Thursday 29 October 2020

News Review (Editor's Choice) BBC

 

Is the future of travel underwater?

“Underwater tourism is opening the ocean up to travellers, offering them the chance to see the marine world that covers 70% of our planet.



                                                                                                                   Credit: Matiaz Slanic/Getty Images


The ocean is a saltwater body covering 70% of the globe's home to millions of plants and fish. It accounts for around 97% of our water supply, and we depend on it for our survival. Yet despite regular discoveries, still much remains unknown to us about this extraordinary and spectacular under world.

Around 80% of the ocean remains unchartered - unmapped and unexplored.

Is this about to change? ‘Small baby steps and a shift in thinking.’

Sunday 25 October 2020

Learning the Tarot Cards: VIII - Strength

 


The Major Arcana Deck: Strength


Number VIII 
Infinity, rhythm, balance
Justice, perfect intelligence
Peace, understanding, strength, and regeneration
Health and wealth

Arcana
Major deck (signals cycle in life and represents key time)

Element
Fire

Planet
The Sun

Card Meaning
Inner strength, discipline -control, compassion, endurance, persistence
Poise, benevolence, tolerance, discretion
Well balanced body and mind - Rhythm, balance, peace (mental and physical, strength, health)
Steadiness, Achievement

Thursday 22 October 2020

News Review (Editor's Choice) Smithsonian and BBC


“Ancient Egyptian Coffin
Opened for the First Time in 2,600 Years”

“The sarcophagus is one of 59 unearthed at the Saqqara necropolis in recent months.”


                                                                                                            Photo by Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt has long been a popular subject that has captivated us for centuries


I never seem to tire of hearing about this land's past wealth and the achievements of its ancient civilization.

Continuing not to disappoint us, once again, Egypt holds her arms wide open to bear more.

Smithsonian magazine reports on the latest discovery, “On Saturday, October 3, archaeologists from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities opened a sealed, roughly 2,600-year-old sarcophagus as a crowd of onlookers watched in anticipation. Lifting the lid, the researchers revealed a mummy wrapped in ornate burial linen; more than two millennia after the individual’s interment, the cloth’s inscriptions and colorful designs remained intact.”

Scheduled to open in Giza in 2021, the anticipated great Egyptian Museum will host the sarcophagi and many other splendid findings.

But a small part of the story of the Saqqara necropolis and its bounty. 

Read more https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-over-50-well-preserved-coffins-egypt-180976049

Credit story By Isis Davis-Marks,  SMITHSONIANMAG.COM, OCTOBER 13, 2020. Photo by Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images.

About Isis Davis-Marks
Isis Davis-Marks is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. Her work has also appeared in Artsy, the Columbia Journal, and elsewhere. Website: isisdavismarks.com
Read more from this author | Follow @IsisDavisMarks




“The Private Language of Venice”


                                                                                                                      Credit: Mint Images/Getty Images


Venice loved, adored, and a mirage of our fantasy and imagination


I don’t know about you, but when I think of Venice, it conjures up a myriad of thoughts and emotions. What comes to mind is romance, beauty, promiscuity, opulence, Venetian masks, lavish balls, gondola’s, guarded privacy (exclusivity), and mystery (including even a dark side, the perfect place to commit murder).

But there is so much more to beloved Venice.

BBC Travel reports, a beautiful story written by Robert Landon, removes much of the enigma attached to this small city surrounded by water.

‘A titbit to whet your appetite.’

“Although many travellers assume that the “authentic” Venice is long gone, the city still harbours the last remnants of a once-great civilisation, with its own language and customs.

Venetians have an uncanny ability to dodge, deflect, blend in, disappear in plain sight. Perhaps that's why so many travellers assume that “real” life in Venice was long ago trampled out of existence by hundreds of millions of tourist feet.

The truth is, the city still harbours an indigenous culture ­– the last remnant of a once-great civilisation, with its own language and customs. Yes, this way of life is endangered, but it is also very much alive. It’s just hard to detect with untrained eyes.”

Read more http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201013-the-private-language-of-venice

Credit story by Robert Langdon, BBC Travel, October 14, 2020. Image: Mint Images/Getty Images

Tuesday 20 October 2020

The Animal Kingdom - The Wolf (Part 2)

Enemy-Friend, Loved Hated



Distinguished and Exceptional


Previously in Part One, we looked at the relationship between humans and Wolves – A Brief History (our turbulent love affair) and uncovered some interesting points. One example, the Wolf plays a critical role in maintaining our ecosystem and is an integral member of the earth's biological society.

Also, 'what came out of the wash' was for centuries the Wolf was branded a symbol of devastation, destruction, and death (particularly throughout Europe). The Wolf was dangerous, a nuisance, and therefore needed to be destroyed (predominately in the US). Further, the Wolf was depicted as evil and or as a ferocious creature of ill repute.

Perhaps this was because so little was known about them at the time alongside Mans need to dominate the land?

One of the most respected yet feared animals in all of the world, yet intriguing, unique, and fascinating animals

While we have made progress and look more favourably upon the Wolf, there is still much stigma surrounding them, their ways (habits, behaviours, and so forth).

Therefore, to conclude our story, let's remove a bit more of the Enigma and or misconceptions surrounding the Wolf by shedding light on some of their central features - Key physical characteristics (i.e., qualities, mannerisms, etc.).

Thursday 15 October 2020

News Review (Editor's Choice) "CNN Answering the Call"

 

CNN call to earth





Nature and our environment mean a lot to me; if you feel the same way and haven't yet clicked on to CNN call to earth, I highly recommend checking it out.

In partnership with Rolex, CNN is committed to reporting on the environment challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Their goal is to drive awareness, action, and education around key issues, inspiring a blueprint for a more environmentally conscious life.

The site is highly entertaining and extremely informative, and the interactive videos are fabulous – exciting, and a great way to learn.

Once I logged on, I was riveted and hooked.

Here's just a little taster of what you can expect:

Tuesday 13 October 2020

Sunday 11 October 2020

Learning the Tarot Cards: VII - The Chariot

 


The Major Arcana Deck: The Chariot

Number VII
Fate, soul development and perfection
Mystery, intuition, evaluation  
Safety, security, effort, and successful completion

Arcana
Major deck (signals cycle in life and represents key time)

Element
Water

Planet
Moon

Card Meaning
Control of direction - fate, path
Will power, drive
Self-protection, security

Tuesday 6 October 2020

The Heart of Tarot: Part Two



In the Language of Tarot – A book of Symbols


Further to my previous article, 'The Heart of Tarot, the Tarot is a book of Symbols founded upon Five Archetypal Worlds: The Animal, Human Creation, Garden, Landscape and Spiritual World. These Worlds, through their symbols, communicate, carry various messages.

For example, let's take the card 'The Emperor,' the Symbols found within, such as the Eagle (Animal World), Sword, Scepter and Crown (Human Creation World), signify - convey the meaning of Spiritual Evolution, Power, Authority, Discipline, Success, etc.

As discussed, Five Cohorts support The Archetypal worlds. Their primary role is to help make the symbols come to life. To (accentuate), embellish, describe, add, reinforce their meaning, and incite emotion. Their purpose is to create a more robust attachment in us towards the symbol's message whereby we marry our senses - link our subconscious with our conscious of igniting insight (significance - the relationship of the cards meaning in our life).

The Five Cohorts are Colour, Numbers, People (images), Words, and Signs
The role the Five Cohorts play will become more evident as we discuss them in-depth below:

Sunday 4 October 2020

News Review (Editor' Choice) "Earth Calling" & "Saving The Arctic"

 

Watch The Skies


The future, around the corner

Predicted to be soaring the sky in just 15 years away


Changing the face of aviation forever, Airbus has a bold plan. A space-age airplane destined to transform the world of flying.

Christened ZEROe, protecting our environment, she's a beauty to behold (eco-friendly - hydrogen-fuelled with a streamlined shape, her 'blended wing body' gives the onlooker the impression of "flying wings" – like that of a bird). 

Is the jet engine pollution bubble about to burst? - I hope so! Destined to carry 200 passengers, could ZEROe also possibly spearhead cheaper air flights into the future? Who knows, only time will tell?Keep an eye out.

Learn more... CNN https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/airbus-zero-emissions-concept-plane/index.html “Why this space age airplane could change flying forever” (credit CNN) By Paul Silliers 3rd October 2020. An aviation journalist specializing in passenger experience and future air travel tech. Follow him at @paulsillers


Saving the Arctic



One way to combat climate change, a daring and bizarre proposal


Unconventional as it may sound, but then weirder things have worked, a new way to use Glass.
California-based non-profit Arctic Ice Project says scatter a thin layer of reflective glass powder over parts of the Arctic to protect it from the Sun's rays. 

The approach is Safe and Effective


When placing glass powder, reflective material on top of young ice during the summer months, the ice is provided with extra protection, allowing it to rebuild. Why is Glass seen to spearhead the material of choice? The settled on silica – or silicon dioxide – occurs naturally in most sand and is often used to make Glass. 

News to me, over the past decade, tests have been going on with encouraging results. 

What I do know is, vanishing rapidly through rising temperatures, the melting of sea ice has an impact far beyond the arctic. Loss in the arctic affects the globe. There is an urgency, and we must do something.

In my opinion, fantastic! Anything that saves our environment sounds good to me. If it works, think of the massive benefits for our planet, human life, and inhabitants included. Sounds good to me.

Learn more...BBC Future Planet. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200923-could-geoengineering-save-the-arctic-sea-ice?xtor=ES-213-[BBC%20Features%20Newsletter]-2020October2-[Future%7c+Button]
“The daring plan to save the Arctic ice with Glass” (credit BBC) By Katarina Zimmer 24th September 2020

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