Covid-19 Research - genuine or a scam?

You Want To Help

Some of us will do anything we can to help. If we don't give money, at least we can give time. However, some of us are suspicious of anything, including anything from the government. However, they can't make sensible decisions without information.

But, even if we trust the government, and it claims to come from the government, is it really from them? How do I know it didn't just pop up, sent by hacker's computerized system, seeing me on a government website? I have been approached by various organizations asking if I would volunteer for Covid-19 research. What made me stop and think? Or stop completely?

1 You might sign up and find that if you are not permanently resident in the country organizing the results that you are not eligible. Problem solved. I won't waste my time - and they won't waste theirs.

This is perfectly reasonable. Each country puts out its own statistics and makes its own predictions. Every morning my husband who is a statistician check the statistics of Covid-19 in half a dozen countries.  Meanwhile, what am I doing? 

Personal Questions

In one case I spent half an hour on a survey. Then, at the end, they wanted to know my income, and other personal questions. Why? I can see that certain questions would help them understand whether certain people are more vulnerable, or have certain attitudes. However, most government surveys allow you to say 'prefer not to answer'. 

I suspected that the purpose of the survey was either to collect personal information, or to ask for money. So I discontinued answering.

Time

I also like to know how long a survey will take before I start. And if it is a long survey, whether I can stop and resume later. If I get a phone call or a delivery and come back and find my survey has timed out, I am not prepared to spend 30 minutes on a supposedly ten minute survey on a busy day.

Scam Search

Another solution would be to search for scams. Or to search for other sites referring disparagingly to the so-called government survey. 

Government Warnings

Also search for scams information on the government's own site. 

Bank Warnings

You know not to give away your credit card details or your password unless you have checked you are in a genuine website. If anybody wants you to do something 'urgently', it's probably a scam to prevent you checking with your family or other websites.

Who Is The sender?

If you get an email, check where it is from. Even if it claims to be from a bank or government, is it their usual font?

Many banks and government agencies have websites which include a page of warnings about scams, telling you what the government or bank will never do.

UK

From my UK GP a link:

 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/research/

But first check

https://www.ons.gov.uk/surveys/informationforhouseholdsandindividuals/protectingyoufromfraud

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/scams/coronavirus-scam-calls-and-texts

Singapore

https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/general/clarifications

USA

https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/consumer-alerts/fraud-alert-covid-19-scams/

About the author of this travel blog

Angela Lansbury is British born and bred but has also lived in the USA, Spain and Spingapore and visited countries around the worl

She is a semi-retired teacher of English language and literature and a member of Toastmasters International and five clubs, Harrovians in the UK, three in Singapore (BHA and TCA and Senja-Cashew), a club coach for Nee Soon South, and a member of online only club, Singapore Online Dynamic. To find a club go to Toastmasters International Find a club or look on Facebook. BHA meets the first Wednesday evening each month, login 6.45 for 7 pm start Singapore time (SGT), which is noon in London UK, during British summer time, until clocks go back the last Sunday in October when the UK reverts to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

The Bata Shoe-Box Shape Museum in Canada shows shoes, people and politics

Picture from wikipedia article on Bata Shoe Museum.
 

Shoes belonging to Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Queen Victoria, and people living hundreds of years ago are displayed here. The museum is band up to date and you see shoes in their cultural context, and the workshops making shoes.

Queen Victoria's shoes.

The museum' motto is one step at a time. That is how I found it, one step at a time. I moved from writing a blog on my dressofthedayangela.blogspot to reading about Siebel shoes, then the shoe museum in Germany, then the listing of shoe museums worldwide and then Bata shoe museum in Canada. What I remember vividly from the Bata Shoe Museum website is not about shoes but about the Bata wife who took a collection of hundreds of shoes her family collected to make a museum.

Running The Museum

Her name was Sonja and she married into the Bata family in 1946. That would put her into her nineties today if she married at the age of 15 to 25.

She resisted attempts to make it a government organization. Government control would have earned funding, which she did not need. 

Instead, she wanted control over everything including where it was to be built, and the design of the building. And no doubt which shoe companies were featured. 

All fascinating stuff, politics, people in conflict, all with their own agenda, which you don't always think about when seeing a museum which is privately owned or not.  I usually think, they gave their family home, or museum, to the people of the city. That was generous of them. A chance for the place to be free or subsidized. Open to all. In perpetuity.

On the other hand, I know that many museums are left more items than they can display. Paintings, sculpture, furniture, much more, sits in storage never seen nor enjoyed by anybody. At least if a painting were hung on the wall of a home or a restaurant or town hall, a few people would see it.

The Building's Entrance

At first glance, the building looked rather dull, a large white oblong, with a pleasing coloured central design, nothing to do with shoes. However, it is actually meant to look like the shape of a shoe box. The roof is supposed to be tilted like the lid of a shoe box. The building is three storeys high, so you would not necessarily notice the roof and general shape from ground level. I didn't register that from the photo, until I read the Wikipedia account more carefully.

However, a close of of the entrance shows the glass doorway. Looking back at the over all view, I can see that when you approach on foot it looks completely different.

What's Displayed Inside?

The world's largest collection of footwear. 13,000 shoes. Dating back more than 4,000 years.

Not all made by Bata. They weren't around 4,000 years ago. 

I am more interested in contemporary shoes which I might buy and wear, once an idea becomes popular and affordable. So I can see that they have to select the most interesting items to display or send away on travelling exhibitions. Especially with Covid-19, even more so, the travel wheel and affordability wheel has swung around and once again many people cannot travel. Museums and exhibitions display items from around the world.

The history of the company reveals much more of general interest. The garden city. The co-op idea. The modern architecture.

The online shops sells books on shoes, a boot deodorizer, a colouring book, a pack of playing cards featuring shoes, a tote bag with a shoe pattern, shoe wipes, and a high heel shoe magnet with the words Pumped up!

Where Is It

Toronto

Ontario

Canada

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bata_Shoe_Museum

https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/restored-modernist-architecture-tomas-bata-memorial-zlin-petr-vsetecka

https://batashoemuseum.ca/

About the Author

About the author of this travel blog

Angela Lansbury is British born and bred but has also lived in the USA, Spain and Spingapore and visited countries around the worl

She is a semi-retired teacher of English language and literature and a member of Toastmasters International and five clubs, Harrovians in the UK, three in Singapore (BHA and TCA and Senja-Cashew), a club coach for Nee Soon South, and a member of online only club, Singapore Online Dynamic. To find a club go to Toastmasters International Find a club or look on Facebook. BHA meets the first Wednesday evening each month, login 6.45 for 7 pm start Singapore time (SGT), which is noon in London UK, during British summer time, until clocks go back the last Sunday in October when the UK reverts to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

The German Shoe Museum

 

Shoe Museum, Germany. Picture from Wikipedia.

As Nike said, just do it.

I was researching Josef Seibel shoes, red sandals, leather with Velcro, when I came across this museum. I looked at Wikipedia first and from there was led to the factory's own website. It has a button to click on for British English. However, I could recognize the words Hier klicken.

The shoes history dates back to the 1880s. You also learn about how in the early days ex-soldiers made shoes for a living.  Then the effects of wartime in WW2.

They display the largest shoe in the world, clearly not for wearing, about the size of a small camel.

The museum is closed for renovation all winter until Feb 2022. That will soon come around. Hopefully, we will be able to travel more by then. At least their website and news should be up and running.

The main production and shopping in this area is for shoes. What next?

Landau

The nearest big town is Landau, which has a zoo, and an art museum. Landau is the surname of several Ashkenazis (German Jewish families - many of whom came to the UK just in time before WW2). A landau is also the name of a carriage.

Useful Website

https://everipedia.org/wiki/lang_en/josef-seibel

http://www.museum-hauenstein.de/schuh_museum/

https://www.walkingonacloud.ca/blog/the-story-behind-josef-seibel-shoes/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landau_(carriage)

About the Author

I have other blogs on travel. Meet me at Toastmasters International meetings. Link up with me on Facebook.

Please share links to your favourite posts.

What other shoe museums are there? Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. See next post.

Kosher crackers and kosher Ice Cream? What is kosher ice cream? With Pork Or Without Pork? Where do you get it? Who cares about it? UK, USA.

Baskin Robbins, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex, UK, sells kosher ice creams. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Next door is Tesco Express which sells kosher food and kosher wine.

Tesco Express branches, and larger branches of Tesco, as well as other supermarkets in the UK, sell items with kosher labels such as these crackers (matzos) by Rakusens. Photo by Angela Lansbury

Here is the kosher symbol from rakusens crackers. You can buy kosher goods in Tesco in Hatch End, for friends or family or yourself, or a gift. But many people don't realise that next door to Tesco in Baskin Robbins you can buy kosher ice cream.

 I was in Baskin Robbins when I saw a sign about kosher ice cream. Afterwards I went online and discovered that Tesco online also sold kosher ice cream.

Tesco online sells several brands, Haagen Dazs, Ben and Jerry's, and Swedish (soy sorbet).

What could be non kosher in ice cream? Surely nobody uses pork in ice cream?

Yes, they do. In the USA. 

USA Ham Ice Cream

For example, Windy Brow Farms in New Jersey, USA makes a ham and French toast ice cream, salt with honey for sweetness, as well as vegan and other ice cream.

Pork in Ice Cream

Less obvious pork products can be ice cream. Stabilizers can contain gelatin from pigs or non-kosher cows.

Kosher & Halal

I looked up the differences between kosher and halal products. On both sides, kosher and halal, the strictly orthodox have different rules from more liberal groups. Among the differences, which were new to me, camel and rabbit appear to be halal but not kosher. The blood is removed from meat by Jews using water and salt, by Moslems by using vinegar.  

Shellfish & Alergies

Some people would be happy enough to buy a product which was not obviously containing shellfish. (Orthodox Jews and those with allergies.  I have allergies). 

Other might be concerned that the premises and production process should be check to ensure no cross-contamination of work surfaces and machinery. Or even handling by non Jews who might be idolators. 

Quite a few ideas which were totally new to me.

In addition to this there are the covid-19 regulations about how many in the shop, eating cones in the doorway.

We bought our ice creams, I chose pistachio, and we trotted home happily.

Useful Websites

KOSHER (& others not Kosher)

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/shop/frozen-food/ice-cream-ice-lollies-and-frozen-desserts/ice-cream-tubs/all?dietary=Kosher

https://www.graeters.com/kosher-ice-cream (USA)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Islamic_and_Jewish_dietary_laws

https://www.kashrut.com/consumer/ice_cream/

Ham, or vegan, or other ice cream from 

windybrowfarms.com

About the author of this travel blog

Angela Lansbury is British born and bred but has also lived in the USA, Spain and Spingapore and visited countries around the worl

She is a semi-retired teacher of English language and literature and a member of Toastmasters International and five clubs, Harrovians in the UK, three in Singapore (BHA and TCA and Senja-Cashew), a club coach for Nee Soon South, and a member of online only club, Singapore Online Dynamic. To find a club go to Toastmasters International Find a club or look on Facebook. BHA meets the first Wednesday evening each month, login 6.45 for 7 pm start Singapore time (SGT), which is noon in London UK, during British summer time, until clocks go back the last Sunday in October when the UK reverts to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Tasty Turkish Food At Izgara Restaurant, Hatch End - what to order

 You can't miss Izgara with its wide frontage by day, and at night jumping flames. It evoked imperial Rome come to life, all excitement. My family already liked their branch in Edgware and were keen to try out their Turkish food in Hatch End.

Seating, Warmth, Welcome & Atmosphere 

The sign at the door said wait to be seated, but our group included a mother was not willing to wait outside in the cold with baby.  The manager in charge of seating rushed over to intercept us, to seat us and perhaps avoid crowding at the door in Covid-19 times. He was welcoming and immediately understood mother's concern about cold. He selected an indoor table far from the open sided front. The waiter who took the order was Greek and also engaging.

I loved the purple inside.

Interior at Izgara.

Five of us wanted a table late on Sunday night when it felt like Saturday, bustle and brimming with people, couples, foursomes and a jolly party at the far end. They laughed so much I wanted to rush over and ask them for ideas for my humorous speech contest. They were taking selfies and laughing at the results. Maybe that's the secret. Take selfies of yourself pulling funny faces and show the pictures to your audience - after they have had a few drinks from the cocktail list.

Cocktail Menu

The cocktail menu included cocktails but we went straight to the food. (The Sprite ordered by our table turned into Fanta, and though the Fanta was sent back it appeared on the bill as Fanta.)

The wine glasses were clearly marked with the measures. 175 ml. 250ml.

The four month old Baby on her back patiently waited for her bottle of milk, whilst being entertained by her grandad who asked her if she liked Turkish food, and did she want the fish or meat? She responded to his raised eyebrows with lovely smiles. This kept all of us amused.  

Food - Starters

The food was faultless, almost. The yogurt and bread was a great way to assuage hunger pangs of one of our members, mother. And as everybody knows from the film title, if Mother ain't happy, nobody's happy. 

The yogurt was just right for counteracting the slightly too spice red something or other.

We asked for the starters and main courses served together. We were hungry and in a hurry. (To get the baby home.) 

My chicken liver starter was perfect. The liver was slightly breaded. The ensemble was enlivened by cooked onions spiced up with some kind of herb. 

Main Courses

 Two sorts of fish, salmon and another, suited the pescatorian (who eats meat at home but keeps kosher). 

We picked and mixed. We were full and had enough food to take home.

No desserts

I never saw the coffee or dessert menu. I think that Covid-19 regulations mean they must reduce the tables and space them, and reduce staff, so the menu is limited.

Take away boxes

They spotted that we had stopped eating and I was holding a plastic lidded box  They brought up four silver foil take away boxes and a brown paper bag with handles.

The bill was 86 UK pounds sterling for four, including service. We had no coffee, nor desserts, nor alcohol.

Baskin Robbins

 However, we crossed the road to Baskin Robbins for ice cream cones. (Described in the next post.)

 I chose pistachio. A large scoop in a conical wafer, enough for two.

A day later I rediscovered the delights of the Turkish food in the take away boxes. (Americans say take out.) The liver was perfect. On a par with my other all time favourite in Hatch End, B & K. (B and K best for take away, kosher style European food and an unpretentious lunch for twosomes  and foursomes at tables for four. Izgara is ideal for a fun evening meal in a big place, more glamorous, for larger groups, at higher prices, two, four or more.)

The next day I was back to the Turkish takeaway of my leftovers and could not believe how good it tasted. Huge chunks of chicken kebab. Aubergine, yummy. Vegetables to tempt those who don't think of themselves as liking vegetables. Yummy. Yes, would I go back. Yes, yes, yes.

Given the oportunity, I might try the baklava, the mango dessert, the lattice apple tart, the figs.

Useful Websites

Izgara in Hatch End

https://www.izgarahatchend.uk/

https://www.izgarahatchend.uk/Izgara-Ala-Cart-Menu.pdf

Izgara in Edgware

http://www.izgararestaurant.co.uk/

Edgware Desserts (when available)

http://izgararestaurant.co.uk/desserts.pdf

About the Author

About the author of this travel blog

Angela Lansbury is British born and bred but has also lived in the USA, Spain and Spingapore and visited countries around the worl

She is a semi-retired teacher of English language and literature.

About the Teacher/Tutor/Trainer

She is a member of Toastmasters International and five clubs, Harrovians in the UK, three in Singapore (BHA and TCA and Senja-Cashew), a club coach for Nee Soon South, and a member of online only club, Singapore Online Dynamic.

 To find a club go to Toastmasters International Find a club or look on Facebook. 

BHA meets the first Wednesday evening each month, login 6.45 for 7 pm start Singapore time (SGT), which is noon in London UK, during British summer time, until clocks go back the last Sunday in October when the UK reverts to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

What Can you read and teach about Judaism, Islam, Christianity and Chinese from the star and Hebrew on a Synagogue or Jewish-built building in Singapore or Worldwide?

 Maghain Aboth synagogue in Singapore. Picture in Wikipedia.

What can you learn about Judaism from the top front of this building which you can see from the other side of the road and in close up photos? Or, if you already know about Judaism, what could you explain when showing a visitor around Singapore or around my blog post?

The Star

First the star. It is a six point star. Everything before and during the lifetime of Jesus was shared by the Jews whose descendants remained Jews as well as those who kept the Torah (first 5 books of Moses) as well as the Chritisans who kept the old Jewish books as the Old Testament and added the stories of Jesus as the New Testament. The star is six pointed, and is known to Moslems as the engaging alliterative seal of Solomon. I saw the six point star on a Muslim building in India. A more popular star for other religions and drawing a star in the sky is a five point star. The one with six points composed of two triangles is easier to draw with a ruler. Another version has it  the star filled in. 

Regarding reading the name of the synagogue, the first thing to notice about Hebrew is that you read from right to left. That\s the same as Arabic. A Moslem girlfriend of mine in Singapore was amazed and delighted to learn this. I remember her eyes opening wide, her mouth wide, her gasp of amazement, her excitement!

Who changed the direction of the alphabet? I don't know. I shall find out and tell you later. 

The Chinese write up and down, side to side, in any direction which suits. In the lifts (elevators) in cashew Heights and other condos, the floor numbers go from top to bottom in one column and then up and down in the second column. Very confusing to the Brits who expect numbers to start at the bottom, go across, then the same upwards. At first sight, getting in and out of the lift fast between floors, it looked random. 

So, I tell my Chinese friends, Hebrew and Arabic words go from right to left. A Chinese friend of mine was not phased, impressed or surprised. To him, just a fact.

Starting from the right, the letters for the Hebrew name of Magain Aboth, shield of our fathers, the first letter is M. It is a curved letter, a bit like a McDonalds arch. 

The vowels are not shown when capital letters are carved onto a building. Think of it as being a bit like text language on a mobile phone. Or Speedwriting. So the next two letter of the first word are G and N. The G is like a G turned around because you are writing in the opposite direction.

The N is the final letter of the word and final letters are either longer or shorter. Think of the English word happily. In the middle of the word we write the i quickly but stick a dot on top to help identify the vowel. Hebrew also has vowels on top, or in the middle, or underneath, to help distinguish them in handwriting, cursive or curved and connected, but may lose the dots and dashes in large or capital letters. The final letter in the English word happily has a curvy tail, a fancy end to the word. Notice fancy and curvy also end with the curvy Y. But the words in and this and cursive and with and middle and final have the short i with the dot in the middle. 

The dots for vowels ai and uh and o are missing from the lettering. However like the i under the dot, you can see placeholders for the missing vowels. What looks a bit like a cross is a placeholder for the A or aleph. The second letter of the word is b, as in alphabet (a Greek word, but the Hebrew is nearly the same, aleph, bet). The b is also facing the other way. It has a curve like the lower half of the letter b. 

The letter for the vowel O is a bit like the letter i. Finally the letter Th looks a bit like the letters t and h scrunched together. Or, if you prefer, just the h with the fancy feet, like the Italic h with a shortened upright.

Here is the Hebrew alphabet in box form which is half way down the article in Wikipedia.

Alef	Bet	Gimel	Dalet	He	Waw/Vav	Zayin	Chet	Tet	Yod	Kaf
א‎	ב‎	ג‎	ד‎	ה‎	ו‎	ז‎	ח‎	ט‎	י‎	כ‎
										ך‎
Lamed	Mem	Nun	Samech	Ayin	Pe	Tsadik	Qof	Resh	Shin	Tav
ל‎	מ‎	נ‎	ס‎	ע‎	פ‎	צ‎	ק‎	ר‎	ש‎	ת‎
	ם‎	ן‎			ף‎	ץ‎

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_alphabet

About the Author

Angela Lansbury, is a semi-retired travel writer still researching bucket list countries and seeking out the special, unusual, people, places,  landmarks, hotels, museums and trails, fabulous foods, recipes, clothes and online souvenir shopping.

Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.

About the Author Angela Lansbury

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President  Public Relations, Immediate Past President. VPPR

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

BHA

Past meetings have included Garen Tee on using story telling in business, on 

bha.learncool.sg/meet/bha . 

Recent meetings of BHA included an educational session on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, always first Wednesday evening, 7 pm Singapore time. Next meeting is  the third Saturday afternoon, June 19th 2pm Singapore time.  Inauguration of the new committee was by the incoming Director of S, plus a lively speech on teamwork.

Next meetings will be on these dates (unless a national holiday in Singapore or worldwide)

Themes and word of the day are tentative

2021

JULY - JUBILANT JULY

Theme/WOD Jubilant

WORKSHOPS & EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (based on level one of Pathways)

1 Your first speech or role EASY ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Articles A and The, Plurals, Tenses, Pronunciation, Singlish)

2 CHOOSE YOUR PATH

Wed July 7th 

Saturday 17th

July 4rh American Independence Day.

2021 AUGUST - AWESOME AUGUST

1 Pathway Level 1 Introductory Speeches

2 Evaluations

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2021 SEPT - SUPER SEPTEMBER

Wed 1st

Sat 18th SPEECH CONTESTS

Humorous Speech Contest

Table Topics Contest

2021 OCT - ODD OCTOBER

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

2021 NOV - NOVELTY NOVEMBER

Wed 3rd

Sat 20th Wed

Diwali Hindu Festival of lights Nov 4th.

Nov 25th American Thanksgiving.

Hanukah starts 28 Dec 8 days until Dec 6. Jewish Festival of lights, celebrated by Jesus.

2021 DEC - DARLING DECEMBER

Wed  1st (Hanukah if not previous month. Festival foods.)

Sat 18th

Speech on 

JAN 2022 - JOYFUL JANUARY

Wed Jan 5th New beginning - forget the past

Sat 15 Long-term plans = for the future/Chinese New Year (CNY for short)

2022 FEB FUN FEBRUARY

Theme Love and romance - Chinese New Year

Feb 1st and 2nd are holidays - do we move this Feb 2nd meeting date?)

Wed 2nd (Valentine's Day Mon Feb 14)

Sat 19th

2022 MAR - MARVELLOUS MARCH

Theme

Wed 2nd

Sat 19

March 1st is Christian Pancake day. 

2022 APR - APRIL'S AIMS

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

Muslim Ramadan 1-30 April.

Jewish Passover (Seder meal=Last supper) April

 16

2022 MAY - MODERNISING MAY

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2022 JUN - JUBILANT JUNE

Wed 1st

Sat 18th

Jul 6, Jul 16, Aug 3, Aug 20, Sept 7, Sept 17, Oct 5, Oct 15, Nov 2, Nov 19, Dec 7, Dec 17.

Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See many varied posts such as the post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

Please share links to your favourite posts. 

Museum of Inventions in Paris, France - the magic word in French is Metiers

This museum has displays on a pendulum, planes, and calculators.

Essential Information

60,rue Réaumur, 75003 Paris, France

Useful Websites

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_des_Arts_et_M%C3%A9tiers

A Museum of Inventions and Inventors, National Inventors Hall of Fame, in Virginia, USA near Washington DC

 I discovered this wonderful museum in a roundabout way. I found a shoe website which mentioned Rip-tape, and looked up the story of the invention of Velcro. The Wikiedia references led me to the Museum in the USA.

Some time back, I had a book on inventions such as the zip and the toaster. I visited a school in Singapore and found that panels on the corridor walls featured the history of popular inventions.

At Toastmasters International clubs (I belong to five clubs now since Covid-19 meeting online) we often cite Edison, who invented the light bulb - after as many as a thousand attempts to create a momentary spark and make a permanent light bulb. He is widely quoted as saying variations on: I didn't make a thousand mistakes. I discovered a thousand ways not to do it.

I looked at the website of the museum in the USA. I read about the 2022 recipients of awards, the people who had found solutions to health problems affecting many. Cataract and Covid-19. Then I checked on the article on women. Finally, for black history month, the man who invented the breadcrumb making machine.

Useful Websites

USA

Washington DC/Virginia

https://www.invent.org/museum

UK

Science Museum, London

https://shop.sciencemuseum.org.uk/products/science-museum-brilliant-book-of-inventions

About the Author

Angela Lansbury, is a semi-retired travel writer still researching bucket list countries and seeking out the special, unusual, people, places,  landmarks, hotels, museums and trails, fabulous foods, recipes, clothes and online souvenir shopping.

Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.

About the Author Angela Lansbury

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President  Public Relations, Immediate Past President. VPPR

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

BHA

Past meetings have included Garen Tee on using story telling in business, on 

bha.learncool.sg/meet/bha . 

Recent meetings of BHA included an educational session on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, always first Wednesday evening, 7 pm Singapore time. Next meeting is  the third Saturday afternoon, June 19th 2pm Singapore time.  Inauguration of the new committee was by the incoming Director of S, plus a lively speech on teamwork.

Next meetings will be on these dates (unless a national holiday in Singapore or worldwide)

Themes and word of the day are tentative

2021

JULY - JUBILANT JULY

Theme/WOD Jubilant

WORKSHOPS & EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (based on level one of Pathways)

1 Your first speech or role EASY ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Articles A and The, Plurals, Tenses, Pronunciation, Singlish)

2 CHOOSE YOUR PATH

Wed July 7th 

Saturday 17th

July 4rh American Independence Day.

2021 AUGUST - AWESOME AUGUST

1 Pathway Level 1 Introductory Speeches

2 Evaluations

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2021 SEPT - SUPER SEPTEMBER

Wed 1st

Sat 18th SPEECH CONTESTS

Humorous Speech Contest

Table Topics Contest

2021 OCT - ODD OCTOBER

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

2021 NOV - NOVELTY NOVEMBER

Wed 3rd

Sat 20th Wed

Diwali Hindu Festival of lights Nov 4th.

Nov 25th American Thanksgiving.

Hanukah starts 28 Dec 8 days until Dec 6. Jewish Festival of lights, celebrated by Jesus.

2021 DEC - DARLING DECEMBER

Wed  1st (Hanukah if not previous month. Festival foods.)

Sat 18th

Speech on 

JAN 2022 - JOYFUL JANUARY

Wed Jan 5th New beginning - forget the past

Sat 15 Long-term plans = for the future/Chinese New Year (CNY for short)

2022 FEB FUN FEBRUARY

Theme Love and romance - Chinese New Year

Feb 1st and 2nd are holidays - do we move this Feb 2nd meeting date?)

Wed 2nd (Valentine's Day Mon Feb 14)

Sat 19th

2022 MAR - MARVELLOUS MARCH

Theme

Wed 2nd

Sat 19

March 1st is Christian Pancake day. 

2022 APR - APRIL'S AIMS

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

Muslim Ramadan 1-30 April.

Jewish Passover (Seder meal=Last supper) April

 16

2022 MAY - MODERNISING MAY

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2022 JUN - JUBILANT JUNE

Wed 1st

Sat 18th

Jul 6, Jul 16, Aug 3, Aug 20, Sept 7, Sept 17, Oct 5, Oct 15, Nov 2, Nov 19, Dec 7, Dec 17.

Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See many varied posts such as the post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

Please share links to your favourite posts.