Tag: history

How the disability were treated in the old days,

UK: Epsom’s Horton Chapel! (13.9.2026)

Furthermore, I cannot find any pictures online. I think most people are unaware that a) this object exists, or b) the general public are permitted into this “entrance” area of a private members club – providing they do not attempt to pass through the barriers. Either way, there used to be five psychiatric hospitals in the Epsom area (known as the “Cluster”) – which suggests that many more maladies were once considered “mental illness” – even women demanding to vote or have a say. Working-class people “getting ill” so that their labour can no longer be exploited was also considered “psychotic” between earlier and middle part of its history (it existed between 1902-1997). One such unfortunate was a former wrestler who drive an ambulance during the Nazi German bombing of London. He was wounded by shrapnel in the neck – and he was placed in the psychiatric hospital – where he wasted away. He was a British Jewish person surnamed “Solomon” – who is buried in Horton Cemetery.

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Cast-Iron Fence - Horton Cemetery!

UK: Epsom’s Victorian Horton Cemetery! (13.9.2026)

Of course, the local area is now covered in roads and domestic and commercial buildings, with only smaller sections visible. These areas are more or less wild and uneven. We know this because we walked along about half a mile of what was one of the boundaries of the graveyard – before entering a relatively small area of the graveyard proper which still retained its cast-iron fence. Placed along the adjacent wooden fence – there were the biographies of the deceased that local historians had respectfully researched. The walking was rough-going due to the uneven terrain – which is not suitable for the inform. Efforts are ongoing to do something about the state of the place through raising awareness and funds. This pace was about a mile or so up the road from Horton Chapel – which was our next port of call.

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2,800-year-old agora uncovered at Türkiye's ancient city of Troy |

Turkey: 2,800-Yearr-Old Greek “Agora” Unearthed at Ancient Troy Site! (11.9.2026)

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Reyhan Korpe, deputy head of the excavations, said the discovery proves Troy wasn’t permanently abandoned after the Bronze Age, solving a long-standing puzzle about how the legendary city became the later Greek city of Ilion.

Korpe said the discovery is part of a dedicated research initiative launched in 2014 to map the connection between Bronze Age Troy and the subsequent city of Ilion.

Archaeological findings show that after the civilization collapsed, the site was left empty for only 80-90 years before new settlers arrived. Rather than starting over, they built their homes atop the ancient stone walls and continued using the old public square as an agora.

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Buddha & St Benedict United!

UK: Buddha & St Benedict Entwined – a Retrospect! (10.9.2026)

Now, whilst in Hereford I befriended an Irishman (my family are part Irish) named “Brian Gray” – who was training to be a Catholic Priest. He was fascinated by Buddhism and liked to “spar” with me in gloved-boxing matches (I was a nasty bit of work in my late teens – as I discovered my natural physical strength). He introduced me to a “Father Thomas” the Abbot of the Catholic Hereford Cathedral. He wanted me to go to the Vatican to meet the Pope – and to join the Catholic faith – but of course, this was not my path. I am not attuned to entering these paths that discriminate against non-members for not being members. Also, at that point I was learning about how the Vatican supported fascism before, during, and after WWII. So you can see my predicament. Although I had friendly interactions on the personal level, there were certain political realities that had to be acknowledged and balanced. Anyway, the upshot of all this was that I was introduced to the study of the Rule of St Benedict followed by the monastics of the Catholic Church (and given the ring you can see here – although I am unaware of its significance).

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Image posted to Truth Social by US president Donald Trump showing a map depicting North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Greenland and Iceland covered by the Stars and Stripes and labeled “United States of America”. Image: Truth Social

US: Trump Conquers the World (in his Head)! (10.9.2026)

Even in the UK the Bank of England is subordinate to the US banking system (and cannot operate independent from it) – whilst US military bases strewn the land (there are parts of the UK where US military personnel walk around society in uniform). This de facto US influence is everywhere and it has been established and justified through the fear of a “false” enemy (such as the USSR, modern Russia, and various other States – such as Cuba and Iran). Europe, via its banking system and military, does whatever the US indicates, effectively following American foreign policy without question. Trump is giving an open expression to what is already happening regarding US reach and influence. The issue is that of progressing this “de facto” influence toward a “de jure” reality. Trump is expressing what the US is really doing and the hypocrisy of the bourgeois West is kicking-in. People like to “think” they are “free” from US influence onthe surface – whilst remaining completely subordinated to Washington behind-the-scenes. It seems to be bad form to point this out in the open.

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The Mind Must Be Calm and Serene!

BMA-UK: Buddhist Practice of “Accepting” & “Rejecting” Food Donations – The Politics of the Buddha’s Begging Bowl! (8.9.2026)

Rules in the Dhammic-sense serve only as basic guides toward moral-behaviour – hence the obvious latitude found in the night-life of places such as Thailand. Obviously, a lay-Buddhist is free to follow whatever path they perceive is correct for themselves and the circumstances they inhabit – after-all – it is their karma-producing habit. One issue is not to inflict suffering on others – including animals (this is why my family will never hurt animals in anyway). Hunger striking, in this sense, only physically “hurts” the individual participating in it – although a case can be made that those watching or caring “from afar” might suffer emotional pain. Of course, in the poor parts of Asia, Buddhist monastics exist whilst eating every other day – as the laity is so poor they have very little to share – but what an effort they make! Although starving themselves, the Buddhist laity will put aside a small amount for the Buddhist monastics. I was told that in the Northern forests of Thailand food is so scarce that Buddhist monastics often sieve a type of algae out of the local rivers – using their begging bowls – and share this to eat.

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