History + More


History + More& Leisure + Recreation& Travel Tips + More30 Aug 2010 01:46 pm

In excess of 30 old castles still stand in the southeast district of England as reminders of the days when The united kingdom was a nation divided by dominating families who constructed sturdy fortresses to secure their lands from invaders, both overseas and domestic. Contemporary castle tours make it possible for visitors to gain a feeling of how crucial these magnificently conserved buildings are to the rich historical past and traditions of Britain.

Exploring the the royal collections of noteworthy aristocrats like Mary Queen of Scots throughout guided trips of the Arundel Castle in West Sussex give tourists an idea of the grandeur and grace that surrounded the British aristocracy in medieval times. The specialist guides tell stories that bring the past alive as they recount well-known battles and tales that encompass this fascinating castle.

At the majestic Guildford Castle, tourists can safely go up to high on top of the Great Tower to see the panoramic sight that was used by the castle’s defenders to see nearing enemy troops. Inside are shows that let tourists study designs of the castle as it was initially built in the 1300s. Informational videos describe the function that Guildford Castle played in British heritage.

When the spectacular Herstmonceux castle comes into view, tourists are astounded by the moat that draws attentions to how robust defenses were required to discourage invaders when this castle was made in the turbulent times of 15th century England. Though once in ruins, the castle has been superbly restored and is now house of the Queen’s Bader Institute. Encircling the castle beside the moat are public grounds that represent the Elizabethan era when grounds were sophisticated play areas for the aristocracy. After the twisting forest tracks that lead to woodland sculptures that are displayed in the Shakesphere garden, Rose Garden and the Herb Garden present visitors a sense of how the romance of valiance was once played out in the midst of these stunning settings.

High upon the well known white cliffs of Kent, the Dover Castle’s breath-taking views over the English channel make it obvious why this ancient site has been put to use for centuries to guard the south eastern shores of Britain. Dover Castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1066 after his success at the Battle of Hastings, however there are wrecks around the castle that go back much further, and evidence of enhancements through the years. Viewing the many variations of this strategic site, which include a hall once referred to as Arthur’s Hall, gives present day tourists a taste of Britain’s rich history.

When you enter Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boylen, the homely feeling is quite different from other southeastern English castles. The displays of individual items and recreations of the gowns worn by the six wives of Henry the VIII demonstrates the opulence of 16th century Tudor way of life. But the collection of weaponry, armor and devices of torture and execution in the Council Chamber talk of a much darker side of life full of high intrigue and genuine risk that lurked in the medieval courts.

Find out more information about some of the numerous Castles in England

History + More& Travel Tips + More03 Mar 2010 07:45 am

When it comes to the most best-known and
stunning cities of the Europe, Paris comes first in the list. It is currently the most populous city
in France with a population of about 2,200,000 people. Paris is one of the leading
business and cultural hubs in the world and is regarded as a major global city in the world due to its influences in fields such as politics, entertainment, fashion, media, science and
art. In addition to that, Paris is one of the main contributors to the GDP of
France and it is more than 25% at the moment. Nearly 45 million tourists, of whom 60% are foreign, visit Paris every year making it one of the most popular tourist destinations of
the world. The fact that Paris is home to many iconic landmarks and world renowned establishments mainly contributes to this
status.

Eiffel Tower

Maybe the first thought that comes to one’s mind when referring to Paris would be the
Eiffel tower. It is seen a global icon which
acts France and is among the most noticeable structures in the world. The Eiffel tower is a lattice tower made from iron and was
constructed in 1887 as the entrance arch for the 1889 world’s fair. It was named after Gustave Eiffel who was the engineer of the construction project.
Furthermore, the Eiffel tower is the tallest building in Paris and the world’s most visited paid monument.
Hence, a visit to this historical turning point is a must to anyone who visits Paris.

The Louvre

Same as the Eiffel tower, the Louvre is
one of the most important landmarks in Paris and it is the most visited museum of France. This museum protects a number of priceless pieces done by many
artists in the world. There are about 35,000 pieces of art and and 380,000 objects in total in
the museum. There are many master pieces among the art collection of Louvre and some of them are namely Mona Lisa, Madona of the Rocks, and Dying Slave. In
addition, the Louvre also houses a collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman, and Islamic art. Along with the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay is also a popular museum although it
mainly contains French art in the form of paintings, sculptures and photographs. This museum is also one of the main attractions of the city of Paris.

And More…

Apart from the mentioned
attractions of the city of Paris there are many other places such as Palace of Versailles (former palace of French kings), Château Villette, Notre Dame de Paris
(Cathedral of Notre Dame) which is 12th century Gothic cathedral and the Saint Dennis Basilica which is also a Gothic cathedral where the French monarchs were buried. Almost all these buildings are famous for their unique architecture. If some one is looking forward to a different type of leasure, then they can simply go on a cruise down the Seine river.

Although Paris is renown for traditional entertainment, Paris is also a place where the modern entertainment is invented. In addition to that, there are many restaurants the visitors can enjoy passim the year.

Health& History + More& World Of Medicine21 May 2008 07:56 am

Paul Offit, MD: Review of his book “The Cutter Incident”

Vaccines do so much good in the world, how come we don’t like them more? This question is answered in this book by Dr. Paul OffitDr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease specialist and vaccine expert. Dr. Offt traces the origin of today’s antipathy to vaccines to a horrendous incident during the 1950s in which thousands of people received polio vaccine containing live poliovirus.

Offit describes the development of polio vaccine, from trials of early vaccines through to the appearance on the scene of Jonas Salk. In 1951 Dr. Jonas Salk’s vaccine was licensed quickly thanks to political pressure, and during the next two weeks, five companies distributed about five million doses. Then came the problem: Thirteen days after the first doses were administered, there were reports of cases of polio in immunized children. All of these initial cases had received vaccine manufactured by one company-Cutter Laboratories). In the end, at least 220 000 people were infected with live poliovirus in Cutter’s vaccine (including 100 000 contacts of immunized children), 70 000 developed muscle weakness, 164 were severely paralyzed, and 10 died.

How did live viruses get into the vaccine?

Dr. Offit exlains in detail. The reasons included the use of a highly virulent strain (Mahoney), deficiencies in the inactivation of vaccine virus, inadequate safety tests, and poor communication with other scientists and the government. However, Cutter Laboratories was not negligent. It was doing all that the licensing authority required of it. Sixty lawsuits were subsequently filed. The first resulted in a verdict that “affected all pharmaceutical companies for the next fifty years.” The jury found that Cutter was not negligent in producing the vaccine, but had breached an implied warranty that their product was safe. The concept of liability without fault was born. In other words, companies were responsible for the effects of their products even when they were not negligent in their design or manufacture. Paul Offit goes on to reveal the large number of successful lawsuits that arose from this precedent. These led to the 1986 National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, designed to protect companies from lawsuits not supported by scientific evidence. But the damage was already done. Despite the government program, pharmaceutical companies are abandoning vaccines. In 1957, 26 companies made five vaccines in the United States. By 2004 four companies made 12 vaccines. As a result vaccines costs more and development of new vaccines is slowed. In addition to being an acclaimed scientist and physician, Paul Offit is a good writer and The Cutter Incident is an enjoyable read, at times like a detective thriller, at others like a courtroom drama. The Cutter Incident tells and important story and tell its well. There can be no argument that vaccines have been a great benefit to humankind. This book shows how close we have come to putting one of our most effective public health tools in jeopardy.