Latest news with #Gulliver'sTravels
Boston Globe
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
May I have a word: Directions you can't easily follow
As it happens, this week I saw a book that was meant to be a mere decorative detail in a photo online but that I suspected might make a perfect birthday present for my stepdaughter. I needed, though, to enlarge the image to make sure I was reading the title right. It would never have occurred to me to take a photo and supersize it if I hadn't heard from John. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Of course, that's a book title, not squintstructions , as several readers — Michael Bohnen, of Newton; John Haneffant, of Boston; Tom Hayden, of Chelmsford; and Stephen L. Needles, of Newtown, Pa. — characterized the tiny words at issue. Advertisement Do product descriptions count as instructions? I would think so. Diane McNamara, of Amherst, wrote: 'More than once while showering in a hotel, I have had to get out and fetch my reading glasses in order to know which plastic container was shampoo and which conditioner. My suggestion is nanofont. ' David Mahoney, of Westford, observed that tiny 'print used on packaging to maximize space utilization is similar to the way some audio commercials are unintelligible because they are sped up to fit a 2-minute commercial into 15 seconds.' His suggestion for the coinage we're seeking was nano-notes . Advertisement Others who made use of nano were Thomas F. Schiavoni, of Boston: ' Nanoscription suggests reduced font size ( nano ) and something written ( script );' Rick Smith, of Wellesley, with nanoprint ; and Ed De Vos, of Newton, with nano-nono 'childlike chiding against tiny writing.' Another popular starting point was Lilliput , from Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels.' I received Lilliputext, from May DeViney, of North Chelmsford; Lilliprint , from Judith Englander, of South Strafford, Vt., and Rick Smith, of Wellesley; and the name of an imaginary typeface, Lilliput New Roman , from John Michaels, of Peabody. Ed De Vos also proposed ' microfishy — a play off microfiche but capturing my skepticism that what is written was ever intended to be read.' Ann Souto, of Portsmouth, N.H., wrote: 'These no-read-ums look like gnats, not words!' Harry Eisenberg, of Wayland, liked no-read-ums too, and Pat Nicholson, of Falmouth, thought the tried and true no-see-ums would do. Bob Smith, of Roslindale, shared a whole lexicon of specialized terminology from 'various arts and sciences,' only some of which I've included here: ' speckifications , from architecture; diminishing relearns , economics; diminuwindow , music; microlar degeneration, ophthalmology; and vanishing pointers , painting.' Diane Tosca, of Taunton, didn't actually have a suggestion, but that didn't stop her from having her say: 'Re minuscule instructions, I suffer from optikill whenever I have to read those lens busters, especially if they're directions for eye drops. Sorry for my vitreous humor, which my pupils noticed became cornea over the years.' Advertisement Noreen Barnes, of Acton, wrote: 'What to call the tiny text on packaging that needs magnification to be read? I might describe it as in-font-esimal — like infinitesimal , a big word for 'very small.'' And May DeViney, similarly inspired, came up with infinitextimal. Both of those are great, but I'm going to award bragging rights to infinitextimal , because it's easier to understand, whether written or spoken. Well done, May – congrats! Now Jack Stein, of Milton, writes: 'We need a word to describe a person who clearly is not competent to provide advice on a particular subject but insists on doing so anyway.' Send your ideas for Jack's word to me at
Glasgow Times
30-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow school's 'unforgettable' trip after £27k boost
The primary seven children from Cadder Primary in Gilsochill are twinned with Colegio Sorolla in Valencia, and after a £27,000 boost from the Turing Scheme which made the trip affordable for families, and months of hard work by teachers, they finally got to meet their Spanish peers. Headteacher Damian Nicholas said the trip had been a 'milestone' in the pupils' primary school journey. 'It broadened their horizons, built confidence and created memories that will last a lifetime,' he added. 'Many of these young people were going abroad for the first time and we are incredibly proud of how they represented our school and city.' (Image: Cadder Primary) Cadder Primary began weekly Spanish lessons for all pupils in the school, with teacher Katie O'Brien, last year. 'At the same time, we were also successful in our application to the Turing Scheme, a UK government initiative for schools which provides funding for international study and work placements,' said Damian. Cadder Primary was awarded £27,000 for a five-day educational and cultural trip to Valencia for a group of primary seven pupils. (Image: Cadder Primary) For the next few months, teachers and pupils in Glasgow took part in a range of activities designed to build up partnerships with Colegio Sorolla, including a Spanish Week, celebrating Spanish music, art, food and culture. Last month, children headed to Valencia, where they spent time on Cullera Beach and visited L'Oceanogràfic, Europe's largest aquarium, to learn about marine life, from graceful dolphins to mysterious jellyfish. 'At Colegio Sorolla, the pupils were warmly welcomed by their Spanish peers, and together they participated in joint lessons, games and cultural exchanges,' says Damian. 'It was heartwarming to see friendships blossom across borders and languages, reinforcing the value of global citizenship.' The group also explored the historic heart of Valencia. 'The children were fascinated by the city's rich history and stunning architecture,' added Damian. 'Later, we visited Gulliver's Park, where the giant playground structure based on the story of Gulliver's Travels provided endless fun and laughter.' Primary seven pupil Harris Campbell, 11, said: 'I loved learning about Spain, its language and its people. 'My favourite thing was visiting the old town because I like learning about history and the architecture of old buildings. I also really enjoyed going to the beach every day. 'It was the best school trip ever and a bargain because it only cost about £50.' Principal Teacher, Stefanie Szula said: 'Taking our primary seven children to Valencia was a fantastic and memorable experience. 'For many, it was their first time travelling abroad, making it especially meaningful. They had the unique opportunity to explore a different culture whilst sharing the experience with their peers.' In June, children who attended the Valencia trip were invited to the City Chambers for lunch and a meeting with the Lord Provost Councillor Jacqueline McLaren. 'The pupils returned brimming with excitement and unforgettable memories,' said Damian. 'The experience, which combined learning, friendship and fun, was a resounding success and a perfect way to round off their final year at primary school.'
The Guardian
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Dining across the divide: ‘I felt awkward ordering a pork chop after she'd spoken about animal rights'
Occupation International development policy and communications Voting record Joined the Lib Dems aged 16, but when old enough to vote, consistently backed Labour until last year when she joined the Green party Amuse bouche Ella spent three weeks in Covid isolation on the 20th floor of a Bangkok hospital over Christmas 2021. 'A depressing way to spend Christmas but they let me out for New Year's Eve' Occupation Retired special needs teacher Voting record Labour until Iraq. Lib Dem until the coalition. Then Green but returned to Labour under Corbyn. Now Green again Amuse bouche On her 26th birthday Rosie fell down a cliff – 'Fast, on my stomach, thinking, oh God, my number is up.' She was caught by a Dutch mountain climber lower down Rosie Ella is engaging, interesting, bright, absolutely lovely to talk to. Also beautiful: I thought she was a model. We shared a bottle of sauvignon. I had scallops and a vegetarian version of bubble and squeak. Ella I felt a bit guilty. Rosie had really made an effort, in a lovely purple dress, colourful makeup. I was dressed head to toe in black. I apologised for spoiling the pictures. And I felt awkward ordering a pork chop after she'd been speaking about animal rights. But I didn't want vegetarian food, and it was very nice. Rosie She thought I was going to be a climate change denier, which is of course rubbish. But my priority is social justice and that's where I put all my energies. Climate change for me is not the main priority, though I'm definitely not working against it. Ella She recognises climate change will have a big impact on the world, but my understanding is that she feels there's little we can do to stop it, and that there are other more pressing issues. Rosie I've been rereading Gulliver's Travels, a satire on the human race, and the real tragedy is that nothing has changed. We are still having wars and killing each other, doing all the awful things that happen in Gulliver's Travels. Ella did make me understand that climate change is about social justice because it adversely affects the poorest people, they'll suffer the most. I hadn't thought about it in that way. Ella The climate crisis is the most significant crisis of the 21st century, and it is a fundamental point for humanity to determine which way we're going to go. Where this is playing out is in the developing world. It is exacerbating existing conflicts, creating health crises, displacing people. I do work with organisations involved in global health and development, and they all say the climate crisis is causing more of a disaster for their work than has ever previously been seen. Rosie We agreed about the lack of provision for mental health and the stigma still associated with that – people don't like to say if they're off work because they're depressed or have mental health problems. Ella We talked about the merits of dating apps. She was dating at the same kind of age as me: we agreed that it's important to learn European languages so you can have affairs with French men and Italian men and so on. Rosie On immigration, I have always been like Angela Merkel: have an open door. Because I feel so sad and sorry for people who need to flee their country for whatever reason. You have to be absolutely desperate to do that. Ella In theory, and in an ideal world, I would agree. As much as we need immigration, for example to support the NHS, which is propped up by migrant workers, encouraging more is going to become socially difficult. We saw the riots last summer, people targeting immigrant and refugee populations. A lot of that was based on racism, and I absolutely don't agree with that, but I think we would be stupid to ignore the concerns of those groups of people. Rosie We talked and talked; it was a fantastic evening. Ella is an absolutely delightful young woman who I'm sure will do great things in the world. We hugged goodbye. Ella We could have stayed many more hours: we were the last ones in the restaurant by a long way. I love talking to people of different backgrounds, hearing their experiences and takes. It's how I shape my views on the world. Additional reporting: Kitty Drake Ella and Rosie ate at Parker's Tavern in Cambridge Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Children's books review: Three titles to fire young imaginations
CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, though decried by some for perceived sexism or Christian didacticism, represent for many readers the opening of a door into a world of childhood imagination. Published in the years following the Second World War, Lewis' stories are a meeting of the magical with the mundane, where good eventually overcomes evil, and light shines through the darkness. Much of Lewis' own childhood was spent in a large, rambling house in Belfast, into which his family had moved, where half-empty rooms and attics were waiting to be explored and worlds such as Narnia might easily be dreamt up. Now, Judith McQuoid, a fellow native of Belfast whose grandfather was a contemporary of Lewis and from the same area of the city, has blended fact with her own newly-created fiction. Drawing on biographical detail from Lewis' life, including his Cork-born mother's death from cancer when he was aged nine, McQuoid creates an imaginary friendship between the author and her own grandfather. Giant is set beneath the shadow of the colossal Belfast shipyard gantries and in sight of Cavehill, whose crags resemble a reposing giant and are thought to have inspired Swift's Gulliver's Travels. They also fire the imaginations of the young Lewis and his new friend Davy, a working-class boy from the shipyard area of the city, the character being based on McQuoid's grandfather. Through Lewis, known by his self-styled childhood nickname 'Jacks', Davy explores a world of books and stories far removed from the hardships of his daily life, discovering his own artistic talent along the way. With his father no longer fit for work and his mother worried about where the next day's pay will come from, Davy's sights had been set on securing a job at the shipyard. But while initially delighted to be hired, he realises at the age of 13 that his future now holds nothing but hard labour in appallingly dangerous, life-threatening conditions. It's a deliberately stark contrast with the material comfort of Jacks' childhood, where his chief job is to amuse himself with play, free to wander in the kind of make-believe worlds that will one day enchant generations of young readers. A story of friendship, set in the years immediately prior to the First World War, there is a sense of foreboding hanging over McQuoid's tale; of an age of innocence whose days are numbered, as they are for the human adolescents' stay in Narnia. It certainly strikes a chord in our own age of uncertainty, when the idea of stepping through a wardrobe door into an imaginary world appears more attractive than ever, the magic of stories, especially for readers within sight of the end of childhood, providing an important escape from reality. Matched Up Jenny Ireland Penguin €9.50 Soccer is Lexie's life. Like her twin brother Niall, with whom she has a seemingly unbreakable bond, she eats, sleeps, and breathes the sport, her chief ambition being to be picked for Westing and shine as brightly as Niall does on the boys' team. Despite the practice football pitch the twins' parents paid to have installed at the back of their swanky house, however, and all the hours of extra training Lexie puts in, she knows she doesn't possess the raw talent of her best friend Megan. Megan barely has to break into a sweat to be brilliant and her place on the team is assured. Lexie, who no matter how hard she tries, is never included in the starting line-up, is not jealous. Not much, she's not. So far, so standard sporting storyline, but this is a Northern Irish young adult novel with added sporty spice. When she discovers that Megan, with whom she shares her most intimate secrets, is sharing a bed with her twin brother Niall, Lexie's world is turned on it axis. As it turns out, however, soccer might not be the only love of Lexie's life either, and when she first sees super-cool striker Shane, who has just joined Westing, it's not just his fancy footwork that catches her eye. The attraction is mutual and things escalate quickly, every conversation, every kiss filled with the intensity of emotion that typifies teenage romance. It looks unlikely, though, that her twin will take kindly to Lexie dating the new kid on the block whose life he is already making difficult, since it is Niall's place on the team that is threatened by Shane's arrival. Though keeping their love under wraps adds an extra frisson of excitement, it brings its own strains and when Shane appears to be concealing secrets of his own, it seems the relationship could be over before it has properly begun. In this tangled tale of first love's emotional rollercoaster, Antrim author Jenny Ireland digs deep into the social pressures and anxieties of young adulthood. Sporting ambitions, college choices, and relationships with friends and family come under scrutiny, with Ireland at her most insightful with regard to the often self-imposed burden of living up to unrealistic or misperceived expectations. Tom Crean: Irish Antarctic Hero Michael Smith and David Butler O'Brien Press €14.99 Having survived his heroic Antarctic expeditions aboard the Terra Nova and Discovery with Captain Scott and being honoured for his lifesaving bravery, Tom Crean's third venture, joining Kildare explorer Ernest Shackleton on the Endurance, became truly the stuff of legend. Before they could begin their 2,800km mission to cross Antarctica by land, via the South Pole, the party's ship became trapped in pack ice and after being carried for months on strong currents, it was crushed by an ice floe and sank. With the nearest land nearly 400km away, no one aware of their location, and no radio to call for help, the crew were stranded. When, with food supplies dangerously low, they were eventually able to launch their lifeboats through an opening in the ice, Crean and his colleagues voyaged in terrifying seas, first to Elephant Island and then another 1,300km to South Georgia Island, trekking over mountains and glaciers to a whaling station in search of help for their companions left behind. Almost as incredible as the feats of the farmer's son from Annascaul, Co Kerry, is the fact that Crean's story was little known until recent years. His return from his travels and British naval service coincided with the War of Independence, during which his brother Con, an RIC sergeant, was shot dead. Perhaps fearing his own family's safety was similarly under threat, Crean did not speak of his naval service or Antarctic exploration, his bravery and death-defying adventures becoming more widely known posthumously thanks to biographers including Michael Smith, whose work now appears for the first time in graphic novel form, illustrated by David Butler.
See - Sada Elbalad
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
"Gulliver's Travels" TV Series Adaptation in Works
Yara Sameh Oscar-nominated multi-hyphenate Uberto Pasolini – who produced 'The Full Monty' and most recently directed 'The Return,' starring Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus – has embarked on a TV series adaptation of Jonathan Swift's classic satirical adventure 'Gulliver's Travels.' Prominent British writer William Ivory is writing the screenplay for the six-episode project on which Pasolini will serve as showrunner. The high-end show, now in the early stages, is being produced by Italy's Roberto Sessa and Germany's Jan Wünschmann. It will be unveiled to prospective broadcasters during the Series Mania festival in Lille. World sales will be jointly handled by Germany's Beta Film and ZDF Studios. 'What Gulliver allows us to do today is to make something really, really fun,' Pasolini said in a statement. But at the same time – very much like Swift did in his time – to talk about the world around us; to talk about politics; to talk about greed; to talk about the place of the Western man in the world as a whole; to talk about the relationship between man and nature,' he said. Pasolini developed Hallmark's 1996 'Gulliver's Travels' series that scored five Primetime Emmy wins. Though specifics on casting are premature, Pasolini said they have been looking at a British actor for the main role. But, he added, the story is 'telling you that you're entering into different worlds, different cultures, different atmospheres, and those will be reflected in the casting,' he said. Commenting on a recently announced Federation Studios 'Gulliver's Travels' TV series adaptation that is a contemporary reimagining penned by Emmy-winning writer Tom Bidwell titled 'The Gullivers' Pasolini said he did not think it 'makes sense' to bring 'Gulliver's Travels' 'into our contemporary world.' 'To me it feels like fear and not trusting that an audience will recognize themselves in someone who doesn't dress, or move, in worlds that they recognize,' he said. 'I don't think there's a big risk in there being two ['Gulliver's Travels'] projects on the market, especially since they are doing a contemporary adaptation,' said Jan Wünschmann, who heads Intaglio Films, which is a joint venture between Beta and ZDF Studios. Wünschmann said the next step now is to find the broadcasting partners for this project, adding that 'we've already started initial discussions with ZDF, which is our go-to partner.' They are eying an end of 2025 start of production date. Roberto Sessa, who heads Fremantle-owned Picomedia – which has a close rapport with Beta – noted that they are looking to mount the show as a 'potential European co-production,' but also 'have our eyes set on the U.S.' in terms of prospective partners. 'When Uberto first pitched it to me, I thought: 'This is going to be fun. Something for the whole family, that everyone can enjoy,' said Beta head of content and co-production Ferdinand Dohna, noting that 'it's subversive and kids love subversive stories.' Donha also pointed out that the 'Gulliver's Travels' book is still a global evergreen and that Pasolini's expertise, given his involvement in the Hallmark show, is a definite plus. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) News Ireland Replaces Former Israeli Embassy with Palestinian Museum News Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer Lifestyle Maguy Farah Reveals 2025 Expectations for Pisces News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
