dps musings

Access to a library can be a pass time that allows children to escape to meet characters such as Harry Potter, or enter a magical forest, or meet Aslan in Narnia, the opportunities are endless. It can also be a good way to encourage your child or pupil to pick up a book and read the pages, look at the pictures and inspire their imagination; a library is a place for all. 

So how do you plan to celebrate National Library Week, in your home, school or community? Also celebrated as School Library Media Month, let others know, leave a comment.  According the American Library Association this week has been recognised in the calendar since 1958! Following concerns that people were spending their salaries on T.V’s, radios as alternative forms entertainment. Now as we enter an age where everything is at the touch of a button, it would be good to remember the history of books and attending our local library to make new discoveries, don’t you think? 

Just to remind you of some of the library blurb in case you haven’t been for a while; 

Circulation Desk – where you check those books out or renew a book.

ISBN – a unique 10 digit number given to every book

Anthology – a collection of stories, plays or poems selected by an author 

Did you discover a great author at your library or do you have fond memories of days spent in the library?


                      Share your experiences with others.

(Picture from connecttheworld.wordpress.com) 

Earth Day will be celebrated in the USA on April 22^nd , so there is still time to sign up and volunteer for various activities across the USA, check out www.earthday.net. May be you’ve already volunteered, share your message here. 

What is Earth Day? Earth Day is committed to developing projects that will promote a healthy and sustainable environment. Earth Day Network is looking to make this a worldwide movement so everyone regardless of agenda, race, social status or where you live is entitled to the same environmental benefits. Earth Day Network is looking for assistance from individuals, businesses small or large to participate in projects from ‘Help Bring Clean Water and Sanitation to the World Implement or Groundbreaking Environmental Education Programs’ there is not much that this group are not working on. Have you heard of them? 

According to Earth Day Network over one billion people celebrate this day, have you marked it on your calendar yet? If not get a calendar and mark this special day.

With just over 9 days and 10hrs to go, the clock is ticking.

Don’t forget to check out the website for detailed information and to sign up for this years events - www.earthday.net

Is Google Maps a useful tool or a method for privately investigating the world’s habits?  

For some time now Google camera cars have been touring streets both in the UK and the USA capturing front lawns, drawn curtains as well as capturing those out on lunch breaks, let’s hope you are not spotted where you were not meant to be! All in an attempt to be a useful tool or is it just an invasion of our privacy? One street in the UK took action against the invasive eyes of the camera cars by denying entry to their street, passionate about their right to privacy, one man was quoted as saying ‘an Englishman’s home is his castle and he would be defend it.’ 

 So helpful is Google claiming to be, it has taken yet more in roads in to investigating you the public and defining your needs. How, you ask, Google now offers ‘behavioural targeting’ by collecting your personal data through market research, not the first company to do this, but with its other services it is posing a risk to your privacy. It does this by utilising our personal information collected from companies that advertise on its space. Google has also unobtrusively launched software packages that may seek to marry the divide between advertising and our mobile data. Think! someone could be producing a personal profile on your habits as you read this! Let’s hope the information is not sold on or worse lost. 

So ‘helpful’ is Google in trying to investigate your habits it is disguised its surveillance of you in terms of ‘ it’s for free’, however, as you know ‘nothing in this life is for free’ there is a personal cost involved here! Your Privacy! So the minute you cross that bridge and sign up for ‘mobile advertising’ you will effectively be signing over the right to be tracked! As yet there are data protection laws that prevent this intrusion as well as the customer not wanting to pay for this service, but alas Google is making the necessary in roads, you can override this protection and sign up for ‘free mobile advertising.’ This is one contract you will not want to sign up to without first reading and understanding the small print.  However, the word understand, is a simple action, but with the wording of the contract being so long and convoluted it can end up being buried in phrases as using ‘your information to provide other services’, ‘other services’ being surveillance of you for marketing purposes! Helpful hey? 

If they made this into a movie it would be called ‘Truman’ us being watched by Google!

     The Historian, by Elizabeth Kastova

Caveat, not to be read in the dark, if you don’t like horror fiction. If you do, remember the garlic necklace.

Historical fiction mixed with historical folklore and traditions make for a dark read, this story unfolds before your very eyes through Kastova’s in depth knowledge of eastern countries, her characters personal tales, together with tinges of fantasy. 

Kastova writes with clarity and care, as she tells you her tale, one of mystery, murder, ‘the undead,’ love and sadness. “To you, perceptive reader, I bequeath my history….” 

The story unfolds from three characters in our current day each will piece the puzzle together and reveal it to you, from different time frames, libraries, monasteries, postcards and books, although there is one book with a difference. The words Vlad the Impaler will be read many times with different experiences.  This is likely to be a book that can be picked up time and time again as there is so much information contained within these pages, definitely not a quick read. 

This book caught my attention on the shelf, I did not know if I would enjoy such a novel, vampires, Dracula! It was the mystery and intrigue that made me read on, it is an excellent read; nothing could have prepared me for an ending like that!! 

Have you read this novel, what did you think perceptive reader?

Do you like to read books?
            how many times have you just not known what to read? So many different genres to select from.

Maybe you wait for a recommendation from a friend or receive a book as a gift. May be you are a devouted reader and will have a read of most things, not judging a book by its cover.

May be you read to your children at night, or use to and now it is your grandchildren who you share your stories with.
                                       
                                       

Don’t give up reading! what’s your favourite book to read?

Freedom Writers,

Smacks of history, Martin Luther King’s I have a dream!

  This film makes you remember the importance of tolerance for one another, not to judge one another too harshly and to work together despite differing approaches so as to be free from prejudice and to achieve.

This clip captures some of the films special moments, this is a film that can make you feel good, ashamed, laugh and for me tears. I also watched this film as I sat in with my class of teenagers each having their own battles every day and my expectation for that lesson may have been a big ask!  Poignant moments in the fil clip when the teacher, Erin asks her students to  ‘stand on the line if…’  it is then you comprehend; how much you don’t know about the struggle of others, how others can know little about you and how this can impact on our responses to experiences. I was also surprised how my group studied the film with such interest; it must have struck a chord as questions came from every direction.  By Erin connecting to the students through their personal experiences in journals does the story play out! A story of one teacher’s determination mixed with the belief and passion of teenagers, did change occur despite others casting their opinion that they could not succeed.

  A must watch film!

Slice the pie! this is your chance for a piece of the pie, where music is concerned.  

This newbie website is a chance for you to hear new acts, review music, enter forums and do what you like best, listen to music with no strings attached!! 

To get full benefit of this site you need to register your details. If you are the listener then you can select your tune from, genre and or country. If you are the artist, then you too should go along to this site and register your work, it will be reviewed by your potential customers! Who better to judge your work than your fans? You join for free, but pay a small royalty fee; however, full copyright remains yours. To get started you enter the showcase, get a high score and you’re in. This is the one site that unites everything in one place, scouts, fans, investors, and bands etc – the whole pie, take a bite, see if you like it. You could become the next biggest music mogul as fans can become investors or scouts and if you get that right, who knows what’s around the corner. 

No affiliation just liked the site and wanted to share it! 

Are you already registered with slicethepie.com? How’s it going let others know 

  1934 - 2009 Uriel Jones, has died aged 74 

Sadly left this world for a new road, music heaven!

A Motown Drummer with Funk Brothers has passed following a heart problems.  Motown was a record company set up originally in Detroit, during the sixties to principally aid African American musicians on the cusp of success, covering genres such as rhythm and blues, soul and hip hop. Funk Brothers music helped to shape Motown. Todate this music fusion has grown to encompass other genres.

Jones was born in Detroit and was often heard saying how his music saved him. He knew at an early age he had a talent for the drums and his heavy insistent beat will live on the music he has left us! The rhythm that makes your feet tap, lift your mood or recall nostalgic moments in one’s life. That’s a true musician, I’m sure you will agree. 

Whilst Jones witnessed fellow band members and friends succumb to addiction he began to amass an accolade of successes with the Funk Brothers. Having been part of Stevie Wonders ‘Once in a lifetime,’ Gaye, Knight and Pips ‘Heard it through the Grape Vine.’ His work with the Funk Brothers was recognised with three Grammy awards and a lifetime achievement award. 

and without further a due, I remind you to listen to the Funk Brothers, Heaven Must Have Sent You.

This is not a ‘pick me up’ prose, more an insight into the thoughts and life of Mary Bell, who became the forefront of news in 1968, aged 11 years and charged with the murder of two children. This is one of two novels written about her life experiences, the first was The Case of Mary Bell, published in 1972, following Mary’s trial. 

The author, Gitta Sereny, followed the case as it went to court and for her it was uncomforting to know that a child, in the legal sense, was being tried in an adult court with an alleged mentality of an adult with full media in attendance. Gitta had an interest in what contributed to Mary killing another child, but does not try to justify the murders, only explore the reasons. So she spent time with Mary, but not until 27 years after the terrible travesty and her mother’s death did Mary agree to share her story in Cries Unheard. 

Mary was tried with another, Norma Bell, her friend and neighbour, but Norma Bell was later acquitted as it was deemed that Mary was the stronger character and therefore should carry the blame. Also Norma’s home life was deemed better quality and therefore could not be blamed for what had happened. Upon reading this book, you discover a child who herself experienced abuse so was she ever truly evil or her actions a product of the abuse she suffered? Her mother was a prostitute and Mary often suffered at her hand, which included beatings, sexual abuse as well as her mother trying to give her away. The method Mary used to end these unsuspecting children’s lives was the same as what she herself had suffered, but Mary used to pass out.  

The book also highlights the UK’s inability and unfamiliarity with ‘child killers’ and so Mary spent some time in a boys unit and when she reached 17 she was removed from this security and sent to a maximum security woman’s prison, where she used and manipulated sex for her own means and in 1980 she was released on licence. Mary is now a mother herself, which brings with it a level of understanding of how precious a child can be and the gravity of her childhood actions. 

This type of crime was again brought to the public forefront when James Bulger was murdered by two children. I don’t think we can ever be truly prepared to deal with one child killing another and the rational behind it, but it is not like the media circus that Mary endured. To date, Mary’s actions and the enormity of what she did can be read about in this novel. Gitta is not afraid to probe and sometimes when the answers are not fourth coming it is obvious they sometimes cannot be put into words to share with another, or Mary is unable to recall, probably due to abuse she herself endured. 

Now Mary and her child’s anonymity are protected under The Human Rights Act. Gitta says she elected this title as a marker for all those children around the world who are currently incarcerated for the crimes they committed as a result of their cries going unheard. More importantly Gitta goes to great lengths throughout to remember the suffering and long term grief of those families who lost their son / brother / granchild on those days.

With the world’s economic climate being in steep, steep decline and the full magnitude of our financial crisis is yet to be felt and undone by those in charge, the Government has finally presented a bill to the UK Parliament. Not a bill for damages on the unwitting publics purse, no a bill in the form of legislation, a bribery bill, can you believe it, now in this current climate? Oh I forgot appeasement! 

As with all legislation it is not retrospective so many in the banking and financial world can breathe a sigh of relief, this time, although we have been told this will not happen again – the financial mess we are in. However, let us hope that the potential increases in directors’ liability premiums are not too high, hate to think they would have to dip into their pension pots! 

What does it mean? well it means 

‘More transparency and accountability in international business transactions’ – Irony  ‘Core bribery offences dealing with generality of both active and passive bribery i.e. the offering, promising or giving of bribes and the requesting, agreeing to receive or acceptance of bribes. Discrete offences dealing with the bribery of foreign public officials in order to obtain a business advantage and liability of companies for failures to prevent bribery committed on their behalf’ – appeasement they shoehorned it all it for us! 

If found guilty for these offences, the Defendant can expect to spend ten years instead of seven at Her Majesty’s pleasure, and on us! Let’s hope they put in a clause that denies the right to put off sentencing if the Defendant becomes ill, due to stress, after all what about ‘Joe Public?’ who often is at the end of the queue when it comes to recompense. 

Well we can all sleep easy now!