Jo Robinson's Blog, page 70
October 20, 2014
Focus on Birds: Sulphur Crested Cockatoos
Originally posted on margaret lynette sharp:
CockatoosThis week, in Australia, birds are in the news. People are urged to watch them, count their numbers, and generally acknowledge their importance in the scheme of things.
With that in mind, I thought I’d like to focus on that most engaging, comical species: Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. These are a common sight where I live, especially in the park, but also in the streets where they search out suitable trees for food. You may remember that I featured a photograph of a pair tucking into lemons on a neighbour’s tree. :)
This picture, though, was taken in their natural environment: bushland, by the river.
Enjoy!
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The most important letter ever written to the world (Please re-share)
Originally posted on Liberian Me :
Dear world
In just over six months, Ebola has managed to bring my country to a standstill. We have lost over 2,000 Liberians. Some are children struck down in the prime of their youth. Some were fathers, mothers, brothers or best friends. Many were brave health workers that risked their lives to save others, or simply offer victims comfort in their final moments…
There is no coincidence Ebola has taken hold in three fragile states – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea – all battling to overcome the effects of interconnected wars. In Liberia, our civil war ended only eleven years ago. It destroyed our public infrastructure, crushed our economy and led to an exodus of educated professionals. A country that had some 3,000 qualified doctors at the start of the war was dependent by its end on barely three dozen. In the last few years, Liberia was bouncing back. We…
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How to Write a Book Review.
Originally posted on Lit World Interviews:
How to Write a Book Review
One of my Mottos here at Lit World Interviews is ‘Read a Book, Write a Review’. Nice idea, huh? How do you write a review? Scary thought, isn’t it?
Trust me, it wasn’t easy my first time, and not my best. I was afraid I would say something wrong and perhaps dissuade someone from buying a book.
You’ve heard people talk about the KISS method of things. Keep it Simple Sweetie. For me I at times like to say Keep it Short Stupid, but stupid is like a profanity word around here and it really isn’t a nice word, but I was using it for myself. My having just explained all of that shows you WHY I use that definition at times, right?
Let’s give Keep it Simple Sweetie a shot.
But first;
Why Should You Write a Review?
The more reviews a…
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October 19, 2014
The Knights of Good Hope Battle The Dragons of Tanzania
Originally posted on gillswriting:
I love Fairy Tales and Fables and I live in a land made of them.
There are real life fairy tales going on all around me. fairy tales in a country with few books and scarcely any authors, a land where the meaning of dreams focuses on survial until tomorrow. Fairy tales where the dragons roam the street breathing the all-consuming fire of poverty, the knights fight the dragons swathed in armour made of dedication and sheer damned strength of will. The good witch battles daily to cast her spells of education over the happy, smiling and friendly ordinary folk who breed children pure and open-minded and with a longing for the succour of knowledge. A land where the inevitable little people eating ogres run amok in large castles called government. Here they control and influence the minds of those ordinary folk that are trying to do a good job. Here…
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The Sunday Show – Sarah Vernon – Actress, Artist and Writer
A wonderful surprise to see Sarah Vernon on Sally’s Sunday Show today. I’ve been following Sarah for a while, and find her artworks and her posts beautiful and interesting. Now learning more of her amazing career in acting, and more of her personal life growing up and later years, I’m impressed at how down to earth and friendly she is with all of us in the bloggerverse after all the stars that’s she’s known and worked with. Great interview Sally and Sarah!
Originally posted on Smorgasbord - Variety is the spice of life:
My guest today epitomises the meaning of creativity. An actress for over 30 years on screen and stage, Sarah Vernon is also a very talented artist and writer.
Sarah comes from a long line of sailors on her father’s side and in the more recent past a renowned theatrical family. Her father was the stage and screen actor Richard Vernon and her mother Benedicta Leigh, an actress and author.
After completing her Acting Diploma at the Sarah has worked in the theatre and television for the last 30 years. She was diagnosed with Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis in her early 20s, and whilst this might be physically restricting it has certainly not inhibited her creative process. For those of us lucky enough to have discovered her blog and websites, we have been treated to her original and elegant First Night Design creations which adorn…
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October 18, 2014
Mihran Kalaydjian Performing She Left Me Alone
Originally posted on mihran Kalaydjian:
Melody: She Left Me Alone
Lyrics: Edward Khoury & Elias Bandak
Music Arrangements: Edward Khoury
Pianist: Mihran Kalaydjian ” Mino”
Record Labels: Paramount Studios
Location: San Fransisco
She left me and left me alone, she forgot the man she loved; she hurt me and hurt my life.
She left me, she forgot the man she loved, and she hurt me and hurt my life
The love is in my heart for you
It was found there, unconditional and true,
I flutter in the seventh heavens clouds
The lands of pink roses and sugar mounds,
The key to my heart has rested there,
Bursts of heat and sticky sweat love fill the air,
My lungs filled with the scent of love,
And you giving soul lifting me above.
Is it a privilege too . . .
Ronovan tackles contentious. I don’t know about any other country, but I’ve watched the children of Africa work really hard for their educations. 12 Year olds spending their days (and weekends) working snake infested tea fields in exchange for schooling. They’re badly fed so generally hungry, always tired, and still they hang in there and study in the few waking hours they have left – not forgetting to find time for a smile or a joke too. Sense of entitlement is zero.
Originally posted on ronovanwrites:
Is it a privilege too . . .
Straight Talk with Ronovan
I’m white.
You know for some that would be enough about an article with a title about ‘privilege’. But oh no. This is me after all. Have you ever seen me end a post after only five words? Not ever. So that’s how they came up with never. Some Southern person in Southern Britain said n’ever instead of not ever and there you have it.
It’s kind of like monback here in the States. We aren’t talking about some one humped backed man, nah, we’re telling people to come on back as in when they are backing up a car, “How much farther?” “Monback.”
I just proved my whiteness. Yes. If you ever doubted before, that just did it.
Am I about to tip toe through the garden of political correctness? Is PC land the ruler of Blog…
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Writing Makes you Healthy
Originally posted on Nicholas C. Rossis:
Writing makes you healthy. Grammar, not so much.We authors may be creative cheats, but is there any good news about our profession? Actually, yes! According to research cited by Arts.Mic, the benefits of writing go far beyond building up your vocabulary.
In fact, the act of writing itself leads to strong physical and mental health benefits, like long-term improvements in mood, stress levels and depressive symptoms. Just 15 to 20 minutes of writing three to five times over the course of the four-month study was enough to make a difference.
By writing about traumatic, stressful or emotional events, participants were significantly more likely to have fewer illnesses and be less affected by trauma. Participants ultimately spent less time in the hospital, enjoyed lower blood pressure and had better liver functionality than their counterparts.
Even physical wounds heal faster. In 2013, New Zealand researchers conducted an experiment on…
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State of emergency
Originally posted on Liberian Me :
Ebola got a head start on us, is far ahead of us, is running faster than us and is winning the race”, Anthony Banbury told the UN Security Council on Wednesday.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) projects the pace of infections accelerating in West Africa – to as many as 10,000 new cases per week within two months.
Mr Banbury said the global response to the Ebola crisis must meet critical goals by 1 December “or face an entirely unprecedented situation for which we don’t have a plan”.
By that date, the world must ensure that at least 70 per cent of people infected are in treatment and at least 70 per cent of burials occur without contamination, he said.
I look at social media how various conspiracy theories flowing around . One theory weirder than the other. Meanwhile people are dying and hundreds of heroes voluntarily trying to help…
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October 17, 2014
My First Year as an Indie Author Giveaway
Originally posted on Nicholas C. Rossis:
Party cat found on wall4all.meToday is my authorversary Indieversaryone-year anniversary since the publication of Pearseus: Schism, the first book of my epic fantasy series!
Twelve exciting months and four books later, I’d like to celebrate by sharing with you my work. So, anyone who leaves a comment below until the end of the month, will receive a free copy of one of my books – your choice!
So, what are you waiting for? Tell me which book you’d like to receive, and enjoy some of the greatest stories of all times (hmm… too much?) :D
Also, don’t forget that you can download Pearseus: Schism for free on Goodreads.
And the most important part: Thank you for all your love and support! I know I keep saying this, but that’s only because it bears repeating: I couldn’t have done it without you! I love…
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