I am a student at in Uru Mānuka. In 2020 I was a year 9 and in 2021 I will be a year 10. This is a place where I will be able to share my learning with you. Please note....some work won't be edited - just my first drafts, so there may be some surface errors. I would love your feedback, comments, thoughts and ideas.
In our lesson, Social Studies, we learnt about the hardships countries in the African continent faced during the early to late '80s. Starvation, lack of education, resources, works, bad weather conditions, etc in the economy.
Bob Geldof, born on the 5th of October, 1951. Born in Ireland, US, was a successful musician, the lead singer of the band Boomtown Rats in the late 1970’s. He was popular for his bold personality and was famous for promoting charitable events in order to help people from poverty, Africans in particular. He raised more than $8 million dollars by realising a song record with the contribution of Midge Ure, called “Do They Know It’s Christmas”.
Who is Midge Ure?
Midge Ure was Scottish though she was born in Cambuslang, UK. He was a musician, singer-songwriter and producer. He became successful in his corporation in bands such as Slik, Thin Lizzy, Rich Kids and Visage. He even rose to fame when he worked with Bob Geldof to co-write and produced the charity song for people who suffered from poverty. The song sold 3.7 million copies in the UK.
What is the song "Do They Know It's Christmas About?"
The reason why Bob Geldof decided to write a song called “Do They Know It’s Christmas” was because he saw families suffer from a lack of resources like food, clothing, medicine in Africa. Especially, children, he was them die from starvation and no one was taking action, he thought that it was ridiculous no one offered anything, even a single penny. From what he had witnessed, he was determined to write a song, to spread the message, to help those people stand on their own feet again. That’s how the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas” was born, famous musicians contributed to this project to perform concerts in different countries where the money raised would be donated to families suffering.
Why did Live Aid become successful and why were people keen to watch
The Live Aid became successful because of famous artists that performed in those concerts, when the artists that were going to perform was announced, the fans were thrilled and the news spread. Promotions and advertisements were around the world. People gathered at the concerts and more came in. People also wanted to help the poor conditions and wanted to provide what they can assess. The starvation in Africa reduced by the help of the donation.
List of the artists:
Performed at Webley Stadium London
Adam Ant
Boomtown Rats
David Bowie
Phil Collins
Elvis Costello
Dire Straits
Bryan Ferry
Elton John
Howard Jones
Nik Kershaw
Alison Moyet
Queen
Sade
Spandau Ballet
Status Quo
Style Council
Sting
U2
Ultravox
Paul Young
Wham!
The Who
Artists who performed at J.F.K Stadium Philadelphia
Bryan Adams
The Cars
Eric Clapton
Duran Duran
Boy George
Hall and Oates
Mick Jagger
Billy Joel
Waylon Jellings
Judas Priest
Kris Kristofferson
Huey Lewis & The News
Robert Plant
Power Station
Pretenders
Santana
Paul Simon
Simple Minds
Tears for Fear
Temptations
Thompson Twins
Neil Young
Stevie Wonder
Artist: Queen
My thoughts on the song performed at this concert:
In my opinion, the reason why Queen performed this song was to encourage people to help others and that they should be grateful for the things they have that others don't. It's also because they want to use their songs as a motivational tool so that people around the world who are watching them on TVs, radios, etc, to support them by donating and spreading positive words to people.
Is this a form of protest?
In my perspective, the song Bohemian Rhapsody was kind of controversial song because of its lyrics, well, that's just in my opinion. I think the message was about the host's fear of others finding out the truth.
Is it possible for people to do a similar concert as Live Aid?
I think it is possible with the encouragement and support of others also with the preparation required. Though, due to the pandemic today, it's a bit difficult to perform.
Favourite song from the Live Aid concert:
How is music significant today and musicians? Music and artists are significant today because it causes a big impact on humanity; The society today, feelings, it provides the truth. For instance, Ariana Grande held a concert in Manchester, called "One Love Manchester", to gather everyone and uplift them from the bombing that occurs in Manchester.
In a world full of demons, there will always be the strongest and most powerful one. All demons - vulnerable, pitiful, juvenile, grown - worship him. The first demon ever to exist. With such great powers, he possesses, which no one can match. He was "Muzan Kibutsuji". He had his own division of demons whom he created, where he shares his blood, as a result of robust power. "The Twelve Kizuki" - Ranked by their expertise. Each had unique abilities which they use to dominate humans and feed on them to acquire more power.
The sound of biwa plucked gracefully by a woman distorting the place. Obscenity was in the atmosphere. Lanterns illuminated the site but were obscurely dull. It was a maze of rugged traditional Japanese structures, which led from one room to another. The entrance or exit was unseen. You can run, however, escaping was impossible. The structure was filled with perpendicular paths - paralleled, vertical, horizontal, diagonal - Each path it leads to was unpredictable. It was like a game of ball-in-a-maze. Whenever the biwa was played, the whole place would tilt. The note comes after another until its last struck, which gave a sharp melody.
An elevating surface with equilateral sides appeared. Stood the lower-ranked Kizukis, warped by Muzan's command. One by one, bowed to their knees, paying their respects. Standing in front was Lord Muzan, the most savage and cruel demon of all, who looked down at them. He had lustrous red eyes, red as blood, long-black silky hair as dark as coal itself, and pale skin.
"P-please forgive us, my Lord! We didn't realise it was you-" Mukago, the lower-ranked number four, frantically apologised as she trembled in fear.
"Who granted you permission to speak?" Lord Muzan sternly cut her off, still standing his ground. "Do not you speak nonsense in front of me" He added.
"How about you answer my questions," He said while he intensely stares at her soul.
"Rui was killed-" He paused.
"My question for you is why are you pests so weak?" The disappointment remained visible in the tone of his voice.
"Entering the ranks of the most wielded demons could not satisfy you enough? Conversely, I gave you a drop of my blood. Your job was only to devour humans to obtain more power." He ground his teeth.
He clenched his jaws and fists; veins became evident. You can see the disgust in his stare as his eyes widened. Before he says, "The higher-ranked remained untouched for over the century. They have always been the ones who were capable to dispose of those Hashira Demon Slayers. But, how about you six? When will you make yourself the use of me? I could not even count the times I replaced you." He crinkled his eyes while continually tapping his foot on the wooden floorboards.
Lower-ranked six, Kamanue, was kneeling on the dusty floor, clenched his feeble fists in annoyance and thought, Easy for you to say-
Lord Muzan's eyes pierced at the helpless demon and paused his foot. "Easy for you say?" He interrupted Kamanue’s thoughts.
He smirked while tilting his head, his sharp stare remained, before imploring. "What is it you want to tell me? Go on." His eyebrows raised.
Kamanue froze; His face became pale, his body, hot, sweat rushing down his face. He can read my mind?!
He's gonna kill me! He thought.
"Kill, how exactly?" Lord Muzan asked in satisfaction, a sinister smile crept on his lips.
The air got thicker. The place immortally darkened. The rest of the demons held their breath as they prepare themselves for what's about to follow next.
Impatient, Muzan's mood suddenly changed in a blink of an eye. Veins popped, his tone more aggressive than before. If stares could kill, the demon would've had an instant death. "Tell me," He demanded.
Muzan slowly towered over the poor beast, overshadowing its figure.
"Spare me, please! My Lord!" Kamanue begged helplessly.
"Show me mercy!" He cried, "I am truly sorry for my disgusting behaviour!"
Lord Muzan kept a straight face; His face did not reveal a sign of empathy.
Kamanue pleaded again before blood spurted on the floor. It was a horrifying scene, demonic, rather.
Afraid, the other demons trembled, watching their kind suffer from a painful death.
A demon with a big scar on his forehead named Wakuraba, lower-ranked three. There was blood on his body from their dead confederate. He thought, What is happening? Will the same thing happen to me too? After everything, I've succeeded to be in this position, will come to waste? This was supposed to be the beginning of greater things!
"Do you fear Hashiras more than you fear me?" He suddenly asked.
"NO!!" Mukago, who had two fine horns that could scratch even the toughest mineral on earth, and sharp fangs, abruptly answered.
"Every time you encounter those Hashiras, all you do is escape. Isn't that right?" Lord Muzan's anger was building up.
"No, I wouldn't think of it!! I'd put my life on the line for you, my Lord!" She exclaimed.
Muzan's eyes widened, "Are you refuting what I just said?"
Tears streamed down Mukago’s cheeks; Quivering in fear, perpetual sweat, dry throat, mind blank. It then was killed in a precipitated movement. More red liquid filled the void.
This is it! This is the end for us! Wakuraba thought, who had a keloid shaped like an ‘X’ on his forehead. Our minds are being red. Whether we agree or disagree with him, he's still going to kill us! We can't possibly beat him in a battler either! In that case...
Disconcerted, Wakuraba raised his feet, bent his knees, hand touching the floor. The only option is to run! He circumnavigated away with an enthralling speed, it such a fast pace that movements could not even be seen. Gliding down the decks, going left, advancing to the right, soaring in zig-zag patterns, finding a way to escape from death. Just make it out of here somehow! Now that I've gotten this far away! His eyes were burning with determination. In a sudden inclination, back to where they stood, a rush of blood flow. The source of blood came from the head of Wakuraba who had run away. Head decapitated from his body, barely alive, he was appalled. He got me?! No way! Was it the trick of that biwa? But, I didn't hear it initiate a sound. Why!? I can't seem to regenerate my body. Tugging the hair on Wakaruba’s head was Lord Muzan.
He began to speak, "I believe that the Twelve Kizuki are better off consisting of just the Upper Ranks." He declared, "I am now dismantling the Lower Ranks."
Blood was everywhere on the wooden floor. The whole place was filled with a distinctive smell, it was foul, rancid, and putrid.
Lord Muzan gruesomely threw the head on the dark wooden floor. "Do you have any last words?" He glared inadequately at the remaining Kizukis.
A demon, with navy blue hair with spiky beard, known as Rokuro - the lower-ranked two, terrifyingly answered, "I can still be of use to you! If you could give me just a short reprieve, I vow, I'll be of use to you!"
Lord Muzan questioned, "How long a reprieve are you asking for? How do you intend to be useful? Most importantly, what exactly can you accomplish with your current skills?"
Rokuro was agitated, he for sure wanted to prove himself to his Lord. "Your blood! If you could give me a share of your blood, I will acclimate without fail!" He clenched his fists, "I will fight for you as an even more powerful demon!"
"What makes you think you can order me to give you my blood?" Lord Muzan winced, his fangs bestowing. "You're beyond shameless. Know your place."
Rokuro was startled, "You misunderstood me, my Lord! Please give me another chance! Please don't kill me-"
Rigid cords on Lord Muzan's neck, eyes bulged, clenched jaws and fists. "Shut up. I misunderstood nothing. I'm never mistaken about anything. My words are all absolute. You have no right to reject anything I say. Whatever I say is right and will always be right!"
His eyes burn in red, "You tried to order me. You deserve to die."
An endless amount of blood on the floating facade. Lord Muzan is truly cruel. He did not even, once, consider the lives of those he killed.
“Do you have anything to say?” Lord Muzan’s asked, one eyebrow raised, arms crossed.
Lastly, Stood the only demon who was left only to be executed. Enmu, the lower-ranked number one. Who has vivid pink and jet black hair, began to speak, "Well, let's see..."
He did not seem afraid at all, nor, show any sign of fear. Though, looking from his expressions, it was more like a pleasure to him. "This is like a dream for me. To die by your hand in person. I so enjoyed hearing the other demons' last gasps!" He added, "I feel so blessed! Because I love to see others in despair and agony. I, thank you for leaving me for last!" He put his palms together while grinning.
Lord Muzan seemed pleased, his eyes placid. In a swift, a needle pierced on the Enmu’s neck. His body was in a state of convulsion, eyes converted white, veins conveyed. Its body was trying to adjust to the power his Lord provided. Hearing his words make Lord Muzans jovial.
"That's what I like to hear. And so, I gave you an ample share of my blood. Although, you might not be able to withstand the volume of blood, and die. Still, if you do manage to acclimate, you're sure to acquire even greater strength. Make yourself useful to me. Kill the demon hunter Hashiras! If you accomplish my tasks, I'll give you even more of my blood." He gave an evil smirk.
The biwa was once again, struck. Providing a discernment of victory, power, domination and destruction.
In Science, we dissected a cow's eye. The first thing we did was we watched a video of how to dissect it and also the parts of its eyes.
The person dissected it layer by layer.
Aim: To dissect a cow's eyes.
Equipment:
Tweezer
Dissecting Scissors
Newspaper
Cow's eyes
Newspaper (We didn't have a tray)
Method:
1. Remove any excess fat surrounding the eye. After cutting the excess fat, you'll see the optic never at the back of the eye.
2. Puncture the corner of the in-between the cornea and the sclera using the sharp end of the dissecting scissor.
3. After putting a small hole, cut around the cornea. After cutting the cornea, you'll see the parts clearer, you'll see the iris, pupil, lens, ciliary body and the vitreous humour.
4. Separate the iris, pupil and the lens to study and see them better. You'll see little details of each three of them.
5. Squeeze the jelly-like liquid called the vitreous humour.
6. Cut the eye in half to see the tapetum lucidum along with the retina and the choroid.
Findings:
Each part was very interesting to look at and to study. I think the cow's eye was fresh because the fat is not hard, it's still a bit soft. It was difficult to puncture the eyes because it's very squishy and it bounces back so we had to cut it on the side instead of puncturing, it let the liquids out.
Eye structure:
Cornea – a clear, round window at the eyeball front. It allows light into the eye, protects the eye and bends light rays so images can focus on the retina.
Iris – the coloured part of the eye with the pupil at the centre. Different coloured irises result from different amounts of the pigment melanin. The iris is a muscle that can adjust the pupil size so light can enter, forming a retinal image.
Pupil – a dark space in the middle of the iris. It enlarges in low light, allowing light in, and it constricts in bright light, reducing the light entering.
Lens – found behind the iris inside a clear capsule. It bends light, forming an image on the retina. The cornea bends 70% of incoming light and the lens 30%. Fibres hold the lens in place. Looking closely at an object changes fibre tension, causing the lens shape to change to accommodate the object’s distance.
Optic nerve – nerve fibres connecting the retina and brain. While retinal cells change sight into electrical impulses, the optic nerve sends them to the brain’s visual cortex. The image is upside down but the brain turns it up the right way.
Retina – a lining inside the back of the eyeball that contains light-sensitive receptors – rods and cones. It receives light rays from the lens, forming an image. These are changed into electrical signals and sent to the brain.
Conclusions:
I find the experiment interesting because I didn't know what a cow's eye nor a person's eyes looked like internally until we dissected it for the experiment.
For the last task, we had to make a poster or advertisement, we can present it in anyhow we like. We had to make a Political Part Poster; slogan and the image of the hero/villain.
I just finished my poster about Kate Sheppard, it's a political poster which visualises the beliefs or what the hero/villain that I chose have. I made my poster using "Canva".
Conclusion: I really liked how my political poster/advert turned out, I think it nicely represents the "Women Power". I liked that the image, colours and the quotes matched together; they all go well together.
Today, I've studied, researched and learnt about the symptoms of black death. I've also made a presentation regarding the symptoms of the plague.
I copied the details from this poster that our teacher in social studies put in the tasks.
I made mine using "Piktochart"
This is the one I made
If you aren't able to read it because the letters are small, here's the link to the preview
Today, I've learnt how the black death was easily passed on from one human to another. It's not also because of their poor hygiene back in medieval times. It's also because of rats and fleas.
It's important that we have the knowledge to still look back to what happened in the past so we are alert of what we should do at times like these.
This is the table that holds information about rats and fleas
Rats in General
Black Rats
Brown Rats
Fleas
Are heavy breeders
Two most common types are the black rat and brown rat
Can feed on almost everything edible
Tend to stay near people
Weighs up to 450 grams
Fleas are very infectious
Are also called roof and climbing rats
Weigh about 200 grams
Rodent, Rattus
Poison, gas, traps are ways of killing them
Also called sewer or wharf rats
Dig and burrow and are good swimmers
Commonly found in cities, especially in seaports, in upper storeys of houses and buildings
Can go without food for several months if necessary
Lay eggs in the hair of animals, in dirt and rubbish
Jump as much as 200 times their body length
Feed on the blood of a host
Will often move from one host to another
Fleas are less infectious
Do not rely so much on people
I have made a diagram which visualises the cycle of the disease
Explanation - The plague which is the black death was easily spread due to the bacteria that the rat has in their blood. Fleas find a rat to be its host so when it bites the rat, it then infects the blood of a rat. When a flea bites a human, it passes the bacteria that caused the disease.
The bacteria target the lungs of the human and the human will cough out blood, if the infected human coughs on you, it passes on to you and you'll be likely dying by the end of the week.
