I am taking a writing class. It is supposed to be autobiographical but not everyone writes what I would consider an autobiography. Some of the aspiring authors write about something that has happened in their life recently. We each read our most recent attempt and the size of the class varies from about 12 to 20 people. We meet twice a month.
It's fascinating to listen to the myriad experiences that have happened to virtual strangers. We are all so different and have had such a lot of things happen to us. One lady was born in Hawaii to a comfortably well off family and recently told us about her teenage and college years, which included how she met her husband and acted in school plays.
Another woman is a nurse, born in Germany and has written in detail about her training. Naturally some of my classmates write more interestingly than others. There are a couple that are so boring you hate to listen ! I usually deliberately turn my mind to other thoughts when it's their turn to read.
Our teacher is great ! He is very spiritual and kind. He has psychic abilities and worked at one point as a water dowser. He also helped various law enforcement agencies find missing persons. He did my horoscope for me recently, and it'is different to any I've seen before as he likes to use the Chinese data.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics
July 4th, or Independence Day brings back many fond memories of fireworks day in England, which is celebrated on November 5th as Bonfire Day or Guy Fawkes Day. This was originally known as Gunpowder Treason Day. In the year 1605, a group of mostly Catholic conspirators were arrested for attempting to blow up parliament on November 5th, the day that King James I was scheduled to officially reopen the next parliamentary session. Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators had hidden gunpowder in the basement and he had entered the building to ignite it when he was arrested. Someone had alerted the authorities ! During the years prior to that attempt Catholics were discriminated against in numerous ways and the plotters hoped to start a rebellion after the explosion. Unfortunately after most of the perpetrators were arrested, even more punitive and discriminatory laws were passed. There is even a nursery rhyme which begins: "Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot..." (full words below)
My older brother, Richard, and I would save our money for weeks in advance to buy fireworks, which were kept in boxes under our beds. Our collections were a source of huge excitement. We were always strongly cautioned by our mother on the dangers, although I realize now that our bedrooms were not the best place to store them ! There were Catherine wheels, sparklers, fountains, squibs and rockets. My mother always did the lighting, at least until my brother was in his teens.
There was also the community bonfire. This was an enormous pile of wood provided by various people in the neighborhood and piled in a large field near our house. It could be 15 or more feet high. On top of this someone would place an effigy of Guy Fawkes, which is somewhat like a scarecrow except that the clothes are stuffed with crumpled newspaper. Children will often display these to passersby and ask for money to spend on fireworks, by saying "A penny for the guy ?", although we were not allowed to do this. We didn't always go to see bonfire burn, as November in England is frequently cold and rainy, but once lit, the heat from the pile was tremendous.
While doing my research, I learned the following about fireworks:
They originated in the Far East, most likely in China, though possibly India, but were used as far back as 600 AD. Apparently bamboo sticks placed on a fire often have air bubbles that explode when burned. The noise must have been terrifying to the unitiated and soon they were being used to scare away evil spirits. Later saltpeter, honey and arsenic disulfide were placed inside bamboo tubes and used to deter enemies, though it wasn't long before someone came up with the idea of using them as weapons.
Fireworks ingredients today are of the exact same proportions as those used in the 11th century. Marco Polo introduced fireworks to Italy in 1292 , from whence they became popular throughout Europe. Kings used them at coronations, weddings and religious festivals. Music was commissioned from famous composers to accompany the displays, which were grander than those of today. By 1830 Florence, Italy had a factory that produced most of the fireworks in Europe. The Italians invented pyrotechnics, the art and science of fireworks, creating families of pyrotechnic artists almost like royalty and carrying the tradition for generations.
The first record of Europeans using rockets in warfare was in 1379 at the siege of Chioggia, Italy. The Italians used the term "rochetto", taking the name from yarn-making spools with a similar shape, but later, the British changed this to rocket. In the 16th century a Romanian, Conrad Haas, conceived 2-stage rockets, as well as rockets designed to explode on impact. He also came up with the concept of fins, instead of a stick, to balance the rockets.
Over the years it was found that trace amounts of metals caused special effects. Titanium causes sparks, zinc: clouds, calcium deepens colors, blue from copper, gold from aluminum and magnesium, green: barium salts, red: strontium salts, yellow: sodium salts, and white: aluminum and magnesium.
Every year thousands of people are injured by fireworks both in the United States and England and each time there is a push to ban them. Many cities have banned them due to the fire hazard, though they are usually still sold and legal in large cities where there is no dry and incendiary vegetation. Even where they are banned and there are large public fireworks displays to watch there are usually a few brave souls who still light their own !
***********************************************
Traditional English Rhyme - 17th Century)
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow
By God's providence he was catched
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holloa boys, holloa boys
God save the King!
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
A penny loaf to feed ol' Pope
A farthing cheese to choke him
A pint of beer to rinse it down
A faggot of sticks to burn him
Burn him in a tub of tar
Burn him like a blazing star
Burn his body from his head
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
July 4th, or Independence Day brings back many fond memories of fireworks day in England, which is celebrated on November 5th as Bonfire Day or Guy Fawkes Day. This was originally known as Gunpowder Treason Day. In the year 1605, a group of mostly Catholic conspirators were arrested for attempting to blow up parliament on November 5th, the day that King James I was scheduled to officially reopen the next parliamentary session. Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators had hidden gunpowder in the basement and he had entered the building to ignite it when he was arrested. Someone had alerted the authorities ! During the years prior to that attempt Catholics were discriminated against in numerous ways and the plotters hoped to start a rebellion after the explosion. Unfortunately after most of the perpetrators were arrested, even more punitive and discriminatory laws were passed. There is even a nursery rhyme which begins: "Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot..." (full words below)
My older brother, Richard, and I would save our money for weeks in advance to buy fireworks, which were kept in boxes under our beds. Our collections were a source of huge excitement. We were always strongly cautioned by our mother on the dangers, although I realize now that our bedrooms were not the best place to store them ! There were Catherine wheels, sparklers, fountains, squibs and rockets. My mother always did the lighting, at least until my brother was in his teens.
There was also the community bonfire. This was an enormous pile of wood provided by various people in the neighborhood and piled in a large field near our house. It could be 15 or more feet high. On top of this someone would place an effigy of Guy Fawkes, which is somewhat like a scarecrow except that the clothes are stuffed with crumpled newspaper. Children will often display these to passersby and ask for money to spend on fireworks, by saying "A penny for the guy ?", although we were not allowed to do this. We didn't always go to see bonfire burn, as November in England is frequently cold and rainy, but once lit, the heat from the pile was tremendous.
While doing my research, I learned the following about fireworks:
They originated in the Far East, most likely in China, though possibly India, but were used as far back as 600 AD. Apparently bamboo sticks placed on a fire often have air bubbles that explode when burned. The noise must have been terrifying to the unitiated and soon they were being used to scare away evil spirits. Later saltpeter, honey and arsenic disulfide were placed inside bamboo tubes and used to deter enemies, though it wasn't long before someone came up with the idea of using them as weapons.
Fireworks ingredients today are of the exact same proportions as those used in the 11th century. Marco Polo introduced fireworks to Italy in 1292 , from whence they became popular throughout Europe. Kings used them at coronations, weddings and religious festivals. Music was commissioned from famous composers to accompany the displays, which were grander than those of today. By 1830 Florence, Italy had a factory that produced most of the fireworks in Europe. The Italians invented pyrotechnics, the art and science of fireworks, creating families of pyrotechnic artists almost like royalty and carrying the tradition for generations.
The first record of Europeans using rockets in warfare was in 1379 at the siege of Chioggia, Italy. The Italians used the term "rochetto", taking the name from yarn-making spools with a similar shape, but later, the British changed this to rocket. In the 16th century a Romanian, Conrad Haas, conceived 2-stage rockets, as well as rockets designed to explode on impact. He also came up with the concept of fins, instead of a stick, to balance the rockets.
Over the years it was found that trace amounts of metals caused special effects. Titanium causes sparks, zinc: clouds, calcium deepens colors, blue from copper, gold from aluminum and magnesium, green: barium salts, red: strontium salts, yellow: sodium salts, and white: aluminum and magnesium.
Every year thousands of people are injured by fireworks both in the United States and England and each time there is a push to ban them. Many cities have banned them due to the fire hazard, though they are usually still sold and legal in large cities where there is no dry and incendiary vegetation. Even where they are banned and there are large public fireworks displays to watch there are usually a few brave souls who still light their own !
***********************************************
Traditional English Rhyme - 17th Century)
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow
By God's providence he was catched
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holloa boys, holloa boys
God save the King!
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
A penny loaf to feed ol' Pope
A farthing cheese to choke him
A pint of beer to rinse it down
A faggot of sticks to burn him
Burn him in a tub of tar
Burn him like a blazing star
Burn his body from his head
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
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