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Showing posts from 2020

The night swim

30 charities described in one sentence

30 books described in one sentence

30 philosophies described in one sentence

My brother left alone with Prince charles

Wining a public speaking competition

I became my families barber during quarantine

Do something everyday that scares you

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck ǀ Book Review

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Reading a Mice and Men is the only experience I have with reading Steinbeck's work. From what I remember I didn't enjoy reading that book until the final few paragraphs so with this book I prepared myself for the long haul. This book follows the Joads as they make there way from the central states out to California to find work. What makes this interesting is the large lack of work actually in California. Then why did they go? That is what you are probably thinking. Well that is where this books true point comes across. Steinbeck uses dramatic irony before many major events. Before the Joads actually experience a moment there is a chapter referring to what is about to happen, in detail, but not from the Joad's perspective. Sometimes from someone in the scene, sometimes from an anonymous narrator that only pops up in these chapters. What this does is allow you to view every situation from multiple perspectives, giving an insight into different people and there views upon soc...

A week in the life of at a Cyber Security company

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It seemed like it was pretty simple. Everyone idolised the job. Lots of money and lots of fun - what more could you ask for.  That is the impression I got online when researching a career in cyber security. You know, becoming an ethical hacker, like you see in the movies, typing away at 500 words per minute, changing the world as we know it and becoming the Robin Hood of the online world. I'm writing this not to put you off but to give some of my thoughts and feelings after spending my weeks work experience at a cyber security firm. Hopefully giving off a more truthful review than the people that portray it as the greatest career in the world with no negatives. "ha, the only problem is how you are going to spend all that money, ha ha... -  very funny.. First I'll let you know a bit about me so you get a sense of the lens through which I am looking at this career with. I am a sporty kid,  and was 16 when I actually did the work experience and studied computer science for m...

What is competitive sailing?

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People often tell me sailing isn't a sport, or at least that they don't understand it. The purpose of this blog is to explain it. There are 5 main disciplines of sailing which are known as Fleet racing, Handicap racing, Pursuit racing, Match racing and Team racing. The first, fleet racing, is the racing done competitively by many sailors and is the type of racing done at the Olympics. In this form of racing everyone races each other around a course in the same boat.  Second, handicap, is the type of racing done at most local lakes - slightly less competitive generally. It is where boats of different speeds race each other and the time it takes them to finish the course is recorded and then put into a system that adjusts everyone's time so that faster boats are given a handicap. Eg. no matter how slow your boat you can still win the race if you sail well. Thirdly, pursuit racing, is where the slowest boat sets off first then at specific intervals other faster boats set off. ...

Why you should read Born to Run

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Born to run is a fascinating book that dramatically altered the beliefs of a large population of one of the largest communities in the world, runners.  In summary the book suggests that, like the Mexican tribe Tarahumara, we should all run barefoot. If your anyone who hasn't read the book you might well be thinking that that sounds stupid. Why would you risk injuring and slowing yourself down? Well, despite what every doctor, physiotherapist and parent has every told you, Christopher McDougall suggests that we should run without these shoes. They lock up our feet - he goes as far as to say that wearing that nice pare of Nike running shoes actually increases your chance of injury. Don't let that confuse you, this is not a scientific myth buster - as the books slogan (the hidden tribe, the ultra runners, the greatest race the world has never seen) suggests this book is far more than that. In fact it is an adventure fuelled, slightly novelised, true story that has invigorated huge...

Tv shows I watched as an early 2000s kid

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Bottle top bill and his best friend corky   Bob the builder   Tomas the tank engine Postman pat Rory the racing car Jamie and his magic torch Mr Ben Captain pugwash   Deadly 60 Art attack Blue peter Horrible histories Total wipeout   Shaun the sheep Scooby doo (show, mystery incorporated) Mr men Fireman Sam   Topsy and Tim   Tintin The magic roundabout   Ooglies Wallace and Gromit   Mr bean Merlin Wild weather Numberjacks Tom and Jerry   Ben 10 Pokimon Big Bang   What-a-mess Noddy   Pingu   Jakers   Horrid Henry   Deadly 60 Beyblades Pokemon Ben 10 Bonus Disney movies: Movies The jungle book Bambi   Dumbo 101 dalmations The lion king Robin Hood   Winne the poo Sleeping beauty Lady and the tramp Aladdin  

5 points on How to Tell a Story that makes people Want to Listen

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Tell it in the present tense, from your perspective Identify the key 5 second moment - that is the end Start should relate to the story but have many opposite characteristics  - this ensures the story arc is clear Even if performing to an audience tell it as if you were at a dinner party

the Best FREE ebooks

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All of these, and many more, can be found free on the apple books store on any apple device: The republic   Beyond good and evil The prince The jungle book The art of war Greek mythology   Norse mythology   Dream psychology   Pride and prejudice   Withering heights Dracula Frankenstein The great gatsby Great expectations   The adventures of Sherlock Holmes   Spring snow The sailor who fell from grace with the sea A tale of two cities The strange cases of Dr Jekyll and mr Hyde   Les miserable The count of monte cristo Peter Pan Robinson Crusoe   Dream psychology   The jungle book Alice in wonderland   The wizard of oz Politics: a treatise on government Laws Of course you can get most books free simply by putting the title along with free pdf into google... but you didn't hear that from me.

some Books I want to read before I die...

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The intelligent investor Jurassic park Frankenstein A devils chaplain The undercover economist The establishment House of cards War and peace Brave new world Quantum Who runs Britain   White fang Tickling the English   To kill a mockingbird Johnathon Livingston seagull Far from the madding crowd A world of my own Mobyy dick The count of monte cristo sapiens a handmaids tale The republic   Beyond good and evil The prince The jungle book The art of war Greek mythology   Norse mythology   Dream psychology   Pride and prejudice   Withering heights Dracula Frankenstein The great gatsby Great expectations   The adventures of Sherlock Holmes   Spring snow The sailor who fell from grace with the sea A tale of two cities Jekyll and Hyde   The strange cases of Dr Jekyll and mr Hyde   Les miserable The count of monte cristo Peter Pan Robinson Crusoe   Dream psychology   The jungle book Alice in wonderland   The wizard of oz Poli...