MaryAnn Bernal's Blog, page 215

Mr. Chuckles runs into Bodicia, a top notch and prolific reviewer, while stirring the Wizard's Cauldron

The Wizard Speaks:

Bodicia runs the extremely popular A Woman's Wisdom website, where, like your second favourite Wizard, she interviews authors and people connected with Independent Publishing.

Bodicia is a top notch and prolific reviewer. Don't take my word for it - have a look at her fast developing website. https://awomanswisdom.wordpress.com/book-of-the-month-sari-caste-by-catherine-kirby/
One thing is for sure - she's funny, witty, surreal and a pleasure to get to know. Full of integrity too - I asked for my book Carla to appear on her legendary Indie Hall Of Fame, as loads of my mates are on there, and she said she would only put it on if she liked the book. Surreptitious offers of blocks and blocks of her beloved choc choc wouldn't change her mind. I love integrity like that! I caught up with Bodicia on the Wizphone as she studied in her sanctum scriptorum somewhere nameless in freezing November UK.  Here's what she had to say.

History Trivia - Cnut, king of Denmark, claims the throne of all England

November 30,

1016 Cnut, king of Denmark, claimed the throne of all England after Edmund 'Ironside', king of England, died.

1406 Gregory XII became Pope. Gregory was the last of the Roman line of popes during the Western Schism.

 1630 16,000 inhabitants of Venice died this month of plague.

1700 at the Battle of Narva, a Swedish army of 8,500 men under Charles XII defeated a much larger Russian army.

1718 Swedish king Charles XII died during a siege of the fortress Fredriksten in Norway.

Pearl Harbor Day 73rd Anniversary To Be Broadcast Live Via Webcast, December 7, 2014 - online registration required

     

On Sunday, December 7, 2014 the National Park Service and the U.S. Navy will host a joint memorial ceremony commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The ceremony will take place on the main lawn of the Pearl Harbor Visitor ...  PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Park Service and the U.S. Navy will host a joint memorial ceremony commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7, 2014 on the main lawn of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, looking directly out to the USS Arizona Memorial, at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.
 The ceremony will be attended by more than 2,500 guests, including Pearl Harbor survivors and WWII veterans, and will be broadcast live via webcast so that those who cannot travel to Hawaii can still participate and honor the sacrifices made by the "Greatest Generation." The webcast will include a special behind the scenes look at the ceremony and will feature live interviews with Pearl Harbor Survivors.
 Online registration to view the event is required. All those interested in watching are encouraged to visit the following link to sign-up: http://bit.ly/LiveBroadcastDec7
 This year's Dec. 7 ceremony will be co-hosted by Paul DePrey, Superintendent, National Park Service, WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument, and Rear Admiral Richard Williams, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific. The keynote speaker will be Gen. Lori J. Robinson, Commander, Pacific Air Forces.
 Highlights of the ceremony will include music by the Navy's U.S. Pacific Fleet Band, morning colors, a Hawaiian blessing, a cannon salute by members of the U.S. Army, wreath presentations, echo taps, and recognition of the men and women who survived the attack and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country on December 7, 1941. A moment of silence will be observed at 7:55 a.m., the exact moment the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began. A U.S. Navy ship will render honors to the USS Arizona, and a flyover will be conducted above Pearl Harbor.To read more about the USS Arizona Memorial and the 73rd anniversary commemorative ceremony, visit the Pacific Historic Parks website at www.pacifichistoricparks.org.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141125/160961
SOURCE National Park Service

PR News Wire

 

History Trivia - Edmund crowned king of England

November 29

 526 - Antioch in modern day Syria was struck by an Earthquake, about 250,000 died.

799 Pope Leo III, aided by Charles the Great, returned to Rome.

939 Edmund was crowned as king of England after the death of his half-brother Aethelstan.

1268 Clement IV died. Upon the death of Clement, no new pope was elected for almost three years.

Researchers unearth new clues about ancient ‘computer’

Researchers have unearthed new clues to an ancient Greek astronomical puzzle that has fascinated archaeologists for over a century.
The Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient machine dubbed “the world’s first computer,” was recovered from a treasure-laden shipwreck off the coast of Greece in 1901. However, the latest research by James Evans, professor of physics at the University of Puget Sound, and Christián Carman, history of science professor at the University of Quilmes, Argentina, sheds new light on the clocklike astronomical mechanism.
The study, published in the Archive for History of Exact Science, pinpoints the date when the mechanism was timed to begin as 205 B.C., making it 50 to 100 years older than previously thought.According a statement released by the University of Puget Sound, the research “fills a gap in ancient scientific history by indicating that the Greeks were able to predict eclipses and engineer a highly complex machine” much earlier than was previously thought.
Evans and Carman’s work also supports the idea that the eclipse prediction scheme was not based on Greek trigonometry (which was nonexistent in 205 B.C.) but on Babylonian arithmetical methods, the University said.
The researchers arrived at the 205 B.C. date via a method of elimination they devised. Evans and Carman examined the hundreds of ways that the device’s eclipse patterns could match Babylonian records reconstructed by John Steele, professor of Egyptology and Assyriology at Brown University.
“The calculations take into account lunar and solar anomalies (which result in faster or slower velocity), missing solar eclipses, lunar and solar eclipse­s cycles, and other astronomical phenomena,” explained the University of Puget Sound, in its statement. “The work was particularly difficult because only about a third of the Antikythera’s eclipse predictor is preserved.”
The latest research may also place the Antikythera Mechanism close to the lifetime of Archimedes, who died in 212 B.C., although experts have questioned possible links to the celebrated mathematician.
The Mechanism’s heavily encrusted fragments are kept in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

Fox News

Black Friday Special - Everville: The Rise of Mallory FREE Kindle Edition

Black Friday Special - Everville: The Rise of Mallory FREE Kindle Edition - 5 days only

  As the epic journey continues, a victorious Owen Sage stands undefeated against his enemies. His last battle in Everville gave rise to a new insidious evil, Mallory; whose determination to defeat him opens an unexplored Pandora’s box. Owen's search for truth will unveil the mystery and surprising insights surrounding himself and his friends at Easton Falls University. New creatures will be uncovered and the true value of friendship will be tested, as Owen embarks on yet another battle in Everville. Amazon Review
The Rise of Mallory     
By Jolanta DaabThis review is from: Everville: The Rise of Mallory (Kindle Edition) This is certainly the best book in the series so far. It is action-packed, we get to know a little more about the other realms and new race, the Alarians, which I really enjoyed, they are very unique. The final battle was very thrilling!
The character development in this book is also nicely done, Owen Sage and his friends feel like real persons with their own personalities and problems.
Once again the ending came too soon, so I can't wait to find out what's next for Owen, Zee, Anika and others! Amazon US Amazon UK

Diane Turner - London Rocks 28-11-2014

Diane Turner - London Rocks 28-11-2014 by Pipeline Radio International on Mixcloud

History Trivia - Bishop Adhemar of Le Puy and Count Raymond IV of Toulouse lead the First Crusade to the Holy Land

November 28

1095 On the last day of the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II appointed Bishop Adhemar of Le Puy and Count Raymond IV of Toulouse to lead the First Crusade to the Holy Land.


1291 Edward I's wife, Eleanor of Castile, died.

1503 Julius II was officially crowned pope. Born Giuliano Della Rovere, Julius was the nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, who built the Sistine Chapel. Although his relationship to Sixtus helped his early career, he was forced to flee Italy to avoid assassination attempts ordered by Rodrigo Borgia (Pope Alexander VI), and stayed in exile for ten years before Borgia's death made it possible for him to return.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a blessed Thanksgiving holiday.  I am grateful for your support and interest in my work.  God bless. Mary Ann Bernal     

History Trivia - Commodus becomes Supreme Commander of the Roman legions

November 27


176 Emperor Marcus Aurelius granted his son Commodus the rank of Imperator and made him Supreme Commander of the Roman legions. 

511 Clovis, King of the Franks (Merovingian Dynasty) died.

1095 Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade to reclaim sacred Christian sites from Islamic hands at the Council of Clermont. 

1295 the first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as "The Model Parliament".

1582 William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway.

1703 The first Eddystone Lighthouse (south west of Rame Head, UK) was destroyed in the Great Storm of 1703.