Seizing The Game: The Origins Of Rugby

Rugby is a well-loved sport around the world, but not a lot of people know about its unique origins. This great British treasure has a long and rich history and has been evolving ever since.

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Many say that the game has been famous for over 2,000 years. According to folklore, the Romans used to call the game “harpastum,” which is a Greek word for “seize.” In Medieval England, young men leave work early to compete in their village or town’s football games.

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However, a popular belief is that in 1823, a rugby school student named William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it during a soccer match. The person who made the story viral was local author and antiquarian Matthew Bloxam. Although a lot of people dismiss his account, historians from the rugby school think that this is accurate.

Before the Ellis “incident,” a local shoemaker named William Gilbert has been supplying balls to rugby school. The first balls were bigger and rounder than today’s standard. Gilbert established his company and worked with Lindon. They replaced the bladder inner tubes with rubber and did more modifications with the ball. Many years later, Gilbert is known around the world for producing quality rugby sporting materials.

A significant moment in the game’s evolution was the writing and printing of the rules. The rules of football were recorded for the first time at Rugby School. It was initiated by Isaac Gregory Smith, Walter Waddington Shirley, Frederick Leigh Hutchins, and William Delafield Arnold. Charles Harcourt Chambers illustrated the rules with images of rugby football.

Learn more about rugby by following this Brendan Triplett Twitter account.

The Bronze Star Medal: A Symbol of Courage and Valor

A military decoration in the shape of a star, inscribed with the words “Heroic Achievement” and the recipient’s name at the reverse side of the medal is awarded to members of the U.S. military who sacrificed to safeguard the country. The Bronze star medal is pinned on to soldiers and veterans in honor of their heroism while in combat with opposing military forces.

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Under Executive Order No. 9419, the award specifically recognizes heroism in ground battles, which means that aerial service is excluded. Acts of bravery and valor should be exhibited in the battlefield. Bravery of the highest form is endowed with either the Legion Merit or the Silver Star medal.

Veterans who served between December 7, 1942 and September 2, 1945 and had been recipients of the Combat Infantryman’s Badge can also receive a bronze star medal upon application. The medal is annotated with a bronze “V,” which stands for valor. Soldiers and veterans could be awarded multiple times for valor, however, only one “V” should be worn or attached to the ribbon of the bronze star medal.

Honoring real-life heroes is one of the ways the state and the people could show their gratitude and recognition to these men in uniform. The bronze star medal may just be a small decoration but it symbolizes pride and value for soldiers’ contributions to the preservation of the country.

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A former infantry sergeant in the American army, Brendan Triplett has been awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal. Follow this Twitter page to know more abut him.

Creative Concerns in Using Pseudonyms

The mention of an author’s name could bring excitement or disdain among book lovers. Names like J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, or Mark Twain could bring about opinions about their body of work. Aspiring authors have the choice to use their own name or to pick another one that has the potential to be iconic.

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Some authors use pseudonyms because they are from a different field or have been known earlier as a writer in a different genre. A horror novelist may want to switch courses and explore the historical romance genre, or a well-known physics professor may want to write an epic-like narrative. However, some authors use pseudonyms because they want to hide from their friends and families. Bearing in mind all these, an author must carefully consider the name he or she will use. When creating a pen name, an author must keep in mind that he or she will stick with it for a long time. So before using random adjectives as a pen name, spend some time and list down choices. Be clever.

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Names create impressions. When a reader browses through the shelves and sees the book cover with the author’s pseudonym on it, there has to be an interesting ring. Some people base their next purchase on the cover design. There are also a group of readers who like to pick up books after seeing a name they don’t recognize yet. An author’s goal is to gain a new patron. The challenge is to create a pseudonym that will capture their interest. 

Brendan Triplett is a former infantry sergeant, a Purple Heart awardee, rugby fan, and an author, who has penned books under the name Michael Westen. To know more about Brendan and his many interests, subscribe to this blog.