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Dr Michael Hewitt
Exploring The World Of The Liberal Arts
4 A Tremendous Heritage
3 Awakening to a New Reality
2 The Light of Self
1 Introduction to the Liberal Arts
7 Sophia
Posted on Aug 21, 2018 by Dr Michael Hewitt
Let me begin this talk with a simple reminder. And by doing so, get us all centred and focussed upon the wisdom of the real world.
As we cast our eyes upon the incredible beauty of this world, as we feel the gentle breeze upon our skin, as we dip our toes into the cold sparkling water of the mountain stream, or as we bite into the soft, luscious peach, we may realise just how fortunate we are.
As we watch the sun go down over the hill, as we watch the stars starting to appear in the night sky, as we hear the evening breeze brushing past the trees, as we watch the moon gently rising over the mountain, we may also realise just how fortunate we are.
All of these are a part of the real world that we experience on an ongoing basis that, in its vastness, counts as the encompasser of all such lesser worlds. Therefore, although all of the above may count as experiences felt and received on our own doorstep, let's not just dismiss them or take them for granted.
In one way or another, being a part of our experience of the real world, they are all direct pointers to the incredible wisdom of the real world. And what is this wisdom? It is a wisdom that never fluctuates or changes, that is as fresh now as it was when the world first emerged from the grounds of the primeval void.
The ageless song
This wisdom is the ageless song of the universe, that when apprehended, causes us to know that we are never alone, that we are never without hope and that we are never without guidance. It is a wisdom that is so great, that it necessarily appears to us through multiple sensory channels and diverse forms of expression.
It is a wisdom that is multi-faceted and multi-dimensional and, if we let it, will take us directly to those inner doors that will reveal to us our own true nature. This is a wisdom that, however it presents itself, will never fail to uplift and inspire.
It is a wisdom that when we begin to learn more about it, will then cause us to want more and more. And it is a wisdom that has also inspired the arising of all of the great cultures and civilisations.
It is the wisdom that has enlightened and illuminated the minds of countless great men and women throughout history, and it is a wisdom that is available to all of us, right here and right now.
To this wisdom, time is an irrelevance. There is no time, that time, the time, because this wisdom is beyond time itself. That which was, is now and always be, it counts as the source, the stream, the fountain from which everything flows.
And when we learn more about this wisdom, there is something within us that knows it, that tells us, yes, we do have a place, we do have a purpose and we do have an incredible part to play.
This wisdom is there for all of us, no matter who we are. It shines upon all alike and all alike may similarly feel free to draw upon it. It does not judge, it does not differentiate – it just is and it will help and guide all of us who call upon it.
Because this wisdom is timeless, we can, if we choose, begin to discern its influence throughout the history of human civilisation. The study of the way in which this happens is totally illuminating. For it clearly appears wherever and whenever human beings have called out for it.
This wisdom has been represented by a wide variety of symbols, one of the most notable of which is the flower of wisdom. As to which flower, this can vary, depending upon the source. The rose is a popular choice, as also is the lily, both flowers notable for their incredible beauty.
Curiously, the lily is often found growing in muddy swamps and watercourses. In doing so, its incredible beauty stands in complete contrast to the murky environment in which it grows. In this way, the lily becomes a profound symbol of the victory of wisdom over ignorance.
This flower of wisdom shows its presence in numerous different cultures. Of necessity, the exact type of flower used to characterise wisdom may vary accordingly. Therefore, in one sense, it may appear as the golden flower of Taoist internal alchemy, which forever blooms in those who have properly prepared themselves for it.
In another sense, it may be taken to be synonymous with the lotus of the East that offers one of the most inspirational symbols of our potentiality for enlightenment.
In yet another sense, it appears as the blue water lily which, according to Egyptian mythology, was the first thing to emerge from the dark grounds of the primeval void. And from its golden heart, there arose the divine child, destined to rule over all of the world, as the illuminated sun king.
So, what do the liberal arts say about this flower of wisdom? They tell us that each one of us is, as it were, a garden unto ourselves and that within this garden, the flower of wisdom might then be grown, tended and brought into bloom.
A brilliant illustration of this very point is found in an illuminated encyclopaedia of the twelfth century entitled the Garden of Delights. Compiled by the twelfth century abbess of Hohenberg Herrad von Landsberg (1130 – 1195), there is a picture therein called Philosophy and the Seven Liberal Arts.
This takes the form of a beautiful rose window design of the type often found in cathedrals and churches. The implied flower of wisdom, in this case, has seven petals that are shaped like arches. These are surrounded by a large encompassing circle, while at the centre of the illustration, is a central circle from which radiate out the seven arch-like petals.
Human figures in bright colourful robes have been drawn in each of the seven petals and there are a number of human figures also placed in the central circle, three in all. Then, there are four figures right at the bottom which are portrayed as being somehow excluded from being a part of the rose window design. There is also writing in Latin that has been liberally inscribed in a helpful way to assist the process of interpreting the implied meaning of the illustration.
What a striking portrayal of the flower of wisdom, so vividly symbolised in such splendid and colourful detail. This is clearly no chance occurrence, for it all cries out for us to examine it in more detail. Bearing this in mind, let us now devote some time to unlocking some of the features present in this illustration.
The first thing that strikes us is the mathematical precision of the design. Based on geometric principles, these show themselves in two immediate senses. The centres of the seven circles that define the petals of the flower are placed with respect to a heptagon, whose form becomes clear when we visually connect those centres together.
This heptagon would, no doubt, have been drawn in during the design stage in order to be able to place the seven circles in equal positions around the central circle. Second, the outer circle is twice the diameter of the inner circle, and thrice the diameter of the seven circles placed between them. In other words, the design expresses a perfect harmony of proportions.
These proportions are also significant. They are two to one in terms of the ratios of the diameters of the outer and inner circle, and three to two in terms of the ratios of the diameters of the inner circle to the seven peripheral circles that make the petals of the flower.
Here, it is no coincidence that these two ratios are all that is needed to create the Pythagorean form of seven toned scale that was used in music of the time. Is this significant? For me it is, because it tells me that the illustration is expressing a harmony of ideas, concepts and views.
The most intriguing features are the figures that have been placed within the eight circles that are the main features of the design. The inner circle contains three such figures, two in the lower part and one in the upper part of the circle.
The two in the lower part are both male and the illustrator has kindly identified them for us. They are Socrates, shown on the left and his pupil, Plato, on the right. Two of the most eminent philosophers of ancient Greece, their presence as a part of this illustration indicate that, at their hands, the flower of wisdom is considered to have achieved a unique form of expression.
There is Socrates who, with his famous adjuration, 'Know thyself', pointed to the importance of self-knowledge and then there is Plato, whose Timaeus attempted to lay bare the inner order of the cosmos. Here is wisdom, expressed through the idea of the small world of the microcosm as symbolised by Socrates and the large world of the macrocosm as symbolised by Plato.
This, then, brings us to the figure in the upper part of the circle, a regal-looking enthroned woman who the illustration usefully identifies as philosophy. She is shown as being larger than the male figures below her, thereby stressing her importance as the very centre of the whole illustration.
However, who is this lady philosophy? Socrates and Plato were real people. Lady philosophy, however, sitting above them, is clearly being shown as their mutual source of inspiration. In this sense, the lady shown is clearly allegorical. Yet, there is more to her than meets the eye.
The clue lies in the way the word philosophy is shown. Divided into two parts, the first says, 'philo', meaning love, and the second says, 'sophia', which means wisdom. The message is, therefore, clear. Both Socrates and Plato are being depicted as the lovers of wisdom. The lady shown is the very embodiment of wisdom. Her Greek name is Sophia.
There is, of course, a great history behind the figure of Sophia. The old testament of the bible clearly identifies Sophia as the source of Solomon's wisdom. There are numerous passages which refer to the great love Solomon had for Sophia.
Wisdom reaches from one end of creation to another mightily, and sweetly does she order all things.
She is more beautiful than the sun and above all the order of the stars; being compared with the light, she is found before it'.
Such are some of the beautiful words we find in The Wisdom of Solomon.
As an abiding symbol for the wisdom of the real world, this wisdom is continually poured out for the benefit of us all. This is affirmed in the illustration that shows just that. Wisdom is shown pouring out from her in refreshing streams of pure, sparkling water. It is a picture of complete and utter benevolence, of a primeval goddess, compassionately pouring out the waters of wisdom upon the whole world.
The question, of course, is who is there to hear and receive it? Who is there to quieten the turbulences of their own mind and, instead, just listen and hear? Whoever they are, when they do, they themselves will begin to receive that wisdom. For, it is absolutely everywhere and in absolutely everything.
Naturally, this has echoes which resonate throughout the history of human civilisation and culture. Consider, for example, Sarasvati, the ancient Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning, art and music, often portrayed seated upon the white flower of wisdom.
According to Hindu mythology, the waters of this wisdom are similarly poured out upon the whole world.
Arising from source, these waters flow like a beautiful silver stream, and, as they build momentum, they eventually turn into a powerful river, capable of sustaining entire civilisations.
This is the fabled, Saraswati river, upon which once sailed those beautiful white swans with which Saraswati is often associated. It is the river upon whose banks once sat those sages who composed hymns and poems in her honour.
There are also intimations of other such wisdom goddesses, such as Seshat of ancient Egypt, often linked with either Isis, the gracious mother of the child Horus, or indeed, Hathor, the cow goddess, whose nourishing milk was associated with what we now call the milky way.
The connection with Hathor becomes even clearer in the beautiful Hymn to the Seven Hathors, found on the walls of the Temple of Dendera, specifically where it states:
You are the lady of hymns,
The mistress of the library,
The great Seshat
At the head of the Mansion of Records
Ancient Egyptian goddess Seshat
The library referred to, no doubt, contains those books of wisdom said to have been written by the consort of Seshat, which was, of course, the ibis headed Thoth, scribe of the gods. In the ancient world, the books said to have been written by Thoth were legendary and included works upon all of the subjects of the liberal arts.
One of the most curious features of the figure of Sophia, as shown by our illustration, is the crown she wears, which has three heads embedded in it, one looking left, one central and the other looking right. These bring to mind a saying, claimed by the Greek writer, Plutarch, to have been inscribed upon a statue of Isis in Sais, Egypt:
I am all that was, is and shall be. No mortal has ever lifted my veil.
These heads also show that Sophia was thought of as being triple in her aspect. In reflection of this, the study of philosophy also had three main divisions, which were the rational, the moral and the natural.
Each of these were associated with their own dialectic, which then provided the foundation for all discourse upon these subjects. In terms of rational philosophy, they were the true and the false; in terms of moral philosophy, the good and the bad; and in terms of natural philosophy, the one and the many.
These showed the ways of the two paths that always lie before us. Upon the one side lies the path of the true, the good and the beautiful, while on the other side lies the path of the very opposite of these qualities. And, as has always been the case, the choice of which path to take is always left to us.
I love these old symbols, for they speak of a wisdom that is ever-green, ever-present and always available to enhance our lives in the here and the now. This is why Sophia is sometimes shown with a book in her right hand and a rod in her lefft.
The book is the faithful record of wisdom that is now available to us through the efforts of those who, in their own time, became the lovers of Sophia. The rod is a symbol of her authority, which comes from the all, the whole, that great unity of which all and everything is a part.
This rod is also, therefore, the axis mundi, the pole around which the world turns, represented in ancient cultures by the magnificent symbol of the tree of life. Rooted in the bountiful earth, its branches reach upwards towards the heavens. Everything is connected to everything else as a part of that tree – me to you, ourselves to all life and all life to Mother Earth, who provides the great garden in which we all play.
Flowers, trees, poles, books, waters, gardens – a panoply of different symbols, all of which speak of the very same wisdom. Look at the way in which this wisdom is shown pouring out from Sophia in seven streams, four to the right and three to the left.
These streams are the wisdom that nourishes, sustains and supports the seven liberal arts, each represented by their own symbolic figure. There is, consequently, shown a lady for grammar, a lady for dialectic, a lady for geometry and so on. These highlight the fact that wisdom can come to us in different ways. And, when it does come to us, each expression has its own wise maiden who prevails over it.
Therefore, at one moment it may appear to us through a profound saying whose meaning suddenly captures us – grammar.
At another, it may present itself to us an inspiring thought, that then moves us into action – dialectic.
At another, we may hear it in a rousing speech, put forth with great courage and conviction – rhetoric.
At one moment, this very same wisdom might appear to us as an arrangement of flowers, disposed so beautifully – arithmetic.
At another, it may appear to us through a beautiful visual pattern – geometry.
At another, we may hear it sound forth through a beautiful melody – music
While at another, we may discern it in the rising of the moon over the calm sea – astronomy.
Seven maidens, seven sisters, seven stars – that, like the seven Hathors of ancient Egypt, can all lead us to the incredible wisdom of the real world.
A young man being greeted by the seven maidens of the liberal arts – from the Villa Lemmi fresco, Wall Mural
So, what does or can this mean for us today? It means that there is a wisdom that is ever present within the world. However, to receive that wisdom we have to be open to it. This entails being careful to watch, listen and learn from it.
To be able to do this, however, we first need to quiet our mind. How can we expect to receive if our mind is in a constant state of turbulence? Studying the trivium will help us do this because it will bring order and logic to our mental life.
Thus, being ordered, our mind will begin to settle down, the unpleasant background noise will recede, and our mind will begin to clear, eventually to become like a beautiful, still pool.
Once the mind is clear, we can then begin watching, listening and learning from the real world of which we are a part. Not in the way of book study, but through direct experience. It is at this point that we will begin to receive that wisdom. This is for the simple reason that the noise and turbulences of our mind will no longer be blocking it out.
So, in the meantime, we continue with our studies of the liberal arts, in particular the trivium, which will help to bring that order and clarity to our mental life. How, and in what way, we can do this, I will consider in my next post.
Pictures courtesy of Pixabay
Category: UncategorizedTags: enlightenment, Hathor, Herrad von Landsberg, liberal arts, Saraswati, self-actualization, self-development, self-transfromation, self-trasformation, Sophia, Spirituality, tree of life, wisdom teachings
← 6 Reality Creation
8 An Introduction to Dialectics →
This month's posts Select Month Sep 2018 Aug 2018 Jul 2018 Jun 2018 May 2018 Apr 2018


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Reportage + Société | Le Buzz
Le Buzz: Beyond the French news
February 22, 2013 By Emmanuelle Tremolet |
This article is in English. Click here to read it in French.
This week in Le Buzz, we discover, or rediscover, a dancer of elegant physique, an actress who is living proof that talent has no age, a fashion ambassador and an actress turned singer, daughter of… and sister of…
But who are we talking about here? They are certainly newsworthy French people, but who are they? That's for you to discover below.
The Frenchman Benjamin Millepied, new director of dance at the Opéra de Paris
It could be that his name doesn't seem familiar, but you've probably heard it somewhere before.
Benjamin Millepied is a French dancer and choreographer, known for having worked on Darren Aronofsky's film 'Black Swan'. It was on the set of this film that he met the actress Natalie Portman, whom he married in 2012. In October 2014, he will succeed Brigitte Lefèvre, the Director of ballet at the Opéra de Paris since 1985.
Benjamin Millepied is one of the greatest dancers of his generation, he enchants and bedazzles. After having studied at the Conservatoire National in Lyon, he entered the New York City Ballet where he was named principal dancer in 2002.
He has danced the great ballets of George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, the latter of whom, the choreographer of West Side Story, even marked him as a "genius".
Alongside his dancing career, Benjamin Millepied is the face of the Yves Saint-Laurent perfume 'Homme Libre' . His elegance and chic allure has drawn the attention of labels such as Air France and Uniqlo. After having spent 20 years in the United States, the French dancer will soon return to the French capital with his wife and son. Welcome back!
You can find here the programme of the Opéra de Paris for the 2012/2013 season.
The French actress Emanuelle Riva, age 85, accepted into the BAFTA
At the age of 85, the French actress has won the Bafta (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for Best Actress for her role in Michael Haneke's film 'Amour'. Emanuelle Riva played the role of an old woman, the victim of a stroke, whose relationship with her husband is consequently put to a difficult test.
The role of the husband is played by another great name in French cinema, Jean Louis Trintignant, known notably for his role in the Claude Lelouch film, 'Un Homme et une Femme'.
Emanuelle Riva, stage and film actress, came to fame in 1959 in Alain Resnais' first feature film, 'Hiroshima mon amour', based on the novel by Marguerite Duras.
The film 'Amour' has had a great cinematographic success. After receiving the palme d'or at Cannes in 2012, it has been nominated at the Oscars in the category of Best Film. Emanuelle Riva will equally take part in the Oscars, being held on the 24th of February in Los Angeles, in the category of Best Actress.
Without question, the Frenchies are well liked in Hollywood. Marion Cotillard will also be in the running to receive a statuette. And now, the Oscar for Best Actress is awarded to…
The Victoires de la Musique French awards crown the artist Lou Doillon
Maybe you don't know Lou Doillon, but you no doubt know Jane Birkin.
Lou Doillon is the daughter of Jane Birkin and the director Jacques Doillon. She is also the half-sister of Charlotte Gainsbourg.
In Paris, on Friday the 8th of February the 28th Victoires de la Musique awards were held, the equivalent of the American Grammy Awards. On this occasion, Lou Doillon was named Female Artist of the Year for her first album, titled 'Places'. "Mum, I got it!" she shouted with joy to her mother Jane Birkin.
'Places' is a folk rock album with a sombre tone, written by this young woman of 30 years of age and produced by one of the great names in French music, Etienne Daho.
Lou Doillon, who was formerly an actress, model and stylist, seems to have found her way in music… She has just kick-started a French tour, for which you will find the dates here. Lou Doillon, a French artist to discover!
1 – Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman at the 84th Oscars ceremony in Hollywood, February 26th 2012. | AFP/JOE KLAMAR.
2 – Loic Venance, AFP, Getty Images , The Associated Press.
3 – Les-Julies.com.
4 – Site officiel de Lou Doillon.
artiste,
Cinéma français,
French music,
French Musicians,
Emmanuelle Tremolet
"Je suis une française partie vivre à l'autre bout du monde, en Australie, avec une envie folle de découvrir un autre pays. Au bout du compte, c'est la France, que je redécouvre à travers les yeux des Australiens et de nombreux francophiles. Je vous invite à découvrir ma vision de la France."
Do you know how to find expert French language tutors or classes near where you live or online? Express your interest here and plan to polish up your french with experts - sign up now.
"Fais de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve, une réalitéMake your life a dream and the dream a reality"
Antoine de Saint Exupéry. Translation
Mais je parle, je parle... But enough about me...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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The Age-Friendly Ambassador Program is an opportunity to learn about what "age-friendly" means and what strategies can help make communities more livable. An age-friendly online training will provide more information and resources and prepare you to advocate for older adults wants and needs in the community.
This will be an asset to religious, civic, and community organizations you belong to (or others you may want to join) because you will be able to help the groups better include older adults and consider their needs.
To sign up to be notified when the training is available or for more information, please complete the form below or contact AFI-Ambassadors@unitedwaymiami.org.


Led by novelist Nick Barlay, author of the lauded non-fiction family history Scattered Ghosts, this masterclass covers the technical skills needed to turn real life into a poignant story, including character development and dialogue.
You'll learn how to develop your narrative, create a credible world using setting and description, and discover how historical detail and narrative dynamic can come together to reveal universal truths through particular family histories.
This course is for you if you are currently writing or planning a story based on events in your family history.
Nick Barlay is the author of four highly acclaimed novels and was mentioned among Granta's Best of Young British Novelists in 2003. He has just published his first work of non-fiction, Scattered Ghosts, which tells the story of his Hungarian Jewish family over two centuries. He has also been a journalist, and wrote a long-running and popular series about London for The Times. Other writing ranges from short stories to award-winning radio plays.


How do you download iPhone X exclusive live wallpapers on any iPhone? Follow this upfront guide to download iPhone X live wallpapers on any of your iPhone to give the Lock screen of your smartphone a chance to come alive with 3D Touch and be able to win over every heart.
iPhone X boasts some wonderful wallpapers. But the ones that may be on the hit list of many are live wallpapers. And hence some folks would be willing to download iPhone X exclusive wallpapers on other iPhones.
Step #1. First off, save the GIF images given below on your device. Then, download intoLive app on your iOS device. It's free and functions reliably.
Step #2. Now, open the IntoLive app and then tap on "Gif" at the top.
Step #3. Next, you need to select the GIF you have just saved to your Photos app and then tap on "Next" arrow.
Step #4. Next up, tap on "No Repeat" in the menu.
Step #5. After you have created an image, tap on "Save Live Photos" button.
Step #1. Open Settings app → Tap on Wallpaper.
Step #2. Tap on Choose a New Wallpaper → tap on Camera Roll.
Step #3. Select the wallpaper you have just created → Tap on Set → Set Lock/Home Screen or Set Both.
iPhone X has received positive reviews from one and all. Flaunting impressive design and several remarkable features like Animoji, the smartphone has brought back the Midas-touch to the iPhone. Let me know what you think of it in the comments below.
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Take your Christmas gifting global this year with presents that hail from all over the world. In this compilation of Christmas gift ideas, we have rounded up various items from countries around the world to stir up some thoughts on what you can get for your little ones this Christmas.
Here is a selection of Christmas gift ideas from around the world.


The ultimate cross-over is emboldened in these Gameboylicious boots. Mashing tech and funkly boots to hold a Gameboy, never again will your retro-gamers look at you the same. Anytime you find yourself sitting down, just swing your foot up and resume your important thumbing technique.
Implications - This creative pair of heels combines a unique array of elements that would make anyone take a second look. The combination of gaming and fashion pushes the geek chic trend to new levels with these shoes, showing that fashion is incorporating geek culture into its current and future lines. Designers shouldn't be afraid to include nerdy and gamer elements to future collections to add a modern flair.


May fuel price review: lower prices, but will they continue to fall?
Fuel prices in May 2017 continued to fall. With the per-barrel cost of crude oil down, supermarkets and major petrol retailers have passed cost savings on to drivers.
The average price for unleaded in the UK in May 2017 was 116.7 pence per litre. For diesel it was 118.0 pence per litre. the figures represent a month of month decrease of 1.6 pence and 2.1 pence respectively. The larger decrease in diesel prices is interesting and will be a trend that we watch closely over the coming weeks and months. Super unleaded and premium diesel prices also fell, by 1.9 pence on average. Even motorway service station prices fell during May, by 0.8 pence and 0.6 pence a litre.
Despite the decreases, prices are higher than they were in May 2016, when both unleaded and diesel stood at an average of 109.3 pence per litre. However, they are significantly lower than they were five years ago, when unleaded was 137.6 pence per litre and diesel 138.5 pence. In direct contrast, ten years ago unleaded cost 95.9 pence and diesel 96.8 pence per litre. While prices have generally been going down for the past few months, they are still fluctuating in a price range that has been in existence for a decade now – between 90 pence and 145 pence per litre.
Unfortunately, it looks like we may not see another price decrease in June (though we remain optimistic). Last week, OPEC and Russia appear to agree to stick to reducing oil production levels for the next nine months. In theory, this should bolster the price of crude oil per barrel for the rest of the year. However, in reality it hasn't had much impact, because US shale oil production levels have increased since February, thus negating production cuts elsewhere.
Now, for the first time, it seems that OPEC and the bankers who represent the many small-scale US shale oil producers are opening a dialogue about how to control global output and agree a price range for oil. If this happens, there can only be one outcome: higher fuel prices but within a controlled range of pricing. The target appears to be between $55-60 a barrel, so if they do agree a deal, prices will almost certainly increase in the second half of 2017.
The price of crude oil per barrel started at $49.15 in May, dropping down to $46 on 4 May 2017. From that point, it increased for almost the whole month, reaching $51.50 before falling back to $49.40 at the end of May. The price has changed by $5.50 per barrel, but has ended at almost the same place as it began. As mentioned earlier, oil producers want a price range of between $55-60 a barrel for the next nine months, so there is some way to go to achieve that level through oil production cuts.
What is happening at a regional level?
Based on our data, the biggest decreases in fuel costs in May were seen in Wales, where Cwmbran became the cheapest town in the UK, with average prices of 111.0 pence per litre for unleaded. It was hotly followed by several other towns in Wales at 111.2 pence per litre, as well as Thurrock and some parts of North Manchester. As ever, high concentrations of ASDA and Morrison's sites drove prices down in many areas, as the brands continue the dominate the top 100 cheapest sites in the UK. The cheapest recorded site in May was in Tamworth at 109.7 pence per litre.
The most expensive town in the UK in May was Acharacle in the Highlands, with an average price of 133.9 pence per litre for unleaded. As ever the Scottish Highlands, Isle of Man and Isle of Wight had the highest average prices, alongside Inner London at 125.8 pence per litre. As expected, independent chains and motorway service stations dominate the top 100 most expensive places to fill up. The most expensive recorded site in May was in Central London, at 150.1 pence per litre for unleaded.
As ever, remember to set up and use our price alert email to make sure you are always aware of where the cheapest fuel is in your local area. If you are on the move and in unfamiliar places, our app will enable you to locate the cheapest and/or nearest fuel, wherever you may be.
Let us know in the comments section below what you thought of the fuel costs in May. Are they going to continue falling? What do you think of dynamic pricing? We would love to hear your opinions.
reduced prices and offers are great…..
Is it just me or if Opec and all the other Oil and Gas suppliers carry on what they are doing, i.e. manipulating the output.
Is this not Price Fixing by stealth?


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Zureli.Green
Amazon Web Services pledges to reach water positivity by 2030
The cloud provider has also announced its 2021 global water use efficiency (WUE) metric of 0.25 litres of water per kilowatt-hour.
As part of the new commitment, AWS will report annually on its WUE metric, as well as its new water reuse and recycling efforts. It will also report on new activities to reduce water consumption in its facilities and advancements in new and existing replenishment projects.
AWS chief executive Adam Selipsky said: "Water scarcity is a major issue around the world and with today's water-positive announcement we are committing to do our part to help solve this rapidly growing challenge.
"In just a few years, half of the world's population is projected to live in water-stressed areas, so to ensure all people have access to water, we all need to innovate new ways to help conserve and reuse this precious resource.
"While we are proud of the progress we have made, we know there is more we can do. We are committed to leading on water stewardship in our cloud operations and returning more water than we use in the communities where we operate. We know this is the right thing to do for the environment and our customers."
The announcement today adds to Amazon's commitment of $10m to Water.org to support the launch of the Water & Climate Fund, which will deliver climate-resilient water and sanitation solutions to 100 million people across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
This donation will directly empower one million people with water access by 2025, providing three billion litres of water each year to people in water-scarce areas.
Water.org chief executive and co-founder Gary White said, "Our collaboration with Amazon and AWS already brings over 805 million litres of safe water to communities around the world every year, and we are excited to continue to work with Amazon to bring even more safe water to families in need."
AWS has four key strategies to help it achieve its objective: improving water efficiency, using sustainable water sources, returning water for community reuse, and supporting water replenishment projects.
AWS said it is "constantly" innovating across its infrastructure to reduce water consumption. It achieves its industry-leading water efficiency by using advanced cloud services, such as Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, to analyse real-time water use and identify and fix leaks.
The firm further improves operational efficiency by eliminating cooling water use in many of its facilities for most of the year, instead relying on outside air.
For example, in Ireland and Sweden, AWS uses no water to cool its data centres for 95% of the year.
It also invests in on-site water-treatment systems that allow it to reuse water multiple times, minimising water consumed for cooling.
Sustainable sources
AWS uses sustainable water sources, such as recycled water and rainwater harvesting, wherever possible.
Using recycled water – which is only suitable for a limited set of applications such as irrigation and industrial use – preserves valuable drinking water for communities.
In Northern Virginia, the provider worked with Loudoun Water to become the first data centre operator in the state approved to use recycled water in direct evaporative cooling systems.
AWS already uses recycled water for cooling in 20 data centres around the world and has plans to expand recycled water use in more facilities as it works toward becoming water positive.
Community water reuse
After maximising the use of water in its data centres, the spent liquid is still safe for many other uses, and AWS is exploring more ways to return it to communities.
In Oregon, for example, AWS provides up to 96% of the cooling water from its data centres to local farmers at no charge for use in irrigating crops like corn, soybeans and wheat.
Water replenishment
To meet its water-positive commitment, AWS is investing in water replenishment projects in the communities where it operates. Replenishment projects expand water access, availability, and quality by restoring watersheds and bringing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services to water-stressed communities.
To date, AWS has completed replenishment projects in Brazil, India, Indonesia, and South Africa, providing 1.6 billion litres of freshwater each year to people in those communities.
For example, in regions like Maharashtra and Hyderabad, India, and West Java, Indonesia, AWS is partnering with global clean water non-profit Water.org to provide 250,000 people with access to safe water and sanitation.
Building on its existing portfolio of water replenishment programs, AWS this week announced several new projects, which, once completed, will provide more than 823 million litres of water to communities each year.
Source edie
Hitting global climate target could create 8 million energy jobs
Researchers suggest net increase would mostly occur in renewables sector, with decline in fossil fuels by 2050.
Wildlife tourism in the pandemic: what will happen to the parks, staff and animals?
As coronavirus halts nature-based tourism worldwide, employees and their communities are struggling to stay afloat.
New study finds $3.8 billion in food wastage each year due to faults in the Cold Food Chain
A study has reported an estimate of 2,183,500 tonnes of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood and dairy products is wasted each year due to breaks and deficiencies in the cold food chain.
New York City banned gas in new buildings. Here's what you need to know
The City Council passed a bill making New York the largest city in the United States to effectively ban the use of gas in new buildings and to turn to electricity for power.
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G.O.A.T. OF THE MONTH: ASHTON SPEARS
Odett Ochoa, Staff Writer|December 2, 2019
Odett Ochoa
As a senior at St. Edward's, Ashton Spears looks to add to his already decorated career. With a career-high 42 points, the guard added yet another impressive accomplishment.
The "G.O.A.T. of the Month" is a segment in which the Hilltop Views sports section recognizes the consistent, impactful performance of a stand-out SEU athlete during the span of a month.
Reigning 2018-2019 Heartland Conference Player of the Year Ashton Spears has officially begun his final season at St. Edward's, currently averaging 21.9 points and 2.4 steals per game.
Spears kicked off Lone Star Conference play by scoring a career-high 42 points against Texas A&M Commerce, cementing him in the SEU record books for most points in a game. However, for Spears it is about much more than himself: family and spirituality are the heart of his game.
"It's simple: I just pray. Before every single practice, game. I pray for the confidence and mental stability to get through the game. … Me being away, I brought with me here, my spirituality is everything to me. Me being here gives them hope. It took me a while to really understand that, but once I did, that's when I started taking things more seriously." Spears said.
Although this is Spears' second year in head coach Andre Cook's program, he plays like a four-year veteran. Spears credits much of his success to the coaching staff.
"Coach Cook has played a big role in my life, especially off the court. Steve keeps me level headed when I have a good game, bad game. He doesn't tell me what I want to hear, he tells me what I need to hear. I couldn't ask for a better coaching staff," Spears said.
The Independence, La., native illustrates how facing adversity early on led him to not only bring the same toughness on the court but also view basketball as much more than a game.
"Stuff on the court is [a] breeze. There are real-life problems outside the court. The way I look at the on-court stuff, the toughness, compared to off the court, doesn't even compare. It means a lot more than just putting the ball in a hoop, it's a way out. It's an opportunity to be an example for the guys back in my hometown and show them that it's possible to make it." Spears said.
Spears is a force to be reckoned with on the court, letting his flashy dunks and 3-point range speak for themselves. Yet off the court, he describes himself as a "homebody and kind of shy."
High expectations on the court bring out innate qualities in Spears that allow him to play with confidence and display excellence. Serving as an assistant since 2014, Ayala chronicles Spears' transition as one that not only produced a successful basketball player but also transformed him into a man of conviction.
"Ashton thrives in a basketball environment in which a lot is expected of him. He wants to be great and be in a situation where he is needed to be great," Ayala said.
Spears and company will return to play on Dec. 7 by hosting Millsaps at 3 p.m.
ashton spears
go hilltoppers
st edawrds
GAME DAY: Women's basketball loses to Angelo State 63-51
GAME DAY: Angelo State Rams beat out SEU Hilltoppers 98-78
GAME DAY: Women's basketball wins against UT-Permian Basin 61-55
GAME DAY: Men's basketball take back victory in second half
GAME DAY: Men's basketball defeat ABU in first home game
OPINION: Religious activities provide community for St. Edward's students, inclusivity prioritized by religious organizations
A time for change: University inaugurates first Hispanic president, makes history
Homecoming on the Hilltop
Water leaks in North St. André Apartments, affected residents relocate to Teresa Hall
University offers informative meetings on sexual misconduct, Title IX resources