Was there a Robin Hood? Part.I

     Robert Hood was actually a quiet common one at the time, making the census evidence inconclusive. “Robyn was a proud out law” sang balladeers of the intrepid woodsman. But did Robin Hood even exist? And why has hid legend persisted? It seems almost an injustice to question the Robin Hood legend; such is our innate appreciation for the celebrated champion of the underdog and the common man. Scholars who seek to debunk parts of the legend are practically accomplices to the evil Sheriff of Nottingham; and yet it is the historian’s duty to examine the past, however entertaining the legend handed down to us. In the 19^th century, scholars who had grown up with the beloved chivalric tales of Sir Walter Scott reexamined the Robin Hood stories and found them wanting him historical foundations. In his 1882 English and Scottish popular ballads, scholar Francis James child declared Robin Hood a fiction, “absolutely a creation of the ballad genre” but in the later years, more research has suggested there may be some truth to the legend.-

     The first known, extended version of the Robin Hood story is the 15^th century ballad collection Lyttle Geste of Robyn Hode. It contains the familiar cast of characters: the sheriff of Nottingham, Robin, little john, and the rest of his “merry men” who steal from the rich and give to the poor in their forest lair. In many of the early versions of the tale, the sylvan locale is Barnesdale forest, in Yorkshire. But  references to robin hood appear in stories and ballads from as early as the mid 14^th century, so historian speculate that if there was a historical “ Prince of thieves,” he lived some time before then. In the manorial rolls and similar local records from 1228 and 1230, the name Robert Hood appears, and he is described as a fugitive from justice, who stole “for the benefit of the many.” But the name Robert Hood was actually a quite common one at the time, making the census evidence inconclusive.

How will the Earth End? Part.II

A potential possible danger comes from space debris –comets and asteroids- which may present the most tangible threat to earth as we know it. It was most likely the impact of an asteroid that lead to the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago; another asteroid or comet striking the earth could lead to a similar climatic shift that changes the face of the Planet. On May 19, 1996, an asteroid that measured one third of a mile wide came within 275, 000 miles of earth, just a hair in astronomical distances.

Astronomers have said that it would require an asteroid larger than on kilometer wide to create a global disaster. An estimated 2,000 asteroids larger than one kilometer intersect earth’s orbit; one may strike its surface before 405 billion years, but the question is how long we can continue to play dodge ball. It should be cheering to know that studies are in the offing that might allow us to use nuclear technology to deflect a comet or asteroid.

 So is man’s hope for survival, as depicted by the cold lens of science, fairly bleak?  Maybe.  For all of our best scientific guesses, there are just as many works, including the Bible’s   book of Revelation and Nostradamus's writings, which offer cryptic predictions of what is to come. Trying to match biblical or prophetic forecasts with, modern correlatives has proven tricky, however. For centuries, cult after dooms day cult has predicted a time for Armageddon, only to be disillusioned.

Despite our curiosity and our best educated guesser, only those humans who are alive at the time will know the story of our planet’s endgame; the true story of what happens may catch even them by surprise. At this point, the question of whether the earth will end with a bang or in a whimper stays unanswered.

How will the Earth End? Part.I

Many people from science fiction writers to religious prophets have speculated about the earth’s final days, but perhaps only astronomers have provided an end date that is inescapable. Our sun has been converting hydrogen into helium in its core for about 4.65 billion years. It has enough hydrogen left for another 4.5 billion before the outer layers will expand to have a circumference that extends to the orbit of the earth or farther. This new red giant star will one day swallow up the earth.

                But there is good reason to suspect the end of humankind will come before 4.5 billion years. The most difficult question to answer is whether humans will be cause to their own undoing or whether they will be the subject of forces outside of their control. 

               Contrasted to the more protracted ways for mankind to destroy itself, there are also the quicker alternatives, like nuclear holocaust. “Every man, woman, and child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles,” said President John F. Kennedy in a September 1961 speech to the United Nations General Assembly, “hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident or miscalculation or madness.”

Breast cancer, Self examination

The Breast cancer, the commonest cancer in women, affects one in twenty in UK and one in ten in USA. Women more at risk are those that:

·         Started their periods early (before the age of twelve)

·         Had a late menopause (after fifty)

·         Had no children

·         Had their first child in their thirties

·         Had grandmothers, mothers or sisters with breast cancer

Visual examination

                In front of the mirror, put your hands on your head. Look at the size and shape of your breasts, and for any differences between them. Check nipples for changes.

Manual examination

                Feeling your breasts gives you a further change to detect any changes. Breasts are naturally lumpy because they contain milk producing glands, and these may swell at certain times of the menstrual cycle. Breast self examination should therefore take place at the same time each month. It should also include an examination along the collar bone and into the armpit

                Lie down with a folded towel or pillow under. Stretch both arms above your head. As you do so your breasts will lift slightly, giving you another chance to detect any changes in the size, shape and color of your breasts and nipples.

                Put your hands on the hips. Push inwards to tighten your chest muscles. Look for any dimples, puckering or “orange peel” skin that may indicate an underlying lump or abnormal nipple.

Your right shoulder. Keep your right arm by your side and use the closed fingers of your left hand to examine your right breast.

Work above the outside of the breast in a clock wise direction, feeling firmly but gently for any swellings or lumps.

Now bend your right arm at the elbow and raise it about your head to stretch the breast tissue

Examine the inner breast and nipple.

Examine your left breast with your right hand in the same way.

The secret of the blind spot in our vision

All of us have a blind spot- of one kind or another- towards another person or an activity. Having a blind spot means that you do not really understand the full meaning of that person or activity- particularly if a bad influence is involved. When you drive, your blind spot is behind you to the right or left- this is literally the dangerous zone in which you cannot see other drivers. There is also a blind spot in your field of vision. Everyone can find it with a simple test. Close your left eye, and, with your right eye, look at the first letter on the left of a line of text on this page. Move your index finger along the line towards the right focus on the letter and concentrate on your finger at the same time. Your fingertip will ‘disappear’ and then re emerges.

This phenomenon has been known for centuries, and many researchers have studied the blind spot. Essentially, the blind spot occurs where the optic nerve leaves the eye, and there are no light sensitive cells. At this point, we gave a gap in our field of vision.

 The interesting thing is not that this spot exists but rather the fact that we are not aware of it. Under normal circumstances we see with both our eyes. As they are always moving and looking at an object from different angles, they can compensate for the gap. But even if we only look with one eye, we do not notice the blind spot. The reason for this lies in the way brain processes information.

On the very first stop along our mental information highway, the corresponding area of our field of vision is simply filled in with something similar to the environment- when reading those lines it would be letters. Such blanks can also be found in our thinking processes. When we cannot think of a simple and quick solution to a question or problem, we generally say something like ‘just didn’t come to mind’

Can we use music to stimulate the development of the foetus?

The human sense of hearing develops well before birth. The foetus in the womb can hear the rhythms of the mother’s body, for example, but also many other sound. Opinion is divided over whether music can be used to stimulate the development of the foetus.

Even at the moment of birth, a baby can recognize its mother’s voice. During the preceding nine months, the mother brought her food comfort and security. After birth, the sound, intonation and tone of the mother’s voice, which the baby learn to recognize in the womb, becomes a means of orientation.

Today, it is well known how human hearing develops. The process begins in the fourth week after the egg has been fertilized, when the foetus’s nervous system. Spinal cord and brain are formed. By the 20^th week, the foetus can react to sounds coming from outside the womb. Five weeks later, the outer and the inner ear, as well as those sections of the brain which help with the processing of acoustic signals, have matured to greater degree. It is this point that the foetus can recognize the pitch of various voices. During this time, he or she learns to distinguish the mother’s voice from that of the father.

By the 35^th week of pregnancy, the growing foetus child can perceive and memorize melodies. This is evident by the child’s obvious reaction after birth when certain melodies are played that he or she often heard during this phase.

Can this development of the senses be used to the child’s advantage? Some parents to be try to encourage the child’s development by gently drumming rhythms on the belly or by playing classical music in particular, the music of Mozart. While it may be soothing most scientists doubt whether this promotes the musical development of the child. There is plenty of time for this after birth.

The magic touch

Since the 13^th century, we have known that humans not only enjoy body contact, but it is necessary for their very survival. At that time, the German Emperor Fredrick II was noted for his intensive research into issues of natural science- not a common pastime for a medieval monarch! In order to expand his knowledge, he designed a number of experiments. One of these, which would be considered  cruel and debasing today, focused on the human need for body contact and involved a group of orphans who were separated from the other residents of an orphanage. Their only human contact was with the foster mothers and wet nurses who bathed or nursed them. The women were neither allowed to speak nor show affection to the little ones. The outcome of this method was horrific: according to the records of the time, none of the children survived.

  

  The fact is that humans cannot do without touch, just as we cannot survive without food or water. Hugs give feelings of security and safety, and kisses seal a friendship of express deep intimacy. Touches are considered ‘social glue’ – the vital element in creating relationships. These extent from the official handshake of the school principal, to a jovial pat on the back from a colleague at work. In many cultures, touching is a complex ritual, with its own rules and meanings. The Maori people of New Zealand, for example, rub their noses when greeting one another and the Ipo of New Guinea tickle one another under the chin. Psychologists agree that embarrasses and body contact fulfill a vital role in promoting health and well being; in effect, touch is a kind of ‘vitamins for body and soul.’ The human skin reacts with great sensitivity to touch.  This is because there are approximately 700 touch and pressure receptors on a single fingertip. Today, scientist can prove how skin contact, massage or stroking affects the body and mind.