Author Archives: Frostie

Religion vs. Science: What Religious People Really Think

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At the end of a five-year journey to find out what religious Americans think about science, Ecklund and Scheitle emerge with the real story of the relationship between science and religion in American culture. Based on the most comprehensive survey ever done-representing a range of religious traditions and faith positions-Religion vs. Science is a story that is more nuanced and complex than the media and pundits would lead us to believe.

The way religious Americans approach science is shaped by two fundamental questions: What does science mean for the existence and activity of God? What does science mean for the sacredness of humanity? How these questions play out as individual believers think about science both challenges stereotypes and highlights the real tensions between religion and science. Ecklund and Scheitle interrogate the widespread myths that religious people dislike science and scientists and deny scientific theories.

Religion vs. Science is a definitive statement on a timely, popular subject. Rather than a highly conceptual approach to historical debates, philosophies, or personal opinions, Ecklund and Scheitle give readers a facts-on-the-ground, empirical look at what religious Americans really understand and think about science.

Religion and science have always had an uneasy relationship. In fact, there are times when the two have been at war. But the two can coincide. This book is a myth-busting, highly accessible and well-written book. It is US centric but still very interesting. A fascinating read. 

Religion vs. Science: What Religious People Really Think is available here.

 

Behind the Lawrence Legend: The Forgotten Few Who Shaped the Arab Revolt Book Review

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T. E. Lawrence became world-famous as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, after helping Sherif Hussein of Mecca gain independence from Turkey during the Arab Revolt of 1916-18. His achievements, however, would have been impossible without the unsung efforts of a forgotten band of fellow officers and spies. This groundbreaking account by Philip Walker interweaves the compelling stories of Colonel Cyril Wilson and a colourful supporting cast with the narrative of Lawrence and the desert campaign. These men’s lost tales provide a remarkable and fresh perspective on Lawrence and the Arab Revolt.

While Lawrence and others blew up trains in the desert, Wilson and his men carried out their shadowy intelligence and diplomatic work. His deputies rooted out anti-British jihadists who were trying to sabotage the revolt. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Lionel Gray, a cipher officer, provided a gateway into unknown aspects of the revolt through his previously unpublished photographs and eyewitness writings. Wilson’s crucial influence underpinned all these missions and steadied the revolt on a number of occasions when it could have collapsed. Without Wilson and his circle there would have been no ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.

Yet Wilson’s band mostly fell through the cracks of history into obscurity. “Behind the Lawrence Legend” reveals their vital impact and puts Lawrence’s efforts into context, thus helping to set the record straight for one of the most beguiling and iconic characters of the twentieth century.

Philip Walker is an historian and a retired archaeologist who spent many years working for English Heritage. He has travelled in Libya, Palestine, Morocco, Xinjiang (the Muslim far west of China), and other parts of Central Asia. He lives in Cambridge and this is his first book.

This is an enlightening and riveting read. Fascinating and fun. 

Behind the Lawrence Legend: The Forgotten Few Who Shaped the Arab Revolt is available here.

 

Euler’s Pioneering Equation: The most beautiful theorem in mathematics

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In 1988 The Mathematical Intelligencer, a quarterly mathematics journal, carried out a poll to find the most beautiful theorem in mathematics. Twenty-four theorems were listed and readers were invited to award each a ‘score for beauty’. While there were many worthy competitors, the winner was ‘Euler’s equation’. In 2004 Physics World carried out a similar poll of ‘greatest equations’, and found that among physicists Euler’s mathematical result came second only to Maxwell’s equations. The Stanford mathematician Keith Devlin reflected the feelings of many in describing it as “like a Shakespearian sonnet that captures the very essence of love, or a painting which brings out the beauty of the human form that is far more than just skin deep, Euler’s equation reaches down into the very depths of existence”.

What is it that makes Euler’s identity, e]iPi + 1 = 0, so special?

In Euler’s Pioneering Equation Robin Wilson shows how this simple, elegant, and profound formula links together perhaps the five most important numbers in mathematics, each associated with a story in themselves: the number 1, the basis of our counting system; the concept of zero, which was a major development in mathematics, and opened up the idea of negative numbers; π an irrational number, the basis for the measurement of circles; the exponential e, associated with exponential growth and logarithms; and the imaginary number i, the square root of -1, the basis of complex numbers. Following a chapter on each of the elements, Robin Wilson discusses how the startling relationship between them was established, including the several near misses to the discovery of the formula.

A beautiful book which is a love letter to Euler’s Pioneering Equation. The book is not for beginners but if you have a love of maths this is a well-written and imaginative book. 

Euler’s Pioneering Equation: The most beautiful theorem in mathematics is available here.

 

The Long Hangover: Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past

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In The Long Hangover, Shaun Walker provides a deeply reported, bottom-up explanation of Russia’s resurgence under Putin. By cleverly exploiting the memory of the Soviet victory over fascism in World War II, Putin’s regime has made ordinary Russians feel that their country is great again.

Shaun Walker provides new insight into contemporary Russia and its search for a new identity, telling the story through the country’s troubled relationship with its Soviet past. Walker not only explains Vladimir Putin’s goals and the government’s official manipulations of history, but also focuses on ordinary Russians and their motivations. He charts how Putin raised victory in World War II to the status of a national founding myth in the search for a unifying force to heal a divided country, and shows how dangerous the ramifications of this have been.

The book explores why Russia, unlike Germany, has failed to come to terms with the darkest pages of its past: Stalin’s purges, the Gulag, and the war deportations. The narrative roams from the corridors of the Kremlin to the wilds of the Gulags and the trenches of East Ukraine. It puts the annexation of Crimea and the newly assertive Russia in the context of the delayed fallout of the Soviet collapse.

The Long Hangover is a book about a lost generation: the millions of Russians who lost their country and the subsequent attempts to restore to them a sense of purpose. Packed with analysis but told mainly through vibrant reportage, it is a thoughtful exploration of the legacy of the Soviet collapse and how it has affected life in Russia and Putin’s policies.

This is a brilliant and exhaustive book which tells you all you need to know about Russia and Putin. History with heart.
 

The Long Hangover: Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past is available here.

When I Loved Myself Enough: Inspiring words to help you find happiness and joy

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I really loved When I Loved Myself Enough. We live in a world where too many people are struggling to love themselves. Not everyone is good at knowing their own self worth. This book has a lot of beautiful collections of wisdom which make you really think. A brilliant book which should be kept to hand for when you need a pep talk. It is even more poignant as the author Kim McMillen died before finishing the book and her daughter finished it for her. It has many beautiful and honest points about life. This would make a wonderful present for someone you love who is struggling to love themselves.

When I Loved Myself Enough is a beautiful collection of wisdom that is startling in its simplicity. By the end of the book the message becomes clear: loving yourself holds the key to loving others and having others love you. By sharing her insights, the author also shows us how to feel the same sense of peace and quiet joy that illuminated her life.

This book began as one woman’s gift to the world, hand-made by Kim McMillen and handed out to friends. After Kim’s death her daughter Alison continued making the books – and word of mouth turned this into an underground bestseller in America. Today, over two decades later, it brings comfort and inspiration to readers around the world.

When I Loved Myself Enough: Inspiring words to help you find happiness and joy is available here.

Declutter Your Life by Gill Hasson Book Review

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Declutter Your Life:

How Outer Order Leads to Inner Calm By Gill Hasson

Decluttering has gone beyond a trend. We constantly want less in a consumeristic world that always thrusts more upon us. This book by Gill Hasson is like her other books: easy to read, informative and entertaining. It tells you not only how to declutter your home but also your entire life. I managed to read this book in one sitting and I found it immensely helpful. With two young children I am constantly trying to declutter the things that do not matter from our life. This book gives you the motivation you need to make a positive change to your life that will be permanent. Highly recommended.

Our homes and workspace are a mirror of what’s happening inside us, Declutter Your Life explains how you can change your relationship with the things you own. Instead of being weighed down with objects and possessions that keeps you stuck in the past, you can learn to think about your things in a new light; in a way that’s constructive and helpful to you.

There are plenty of ideas, advice, tips and techniques to help you. You’ll discover how outer order leads to inner calm. Declutter Your Life explains how the principles and steps taken to clear and simplify your living space can improve not just your home but also other aspects of your life; your work, relationships and general wellbeing.

An ordered environment leads to ordered thinking. When you stop allowing your life to revolve around things that don’t matter, you instantly gain the time, space and energy to focus on the things that do. Declutter Your Life will help you to:

Let go of guilt and get rid of the emotional baggage that keeps you stuck in the past
Feel less overwhelmed and stressed
Clear out your unnecessary commitments
Simplify and improve your work life
Declutter your relationships
Simple living doesn’t end at home. Declutter Your Life shows you how to reclaim your space, your time and your mind to achieve the life you want to live.

GET OUT FROM UNDER ALL THE CLUTTER, COMMITMENTS AND DEMANDS THAT ARE MAKING YOU FEEL STRESSED AND OVERWHELMED.

Let′s be honest, at least half of the stuff in your life – the objects, oddments, obligations and contacts – is just clutter and confusion.

Do you ever wonder what′s stopping you from parting with it, or how it would feel to let go of the stuff that consumes so much of your time and energy?

Decluttering doesn′t mean making do with less – it′s about creating space so that you can live your life unburdened by things, obligations and people you don′t really need.

IT′S TIME TO THINK ABOUT YOUR THINGS IN A NEW LIGHT.

Declutter Your Life opens your eyes to the effect all that stuff is having on your life. It explains how to let go of the things that don′t matter so that you have more time, energy and enthusiasm for the things that do.

Packed with insights, tips and proven solutions for getting past the physical and psychological barriers that are holding you back, Declutter Your Life shows you how to:

Simplify and improve your home and work life.
Let go of guilt and the emotional obstacles that keep you stuck in the past.
Feel less overwhelmed and stressed by information overload.
Identify and clear out unnecessary commitments.
Move on from negative relationships.
Clear out the clutter that′s getting in the way of you living a more simple, purposeful and fulfilling life.

Declutter Your Life by Gill Hasson is available here
.

INTRODUCING VILIV BY DR. FELIX BERTRAM

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BEST-SELLING LUXURY SWISS SKINCARE LAUNCHES IN UK

INTRODUCING VILIV BY DR. FELIX BERTRAM

 Developed by Dr. Felix Bertram, a medical specialist in dermatology, skin surgery, beauty treatments and a sought after speaker at national and international meetings, the viliv biomedical skincare range is based on concentrated serums – targeting treatments for specific skin problems that work at the highest scientific level. Available fromwww.feelunique.com.

Viliv offers individual, targeted and efficient skincare packed with active ingredients from Swiss biotechnology. The line-up is formulated with particular skin needs in mind each serum is design to work alone or combined as a regime or as a cure – both in terms of their concentration and their efficacy. From dark circles, under eye puffiness, facial redness, skin firming to skin radiance there’s a solution for everyone and each treatment is free from parabens, mineral oils and colourant, as well as being 100% vegan, gluten-free and animal testing free.

Dr. Felix Bertram comments “in my clinic, skinmed, near Zurich, my colleagues and I have treated about 40,000 patients in recent years and we are always being asked: ‘What skincare do you recommend?’ Now, after six years of intensive development, I am able to give an answer: viliv”. “At the heart of my skincare line are the high-tech serums. They treat each skin problem separately, targeting it with 1-3 key ingredients at optimal concentrations. The best part is the confirmation from my patients and friends that viliv works. I have so enjoyed putting my DNA as a doctor.”

We tried the following:

viliv C clean off the day £20

 viliv c – clean off the day, daily facial cleanser by Dr. Felix Bertram loosens all impurities and make-up effortlessly and thoroughly. It is formulated to calm skin and maintain its natural balance. Aloe vera moisturises. Almond oil, rich in vitamins A, B, E and trace elements, nurtures and protects from free radicals.

 

 viliv tone your skin, refreshing facial toner – £33

The refreshing viliv t – tone your skin – refreshing facial toner removes the last traces of cleanser and neutralises the calcium in tap water. Edelweiss and bamboo extracts reinforce skin structure with powerful antioxidants and flavonoids. Formulated to hydrate, protect against moisture loss and help skin better absorb the active ingredients in skincare products.

 

The cleanser leaves skin super clean but does not irritate. Skin feels soft and looks good after. The Toner hydrates the skin and is the perfect base for your moisturiser or serum. Both are great and recommended.

 

 

Simnel Cake Recipe

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Makes: 1 x 20 cm round cake

Equipment: 20 cm round, deep, loose-bottom cake tin

This Simnel cake goes down a treat in the lead up to Easter. Apart from upgrading many of the ingredients for better health, our twist is the addition of goji berries and a few of our favourite spices. The use of dried berries and fruits adds chew and important fibre. Don’t put too much on your plate – this is a rich one!

175 g unsalted butter

175 g coconut sugar

3 eggs

175 g spelt flour

175 g sultanas

90 g dried cranberries

30 g dried goji berries

zest of 1 lemon, grated

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp mixed spice

½ tsp ground turmeric

½ tsp ground ginger

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

pinch of salt

To Decorate

Raw marzipan (see below)

Honey or melted butter, for brushing

Edible flowers, such as nasturtiums and

violets, to decorate

1 Preheat the oven to 170°C/fan 150°C/

Gas mark 3–4 and line a 20 cm round, deep,

loose-bottom cake tin with baking parchment.

2 Put all the ingredients into a large bowl.

With an electric whisk, beat them together

until well combined.

3 Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and

smooth the top. Bake for 1V–2 hours until

a skewer inserted into the middle comes

out clean.

4 Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes

and then turn out onto a cooling rack.

5 Once it’s cool, use the cake tin as a template

to cut out a round disc of raw marzipan.

6 Brush a little melted butter or honey over

the top of the cake and lay the marzipan

disc on top.

7 Use the remaining marzipan to make

11 equal-size balls to decorate the top of

the cake. You can use honey to stick these

on as well.

8 Top the cake with edible flowers such

as nasturtiums and violets.

raw marzipan

Raw Marzipan

GF, DF, V

Our raw marzipan is quick and easy to make, with the maple syrup helping to keep the delicious almond flavour. If you particularly like your marzipan, and I really do, you can also add a few drops of almond extract.

340 g ground almonds

3–4 tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

2–3 drops of almond extract (optional)

1 Mix all the ingredients together to form

a dough. Wrap in greaseproof paper and chill

until ready to use.

2 Roll out the dough between two sheets of

baking parchment to 2–3 mm. You don’t want

to use flour to stop it sticking to the surface,

and the paper will also make it easier to

pick up.

Modern Baker: A New Way To Bake by Melissa Sharp with Lindsay Stark (Ebury Press, RRP £26). Photography by Laura Edwards. Available from amazon.co.uk