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Pronouncing Italian Vowels and Consonants

The correct pronunciation in Italian can be difficult for some beginners. Yet it is standard and stays the same. Once the rules are understood it is simple to pronounce each word correctly. Here are some step by step instructions on how to pronounce the Italian vowels.

A - sounds like a in father

E - has two sounds: short vowel like e in pen and the long vowel similar to ai in fair

I - sounds like ea in tea.

O - has two sounds: like o in cozy or similar of o in cost

U - sounds like u in rude.

Italian vowels are always spoken in a sharp, clear fashion; they should never be slurred or pronounced weakly. Vowels always keep their value in diphthongs. Italian is a phonetic language. This means it is spoken exactly the way it is written. Italian and English use the same Latin alphabet, but the sounds by the letters are different in the two languages.

Pronouncing Italian Consonants

In Italian pronunciation can be difficult especially for beginners Yet much like the vowels the sound each consonant makes is a regular sound and remains the same, so once the rules are understood, it is simple to pronounce the words correctly. Here are the step by step instructions on the way the consonants are pronounced in Italian.

The consonants B, F, M, N, and V are pronounced exactly as they are in English.

When the C is before a, o, u and before a consonant it has the sound similar to the English letter K. When the C comes before the e and I it sounds very similar to the English sound of the Ch.

D is much more explosive in Italian than it is in English; with the tongue near the tip of the upper teeth but with no aspiration.

When G comes before a, o, and u and before consonants it sounds like the g in good; when it comes before e and i it sounds like the g in general.

Gli sounds like ll in million and Gn sounds like the ny in canyon.

The H in Italian is silent.

The L sounds like it does in English except with a sharper tone and more forward in the mouth.

This is a continuation of the article: Learning Italian Vowels and Consonants - Part 1

P sounds as it does in English, but without the aspiration, which sometimes happens in English.

Qu sounds as it does in English like in the word quest.

R is very different from the English; it is pronounced with one flip of the tongue against the gums of the upper teeth. This will make the trill sound of the r.

S before vowels and unvoiced consonants such as c, f, p, q, s, t is pronounced like the s in the English word rose.

T is pretty much like the T in English, but with no escaping of breath to go along with it in the Italian.

Z can be voiced, like ds in beds, or it can be voiceless, like ts in bets.

All Italian consonants have a corresponding double consonant, whose pronunciation is similar to, but not exactly like the single consonant. The mispronunciation of the double consonants can result in miscommunication.

Italian is known as a musical language because every sound is clear and distinct but stays soft rather than hard. The consonants will never lose their sound value even when linked together with syllables and words.

When they say Italian is a phonetic language, they mean it is spoken the way it is written. Italian and English share the Latin alphabet, but the pronunciation of each letter differs between the two languages.

Don’t you wonder how all of these languages that share the same alphabet became so different in countries that are so close together?

Scott Wells invites you to learn more about the Italian language at http://www.allthingspondered.com/2132/

A History of Lincoln Part 2

The raising of the siege of The Castle of Mont Sorel and Lincoln Castle.

The army of Louis and the barons of England arrived at Dunstable, and there spent the night. In the morning it marched northward, hastening to the relief of the castle of Mont Sorel, Earl Ralph of Chester and the others who were with him besieging it, were informed of this by their scouts, and retreated to the castle of Nottingham, where they determined to watch the progress of their approaching enemies.

When the barons then arrived at the castle of Mont Sorel, after pillaging in their usual custom all the cemeteries and churches on their march, it was determined to march to Lincoln, where Gilbert de Gant and other barons had carried on a long siege without success.

They marched through the valley of Belvoir, and there everything fell into the hands of these robbers, because the soldiers of the French kingdom were the refuse and scum of that country who left nothing untouched. Their poverty and wretchedness was so great, that they had not enough clothing to cover their nakedness. At length they arrived at Lincoln, and the barons then made fierce assaults on the castle, whilst the besieged returned fire with missiles and stones and deadly weapons.

The king of England assembled an army to raise the siege of the castle of Lincoln.

Whilst these events were passing here, William Marshall, the guardian of the king and kingdom, by the advice of Walo the legate, Peter bishop of Winchester, and others by whose counsels the business of the kingdom was arranged, persuaded the castellans belonging to the king.

He also persuaded the knights who were in charge of castles in different parts of the kingdom, ordering them, on the command of the king, to assemble at Newark on the second day in Whitsun week, to proceed together to raise the siege of Lincoln castle.

They had a desire to engage with the excommunicated French, and also to fight for their country. They arrived at the time and place pre-arranged, with the legate himself and many other prelates of the kingdom. With horses and soldiers, to assail with prayers as well as arms, these enemies of their king, and rebels against their lord the pope, it appeared to them they had a just cause of war, especially as he was innocent, and a stranger to sin.

When they were all assembled together, there were four hundred knights, nearly two hundred and fifty crossbow men, and an innumerable host of followers and horsemen, who could on emergency fulfil the duties of soldiers. The chiefs of this army were William Marshall, William his son, Peter Bishop of Winchester, a man well skilled in warfare, Ralph Earl of Chester, William Earl of Salisbury, E. William Earl of Ferrars and William Earl of Albemarle

There were also there the barons, William D’ Albiney, John Marshall, William de Cantelo, William his son, the renowned Falkes de Breaute, Thomas Basset, Robert de Viport, Brian de L’Isle, Geoffrey de Lucy, and Philip d’Albiney, with many castellans of experience in war.

They stayed three days at Newark, to refresh the horses and men, and in the meantime they went to confession asking for the Lord’s protection against the attacks of their enemies. All of them were prepared for extremities, and were determined to conquer or die in the cause of right.

Duncan Seth-Smith - CityLocal Lincoln Lincoln Lincoln Business Directory Lincoln News Lincoln Events Lincoln Free Adverts

The Mysteries of the Chinese Language

There was this person who was amazed by the intricate patterns of the Chinese language and he was totally confused trying to understand the same. He tried out the various translation sites on the net in order to gain further knowledge about the Chinese language but always came up against a wall. For the uninitiated there are 3 different languages that are used in china and they are Mandarin, Cantonese and Traditional. Unless one goes into depth about the Chinese language, it will be tough for them to have more knowledge about the same, regardless of the translation sites they visit. The best option for them will be to approach someone who are well versed in the linguistics of that language and seek their help.

Before you set forth to visit China on a business trip, it is important that you know a bit about their language and study a few common phrases like greetings and salutations and pronounce them correctly. This might sound tough, it being an alien language, but if the Chinese visitors to your country can speak your language, why not you. There is no doubt that English is far easier to learn that Chinese but that does not mean you cannot pick up a few words if you try hard enough. There are many online courses that help you to master this language and most of them offer a basic course for business travelers that will help you while you are visiting China to seal up that important business deal.

After English, the Chinese language has the second most following in the world. Unlike the English language that contains of just 26 characters, the Chinese language is made up of hundreds of graphical representations that make up each the words and sentences. You will be amazed to know that typing 10 words per minute on a Chinese typewriter is considered to be very fast. If required you can ask your online friend to guide you to learn common phrases and how to pronounce them correctly. The most you need to know when you are embarking on a business trip are a few phrases like `hello’, `greetings’, `good morning’, `good evening’, `good night’ along with some more complicated terms like `where is the’.

Having a decent knowledge about the Chinese language will open up many avenues for you and you can find yourself with the job of a translator. Unlike some Western & Eastern European languages like German & Russian, (or to be more specific, the Deutsch & Cyrillic script and the written term is called), that are guttural; the Chinese language is soft and musical. There are many people who try to jump into and directly try to learn the phrases by heart. While this might be fine, would it not be better if you try to understand the scientific and the grammatical nuances of the language? All it needs is some time and patience and if you are dedicated enough, you should start picking it up easily.

Michael Song is a professional Chinese translator working for VERY TRANSLATION which provides Chinese translation services . Here are some useful free Chinese translation tools Free Chinese Name Translation,Free Chinese Translation

King’s College Chapel, Cambridge

Passing the exams for admission to Cambridge University is a major accomplishment, as any of its students will tell you. Remaining there is the other half of the feat. A good place to pray for success is not a bad thing to have on campus.

Perhaps such was on Henry VI’s mind when he decided to have a chapel built on the university’s grounds. King’s College Chapel is the chapel to King’s College of the University of Cambridge, and is considered to be one of the finest examples of late English Gothic, also known as the Perpendicular Style.

Henry VI planned a university counterpart to Eton College, whose chapel is very similar, although unfinished. The chapel is the only part that was built. The Chapel’s dimensions were decided by the king, and the architect appointed was Reginald Ely, who was commissioned in 1444. On 25 July 1446, St. James’ Day, the first stone was laid, the Cambridge College having been begun in 1441. Despite the Wars of the Roses, and by the end of the reign of Richard III (1485), five chapel bays had been completed and a timber roof erected. In 1506, Henry VII (the notorious Henry VIII’s father) visited, paying for the work to resume and even leaving money to ensure that the work would continue after his death. Perhaps between marriages, Henry VIII had the Cambridge King’s College chapel completed in 1515, but the great windows were yet to be made.

Among the chapel’s outstanding features are fan vault, largest in the world, its stained glass windows, and the painting The Adoration of the Magi, by Pieter Paul Rubens, originally painted for the Convent of the White Nuns at Louvain in Belgium.

The Great Windows of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge

The twelve large windows on each side of the Cambridge chapel, as well as the larger windows at the east and west ends, are some of the finest in the world from their era. With the exception of the west window, they are Flemish work dating from 1515 to 1531.

Barnard Flower, the first non-Englishman appointed as the King’s Glazier (window maker in modern parlance), finished four windows. Gaylon Hone with three partners (two English and one Flemish) are responsible for the chapel’s east window and 16 others between 1526 and 1531. Francis Williamson and Symon Symondes completed the remaining four. The Cambridge chapel’s one modern window is in the west wall, done by the Clayton and Bell company, dating from 1879.

In addition to its being actively used as a place of worship, the Chapel also serves as the place for some concerts and college events, in Cambridge. Noted for its splendid acoustics, the world-famous Chapel Choir comprises choral scholars (male students from the college) and choristers (boys educated at the nearby King’s College School), presently under the direction of Stephen Cleobury. The Chapel Choir sings services on most days in term-time, and also performs concerts and makes broadcasts and recordings. The beloved Nine Lessons and Carols is performed and broadcast every Christmas Eve by the BBC from the Cambridge Chapel as it has been for many decades. There is also a mixed-voice Chapel choir of male and female students, King’s Voices, which sings Evensong on Mondays during term-time, in Cambridge.

For more information on Cambridge, visit http://www.cambridgeblog.net and http://www.cambridgemicroblog.com.

What Does an Independent Junior School Education Offer?

Independent Junior Schools offer a broad curriculum, specialist teaching, small classes, a fantastic range of facilities, wholesome food, teacher-parent partnerships and a huge focus on the development of the individual child academically, socially and spiritually.

On receiving a prospectus from an independent school it will often say that they offer a broad curriculum, but what does this mean? The broad curriculum relates to what the children will do in school. As well as offering the core subjects most independent schools offer much more.

Art, drama, languages, design technology, music, Latin, religious education, personal, social, and health education, physical education and games are some of the things common to the curriculum. Within these subject areas will be additional disciplines. In music, for example children will have access to individual music lessons. The instruments and teaching are supplied by the school at no cost to parents. Specialist choral training and opportunities to perform in a range of contexts, all from an early age are all on offer. It is common for games to be undertaken every day and form a core part of the daily routine, promoting fitness, working as a team and contributing to a healthy lifestyle. The teaching of foreign languages often begins at an early age. French is the most common but I have known Spanish and Chinese also to be undertaken.

The term ‘specialist teaching’ often crops up in a prospectus and is a core aspect of the Independent School way of life. This term relates to teachers and how the children are taught. Instead of having a single teacher who teaches them for all subjects, Independent Schools organise their curriculum so teachers who are specialists in their subjects (i.e. their first degree is in the subject they teach) undertake tuition of the pupils. For example a science teacher will teach all the science lessons and so the children receive input from a teacher who has outstanding subject knowledge. Depending on the school this may range from one or two subjects being taught by specialists to the whole curriculum. The level of subject input the pupils get is second to none often resulting in a higher level of understanding being achieved by the pupils.

Coupled with outstanding teaching are small classes. Class sizes often range from eight to twenty children per class but are on average around fourteen to eighteen. This enables an enormous amount of interaction between the teacher and pupil and also enables children to contribute to all aspects of class life without having to struggle to be heard or seen. This single fact allows teachers to develop outstanding relationships with pupils and help them to become good citizens.

When introducing reading to young children the ability to spend a great deal of time individually with them empowers all children to develop confidence and the necessary decoding skills needed for future development. Small classes enable teachers to provide the necessary attention required for the acquisition of this important skill. As the child is working in a one-to-one situation, the teacher is able to establish a unique programme of development for that child which enables him or her to develop exactly the skills they need.

You may have wondered why I have mentioned wholesome food. In this world where we are all bombarded by advertisements for all kinds of foods it is essential to teach children the importance of good, wholesome food. School lunches have had bad press recently but not all schools are the same. Some schools have stuck to their guns and have always offered their pupils a good, healthy balanced diet without the threat of the vending machine! Staff also play their part when they sit with the children for lunch and discuss worldly affairs and guide children into choosing a healthy meal.

Of course, one of the most important parts of a child’s education is their parents. Schools only have children for part of the day therefore it is essential that parents play their part. Parents are usually always welcome in a Prep school environment. Teachers pride themselves on the relationships they establish with parents and the role they are encouraged to play. A good school will foster good relationships with parents and guide them on how they can play their part in the development of the whole child.

When you visit an Independent School with a view to placing your child or children, discover whether the education on offer really does offer a broad curriculum. Is it taught by specialists in an environment supported by outstanding facilities where excellent pastoral care supports each child’s moral and spiritual development coupled with an individual learning plan ensuring a tailored education?

Jo-Rosie is writing on behalf of St Mary?s Hall, an Independent Day and Boarding School that forms both a co-educational, independent Junior School and a Senior School for Girls aged 11 - 18. As one of the most prestigious independent schools Sussex has to offer, St Mary?s hall co-education school offers Nursery, Pre-preparatory, Preparatory, Secondary and Sixth Form education.

Paying For College With College Scholarships and Student Loans

It is getting harder to pay for a college education these days, but it is by no means impossible. Getting college scholarships is still the best way to go, and there are plenty of them still around - even though money may be getting tighter. Here are some tips about how to get money to pay for your college education with college scholarships and student loans.

GET AS MANY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AS YOU CAN

The best way to go to college is to go free. College scholarships can enable a student to go to college without cost - if there are enough of them. In order to get as many as is needed to go without cost, you will need to apply to as many scholarships as possible. Of course, you want to only apply for those college scholarships that you have a good possibility of actually winning.

Finding the right college scholarships to apply to will require some work - and possibly some imagination, too. There are college scholarships for just about everything you can think of these days - and possibly some that are almost out of reach of the imagination, too. You can find them for academics, sports, hobbies, uniqueness - like a special last name or for left-handers, etc., your locale, and some that are just plain weird - like the duct tape prom college scholarship.

In order for you to learn about what college scholarships are available, you will need to do some homework. This includes researching them online, in the library, letting scholarship groups help you (be careful of these - some are scams), talking to your school counselors, and more. You can also look at the Web sites of the colleges that you are interested in, and they will show you what college scholarships are available there.

LOOK FOR COMPANY SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

Many companies also offer college scholarships, too. They do this because they want to have a qualified and trained pool of potential employees available when they need them. They usually look for exceptionally bright prospects that can bring much to the table if they should hire them.

Getting a college scholarship or an internship with a great company can lead to a great job right out of college. Sometimes, you may even be able to find your needed college scholarship simply by looking at the various companies you would dream of working for after you get your college degree. Look at their Web sites for more information.

APPLY FOR COLLEGE STUDENT LOANS

Because college scholarships may not cover your entire school bill, you may also need some college financing. Direct loans are available from the government, which will also give you the lowest interest rate possible on education loans.

Direct student loans, which includes the Stafford loans and the PLUS loans, accumulate no interest while you are in school (because the government pays for it while you are in college), or drop to less than half-time. You will not need to make any payments on the loan until you have been out of school for 6 months.

Graduate students and families of college students have access to PLUS loans for education and they also have the same terms as the Stafford loans – but a little higher interest rate. All government loans can be consolidated after graduation for easy payments.

GET STARTED EARLY

If you want to get the most out of college scholarships and student loans, then you will need to get started early. In fact, you should get started earlier than was necessary in previous years. With less money going around and with some college scholarships going on a first-come, first-served basis - you have no time to lose.

Finding the right college scholarships takes a considerable amount of time, and so does filling out scholarship applications and writing scholarship essays. In addition, in order to get a Direct loan, you will need to have filled out the FAFSA form, which is required for all government student loans.

FILL OUT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS CAREFULLY

College scholarship applications require that they be filled out accurately and carefully. A little carelessness (or haste) in answering a question or two could needlessly cost you a college scholarship. This could mean that you may need to take much longer to pay off a college loan - when you didn’t have to.

Writing a quality college scholarship essay that will win a scholarship requires that you understand what the group offering it is looking for. Make yourself look like the person that they would like to represent and promote their company, college, etc., and you could walk away with the free college education you want. Be honest, though, in what you write - and you’ll be glad you did.

Stay on top of everything related to student financial aid on FinancialAidFinder. The free website, from Mark B. Allen, includes a weekly summary of college scholarships and blog posts explaining how to complete scholarship applications, utilize student loans, apply for grants, and much more.

Tips For Reducing School Violence

Violence seems to be on the rise among young people in school. Fighting, attacks and shooting are becoming more and more common all the time. Parents and communities need to take the steps to improve family and school relationships in order to create a happy, healthy environment for students that will result in less violence and more success for students everywhere. Only when parents, teachers, religious and community leaders work together will there be a dramatic reduction in harmful school violence.

It is important to note that the most common reason for school violence is low self-esteem. Students who perpetrate school violence tend to have low self-esteem. Often these young people have been the victims of verbal abuse throughout their childhood at home, at school or both. All parents, teachers and students need to learn the importance of treating other people with respect. As human beings we all have our differences and we don’t always “like” everyone, but there is no excuse for verbal abuse or “put downs”, not even under the guise of “joking around”. Schools that implement a zero tolerance policy on “teasing” have a tendency to report far fewer incidences of school violence than those where this behavior is ignored or even encouraged.

It is important for educators to be on the lookout for symptoms that a child is being verbally or physically abused at home and file the proper reports. All children need proper love and nurturing in their homes to become responsible productive adults. Teachers should also be aware that a kind word from them can make all the difference to a child suffering from abuse or neglect. Often the most difficult children to deal with need the most approval and support. Telling a child you are proud of them can help to encourage more positive behavior and change the path of a person’s life. You never know when you will be the one person, the only person, who ever gave them a reason to believe in themselves and try.

School violence has tragic consequences for everyone involved whether it is abusive behaviors at school that make people feel unsafe and destroys their self-esteem or shootings that take the lives of innocent people and shake up entire communities and even the whole country. School violence is something that affects everyone whether they are in school, have children or grandchildren in school, or not. The world does not feel like a safe place to be when children are being killed in school.

Community and religious leaders can also be on the lookout for destructive behaviors at a young age. They can help provide parenting classes and resources to help parents deal with stress and provide a stable environment for children. They can also encourage the zero tolerance policy in schools. Neighbors can also shoulder some of the responsibility. People need to stop minding their own business and report suspected child abuse before it is too late. Ending school violence should be a priority for everyone and only when everyone works together will this problem be solved.

Ray Subs is a public relations consultant who works with Bianca Tora. For more information about dealing with depression in Children visit her site here.

Bussa, Leader With Heart

In the history of Barbados there may not have been a more dominant voice of freedom then the Barbados captive (formerly of Africa) Bussa. Bussa was captured and brought to the island of Barbados by force where he was enslaved in the 18th century on the Barleys plantation. Bussa was the leader of one of the first slave revolts of Barbados in years. He literally fought for the slaves as leader of the revolt back in 1816. The revolt pitted imprisoned slaves against the bigots and plantation owners of Barbados. Bussa’s drive, fight and determination lead him to derive a great plan for freedom. Bussa’s great involvement in the harsh defiance of authority led the Barbados revolt, later to be known as Bussa’s Rebellion.

Perhaps a man of mystery in Barbados lore, as not much surrounds his past, besides his leadership in the revolt. He was known to be a precise leader on the plantation and in a strange way kept the other slaves motivated, it is apparent that his leadership led to the revolt and him at the forefront. The uprising took estate owners by surprise. The slaves were ready and wanted their freedom on this day and for years to come. This was not meant to be a fly by night operation, but a monumental change.

Bussa and an estimated four hundred slaves battled relentlessly for their respective freedom, but failed. Bussa himself was killed in battle, as well as many of his “Freedom Fighters”. The slaves were out manned and out powered, especially where weapons were concerned. The slaves simply could not match the firepower of those from the estates. Rumor has it that the fighters went down shouting their leaders name, no doubt knowing what his significance was to be for the future of Barbados.

In the history of Barbados there may not have been a more dominant voice of freedom then the Barbados captive (formerly of Africa) Bussa. Bussa was captured and brought to the island of Barbados by force where he was enslaved in the 18th century on the Barleys plantation. Bussa was the leader of one of the first slave revolts of Barbados in years. He literally fought for the slaves as leader of the revolt back in 1816. The revolt pitted imprisoned slaves against the bigots and plantation owners of Barbados. Bussa’s drive, fight and determination lead him to derive a great plan for freedom. Bussa’s great involvement in the harsh defiance of authority led the Barbados revolt, later to be known as Bussa’s Rebellion.

Perhaps a man of mystery in Barbados lore, as not much surrounds his past, besides his leadership in the revolt. He was known to be a precise leader on the plantation and in a strange way kept the other slaves motivated, it is apparent that his leadership led to the revolt and him at the forefront. The uprising took estate owners by surprise. The slaves were ready and wanted their freedom on this day and for years to come. This was not meant to be a fly by night operation, but a monumental change.

Bussa and an estimated four hundred slaves battled relentlessly for their respective freedom, but failed. Bussa himself was killed in battle, as well as many of his “Freedom Fighters”. The slaves were out manned and out powered, especially where weapons were concerned. The slaves simply could not match the firepower of those from the estates. Rumor has it that the fighters went down shouting their leaders name, no doubt knowing what his significance was to be for the future of Barbados.

Although Bussa derived a great plan, he was not alone. Washinton Franklin and Nanny Grigg assisted Bussa. Washington was a mulatto who has been credited with the plan to surprise the estate owners. Grigg was an elder slave and fought for reform. The people of Barbados are still grateful today. A local sculptor in the late 80’s constructed a large statue of Bussa, which was erected in his honor, thus keeping his memory alive. Thousands of marchers took to the streets and sang a folk song known to those in Barbados, in his honor.

The lyrics to the folk song can be seen on the side of the statue and read as follows:

“De Ting Come From England

To Set We Free now Lick

and Lock-Up Done Wid

Hurrah Fuh Jin-Jin…”

It is clear that Bussa was a man who commanded great respect, but never asked for it. It may have been his natural leadership that led him to gain the respect of the people of Barbados. Unlike other activist or leaders Bussa did not just talk about what needed to be done, he literally went out and fought for it. That is why a man so little is known about, still lives on today on the island of Barbados.

For more information on Barbados and Antigua, visit http://www.barbadosmicroblog.com and http://www.antiguamicroblog.com.

A History Of Lincoln Part 1

Lincoln has a number of major tourist attractions, the main one being that Lincoln is the capital of Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire is one the biggest counties in England and is a key shire county. Despite the impression that most people have Lincolnshire is far from flat. True, out towards the east coast and the Wash, the county is flat due to the land being reclaimed from the sea. However as you go inland towards Stamford and Grantham the county becomes underrating. The further north of the county you go the hillier it becomes. Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle are high on a hill overlooking the City of Lincoln.

To the north and North West of Lincoln you enter the famous Lincolnshire Wolds and the long hills and shallow valleys before eventually meeting the river Humber.

Back in Lincoln on the hill overlooking the old city is Lincoln Castle.

William the Conqueror’s Castle & The Observatory Tower.

When William the Conqueror defeated King Harold at The Battle of Hastings on the 14 October 1066 he still faced resistance to his rule in the north of England. For a number of years William’s position was very insecure and in order to project his influence over the people, he felt it necessary to construct a number of castles in the north and midlands of England. It was at this time that the new King built major castles at Warwick, Nottingham and York. Once in control of York, the Conqueror turned southwards and arrived at the Roman and Viking city of Lincoln.

When William reached Lincoln he found a Viking trading centre with a population of 8,000. The remains of the old Roman walled fortress located some 200 ft above the countryside to the south and west, proved a strategic position to construct a new castle. Also, Lincoln represented a vital crossroads of the following Roman routes, The Ermine Street, a major Roman road and very important north-south route connecting London and York.

The Fosse Way - another important Roman route connecting Lincoln with the city of Leicester and the south-west of England. The Valley of the River Trent - a major river giving access to the River Ouse, and thus the major city of York. The River Witham - a waterway that afforded access to both the Rivers Trent and the North Sea via The Wash. The Lincolnshire Wolds - an upland area to the northeast, which overlooks the Lincolnshire Marsh.

William saw how a castle here could guard several of the main strategic routes and form part of a network of strongholds of the Norman Kingdom, roughly the area of the country that is today referred to as the East Midlands. It could also form a center from which troops could be sent to repel Scandinavian landings anywhere on the coast from the Trent to the Welland.

The castle was built in the south-west corner of the upper walled town, the remainder of which was occupied by the town. The Doomsday Book entry for Lincoln records how 166 residences were knocked down to make way for the castle. Of the original 1164 residences, 600 will have been in the upper town.

Work on the new fortification was completed in 1068. It is probable that at first a wooden keep was constructed which was later replaced with a much stronger stone one. Lincoln castle has two motes. To the south, where the Roman wall stands on the edge of a steep slope, it was retained partially as a curtain wall and partially as a revetment retaining the motes. In the west, where the ground is more level, the Roman wall was buried within an earth rampart and extended upward to form the Norman castle wall.

Duncan Seth-Smith - CityLocal Lincoln Lincoln Lincoln Business Directory Lincoln News Lincoln Events Lincoln Free Adverts

This Devil is Kind of Cute

Down in Tasmania, beady little eyes watch you, eyes of a devil, the Tasmanian devil that is. Tasmania is the only known habitat for this little creature. Tasmania is an island separated from Australia by the Bass Strait (a channel running 80 –150 miles long). It’s a mountain island similar to Australia; its climate changes moderately. This is probably why the creatures have inhabited it for well over hundreds of years. This little guy is no bigger than the family pet, but not always as sweet and a tad bit more muscular. They possess a strong jaw and are black in color with some white spotting towards the backside. They have an odor that can rival a skunk when they feel pressured.

For a small guy, the little devil picks on large prey such as Lizards and Kangaroos. Those inhabitants of Tasmania like to hide up in the hills and are generally loners, but sometimes dine with others. They are excellent night hunters and they are known to hold fat in their tail and one can tell it by the thickness of their tail, if ill. Hunters and farmers protecting their farm animals are the main cause of their death of late, not to mention a fast spreading cancer that has aided in their demise. Their average life expectancy is about six years. Those that remain in Tasmania are part of what is considered to be the only meat-eating marsupials around today.

The mating season in Tasmania is generally in the spring. The female is most fertile when reaching about two years of age. The male devils battle for the right to be with the female, who usually chooses the victor. If the male is not careful the female will wonder off after mating, so one should keep his eye out on his prize.

The lucky female will give birth to about 30 tots. The young, like the males will battle for the mother’s pouch, as there is only room for about four at a time. With age the pouch will shrink, so some younglings have it tougher than others finding a place to feed. Once settled in the pouch they will nestle there for about 100 days, feeding from the female’s nipple.

The devil, which has become a symbol for Australia, Tasmania to be exact, is honored in many different ways. National Parks use the devil as symbols as well have some sports teams and it’s even imprinted on an Australian coin. Literature and film have taken a liking to the furry imp; as well as it is the subject to many tours in Tasmania, as well as Australia. Perhaps Tasmania was put on the map with the creation of Warner Brother’s Tasmanian devil, Taz, a hot-tempered little bugger. He was so popular that in the early 90’s he received his own TV show called “Taz-Mania”. Not bad for a little critter found in the land down under, more commonly known as Australia, or to the devil, Tasmania.

For more information on Tasmania, Australia, visit http://www.tasmaniamicroblog.com and http://www.blogtasmania.com.

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