subjected to a constant drip feed commentary, on all of these media, which starts from the assumption that the truth of religion has long been established (it hasn’t).
The blasphemy law in the UK may have gone (though watch out – if religious groups have their way it could soon be back) but questioning the validity of religions is still not accepted behaviour. The continuing spread and imposition of government financed religious schools across the country continues unabated. Many get away with teaching that evolution is a lie. This shows how little we really value freedom of thought, and the right to a balanced education.
For Western governments to stop the Taliban would have required them to question the religious doctrine that is its beating heart. But to do so would also have struck at the repressive power of the religious groups that hold our own countries in their iron grip. And as our own leaders are hand-in-glove with the church, they were never going to allow that to happen.
And so Afghanistan has once again fallen into the hands of bigoted despots intent on depriving its people of their humanity. And, after a respectful period of mourning, we will turn away, smug in the security of our own comparatively open, free and fair society. But beware. Sharia law is here in the UK as well – barely visible, but flourishing in closed communities across the country, and supported by a government that consistently, and inexplicable, fails to challenge it. In growing communities across the UK and Europe large numbers of people suffer similar restriction of their freedoms to the poor Afghans – the misogyny, the homophobia, and all the other irrational nonsense that makes up Sharia.
Increasingly, threats and aggression by fundamentalist Muslims are shutting down freedom of expression in wider society – witness the Batley Grammar school debacle, the murder of Samuel Paty and the Charlie Hebdo staff, as well as the de-platforming that is taking place in universities in the UK – establishments that are supposed to promote free-thinking and open debate. Other religious groups – Christian, Jewish, Hindu, etc. gain encouragement from this, and are becoming bolder in their demands to impose their own perverse morality on the rest of us.
It’s often stated that we live in a global society. Our failure in Afghanistan, and the terrible events we are seeing there now, will send reverberations out across the globe. To many individuals, religion may be a joy. But to society as a whole, it remains a dangerous threat that we will never entirely banish unless we accept the right, and the need, to question, criticise, and even ridicule it.
At the risk of repeating myself, writing a novel involves a lot of work. Like setting up in business as a funeral director; it’s a big undertaking. Progress on my latest novel has been slow, and frequently been put on hold due to the pressures of life, but I think I might be getting there. The word count recently passed seventy thousand, which is almost a books worth.
I’ve read advice from publishers and agents saying new writers should aim for no more than eighty thousand words (patronising bastards!) Books by established authors often exceed this hugely. The last novel I read, ‘Paying Guests’ by Sarah Waters, was thick enough to be used as a doorstop. Mind you, it was overlong in my opinion, with a lot of repetition. My last novel was a little over one hundred thousand words, and I suspect this one will be a similar length. I’ve gone somewhat closer to the mainstream this time, in the hope of appealing to the somewhat limited imaginations of agents and publishers. The book is about a major terrorist attack. It’s got a ‘strong female lead’, which is, as far as I understand, ‘de rigueur’ at the moment (unless things have moved on without me noticing). There’s action and intrigue, but mostly it’s about the people involved, and how the attack affects them.
There’s quite a bit to pull together yet, hence me thinking the final word count might end up at around one hundred thousand, even if the editing stages involve a certain amount of rationalisation. As I said, I hope I can get a publisher interested this time, but even if that doesn’t happen, I’ve enjoyed writing it. By this time, the characters have really come alive for me. I’ve started thinking of them as real people (and even found myself adopting their way of speaking now and then), and I keep having to remind myself they’re just characters in a book, and one not yet completed, yet alone published. I suppose it would be all I might ever desire for it to be the same for anyone who gets to read my little (or not so little) masterpiece when it’s finally finished.


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Media ID: 55374393
US President Donald Trump. (Reuters)
Riyadh – Ways to confront ISIS, al-Qaeda, Iran and the Syrian regime and putting an end to the violence in the region are issues that will be at the heart of US President Donald Trump’s talks with Arab and Muslim leaders at the upcoming summit in the Saudi capital...
Media ID: 55371806
Newly appointed National Security Adviser Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster listens as US President Donald Trump makes the announcement at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. (Reuters)
London – Washington raised the tone of its rhetoric with Moscow on Monday when White House national security adviser Herbert McMaster said it was time for tough talks with Russia over its support for Syria’s regime and its “subversive” actions...

domain: news


text:
Woking have today parted company with manager Darren Sarll after a miserable return of six points from a possible 27.
Darren Sarll says Woking are getting very close to being a serious side but knows Neal Ardley’s arrival has changed the weekend outlook.
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Lonely God Potato Twists- Tomato
Tired of the same old potato chips? Here’s chips with a TWIST! Lonely God Potato Twists is one of the most popular potato chips in all of Asia!
The story of Want-Want could best be described as a story of "patience".
Once upon a time, Want-Want was known as I Lan Foods, a Taiwanese canned food manufacturer founded in the 1960s. When Tsai Eng-Meng, the son of the founder, took over the company in the 1970s, I Lan Foods began to take on a new direction.
One day, Tsai Eng-Meng came up with a great idea that would change I Lan Foods forever – "Senbei", a word that means Japanese Rice Cracker. Tsai knew exactly who had the perfect formula to create the ultimate Senbei snack - Iwatsuka Confectionery Company.

domain: food


(Liberty Bell) – Fox News host Tucker Carlson lit into Climate Czar John Kerry during his Wednesday evening program over his blatant hypocrisy for using a private jet to fly to climate conferences where he no doubt looks down his nose at everyone for not doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint or some other sort of nonsense.
According to BizPacReview, Carlson isn’t the only one ticked off at Kerry. Other Republicans have also come out and nailed Kerry for his hypocrisy. Apparently, the left lives by the old adage, “do as I say, not as I do.” However, that’s not true leadership. Real leaders lead by example. Being consistent is important for being taken seriously. Thus, the reason why we laugh Democrats under the table.
“The climate czar fights climate change. And if facts or common sense get in the way of that, the climate czar will fight those, too. It’s the perfect role for John Kerry,” Carlson said with a serrated edge of sarcasm. “John Kerry has devoted his entire life taking on the global warming by contributing as much to global warming as he possibly can.”
Carlson went on to point out that Kerry has spent more than 20 hours in 2020 flying all around on his private jet “emitting in the process more than 100 metric tons of carbon emissions.” When you think about the fact that Kerry is scolding everyone else for not lowering their carbon footprint, this number is staggering.
The Fox News star then went on to discuss how that amount far exceeds the emissions of the average American citizen in an entire lifetime. He then referred to Kerry as “the kind of leader who leads by negative examples.”
“Well, in 2019 the world finally recognized John Kerry’s sacrifice, his enduring commitment to doing precisely what he wants while preventing you from doing the same. John Kerry was given in recognition of this something called the Arctic Circle Award. That Award recognizes his effort to, quote, “Tackle environmental matters,” Carlson said, pummeling Kerry.
“Naturally, John Kerry flew all the way to Iceland – that’s 3,000 miles away – on his private jet to accept this honor. In his acceptance speech, John Kerry made it very clear people like John Kerry make him angry. In order to fight climate change, John Kerry said, we need to do exactly the opposite of what John Kerry himself is doing at the moment,” he continued.
Kerry once fumed over people not taking enough responsibility for caring for the environment, saying, “I get angry when I look at what public responsibility is supposed to be and I don’t see people doing it.”
“There are mudslides and floods and fires so therefore I must have more power. And if you don’t give it to me, I will be angry,” Carlson said with a mocking tone. “And to prove that point, John Kerry will personally cause as many mudslides and floods and fires as it takes to wake you up to this problem. That is the cross he is willing to bear. Any questions?”
So how did Kerry justify using the private jet?
“It’s the only choice for somebody like me who is traveling the world to win this battle. I believe the time it takes me to get somewhere. I can’t sail across the ocean. I have to fly to meet with people and get things done.”
“It’s the only choice for someone like me,” Carlson continued his mockery of Kerry. “It’s the only choice for someone like me. Why do you have a 12,000 square foot house on the water in Nantucket? It’s the only choice for someone like me. Not a choice you are allowed to have.”
This is why most of us with two brain cells to rub together don’t take anything seriously when it comes from the mouth of a Democrat. Most of what they say, the beliefs they espouse, are not ones they actually live by. How can we take the situation seriously if they themselves are not taking it seriously?
Featured image credit: Gage Skidmore – flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/44674175810
Copyright 2021. LibertyBell.com


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The Steel You Need When You Need It
Sabel Steel strives to be a leader in steel services in Montgomery, AL and the whole of the Southeast region. As such, we’re dedicated to customer satisfaction, no matter their need. Our Steel Services Centers are fully-equipped with nearly anything you could require. Thanks to our top-notch reputation and membership to the North American Steel Alliance, we’ve earned countless repeat customers and plenty of word-of-mouth marketing. For any steel-related necessity, don’t hesitate to visit our convenient Steel Service Centers.
We Can Accommodate a Range of Needs
At each of our Steel Service Centers, we’re committed to offering all the tools and resources you might require. Sabel Steel stocks, processes, and delivers all kinds of products, many of which are delivered daily by a fleet of company trucks. As the needs of our customers grow with the times, our team is ready to adapt. We’re proud to offer the following products and services, and then some:
- Hot-rolled angles
- Structural beams
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- Expanded metal
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Find Us All Across the Southeast
At Sabel Steel, convenience is the name of the game. To ensure that as many people as possible can access our services, we have locations all across Alabama and the entire Southeast. You can find us: in Alabama in: Montgomery, Mobile, Dothan, Woodstock; in Georgia: in Winder and Newnan; and in Louisiana: in Baton Rouge, in Texas – in Beaumont.
130 W 10th St, Anniston, AL 36201, USA
2809 N Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70814, USA
1968 Taylor Rd, Dothan, AL 36301, USA
6051 US-90, Theodore, AL 36582, USA
749 N Court St, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA
20 E Gordon Rd, Newnan, GA 30263, USA
615 Patrick Industrial Dr, Winder, GA 30680, USA
126 Western Rd, Woodstock, AL 35188, USA
210 S 4th St, Beaumont, TX 77701, USA
Get in touch with any of our locations, and a member of our friendly team would be happy to provide you with our world-class customer service.

domain: geography


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June 18, 1985 |
A record 41 nations have entered the Women's Federation Cup team tennis competition scheduled for Oct. 6-13 in Nagoya, Japan, the International Tennis Federation announced. Defending champion Czechoslovakia will send the foursome of Hana Mandlikova, Helena Sukova, Iva Buderova and Marcela Skuherska that has produced two straight championships.
August 27, 1986 |
Wimbledon champion Boris Becker brushed back a surprisingly strong challenge from Canada's Glenn Michibata today in advancing into the second round of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. Other winners were second-seeded Mats Wilander, No. 4 Stefan Edberg and No. 11 Mikael Pernfors, all from Sweden. No. 2 Chris Evert Lloyd, No. 3 Steffi Graf of West Germany, No. 5 Pam Shriver, No. 7 Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia and No. 13 Stephanie Rehe all won.
March 18, 1989 |
Steffi Graf beat seventh-seeded Helen Kelesi of Canada, 6-1, 6-1, in 47 minutes Friday in the quarterfinals of a $300,000 Virginia Slims tennis tournament. In one semifinal, Graf will play fourth-seeded Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia, who beat Halle Cioffi of Knoxville, Tenn., 6-3, 6-2. The other semifinal will pit Jana Novotna of Czechoslovakia, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Terry Phelps of Larchmont, N.Y., against third-seeded Chris Evert, who defeated fifth-seeded Mary Joe Fernandez, 6-2, 6-2.
March 2, 1986 |
Kathy Jordan upset Martina Navratilova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6, Saturday night in the semifinals of the $150,000 Virginia Slims of California tennis tournament at Oakland. Jordan, who won the third-set tiebreaker, 9-7, will face Chris Evert Loyd in tonight's final. Lloyd defeated Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia, 7-5, 6-4, to move within one match of her second tournament title in as many weeks. Lloyd won the final at Boca Raton, Fla., last Saturday.
June 19, 1987 |
Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia rallied from 2-5 in the final set and upset American Chris Evert 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 today to reach the final of the $200,000 Pilkington Glass women's grass court tennis championships for the third consecutive year in the run-up to Wimbledon. Sukova, seeded No. 3, will meet the winner of the other semifinal between defending champion Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver, who faced each other later in the day. Sukova, who beat Evert in their last meeting in the 1986 U.S.

domain: sports


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Biden Won, But We’re All Losing
Many of us are breathing a sigh of relief, now that Biden has been declared the winner of the 2020 Presidential election. I include myself among them. My family fled war and oppression for the freedom and stability that America offered. To see those incredible institutions undermined, to see our leaders divide us, to see democracy threatened, have been very upsetting for me. Unfortunately, the divisions we feel today didn’t start with Trump and they won’t end with him.
Recently a college friend shared his election insights on a Facebook post. As an outsider, he has a unique perspective that I appreciate:
I grew up with these people in rural upstate New York, and I was surprised by how quickly my Kuwaiti friend understood them and their concerns. An understanding that still evades the Democratic Party.
While Democrats may talk about “uniting Americans”, and “there’s no red or blue America, just America,” their policies benefit a very specific group of people. These people tend to be urban and suburban, affluent, liberal, and part of the knowledge-based economy.
Small-town and rural voters are very different. They haven’t felt the benefits of the knowledge-based economy, so the policies and laws promoted by the Democratic party don’t really resonate with them. They’re more concerned with agricultural policies, mining, manufacturing, the military, and family values. The Republican party has done a much better job of respecting their worldview, and so the party has earned their votes.
That being said, neither party has truly addressed the concerns of small-town America. These people have seen a steady decline in their situation under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Farming is less lucrative, and manufacturing has left their communities. In the past they would graduate high school and get great-paying jobs at the local factory. Today, they may find a minimum-wage job at Walmart. They feel like they’ve been sold out.
“The world didn't take America's jobs, America let the world have them without investing in a path to new ones because politicians were more interested in tax cuts, and corporate America was more interested in short term gains.”
– Linette Lopez, Business Insider
This is one of the many reasons why Trump, a man that doesn’t sound like a politician, has resonated with small town and rural voters.
The Problem with Political Parties
While parties may talk about uniting the country, their financial well-being is dependent on winning elections, which is dependent on donations, which is dependent on winning elections. Winning has naturally become an end in itself. This reality has forced these parties to push a harder line each election cycle, further demonizing the other side. Now each party portrays how the other is determined to destroy the country. Therefore, when each gains control, they push laws and policies that appeal to their constituency and disregard the other side.
The truth is we are divided. We now operate under two economic systems in this country, a rural agricultural-industrial economy and an urban knowledge-based economy, each requiring different policies to grow and flourish.
Troublingly, something similar occurred in the run-up to the Civil War. Those states that were benefitting from the Industrial Revolution had very different interests and needs than those agricultural states that relied on slave labor. Many attempts were made to address this issue, but it escalated in their two-party political system, and was only resolved by a Civil War.
I pray history doesn’t repeat itself. Unfortunately, factions and parties have repeatedly caused serious problems. George Washington’s own family fled England to escape their civil wars. Again, at the beginning of the United States, Washington was concerned that the developing frictions between Jefferson and Hamilton would tear the country apart. That was the reason he served a second term, and when he finally left office, he also left this warning:
“The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.” – George Washington
Washington wasn’t alone, many of the other founding fathers were against the idea of political parties.
Is Conflict Inevitable?
There were times in US history when tensions rose, but then also dropped-off without widespread violence. A great example of that was the Second Red Scare, which finally wound down after Senator McCarthy lost credibility. Many lives and reputations were ruined by McCarthyism, but after accusing the US Army and war heroes of disloyalty, his support was lost.
While sad, this is also encouraging. It means that if we as a people see through the lies being told, and call out those stoking the flames of fear, we can bring it to an end. As a society we have to make a conscious choice, of not buying into the rhetoric. It’s difficult, as there’s always an element of truth in rhetoric, but when we scratch below the surface we see its falsehood as well.
I’ve heard accusations flying in both directions, but one stands out in my mind, that Republicans are racist because they know Trump is racist and they still support him.
The truth is, life is far more complicated than this simple statement. Let’s imagine a couple scenarios. If I’m having a hard time feeding my family, then my priority is survival. I may be willing to overlook some racist comments if I believe a candidate is going to help me feed my kids. However, if I live an upper middle-class life and I’m thinking about the world I’m going to leave to my children, racial and environmental issues might be a priority for me. I may overlook the immediate needs of the poor because I don’t see it, instead I see myself leaving a more racially and environmentally just future to my children.
Both of these scenarios are rational and reasonable, based on the circumstances these people find themselves. Neither is evil, but both are overlooking the needs and priorities of the other. The truth is both people can have what they want. Their needs aren’t mutually exclusive. However, our two-party system forces us to choose between these two priorities. It’s a false choice.
So, What Can We Do Now?
Our politicians have failed us, our media has failed us, and so now the responsibility has fallen on us. It’s not fair, but it’s reality. The single most important thing we can do to change our situation is to listen to one another, rather than speaking down to one another. Shaming people is a great way to build up walls of mistrust and hate. We’ve had enough of that. Now is a time for empathy. Now is a time to be better than our leaders.
Below I’ve outlined some governmental and individual level steps we can start taking, to help heal this rift, but I’m not an expert. This is just a conversation starter. I hope people out there have even better ideas on how we can get past the idea of a red America and blue America. Not just in the rhetorical sense, but in a real and tangible way.
On the governmental level …
- Develop Job Training Programs – Since Nixon “opened China” in the 1970s, not to mention the growth of Japanese manufacturing in the 1980s, and globalization more broadly, politicians and business leaders have known there would be a mass exodus of manufacturing jobs from the US. If they didn’t, then they should have as soon as they saw American factories closing at an alarming rate. So, where were the policies to promote new opportunities? Where were the massive job training programs to prepare Americans for the jobs of the future? There wasn’t one!
To address the resulting shortage of skilled labor, we brought in high-skilled foreign workers. Americans in the heartland see this and wonder why it’s not them benefitting from these opportunities. While I’m a huge proponent of immigration, at the same time we can and should be promoting job training programs for Americans.
Now is an especially opportune time to address this huge “oversight.” Training programs, especially in rural America, can ride this wave of remote work. Many tech companies are now hiring full time remote positions. Even the insurance company my brother-in-law works for recently hired a remote IT person located on the east coast. This trend, combined with policies and training to ensure rural America benefits from these new high-paying opportunities of the knowledge-based economy will do a lot to bridge the economic gap, while saving these companies money on office space and salaries.
- Create Infrastructure Programs – With the increase in remote work, our national technology network will need to be revamped to provide everyone with affordable, reliable, high-speed access to the internet. An infrastructure program that builds this network will provide jobs, some ongoing. This program can be expanded to roads, bridges and other elements of our crumbling infrastructure. In addition, the federal government can further expand this program to build sustainable energy farms, increasing the rate at which we convert to renewable energy, and again further integrating rural America into our modern growing economy.
- Pass Universal Basic Income (UBI) – Most people prefer to work and earn a living, rather than get free money. However, as we transition from the old economy to a new one, we must ensure that individuals don’t fall between the cracks. A UBI ensures that everyone can survive, and even thrive. It has many high-profile supporters in Silicon Valley, including entrepreneurs like Andrew Yang who have seen their startups, in combination with automation and outsourcing, dramatically reduced the number of jobs in the economy.
This trend is going to continue. In the not-too-distant-future we’re going to see an increase in drones and driverless cars, so taxi and delivery jobs for Amazon, Uber, Lyft, Grubhub, Instacart, and even tractor trailer delivery, will disappear. Cashiers will also find themselves out of jobs as the checkout process gets further automated. A UBI doesn’t just allow a person to survive, it gives them an opportunity to work on their own business without the fear of starving or going homeless. While some may choose to just live on this money, many others will use it as an opportunity to do what they love and monetize it. Some will create handmade items that they sell on Etsy. Others will become influencers and entertainers on social media. Some will even create products and new technologies in their garages.
- Abolish Lobbyists – Lobbying is nothing short of legalized bribery. If politicians need more information on a topic, they can hire non-partisan subject matter experts. Corporations and other organizations can also speak directly to politicians about their concerns. However, no money or favors should be changing hands.
- Abolish Political Parties – I know this sounds crazy. But political parties were not included in the Constitution and Washington himself warned us of their dangers. One potential solution that’s been discussed is publicly funded elections, with each candidate receiving equal government funding. This eliminates the conscious or subconscious desire of politicians to serve those that donate to them. It also allows independent candidates to run, without the backing of a party. That being said, there are other solutions that can and should be discussed.
On the individual-level …
- Build Bridges – Understand your neighbors, friends and family who have different political opinions. What are their concerns? What keeps them up at night? None of us are evil, we just have different priorities and needs. Let’s respect those differences and maybe even work together to create innovative ways for everyone to get what they want.
- Call Your Elected Officials - Tell them about the governmental policies you want to see enacted (abolition of lobbyists, abolition of political parties, creation of jobs programs, creation of infrastructure programs, and passing of a universal basic income). Let them know that you expect them to represent everyone, and not just in their rhetoric. Share innovative ideas you and your friends have developed to ensure that everyone’s interests are represented.
- Get Politically Active – Of course vote, but also join and even found your own groups to promote the changes you want to see in this country. Politicians and the media have shared their vision for America, one that tears us apart and doesn’t offer solutions. It’s time for us to stand up and take steps to create a future where all Americans feel respected and hopeful.
As I said, I hope this starts an important conversation. Please share your thoughts below.

domain: sociology


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I was reading the Livesay’s blog yesterday and Tara had a great post that included an article that struck something.
I really like what the article says about becoming and expat. After my first visit to Haiti I started to think that everyone should at least visit a developing country, just to realize that living in North America is not what the rest of the world lives in – it is the exception, no matter what we try to tell ourselves. Most people in the world do not live in big houses (heck, even the smallest houses in North America are mansions for most people in the developing world), they do not have 2 cars to drive (most don’t even have one) and the government is corrupt or non-functioning by our standards.
I loved what Tara said about being blessed to live here because living here does give us the opportunity to learn about ourselves in ways that living in cushy Canada wouldn’t allow us. I think of all the times that I’ve been an emotional mess since I first got on that plane and I feel grateful for them because I know that those have been the moments where God is turning me inside out and showing me things about myself and the person that he’s made me to be in ways that I would never get to see if I was living in Canada. And trust me, there have been many.
I feel blessed when I get past the frustrations of working and living in the same place and realize that Chris and I have been given a gift that most married couples never get – the opportunity to see and work and love each other through the day. We get to work side by side and learn how to do that well, because some days that’s really hard to do. We get time together that most people only dream about, and after almost a year of being in each others faces 24/7 we still like each other and look forward to that. I often wonder what our marriage will be like 10, 20, 30, 40 years from now. We have had an opportunity right from day one to build a foundation that will be strong enough to get through the toughest times. That’s nothing to scoff at.
I think about what it will be like to raise a family here if this is still where God has us when that time comes. I know that it will be incredibly challenging because I already see things that I wish my future kids would have an opportunity to do, but won’t because of where we are. At the same time I realize all of the things that will make their lives rich because of where we are and feel grateful for those. I already look forward to all the time we’ll have together as a family living here. We’ll get to be so much more involved in their lives here than we would back in North America where we would probably both be working just to keep food on the table. A friend of mine paid us a huge compliment last night in an email when he said, “I’m looking forward to the day when you two start a family because I think that if anyone could raise kids well living in what you’re living in it’s the two of you.” Wow about that.
Yesterday we had a missionary meeting and talked about our calling to be here. It was great to hear how God specifically called our group here. Each way was personal and so completely different from the next, but we are all here because this is where He wanted us. We are the people that he has chosen for today to be here to do His work in this place. Sometimes how that is done is very clear and others it is not. Some days are frustrating and others are not. Some days we are here to reach the people, and others we are here for God to reach us. We are learning constantly what it means to be shaped. Some days that whole process makes sense and others make me want to run and hide.
I also liked what the article said about realizing that you can’t become native. I believe that’s true. I am not Haitian, and never will be. I was born and raised in Canadian culture and that can’t and shouldn’t be removed from who I am. I can’t ever be Haitian, but I can learn how to be a Canadian living in Haiti. I think living in another country has given me more tolerance for people and an understanding of just how difficult it is to pick up your life, everything that you have ever known, and to try and make that work in a completely different place. A person must essentially start all over again, while still trying to hold on to who they are. I have felt racism here in a way that I never have before. There are times where people are excited to meet us because we’re Canadians, and others where all we hear is, “White! Go back to your country!” Learning to let stuff roll of when needed is a gift.
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of the this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are…”
When I wonder why God picked people like us to be here He reminds me that it’s not because we’ve got it all figured out and that we have the ability to be super missionaries. It’s because we have nothing figured out and aren’t what most people think missionaries should be – we are the foolish learning how to be wise. The best we can do everyday is be willing and realize that we really are blessed to be chosen and trusted with the work He has for us, with the things He wants to teach us. We don’t have the same distractions around us that make it harder to find Him in the day to day stuff that we would back in North America. For that I’m truly grateful.
The King James translation for “foolish” is to be a block head. So here we are, just a bunch of block heads for Jesus.


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Michael Doheny (Science Librarian)
090 6471825 / 0906483030
Also general queries:
Library Office Telephone: 090 64 68210 We are happy to assist you during the hours when the library is open.
Welcome to the AIT library guide which will help you find information about and links to the library's key resources in Audiology. Use the menu tabs above to access these.

domain: library


DO YOU have any memories of the Jacaranda that you'd like to share with University of Huddersfield music journalism students Chynna Sampson and Natalie Longworth?
They are curating an exhibition of the pub's rich history, from its opening in 1958 by former Beatles manager Allan Williams to its unexpected closure in November 2011, that will tour to Heebie Jeebies on April
Natalie Longworth said: "We're looking to get as many people as possible involved. If
you have any images, stories or memorabilia that you'd like to share with us, then we
want to hear from you."
"We're delighted to be putting on this exhibition," says Chynna Sampson, one of the
event organisers. "We're both passionate about music and this felt like something
quite natural to do as we've both spent a lot of time in Liverpool, so it's a venue we're
interested in learning more about."
He will lead a team of six members of staff with one of his first tasks being to appoint a deputy director and programme co-ordinator.
Fusi Lorenzo curated the Liverpool Biennial's 2010 and 2012 exhibitions, entitled Touched and The Unexpected Guest.
Last year, he also curated a suite of three retrospective exhibitions for the Galleria Civica di Modena in Italy, bringing together the work of Peter Hujar, Mark Morrisroe and Jack Smith under the collective title Changing Difference: Queer Politics and Shifting Identities.
YOUNG actors, singers and dancers are needed for LHK Productions Ltd's productionoof the US Smash Hit High School Musical at the Epstein Theatre.
Producer Lee Kelly says; "I am really excited to be producing this fantastic show in Liverpool this year and of course to be at the amazing Epstein Theatre. I know the talent the North West has to give so I'm look forward to seeing the very best to complete this cast."
Auditions will be held at the Epstein Theatre, Hanover St, on Sunday February 3, at 12pm.
Click here for more information
VIOLINIST Daniel Hope is launching his new album Spheres with a concert at World Museum Liverpool at 2.30pm on February 5.
Spheres is an anthology of music composed around the scientific concept of Musica Universalis - the idea of planetary movement creating sound. The album features canonical classical composers, such as JS Bach, alongside more popular composers including Ludovico Einaudi and Arvo Pärt.
As the concert is being held in a museum it will also include educational elements and will be followed by a Q&A.
The ceremony will take place at Leaf on Bold Street on April 19, where the shortlisted artists are expected to perform - with the winner collecting £1,000 in prize money on the night.
To enter this year's prize, musicians should send four tracks to email@example.com or post to Peter Guy, The GIT Award, Liverpool Post, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB.
The judges are:
Johnny Collins, who joined popular Liverpool radio station Juice FM in 2008 and is Deputy Programme Controller. He presents the 'late show', and compiles the playlists for the station as a whole.
To confirm the funding, the organisation must now submit plans at a detailed stage of design and development, which will be assessed against ACE's Stage Two funding criteria.
In Spring 2012, ACE awarded seed funding of £634,000 to enable Liverpool Philharmonic to appoint architects Caruso St. John to lead a design team in the first steps towards a major refurbishment of the Grade II*-listed 1939 venue.
ACE has proposed investment of up to £7.5 million towards the refurbishment - the largest amongst the successful Stage Two applicants announced by ACE today. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has set an ambition for the refurbishment project of up to £12m.
I WENT on a tour of Central Library earlier this week to see how its redevelopment is getting on, and was very impressed by what I saw.
You can read the piece I wrote about it for the Liverpool Post here, but here are some facts about the redevelopment that didn't make it into the online version of the story: The photographs are by Colin Lane.
Nearly 200 people worked on the development at its peak, of which 43% were from Merseyside.
More than 4,000 reconstituted stone and rain screen cladding tiles were used to clad the East and West facades of the repository.
53 popular writers with ties to Liverpool are listed on a 20m granite panel on the North facade.
3 million items are contained in the library's archive and a further 1 million items will be on display.
THE Dinner author Herman Koch will star in the High Impact festival - touring six top writers from the Low Countries to six cities for six nights of readings and debates - when it calls into Liverpool next week.
All featured authors are all prizewinners and best-sellers back home in Belgium and the Netherlands, and all write in Dutch.
Lieve Joris:whose journalism and non-fiction books on Africa, China, the Middle East & Europe have earned her the reputation as the vS Naipaul or Ryszard Kapuscinski
of the Low Countries. Author of the acclaimed The Rebels' Hour (ATLANTIC, 2008)
Herman Koch: Former actor and comedian,
best-selling novelist - in the Netherlands and round the world - of the The Dinner (ATLANTIC, 2012)
TATE Liverpool is having a January sale this weekend, with all tickets to iits Tracing the Century: Drawing as a Catalyst for Change exhibition priced just £1.
The ticket offer is valid this Saturday and Sunday (January 12 and 13) and £1 tickets can be purchased from the gallery on the day - they are not available to pre-book online or on the phone.
Sunday is also the last chance to see Sky Arts Ignition: Doug Aitken - The Source, created for the Liverpool Biennial.
Above picture: William Orpen, Anatomical Study, Male Torso c.1906, Chalk on paper, 1120 x 803 mm, Tate, 2012
Directed by Spike's artistic director Mark Smith, the devised play will be scripted by Robert Farquhar while Spymonkey's Toby Park will co-direct and compose music for the piece.
Sink or Swim opens at the Liverpool Playhouse Studio from February 18-23 prior to a national tour.
Taking inspiration from tales of the 18th century 'bedlam ships' the company will tour to venues in both the North West and South East of England on the show's maiden voyage with support from new venue partners Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and The Lowry.


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Finally, as for the release date for “demon slayer: Showing all 38 items jump to:
Mugen train” (also called “kimetsu no yaiba the movie:
Kimetsu no yaiba movie release date. Demon slayer movie release date confirmed for 2020 in kimetsu no yaiba movie trailer mon oct 21, 2019 at 9:17am et thu may 07, 2020 at 9:17 am edt by patrick frye Kimetsu no yaiba the movie: Demon slayer kimetsu no yaiba season 2 release date:
Uniqlo is launching their own line of demon slayer. This movie was the demon slayer kimetsu no yaiba: Mugen train is coming to southeast asia.
Kimetsu no yaiba movie was confirmed to be in production immediately following the. And what is the plot. If i had to speculate, it will not be released until late in 2021.
Kimetsu no yaiba the movie. Kimetsu no yaiba latest updates of the movie The dub cast is directed by steve.
‘demon slayer season 2’ to premiere after movie! Kimetsu no yaiba season 2 is one of the best anime of the year, the demon slayer movie has been confirmed to be coming out in 2020. So the second season will most likely start from where the 1 season ends.
A collected gaiden tankōbon volume will be released on december 4, 2020. Mugen train (2020) full movie watch online free dailymotion [#demon slayer: Following the recent announcement last month of the planned release date for the demon slayer movie, odex has just released a new update on the movie’s release date in southeast asia.
Canada (french title) demon slayer: Kimetsu no yaiba season 2 following the big success of its first season that made its debut on tv in april 2019. By jeremy winslow on july 3,.
The official release date of the movie is still to be announced by the studio. Kimetsu no yaiba mugen train is an upcoming anime movie which is handled by the same studio. Mugen train released a new trailer.
We can expect some clear news by ufotable studio by the mid or end of march 2020. A rengoku volume 0 manga volume was given to the demon slayer: Demon slayer kimetsu no yaiba season 2 will be released on october 16 2020 this is because the next arc of demon slayer kimetsu no yaiba will be coming as a movie which is titled demon slayer kimetsu no yaiba.
Who is in the cast? Demon slayer movie release date confirmed for 2020 in kimetsu no yaiba movie trailer mon oct 21 2019 at 9 17am et thu may 07 2020 at 9 17 am edt by patrick frye leave a comment. Kimetsu no yaiba season 2 when will it release?
Kimetsu no yaiba's upcoming film, which is an adaptation of the manga's infinity train arc. Mugen train was finally released, and with it, the release date of. A new theme song titled “homura” by lisa also debuted in the trailer.
As the kimetsu no yaiba movie is coming up next year, we can expect season 2 to be released somewhere in the year 2021 at the earliest because studio ufotable only does one big project every year and this time it will be the movie. During a special program on abematv on april 10, the first trailer and full visual of demon slayer: Kimetsu no yaiba season 2 is likely to be announced during the end credits of the upcoming demon slayer movie which premieres in japan on october 16 2020 keep in mind that tokyo.
Infinity train at new york comic con 2020, and. Kimetsu no yaiba the movie: Mugen train will release six months after the japanese premiere most likely in may or june 2021.
The trailer, which you can see below, shows tanjiro kamado, inosuke hashibira and zenitsu agatsuma aboard the infinite train, which made its debut at the end of season 1. Film to adapt the infinity train story arc a demon slayer: Mugen train is coming to southeast asia.
Kimetsu no yaiba is a phenomenon like few others, and it will revisit fans soon enough. According to odex, the demon slayer: Infinity train”) is set to pick up directly from where the first season left off in 2019 as it acts as.
Kimetsu no yaiba the movie will release in the philippines odex has announced that it is planning to have the general release of demon slayer. The productions say that the movie will soon be released. Kimetsu no yaiba” season 2, there are predictions that it will be out by either the spring or summer of 2021.
3 8 2020 kimetsu no yaiba the movie. Mugen train full movie online free? The new season may be announced after the cinematic release of the mugen train movie on october 16, 2020.
The anime movie is set to release in japanese theatres on october 16, 2020. Mugen train theatergoers on october 16, 2020. Release dates (20) also known as (aka) (18) release dates italy 16 october 2020 (internet) japan.
There has been no official news or confirmation coming from the studio yet but considering the success of season 1, the studio may decide to air the kimetsu no yaiba movie by spring 2020 and then kimetsu no yaiba demon slayer season 2 will take on from there. Canada (english title) kimetsu no yaiba the movie: The english dub of demon slayer also started coming out this october.
“kimetsu no yaiba the movie: Kimetsu no yaiba has officially put the cap on its original japanese language run and its english dub release as part of adult swim's toonami block, it's time for the anime to set its sights on home video. January 8, 2020 5:56 am.
Based on that schedule, demon slayer season 2 would be pushed out to 2021. Therefore the only way left is to wait for demon slayer: Demon slayer season 2 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated installments of the year, yet kimetsu no yaiba season 2 is not releasing anytime soon.
No official release date has been confirmed as of yet as the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus. Kimetsu no yaiba the movie: Chris han of funimation and anthony foronda of aniplex of america talked demon slayer:
Demon slayer movie release date set for october 2020: Kimetsu no yaiba season 2 for anime is not under production as of yet. 24 2020 10 51 am edt.
Kimetsu no yaiba the movie. The major love which all the fans are showing and buzzing for season 2 is so high. Fans will have to wait for long to watch more episodes of the crazy anime adaptation.
Mugen train aka demon slayer: Kimetsu no yaiba the movie: A new trailer has been released for demon slayer:

domain: entertainment


text:
Okay, our latest treasure hunt is totally awesome! It is more of a hybrid between a treasure hunt and an escape room game.
More than just riddles, this pirate treasure hunt requires kids to solve 5 puzzles (4 clues and a final decoder).
Send your kids on a true pirate adventure with this puzzle-solving treasure hunt. Click here to buy the printable treasure hunt.
Kids figure out rhyming riddles, collect "gold coins," and solve a series of puzzle tasks that take them to various places around the house.
Some of the puzzles are tricky because we want to promote grit-building skills!
We've made this easy for you to print and set-up for your kids. Sit back, enjoy some coffee, and savor your free time as your kid works hard to find the treasure.
Want to try some of our Free printable treasure hunts?
Signup to get these free treasure hunts below.
Here is how it works:
We have printable directions that tell you exactly where to hide all the clues.
After we hid all the clues, we gave our son the Pirate Riddle to help him find the first clue and "gold coin."
After solving the riddle, he realized he needed to look in the mailbox for the next clue. Here he found Clue #1 and the Gold Coin with the "L."
Brew had to follow the mixed up arrows to place the letters in the correct order. That is when he found where to look for his next clue: "In a bedroom drawer."
The next clue (along with Gold Coin "K") is hidden in a bedroom drawer.
After counting the mixed up pirate images, solving the math, and using the decoder key, the next puzzle revealed: "Check out the car."
Now, off to the car to find the next clue. Clue #3 and Gold Coin "A" are hidden on or in a car.
Upon finding the way through the maze, kids put the letters together to spell: "toaster."
Clue #4 and Gold Coin "P" are hidden near the toaster.
After kids read the riddles, they learn they need to turn the paper over to read the final riddle on the back. The riddle on the back reveals where the decoder Pirate Key is hidden, so they can solve the puzzle.
Now kids must figure out they need to add letters to the pirate key and solve Clue #4. Once they decode the message, it reads: "Look in a cupboard."
The final decoder is hidden in a cupboard.
The kids must use all their gold coins arranged to spell "PLANK" to find the final message: "DRYER."
This final message reveals the location of the final treasure!
We created this treasure hunt to encourage our son to practice his problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Even though some of the puzzles might be challenging, let your child struggle a bit to solve them. Here are some tips to support problem-solving skills in your child. The desire to find a hidden treasure motivates him to persevere and work extra hard to solve the puzzles.
Your child will have a blast playing this adventure game!
Want more Treasure Hunts? We've got them!
Learning Escape Room Game Kits for kids:
Check out our educational escape room games and our lockbox game kit! Kids love the thrill of solving math, reading, and logic puzzles to get codes to unlock a final treasure. Make learning an exciting adventure!
Escape boredom. Unlock learning.

domain: game


Golden Retriever Kid’s Leggings by Treaja® | Mint Christmas Dog Lover Leggings for Kids
These Golden Retriever kids leggings would make a nice Christmas outfit for Golden Retriever lovers. These kid’s leggings are super stretchy and soft with a breathable material, which makes them good for active kiddos. These leggings have a great feel and texture. The fabric is 82% polyester, 18% spandex, which is printed, cut, and hand-sewn. Stitching is clean and solid. The matte finish and the crisp and vibrant print makes them stand out from other leggings.
Please note that contact with rough surfaces and sticky fasteners should be avoided since they can pull out the white fibers in the fabric, damaging the leggings’ appearance.
Size ChartSize guide
|Height (inches)||36 ¼||38 ⅝||41||43 ¼||45 ⅝||48||50 ⅜|
|Waist (inches)||20 ⅛||20 ⅝||21 ¼||21 ⅝||22||22 ½||22 ⅞|


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Join us for the 2013 Celebration of Scholarship!May 15, 2013, 1:30-3:30pm
John F. Kennedy University
100 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA
Submissions accepted until
April 15, 2013**
Each year, JFK University honors faculty, students, alumni and staff who have made a scholarly, creative, or service contribution in their field. The seventh annual Celebration of Scholarship is coming up May 15, 2013 from 1:30-3:30pm on the Pleasant Hill Campus. We'll honor selected JFK University community members at a dessert reception with a certificate of recognition. Additionally, the list of contributions will be available at the celebration and on the JFK University Libraries website. Works owned by the Libraries will be on display at the Robert M. Fisher Library. Full submission guidelines are available in our call for submissions.
Contact Stephanie Roach with questions.
*There has been a room change. The event will now be held in room S312.
**The link to the submission form has been removed, as the submission period ended April 15, 2013.


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Stress: we all experience it and have different coping mechanisms. Stress and anxiety interfere with your immune system, making you susceptible to illnesses like the flu.
Chronic stress encourages infection and inflammation, which increases your risk of allergies, autoimmune diseases, hormonal disruption, heart disease and weight gain. According to the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, the more stress in a woman’s life, the greater her weight. Chronic stress makes you more vulnerable to cancer, diabetes and inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis.
According to a 2006 study presented at the 114th Annual Convention of the APA, people with chronic stress are more likely to suffer from age-related diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, major depression, mental decline, osteoporosis and metabolic syndrome.
Although stress is life and life is stress, you must be able to manage the stressors that will inevitably occur in your life. Here are some of my “Winning Formula Stress Busters:”
• Breathe: this is the foundation to de-stress and heal. Allow yourself five minutes in the morning and evening to focus on deep, belly breathing versus chest breathing. Empty your mind of your day-to-day activities and focus on a one- or five-word phrase you like and repeat it over and over again, or surrender into the silence. Studies show that this lowers blood pressure, releases healing hormones into your body, increases creativity, increases productivity and increases your ability to handle stressful situations. Profound health benefits!
• Moderate exercise: aside from strengthening your heart and lungs (two organs that can become physically affected from too much stress), exercise is great for your mental health, too. Exercising increases the levels of endorphins in your body, which stimulate your immune system, reduce stress and put you in a better mood.
Don’t overdo it though! Include daily exercise lasting 30 to 60 minutes such as weight training, yoga, Tai Chi, qi gong, rebounder (mini trampoline) and walking are ideal options. You must be healthy, nourished with wholesome foods and well-rested with balanced hormones to benefit and recover properly from more intense exercise. Working out too hard without addressing these other important variables may compromise your immune system and endocrine/hormonal system.
• Restful Sleep: the fountain of youth. When we sleep, the stress hormone cortisol is lowered, but when we are sleep deprived cortisol levels rise. Lights out by 10 p.m. According to the NIH (National Institutes of Health), the physical body repairs between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. The mind/emotional/spiritual body repairs between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m.
Turn off all communication devices at a set time each night: this includes your cell phone, computer and fax. Remove electronic devices from your sleeping area to eliminate electromagnetic stress.
• Get rid of clutter: clutter will make your life feel more complicated than it needs to, while a clutter-free space is one where you can truly feel at peace.
• Wholesome nutrition and hydration: providing your body with the nutrients and water it needs is vital to reducing stress (and staying healthy). Stress can actually deplete your body of nutrients. Make sure to include smaller, more frequent meals of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and enough protein. These foods contain stress-reducing vitamins such as magnesium, calcium, vitamins C and E, folic acid and B-complex. Our bodies require more protein when we’re stressed.
Avoid all sugar, white flour products and processed, junk foods that cause more stress and damage to your body. Doing so will help regulate your insulin levels. When blood sugar drops, adrenaline is released to compensate, which increases anxiety.
Drink a minimum of half your weight in ounces of water daily. Add a pinch of unprocessed sea salt or Himalayan salt to your water. Many people are chronically dehydrated, which may reveal as dry skin, brittle bones and hunger that is actually thirst and even depleted brain chemistry (neurotransmitters function in water). Hydrate properly. Eat mindfully, chew your food and enjoy your meals.
• Relax with water: water has been used since the dawn of humankind for reduction of stress. We are composed mostly of water; we were created in our mother’s womb in water. Water is our connection to life itself. Take long, warm showers or a relaxing bath. Schedule a regular time to soak in the tub. Aromatherapy is very powerful for relaxation. Pick soaps and bath salts with the most relaxing smell to you. Light candles around the tub. This is one of the most powerful ways to relax and come home to your mind, body and soul.
• Build strong friendships/relationships: stress can lead to feelings of depression and even isolation. Keep a network of social ties. Surround yourself with like-minded people who make you feel good. Decide who and what is most important to you. Center your life around those people and items. Resign from any and all organizations and commitments that are not fulfilling to you. It’s OK to say “no” to invitations and events you really don’t want to attend.
The Stress Institute’s founder, Dr. Kathleen Hall states: “Friendships are strong indicators of mental, physical and spiritual health. Friendship is not a luxury, but is essential to work-life balance and your health. Studies show that isolation decreases immune functioning and increases mortality risk.”
Consider supplements to take the edge off and balance neurotransmittors: Kava, St. John’s wort, 5-HTP, Biotics DeStress formula, Biotics VHP (a blend of Valerian, Hops and Passion Flower).
• Listen to your heart: turn off your brain and get quiet with yourself. Listen to the voice of your heart. Connect with and nourish your spirit.
• Be charitable: charitable acts have been shown to decrease stress, improve quality of life and increase lifespan for the giver, while a person who receives, but does not practice charity, doesn’t experience the same benefit. Dr. Hans Selye, the Canadian endocrinologist who developed the current model of stress and how it affects living systems, promoted altruism for its direct effect on decreasing stress and improving health. He proposed that “egoistic altruism” is natural law of the biological advantage of cooperation and collaboration between cells, individuals, groups, communities and societies.
Dr. Kathleen Hall, a world-renowned expert in stress and founder of The Stress Institute, says that “altruism creates a physiological responses or ‘helpers high’ that makes people feel stronger and more energetic and counters harmful effects of stress.”
• Attitude of gratitude: every night I pull out my gratitude log and write five to 10 things, events or people I am grateful for. Feels good! Studies tell us daily gratitude exercises result in higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy.
• Laughter: it releases endorphins, your body’s natural pain killer. Laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones and boosts your immune function.
Tis the Season ~ have a healthy and stress-free holiday.
Ahwatukee Foothills resident Paula Owens is a nutritionist, fitness and weight loss expert, and the author of THE POWER OF 4 – Your Ultimate Guide Guaranteed to Change Your Body and Transform Your Life. Visit www.PaulaOwens.com.

domain: medical


text:
November 5, 2016
1 - There are no lawn grasses totally immune to infestation by white grubs, but some grasses may be somewhat more resistant than other grasses.
Yard and Garden November 5, 2016
After having our lawn destroyed by grubs three different years (in spite of treating with recommended products at the correct times of year), I am wondering if there are any turf varieties that grubs do not attack?
I will be re-doing the backyard and am debating between putting in a lawn or just going with gravel / rock. I would really prefer to have some grass, but simply cannot keep replacing it.
I am hoping that there is some type of grass that these nasty critters do not like.
Any suggestions you might have will be greatly appreciated.
- Marilyn B.
My first thought was that there will be no grasses resistant to white grub infestation, but checked the internet. The results almost confirmed my first thoughts that there was nothing resistant, but I found an article mentioning that zoysiagrass was somewhat resistant. Please not that "resistant" does not mean totally "immune" only that they are resistant compared to other grasses. Further research found a research article suggesting that they are somewhat tougher grasses and contain more silica than other grasses (something that I have heard for many years as a problem with dulling mower blades). This may explain their resistance, but it definitely does not guarantee immunity to grub problems.
I contacted Dr. Bernd Leinauer, NMSU Extension Service Turfgrass Specialist, to see if he had additional information from his research here in New Mexico.
Dr. Leinauer replied "I am unaware of a grass that is outright resistant to white grubs. I can only say that based on our observations and experience, cool-season grasses (particularly tall fescue) are generally more affected than warm-season grasses (bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, inland saltgrass). However, we did have a bad case of grub damage on buffalograss a few years ago. I also heard that zoysiagrass is somewhat more tolerant to white grubs than other grasses but I have no scientific data for this. I can only say that we have never had grubs in our zoysia plots at the research farm." He directed me to an article he wrote with Dr. Carol Sutherland, NMSU Extension Service Entomologist - "Dr. Sutherland and I wrote a News You Can Use on white grubs 2 years ago. This is a good article to read about white grubs in lawns."
Marisa Y. Thompson, PhD, is the Extension Horticulture Specialist, in the Department of Extension Plant Sciences at the New Mexico State University Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center, email: firstname.lastname@example.org, office: 505-865-7340, ext. 113.
For more gardening information, visit the NMSU Extension Horticulture page at Desert Blooms.
Please copy your County Extension Agent and indicate your county of residence when you submit your question!

domain: agronomy


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Dynamic leg muscle power is an independent determinant of pain and quality of life in knee osteoarthritis (OA), and it appears to outperform muscle strength as a measure of muscle performance, according to researchers from Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center, Boston.
Skeletal muscle power, distinct from muscle strength, is defined as the product of dynamic muscular force and muscle contraction velocity. Compared with muscle strength, lower extremity muscle power is a better predictor of performance on tasks such as walking, rising from a chair, or climbing a flight of stairs.
“Compared to traditional measurements of muscle strength, our findings emphasize that muscle power is a more clinically important measure of muscle performance in knee OA,” the investigators wrote online in Arthritis and Rheumatology.
Data from 190 patients with knee OA also suggest that “individuals with established knee OA have substantial and accelerated impairments in muscle power,” they added.
“Indeed, the muscle power values in the present study are equivalent to levels generated in a specific group of mobility-limited older adults with a mean age of approximately 80 years.”
The findings also raise the possibility that training interventions specifically designed to improve muscle power may improve performance, pain, and quality of life in patients with knee OA, and merits investigation.
The investigators, led by Kieran F. Reid, PhD, MPH, analyzed baseline data of 190 adults with knee OA who participated in a randomized, controlled trial of tai chi versus physical therapy. Knee pain was measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale, which scores pain on a scale of 0 to 55, with higher scores indicating more severe disease.
Quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Scores on each of the eight domains of the SF-36 were combined to obtain a physical component summary score and a mental component summary score.
Leg extensor muscle strength was measured via bilateral leg press, using a one-repetition maximum through a full range of motion. After a 5-minute rest period, peak power was measured as power output and contraction velocity during five bilateral leg press repetitions at 40% and 70% of the one-repetition maximum.
WOMAC pain was significantly and inversely associated with all measures of muscle strength, peak muscle power, and peak contraction velocity. In univariate analysis, greater peak muscle power at both 40% (low external resistance) and 70% (high external resistance) of the one-repetition maximum was significantly and negatively associated with WOMAC pain (r=-0.17, P≤ 0.05), and was significantly and positively associated with the SF-36 physical component score (r= 0.16, P≤0.05).
In separate multiple regression analyses, peak muscle power evaluated at high external resistance and peak contraction velocity measured at low external resistance were significantly and independently associated with WOMAC pain (all P≤0.05). Muscle strength, however, was not significantly associated with WOMAC pain (P=0.13).
Peak muscle power evaluated at both low and high external resistances were significant independent predictors of the SF-36 physical component score (P=0.04 and P=0.003, respectively).
Muscle power training at higher external resistances should be examined in knee OA, according to the investigators, “since an intervention of high intensity power training may portend greater reductions in disease severity or comparatively greater improvements in physical functioning, compared to low resistance power training.”
Two small pilot studies have demonstrated that low resistance power training (training performed at 40% of one-repetition maximum) improves muscle power, pain, and function in patients with knee OA. “However, additional, larger-scale randomized controlled trials of resistance training interventions to improve lower extremity muscle power across a variety of training intensities, and their subsequent impact on pain, quality of life, and functional outcomes in knee OA, are necessary,” the authors wrote.
Study limitations include the cross-sectional nature of the analysis and the lack of accounting for knee alignment (and other individual differences) that might contribute to variability in the relationship between disease severity and muscle performance. In addition, the influence of well-established risk factors for knee OA, such as adipose mass, were not assessed.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, and the Boston Rehabilitation Outcomes Center.
The authors disclosed no financial relationships.
Reference: Reid K, et al “Muscle power is an independent determinant of pain and quality of life in knee osteoarthritis” Arthritis Rheum 2015; DOI: 10.1002/art.39336.

domain: biology


text: *Selected for 2022 previews by the Observer, the Guardian, the Daily Mail, & the Irish Times* ‘Intriguingly strange’ The Bookseller, Editor’s ChoiceIn a single moment, in every part of the world, every person with an Y chromosome vanishes: lovers, children, parents – even foetuses from the womb. Jane Pearson wakes on a mountainside the next morning to find her husband and son missing from their tent. Frantic and grieving, she sets out to find the one person she thinks can help – Evangelyne Moreau, the brilliant, charismatic leader of the Commensalist Party of America, whose heart she broke many years before. While Jane searches for those she has lost, a radically different society emerges, one that seems – at first – to be suddenly, blissfully safer than what came before. And then The Men appears online: uncanny video footage that shows the missing being herded through bizarre, otherworldly landscapes. Is it a hoax, or could The Men hold the key to bringing back those who were lost? And if so, what might be the cost? From the author of The Heavens, The Men is a gripping, beautiful, and disquieting novel of impossible sacrifices that asks: what might we be prepared to give up to create a better world?

domain: artistic