BBC Writing Competition
The BBC is running a competition called My Story in which the winning stories will be made into a TV series. The top five will be published in a book and most of the entries will make their way onto the BBC web site.
NCS tutor, Joanna Howard, may be able to give you some help in crafting a winning entry. Have a look at her course, Your Story – Writing a Life, which can guide you in writing your unique personal story. A few lessons with Jo and you could be writing a BBC TV episode.
Anglo Saxon Treasure Horde found in Staffordshire
Anglo Saxon gold (BBC)
The biggest ever horde of anglo saxon gold has been found in a field in Staffordshire. Metal detectorist Terry Herbert discovered the 5kg of gold and 2.5kg of silver. The find is treasure trove and will now be valued. Mr Herbert and the land owner can expect a substantial reward.
Leslie Webster, former keeper at the British Museum’s Department of Prehistory and Europe, said, “This is going to alter our perceptions of Anglo-Saxon England as radically, if not more so, as the Sutton Hoo discoveries.” It is a wonderful new source of evidence for archaeologists studying this hidden period of British history.
More from the BBC.
Water on Moon Confirmed
[caption id="attachment_243" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Universities Play Catch-up to the OU at 40
The Open University is forty years old this year and is still the world leader for distance learning. That the OU has been moving in the correct direction all this time is borne out by the number of online and distance learning courses offered by the traditional institutions as they learn how to do things the OU way.
At the New Curiosity Shop, we couldn’t agree more. Why travel to a bricks and mortar institution when you can learn in the comfort of your own home?
Space Probe Photographs Apollo Sites
What a way to celebrate 40 years since Apollo 11 landed on the Moon! The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been passing over the old Apollo landing sites and has sent back images in which you can just make out the descent stages of the old lunar modules.
The Apollo 11 Lunar Module Descent Stage
Activity at the Apollo 14 landing site
For full details about these images and higher resolution pictures, visit the LRO site.
Neil Armstrong Took His Step …
… today, forty years ago. On 20th July 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human being to set foot on another planet. How will you celebrate today?
Neil Armstrong (courtesy of NASA, Andrew Chaikin)
New Scientist has compiled a top ten of Apollo music for your 40th anniversary party. Or why not delve into the history with the NCS course The Story Of Apollo?
After 40 years the achievement is still staggering and seems to be nearly impossible. Let’s celebrate Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins and all of the NASA support team who made the trip possible.
Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Begins
40 years ago, today, the Saturn V rocket carrying Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins was launched. This event marked the beginning of mankind’s greatest journey and would see John F Kennedy’s pledge completed and a man landed on the Moon and returned safely to Earth.
At 9.32 (local time) on the morning of 16th July 1969, the huge Saturn V rocket lifted clear of the launch pad and Apollo 11 was safely on its way. In twelve minutes the third stage of the rocket, with the Apollo spacecraft attached, was in orbit around the Earth. After one and a half orbits, the third stage rockets fired and Apollo 11 was on its way to the Moon.
Follow The Story Of Apollo with the New Curiosity Shop.
Thank you to NASA for the images.
New Season for Genealogy Show
The BBC’s “Who Do You Think You Are” begins a new series tonight, with an investigation into the family history of presenter Davina McCall. This series will guide celebrities through their family trees, delving into history as we go.
If it puts you in the mood for finding some ancestors, why not try our History and Genealogy courses like Family History Begins At Home?
96 Months To Save The World
Prince Charles gives us 96 months to save our world from global warming. Giving this year’s Dimbleby Lecture, the Prince of Wales said, ”If we fail the Earth, we fail humanity.” Placing the blame squarely on the unfairness in the world economy, he went on to say, ”We are standing at a moment of substantial transition where we face the dual challenges of a world view and an economic system that seem to have enormous shortcomings, together with an environmental crisis – including that of climate change – which threatens to engulf us all.”
More from the Press Association …
England Running Out Of Student Places
Phil Willis, chairman of the Commons select committee covering higher education, says a cap on student places in England will result in thousands of teenagers going on the dole instead of continuing their education. Increased funding of student places is inadequate to keep track of the big increase in applications this year.
This seems to contradict the governments own policy of having 40% of all adults in England with a University education by 2020.
