These cute DIY Felt Ornaments are perfect for Valentine's Day decorations. The heart shared ornaments made wonderful gifts ideas and gift wrap accents too. Follow this tutorial for easy Valentine crafts that can be used for decorating a Valentine's Day tree.
That's exactly the amount of kid free time I have each week.
Typically these hours are filled the brim errands, volunteering, and other exciting activities such as sock sorting and vacuuming. Lucky for me this time also allows me to roam my favorite craft stores for inspiration.
But sometimes a girl's gotta create! Thank goodness for preschool. It's three whole hours of kid free bliss when I get to do my favorite thing: roam craft stores for inspiration.
Here's the product of my last craft store visit: DIY Felt Valentine's Day Ornaments!
These adorable Frog Prince embellishments needed me to take them home and create something royally worthy of their golden crowns.
Doesn't my Frog Prince look dashing on this premade heart ornament? Love it!
1. Cut out a smaller felt heart from a contrasting color.
2. Use a simple running stitch to attach the second heart to the pre-made ornament shape.
3. Create a lily pad with two colors of green felt. The first shape is an oval and the next is a skinny heart shape.
4. Carefully add a Frog Prince onto the lily pad with a small amount of hot glue.
5. Add tiny heart buttons using embroidery thread. These were included in the Frog Prince embellishment package from the craft store.
6. This Frog Prince is blowing kisses to his sweetheart so more thread was added to give greater details to the DIY felt Valentine ornament.
Here is another Frog Prince dreaming of his princess. The gold crown is serious cuteness!
I was able to whip up three DIY felt Valentine ornaments within my kid free time. Using the pre-made heart shapes from the craft store made these super easy.
They look fabulous on my Valentine tree from last year!
The felt ornaments are so colorful. They add a wonderful touch of whimsey to the kitchen hutch. Here's three easy tips for decorating a kitchen hutch!
My decorating motto is "create spaces to smile about". Our Frog Princes with their brilliant gold crowns are making all of us grin!
Fill your space happiness and create DIY Felt Valentine Ornaments for yourself!
Wishing you a fabulously Happy Valentine's Day!
Love the frog princes, so cute! I need to get started on my Valentine's Day projects.
Very cute! I love the DIY felt ornaments! I just purchased a bunch of felt yesterday, and will be making mini heart pillows for Valentine's Day!
Yay! Isn't it so much to be creative with colorful felt?
The frog prince is adorable! Great idea to use for Valentine's Day!
Thanks so much, Jann! I love the little Frog Princes!
Super cute! I need to make some Valentines for this year. Maybe this weekend!
I have been wanting to make some of these super cute felt ornaments forever! I'm so glad I took the time to be creative!
Thanks so much for the pin, Jamie!
I love these! They are too cute!
Thank you so much! I loved making them!
These are adorable! It looks like a great, easy way to decorate for Valentine's Day!
How cute! The frog prince tree is also adorable. I bet your little ones just love it. Thanks for sharing on the Spring Craft Blog Hop. Pinned and tweeted.
The children do love our Valentine tree! Thanks for hosting such a fun party!
So cute! You should sell them!
So excited that you loved my little Valentine's ornaments! Maybe I'll make more to give to the children's teachers!
totally love these little frog guys.
Me too! He is so stinkin cute!
Love the valentine's day tees and the frog prince makes it so much fun. Found you on the spring blog hop. Pinning to share!
Wahoo! Thanks so much for the pin and the visit!
I love how soft and colorful the felt ornaments are! Thanks so much for the comment love!
Thanks so much, Danielle! Love your fun Saturday party!


We had a quick chat with Kelvin about the changes he's made for this outstanding mod. First things first, any Mech looking build has got to have articulation, else it's just a statue. Kelvin got inspiration from his earlier modification of the Ninjago Fire Mech (70615) to give the bottom half a bit more articulation. In its original design, the Hulkbuster UE simply does not have any form articulation at its lower limbs.
While still using 90% of the original Hulkbuster UE another change was to add height to the shoulders and also resolving the eyesore of the two blue technic pins sticking out like a sore thumb.
He's added greebling to the neck area and raised the chest thickness by 2 plates to give it a better bulk effect. The forearm pads have been increased.
Kelvin says his general inspiration and reference has been the Hot Toys version, a company that always ensures quality with very accurate models of characters they release.
There are still lots of changes, but Kelvin says, I'm going to leave it up to the viewer to discover them!
Saw Chubby brick's video. Just a great Mod to the Hulkbuster.
For the extra pieces, on the video just pause. It's not a lone video and it's real easy the way he shows each part. The most important thing to get are the leg joints from NinjaGo's Water Strider.
Now the hunt begins to find the parts. this is so awesome, Lego shud pay this guy and give everone the parts for free. right, like that wud happen!


text:
PR: Maltby Main vs North Ferriby
North Ferriby FC make the return journey to Maltby Main in the NCEL league cup. The tie last Tuesday was abandoned after only 1 minute and 47 seconds after a floodlight failure. The Villagers will come into the game full of confidence again having reached the summit of the NCEL division one table after their impressive 3-0 victory over Armthorpe Welfare on Saturday.
Maltby Main on the other hand drew 2-2 at Silsden, a result that lifted them up to 6th place in the NCEL premier division.
Chris Bolder shared his thoughts ahead of the tie, "last Tuesday we had the right players who were going to play the minutes. Things have changed this week due to injuries. This Tuesday we are in a position where we are thin on the ground".
There is an injury concern over Danny East. Niall Tilsley and Tom Corner are both carrying knocks and Liam Nelthorpe is unavailable.
Report kindly provided by North Ferriby.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Samsung announces UHD content expansion with leading partners ahead of IFA 2014
Tags: Samsung (005935.KS)
Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qacidf
Samsung set to expand its UHD content offering with VOD (video on demand) services, live broadcasting, a UHD video pack, a new download service and partnerships with major content providers including Amazon, Netflix, maxdome, Wuaki.tv, and CHILI
28th August 2014, London, UK - Samsung Electronics today announced plans to further expand its UHD ecosystem by working with global content partners to help accelerate consumer adoption of UHD content and offer the widest range of content available to its customers.
The company plans to launch Amazon's UHD VOD service globally in October, and has also expanded Netflix's UHD VOD Service into Europe, following a successful launch in March across the U.S. and other countries. Netflix kicked off its UHD streaming service with the hugely popular US series House of Cards Season 2, which is now available on Samsung's UHD TV.
Samsung is also reinforcing its partnerships with major European content providers, including VOD service, maxdome and TV and film streaming services Wuaki.tv, and CHILI to secure more UHD content as it works towards creating a more comprehensive and broad UHD content offering.
"The popularity of UHD content is really starting to grow. Key to maintaining this and giving consumers what they want is wide variety and choices that reflect their bespoke interests," said Robert King, Vice President of Consumer Electronics for Samsung UK & Ireland. "We are pleased to expand the array of UHD content that our consumers can enjoy on our ultra-immersive Curved UHD TVs."
Samsung Electronics has been focusing its efforts on providing more UHD content in the European market. In May, it teamed up with the Vienna State Opera to provide UHD live streaming of Nabucco with Placido Domingo, one of The Three Tenors, through the Vienna Opera App. The premium content was broadcasted worldwide and gave viewers a front-row seat to the thrills of the opera house. Over the next year, ten more performances are planned in UHD, where one of the highlights will be a New Year's Eve performance of the opera Die Fledermaus from Johann Strauss.
Samsung has also been actively working with partners in the industry to develop a solution for secure UHD content distribution. By working with the SCSA (Secure Content Storage Association), whose founding members include SanDisk, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., and Western Digital to establish content storage security standards, Samsung will be able to provide Hollywood studios' highest quality content to consumers via a download service.
The company also partnered with RTP, a Portuguese national broadcasting company, and Portugal Telecom (PT) - through MEO, to offer live-streaming of the World Cup warm-up matches in spectacular UHD picture quality. This event was the world's first UHD live-streaming sports broadcast that exclusive viewers could watch on the Samsung Curved UHD TV, without a separate set-top box-a special event for sports enthusiasts.
In South Korea, live UHD broadcasting has also been available to the public. In April, Samsung Electronics launched a service that allowed people to enjoy live UHD broadcasting without a set-top box, by partnering with cable provider "CJ Hello Vision." Samsung will also work with CNM and T-Broad to launch a UHD broadcast service before the end of this year. In addition, people who own a Samsung UHD HU9000 TVs are able to use a "B TV"' app to watch 20 UHD VOD titles with a subscription to "SK Broadband."
Samsung Electronics is also taking the lead in creating UHD content by working with leading Hollywood studios. In July, the company, in partnership with 20th Century Fox and Paramount, launched a UHD Video Pack, a 500 gigabyte drive pre-loaded with a total of 40 titles in UHD picture quality, including popular movies, such as Star Trek Into Darkness and Life of Pi, and documentaries.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.
4 Amazon has arranged a hardware event for Tues, 28th Sept
Live-streamed event will be used to unveil new devices, features and services.
23 GamesMaster UK TV show reboot looking for contestants
Channel 4 show will appear on E4, YouTube, etc. Patrick Stewart isn't the new GamesMaster.
UK football season sparks illegal IPTV crackdown by FACT Disney Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser breaks launch in 2022 Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Flip3 Bespoke Edition Google launches the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones G.Skill Trident Z (RGB) 32GB memory kits announced


for the clinics in the ACT. He has great interpersonal skills and follows up leads proactively, building great rapport with doctors and stakeholders alike. He communicates well and co-ordinates all the way from initial contact to a doctors arrival and commencement at the clinic.
Darren at DXC Medical Recruitment has been an outstanding recruitment agent for us. He's friendly, proactive and connects us with great GPs to work in our practices. I highly recommend his service.
He has helped us recruit permanent and locum GPs for our north Brisbane Medical centres. I would recommend him to Doctors and Practice owners like myself, without any hesitation.
Darren has an excellent knowledge of the Australian medical system and will guide you though the complexity with ease. Darren provided excellent support to our GPs and Rural Generalists, both before and after they started their roles. It is not about finding medical jobs but assisting doctors find the next step in their career and making sure the whole package is the right fit.
Darren is an exceptional Recruitment Manager with excellent people and process skills allowing him to manage the expectations of multiple stakeholders. Within a short period, he transformed our recruitment processes and workforce planning model, which resulted in a significant improvement in our permanent GP recruitment and Rural Generalist workforce numbers.
I highly recommend DXC medical recruitment Darren and Amanda have both been great and have gone above and beyond with any general practitioner's they have placed within our company, I look forward to recruiting many more GPs with DXC medical recruitment.
Andrea has gone above and beyond to help our practice find the perfect match doctor. She came personally in to our practice went over our requests and found us the most delightful GP who will make a fantastic fit to our Practice. She listened and kept in touch throughout the whole process. Thank you Andrea for making my job so much easier. Will definitely but contacting you again.
I have dealt with Multiple agencies over the past 12 months and not one of them came to our clinic. Andrea was extremely personable, helpful and very professional. From the time of first contact with DXC to an amazing GP that is perfect for our team, signing her contract, was about 1 week. Very easy, no complications, the whole process went very smoothly. We are so grateful and will definitely use DXC again.


On Wednesday night, the Huntington family slide projector came out for a little trip back in time. I love old family photos. Although I am passionate about digital photography, it is sad to see the disappearance of the conventional slide show. Nowadays, people just view photos on Facebook, Flickr, or Picasa by themselves, completely removing the physical social experience. I hope the cost of quality digital projectors will go down enough that people can make photo viewing a social experience again.
The distortion of an old slide projected on a blemished wall gave added texture to these already interesting photos. Here are two that I enjoyed.
If you're ever in the Portland (Oregon) area during the first weekend of November, you should swing by the Catlin Gabel Rummage Sale. Each year, the Catlin Gabel community, a private day school, donates their odds and ends to benefit the financial aid annual fund. Generating around 300 thousand dollars, the sale occupies more than 100,000 square feet at the Portland Expo Center. The sale has everything you could imagine; from go-karts to vintage fishing equipment and Prada shoes. Check it out, you wont be disappointed.
Mark Knopfler of the Dire Straits has an amazing sense of style. Here is a picture from the early 80's of him wearing a red, black and white cowboy shirt. Note the color coordinated headband and armband. Here is a video of a live performance of Sultans of Swing. Note the same red, white and black color scheme and the coordinated arm and head bands. Stinking to what he likes.


Now that the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer, we're looking for more ways to keep our little guy occupied after the sun goes down. Enter, the flashlight! We love making shadow puppets, but I was hoping to branch out from that. Since my son has been showing lots of interest in space lately, I thought some constellations would be perfect!
First off, to make sure the discs work you'll need to remove or paint over (with the spray paint) the silver shiny part on the inside of the flashlight. Trust me, this works.
While you are waiting for the paint to dry, if you painted it that is, take the top part of the flashlight and trace the part you want the discs to fit on top of onto the black card stock.
This might be the trickiest part! Take the scissors and carefully cut as close to the tracings as you can. The closer you are the better they will fit! Trust me.
Now comes the really fun part. Pick your favorite constellations and mark the dots onto the card stock circles. I suggest picking ones that have fun stories to match to keep the little ones entertained.
Take your awl or needle and poke the holes through the marked dots. See? Super easy.
Assemble your new flashlight, throw on the discs, and have fun!
My son loves space so I am doing this tonight! Thanks!
i'm in love! how fun!!
Using a lamp is a brilliant idea!
Another great post! Thank you for the idea on how to bring the night sky indoors!
What a clever idea. I am featuring this if you don't mind.
Has anyone actually done this with success? I am not having any luck with it.


PIERRE — The Daugaard administration's plan to create a new Department of Veterans Services got off on a sore foot Tuesday.
Legislators learned during a budget hearing that the department plans to stop paying its 25 percent share of the salaries for county veterans services officers.
The department also plans to stop reimbursing them for travel to Pierre for training.
Rep. Susan Wismer, D-Britton, asked whether county governments have been told about the cuts being proposed.
"Uh, no, they have not. The department has not. Until the cuts are official, this is a plan. We have not notified them, no, ma'am," deputy secretary Steve Harding replied.
Currently there is a single Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, overseen by Adjutant General Steve Doohen. The department would be split into two smaller ones under the reorganization plan filed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard.
The elimination of state funding for the county veterans services officers would comprise about $160,000 of the $377,433 cuts in general funds that Doohen has proposed in total for the two departments.
Doohen said the impact would vary from about $1,000 to about $4,000 per county officer. The jobs typically are part-time.
"It's not a big effect on the counties," Doohen said.
The situation is "symptomatic of what we're finding in a lot of state departments' budgets." Wismer said afterward. "We're pushing lots of things off on the locals and pushing lots of things off until times get better."


Jan Hovasi Cox is currently a consultant for the Michigan Department of Community Health, Women, Infants, Children (WIC) Division and also works full-time as the Neonatal/Pediatric Nutritionist at The Children's Hospital at Bronson, Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, Michigan. She has presented at numerous engagements at local, state and national symposia. Jan also has several publications and is a contributing author for the 2016 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Pocket Guide to Neonatal Nutrition, 2nd ed.


While young American Jews steadily move away from identifying with the traditional denominations which previously dominated the landscape of American Jewry, a new movement has slowly been forming. It's numbers rapidly growing and potential impact nearly unpredictable. This new denomination is unlike anything the Jewish world has ever seen, as it's members live around the country and pay no dues. Even more shocking, any Jew between ages 18-26 can join. What is this mystery movement that will have over twenty thousand Jews traveling in their mobile "synagogues" this summer? Meet Birthright Nation.
My cynicism was quickly replaced with optimism, as I saw people connecting to their Jewish roots for the very first time. I soon realized I was a part of something special. Birthright has successfully mobilized and educated over 400,000 Jews in just fifteen years, making it one of the biggest Jewish educational program in America. I have been involved in Jewish education my entire life, yet I never heard someone walk out of hebrew school saying "I now need to marry someone Jewish". I never saw tears come down a students face as they learned Jewish history. Yet I was encountering this type of passion every day on Birthright.
Will a participant start going to synagogue more after the trip? Not likely. Will a participant start keeping kosher? Doubtful. Will a participant feel more deeply connected to Israel and the Jewish people. Definitely. While many may see the lack of change within religious observance as an educational failure, they misunderstand what Birthright is attempting to transform. Birthright is about changing identification from "I'm Jew-ish" into "I'm a Jew" (see Seth Meyers on being "Jew-ish"). Participants leave Israel feeling proud of their heritage and for me that is most significant.
Israel is the key player in this entire discussion. The greatest teacher is the land itself. Touching the Kotel or hiking in the north does something that American Jewish education can never do. Israel is a central outlet for expressing ones Jewishness and it's critical that we continue to support Birthright and other Israel educational trips. This is even more important after the summer Israel has endured.
Jonathan Leener is the rabbi of Base BKLYN in Crown Heights.


text:
Altitude Blu-ray Review
Actors: Dolph Lundgren, Denise Richards, Greer Grammer, Chuck Liddell
Director: Alex Merkin
Disc Format: AC-3, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Region: Region A/1
Rated: R
Studio: LIONSGATE
Bad low budget action movies starring Dolph Lundgren have become increasingly common, as we rarely see the chemical engineer turned actor on the big screen (outside of The Expendables franchise) anymore. Those prepared to be disappointed by another project obviously done for the paycheck are going to be let down even more by the fact that Lundgren isn't even the leading actor or the hero. Instead, Lundgren is demoted to the role of generic bad guy, while Denise Richards inexplicably attempts to fill the role of hero. Those who were baffled by Richards' attempt at playing a nuclear physicist in the James Bond franchise (coincidentally the same franchise that gave Lundgren his start in the film industry) will be just as baffled by her casting as an FBI hostage negotiator, who single-handedly thwarts a plane hijacking in Altitude.
The film begins with an unbelievable hostage negotiation which will set the tone for the rest of the film. Rather than allowing a sniper to take out the man holding people hostage, or doing her job in talking him down, FBI agent Gretchen Blair inexplicably rushes into the hostage situation undetected (while still talking to the suspect on the phone) and tackles him instead. This would be an unbelievable scene with a more convincing actor, but with Richards it becomes a complete farce. Reprimanded for her insubordination, Blair is sent back to Washington D.C. when the plane she is taking coincidentally gets hijacked.
The plane is being taken over by a group of criminals who were robbed by a fellow thief (Jordi Vilasuso), who also happens to be seated right next to Blair. This thief offers Blair a large sum of money to protect him from the hijackers, and somehow this Playboy model is able to single-handedly take down all of the bad guys. What follows is a generic onboard action movie with very little convincing action, and even less believable acting. It is everything you might expect of a plot description such as this, only worse.
The casting of Richards was a horrible choice, but it aligns with the obvious intentions of the filmmaker: get as many name actors in the cast as possible, regardless of how poorly suited they may be for the roles. On top of Richards being a tough negotiator who fights her way out of the situation, the cast also includes grown child actor Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire) in a strange role as a flamboyant flight attendant and UFC fighter Chuck Liddell as a walking prop. Liddell may look the part of a criminal who hijacks a plane, but he is basically just a glorified extra in this film. But the worst crime of all is the casting of Lundgren only to keep him confined to the cockpit flying the plane for nearly the entire film.
I could go on, but anyone who has read this far and still chooses to endure Altitude will be getting what they deserve. The Blu-ray includes a Digital HD copy of the film, but no special features on the disc.
Entertainment Value: 4/10
Quality of Filmmaking: 3.5/10
Historical Significance: 1/10
Special Features: 0/10
Railroad Tigers Blu-ray Review
Life Blu-ray Review
Mine Blu-ray Review


The photo spread was awesome! My favorite is of the little girl in the pink hat on her mom's shoulders holding the sign.
Looking for you was like looking for Waldo! I didn't find you…are you in any of the pics and I just didn't see you?
How was it? I'm sure it was a great experience. I was really looking forward to possibly taking some of the youth this year, but God had a different plan for me!!
We had a very large sign and all four of us we were loosely "attached" to a big oak tree that was situated at the very start of the march, staying put until all of the other marchers had stepped off. Only then did we make our way over to the Supreme Court.
I think Barbara the "photo lady" was all through by then.
My friend David S. and his family crafted the sign. It was about 5 feet by 10 feet in size. Once assembled it tended to blow around, so it was a handful for three or four people. Great sign, though!
An interesting march. Very well attended, where a number of specific needs of the Pro-Life movement became painfully apparent, mainly due to the new and overtly hostile political climate towards life these days, in Washington.
I removed my "Ask Me About God" button and infiltrated the little pro-death demonstration team that Planned Parenthood sponsors near the end of the march, each year.
Making small talk and asking questions, it quickly became clear that these guys have no regard for anything except themselves.
They are really depraved. Purely political. Blood means nothing to them, nor does the wholesale death and destruction of innocents. No humanity at all. No regard for God, and nothing but scorn for the Church.
The "older" women (those over 30 or so) all had rather dark mustaches! These were the "handlers". A mustache must be some sort of a "secret" badge of rank.
The rest (all 20 of them) were young people … paid demonstrators from local colleges … and they knew little about what they were doing, or why.
They seemed to hate all things male (unless the "male" happened to be homosexual) and they just want to do what they want to do, without any interference from anyone.
All the more reason to repeal Roe vs.Wade, and to protect society from senseless death and destruction at the hands of these wanton killers.
The Cult of Obama will not survive the Pro-Life movement. These guys should surrender, before their decrepit position on this issue leads to their own destruction.
The Pharaoh of Exodus comes to mind, as do the Nazis, along with the Antichrist of the Book of Revelation.
If Obama turns out to be true to his word on abortion, I predict the current economic problems he's facing will seem like "a walk in the park" before it's all over.
Look for a dogmatic, "Ex Cathedra" statement from the Pope on abortion, in the near future. It's certainly about time!
Washington DC, Jan 30, 2009 / 07:29 pm (CNA).- The Republican National Committee has chosen Michael Steele, a devout Catholic who is well-known for his charisma and strong work ethic, as its new chairman.
Steele, who previously served as the lieutenant governor of Maryland, is the first black chairman of the Republican Party. He was selected after six rounds of voting with 91 votes out of a possible 168. Steele beat out Ken Blackwell, Ohio's former secretary of state, and Saul Anuzis, Michigan GOP chairman, to win the chairmanship.
Q: Please explain the idea of FREE-WILL.
I am a believer in God, but the concept of Free-will makes no sense—it is unexplainable?
Note the two different "threads" that operate in the above statement.
God does what only God can do, knowing all and seeing all, from eternity.
Man does whatever he chooses, but in the end, God's will always prevails, because God is more than capable of taking into account all the feeble and ill considered actions of mankind.
Those who deny free-will are more in line with Calvin's discredited theory of "double predestination" which makes life meaningless, salvation unnecessary, judgment a joke, and the concept of a redeemer essentially superfluous.
Isn't the believer's response to grace by faith a "work"?
Q: Isn't the believer's response to grace by faith a "work"?
A: Faith is a virtue that is the result of cooperating with God's grace.
Faith is also a free-will response to grace.
Grace always precedes faith. Without grace, there can be no saving faith.
Infant baptism as routinely practiced in the Catholic Church is the only authentic demonstration of salvation with no personal works at all, since the infant can do nothing for himself and is wholly dependent on the grace of God and the faith of the Church for his salvation.
So much for all those who say Catholics "work" their way to Heaven!


To help you, we've put together a list of common LAPU transfer-related questions and answers. If you do not find the answer you need, please email your question to our enrollment team.
How many credits do I have to have to enroll with LAPU?
There is no maximum/minimum amount of credits required to apply. However, if you have less than 6 transferable college units, you must also submit official high school/GED transcripts. Refer to our catalog for more information.
When do I get to start taking my major classes?
Students can take major coursework at any time providing they have met any course prerequisites.
Will my credits transfer to another school or university?
All of LAPU's courses are highly transferable because they are regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the same agency that accredits the University of California and California State University institutions. However, it is up to the discretion of the receiving school/university as to what (or how many) credits will transfer in. In particular, if you are looking at specific nursing or health programs, it is imperative that you FIRST confirm with that school and program to determine if they will accept online prerequisite courses (for example, online science courses with hands-on, "wet" labs).
Will these classes fulfill University of California and California State University transfer requirements?
Yes, certain LAPU classes will meet certain General Studies requirements, but we always encourage students to check with the receiving school in order to guarantee transfer.
Will the LAPU required and Bible classes transfer to non-Christian public universities?
Generally speaking, these LAPU courses will transfer in as electives, but we always encourage students to check with the receiving school in order to guarantee transfer.
Why haven't all my credits transferred over?
Requirements for LAPU's programs may differ from the requirements for other schools and degrees.
How many credits can I transfer in for an associate's degree? For a bachelor's?
Transfer limits are as follows: LAPU accepts no more than 70 units from a two-year school and no more than 90 units from a four-year school. LAPU caps the number of elective units accepted at 15 units for A.A./A.S. and 30 units for B.A. (see the catalog for more information).
Why was I not given upper-division credit for some lower-division courses?
LAPU does not accept lower-division coursework to meet upper-division requirements (see the catalog for more information).
Why are there so few elective credits?
Students must complete a minimum of 60-70 units for A.A./A.S. (depending on program) and 120 units for B.A.
I didn't have to take Spanish in college because I took it in high school—do I have to take it with you?
Yes. However, students may take a CLEP exam to satisfy the foreign language requirement. See the catalog for test information and required scores.
Why do some of my classes transfer as electives?
This is likely because the classes do not meet General Studies or major requirements for the program to which you are applying.


Cabi Pulls At Lowes Cabinet Pulls 4.25 On Center Cabinet Pulls 4.25 Center To Center with resolution 300x300 px.
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Why App Development Services are Becoming Quintessential to Businesses?
Gone are the days when Smartphone applications were only used for increasing the utility of the phone. There are lots of mobile app development companies in India and all over the world. Nowadays, with increasing use of Smartphone, tablets and other such devices, these apps are now increasingly being used for the development of one's business also. These apps in addition to pulling new customers to your business services also enable you to keep your old customers interested in the services provided by the company.
Finding the right solutions to app development can make or break how your customers perceive you when it comes to faster and swifter access to your services, often rendering in them a tendency to recommend the app to others too. This not only increases a loyal customer base but also adds on potential clients and audience for your products and services. Thus visibility is a great factor in why businesses are choosing mobile app development companies Ahmedabad.
The key to the developing the perfect app is employing the services of trained and experienced professionals who work with a belief of providing standard services to their customers in time bound manner. The app developers in the company should have an in depth knowledge of Android Operating System and have experience in creating a numerous applications based on different requirements of the clients.
ISO standards are followed in both designing and providing the services to the clients.
Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) is followed in each business dealings.
Fully equipped with maintenance as well as security apparatuses.


text:
package scalaDemo;

import scala.App;

/**
 * Created by liush on 17-8-28.
 */
object QueueMutableTest extends App {
  //Queues

  import scala.collection.mutable.Queue //可变Queue
  val queuea = new Queue[String]
  queuea += "a"  //添加单个
  queuea ++= List("b", "c") //添加多个
  println(queuea.dequeue) //取出头元素, 只返回一个值
  //res22: String = a

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Tag: United Kingdom
Deeper Waters Podcast 1/17/2015: Peter D. Williams
What's coming up on this Saturday's episode of the Deeper Waters Podcast? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
We're going to be continuing our look at abortion as expected this Saturday. Normally, we in the West in America tend to think about what has happened here in America. We are busy thinking about Roe V. Wade. This is important, but we are not the only country in the world. What is going on in another country? For that, we will have a discussion with someone who is across the pond, and that will be Peter D. Williams in the United Kingdom.
Who is he? According to his bio:
Peter D. Williams is Executive Officer for Right To Life, the UK's premier right-to-life charity and campaigning group. Peter works closely with the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group (the legislators in the UK Parliament who campaign for the right to life), and engages in public debates in print and media for the dignity of all human beings.
A former atheist, who 'reverted' to Catholic Christianity, via a period of dissenting from the Church's teachings during which he was also a radical supporter of legalised abortion, Peter also 'moon-lights' as a Catholic Christian apologist, arguing the case for the Gospel and the Church in the British media. He lives and works around London.
Admittedly, my main interaction with England happens to be listening to the Unbelievable? podcast, to which Peter D. Williams has been a fascinating guest to have on. They have had a number of shows on the topic of abortion, but I have yet to really interact with someone over there on the topic and find out what is really going on in the U.K. with abortion so like many of you, I will be learning as much as I can during this show. (That is a benefit of doing a show like this. It's not just old hat stuff being talked about. It is a learning experience all throughout.)
We have the event of Roe V. Wade over here in America that is a landmark decision that changed abortion forever. Does the U.K. have anything similar? What is the general belief about abortion in the U.K.? Since the U.K. has a more nationalized system of health care, how does that affect the practice of abortion? Are teenagers allowed to get abortions without the knowledge or consent of their parents as can happen over here? What does opposition to abortion look like in the U.K.?
And also, we are told the U.K. is in a post-Christian climate. How does this affect the national attitude toward abortion? Does it say anything about where America could be heading? Do we have something valuable that we need to learn from those people who live across the pond from us?
I hope you'll be watching your ITunes feed next week for this episode. Abortion is going to be our focus all month long on the Deeper Waters Podcast and I am sure Peter D. Williams will be a fascinating person to have on the show to talk about this important topic.
Posted on 15th January 2015 Author Nick PetersCategories abortion, Deeper Waters, Deeper Waters Podcast, sexual ethicsTags abortion, Catholic, Deeper Waters, Deeper Waters Podcast, England, Nick Peters, Peter D. Williams, Roe V. Wade, Sexual ethics, U.K., United Kingdom1 Comment on Deeper Waters Podcast 1/17/2015: Peter D. Williams


Hong Kong had its first guide dog for a visually impaired person in 1975. After half a century, there is still an acute shortage of guide dogs and their training has experienced considerable difficulties. It is therefore worth discussing the ways to remove obstacles encountered by guide dogs.


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Viper goalie Danny Todoyschuk turns away a rebound with the help of Colton McCarthy
Vipers look at bright future.
Pundits picked the Vernon Vipers to squeak into the fourth and final Interior Division playoff spot.
Kevin Mitchell
PENTICTON – Pundits picked the Vernon Vipers to squeak into the fourth and final Interior Division playoff spot.
Those predictions came before the Vipers began the regular B.C. Hockey League season with an interim head coach.
Enter former Snakes' bench boss Mark Ferner, who began the season assisting Don Hay with the Western League Kamloops Blazers.
The 49-year-old ex-NHL d-man tweaked the roster, brought in his proven structured system and the team slowly flourished, finishing a solid second behind the Penticton Vees, ranked No. 6 in the nation.
The Vipers delivered a fast, thrill-a-second brand of hockey buoyed by wheels from the likes of Thomas Aldworth, TJ Dumonceaux, Liam Coughlin and Liam Finlay.
They surprisingly swept the gritty Merritt Centennials in round one of the post-season and then took the mighty Vees – stacked with 13 U.S. scholarship players and nine returnees – to Game 7 of the Interior finals Sunday night before 3,200 boisterous fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Game 69 of Vernon's season ended when bruising blueliner and co-captain Patrick Sexton's shot from the left point struck a Viper in front and slowly rolled past a startled goalie Danny Todosychuk with 2:53 to play. Matthew Sarratore added an empty netter with four seconds left as the Vees won 2-0 to claim the Ryan Hatfield Memorial Trophy.
Sexton, an Ottawa product who turns 21 next month, has recorded 16 goals in five years of Junior A. His last snipe came in late December. He is the son of former Senators' GM Randy Sexton.
"They threw it at the net, it hit a shin pad (Riley Brandt's on the shot block) and went up in the air; it was real similar to our overtime winner (Luke Voltin in Game 5)," said Ferner, moments after the heartbreaking loss. "We don't know what the difference is going to be and unfortunately, it was something like that. Two real good teams went at it and we put our poor Game 6 effort (5-1 before a sellout 3,200 fans Saturday night at Kal Tire Place) behind us and we came out and played a great game.
"It's not easy on them (Vees) either. All the pressure was on them. We had some great looks. I'm not sure people thought we would have gone this far. Behind closed doors, we don't really care what people think; we've got a bunch of character kids in there and I think it's gonna bode well for the future of this organization and for the kids who are moving on. They were the heart and soul of this team."
Viper captain/d-man Riley Guenther was superb in the playoffs, pocketing three goals and eight points in 11 games. He, Dumonceaux, Liam Coughlin, Kenny Citron and Todoyschuk were the five returning Vipers.
"I'm proud of the way the guys battled tonight," said Guenther, a 20-year-old Calgary product and one of nine raduating Snakes. "I thought we gave it everything we had and I thought we deserved a better fate. They get a lucky bounce and it goes in and it cost us. Nobody expected us to go this far."
Finlay and others quickly comforted Todoyschuk, who stood, head down, frozen, in his crease as the final buzzer sounded.
"I'm super proud of Danny," said a red-eyed Guenther. "He's battled through injury all through the playoffs. His groin was bugging him and he kept pulling through for us. He was great again tonight. He gets one that flutters, just a bad bounce, nothing you can do."
Neither team mustered many Grade A scoring chances at the gorgeous $80 million Events Centre with the Vees holding a 20-16 shot margin after two periods. Tyson Jost – a first-round WHL bantam draft pick of the Everett Silvertips – was stoned by Todosychuk on an early wrap-around attempt.
Vees' net detective Hunter Miska foiled Coughlin on a sweet backhand move, in tight, in the more wide-open third period. Miska also made a pair of fabulous stops as the Vipers pressed on a 84-second powerplay early in the frame.
Jost, expected to go high in the 2016 NHL draft, earned the assist on Sexton's goal.
"Me and (d-man Dante) Fabbro talked before the draw, we just wanted to get the puck to the net," said Sexton, named the game's first star. "I think it bounced off his (Brandt's) skate. At this point I don't really care, they all count. It's a little sweet revenge for last year."
Michael McNicholas slammed in a loose puck from close range at 2:06 of overtime as Vernon took the seventh game 4-3 last year.
"They (Vernon) have been a bit of a thorn in our side," said Penticton head coach Fred Harbinson. "Last year to the day, we lose in overtime after giving up a 3-1 lead. All of a sudden the other night, we're playing great and we didn't sit back. We played our butts off. They (Vipers) are a hell of a team. They are one of the best teams in the league.
"I promised our guys today I was going to do the best job I have ever done coaching and they promised they were going to play the best game they could play."
Citron gave props to the Vipers for thriving on adversity all year.
"At the start of the season, we didn't have a head coach," said the New Yorker who turns 20 this Sunday. "I think there's something to be learned from that for all the guys on this team, especially the guys coming back next year."
Citron singled out Todoyschuk, who served as Austin Smith's caddy in last year's playoffs and the Royal Bank Cup.
"He played phenomenal all series, but sometimes the results don't add up. That's life. Sometimes you don't get the bounces. I think this team deserved a better fate. Good luck to them (Vees). It's a good organization and they've got a good team."
Penticton co-captain Cody DePourcq, who battles opponents almost twice his size night after night, sported a perma-grin outside the Vees' NHL-like dressing room Sunday night.
"It feels amazing," said DePourcq, whose father, John, was a 52-goal scorer for the Penticton Knights in the 1986-87 season when they were swept by Vernon in the Interior semifinals. "There's no real words to describe how we feel in there, especially to see Patrick Sexton get that goal. He's a great player for us. He battles so hard. It was good to see him get rewarded like that."
The emotions for DePourcq were much different 12 months ago.
"I was on the ice for the (Vipers) overtime goal so that was a tough moment. To get this one was huge."
All the Vees showed class by embracing Finlay, a former teammate, traded to Vernon for the rights to Dakota Conroy of the WHL Prince Albert Raiders early in the season, in the handshake. Sexton rocked Finlay with a monster hit in Game 2, knocking him out of the middle part of the series.
"I just told him I was really happy he was OK," said Sexton. "He's such a good kid. He fit in really well here. I'm glad he had a great year. I was happy to see he was OK. He was able to come back in this series. Just wished him best of luck the rest of the way next year. He said he appreciated that."
The Vees host the Nanaimo Clippers Wednesday night in Game 1 of the double round robin series involving the three conference champions. The Chilliwack Chiefs are the other entry.
Local Crown lawyer retires case load
Indian Band elders to hear day-scholar lawsuit arguments
UBCO men's volleyball welcomes 5 new recruits, including 3 KSS Owls


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50 Best Movies You've Never Seen
Charles Stockdale, John Harrington
Last Updated: April 23, 2020 10:09 am
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
5. Auntie Mame (1958)
> Directed by: Morton DaCosta
> Starring: Rosalind Russell, Forrest Tucker, Coral Browne
> Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
> Avg. critic rating: 8.0/10
Rosalind Russell plays the title role in "Auntie Mame." She was nominated for an Academy Award as the free-spirited woman who takes in her nephew after his father dies and encourages him to seek adventure and experience life.
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
4. A Patch of Blue (1965)
> Directed by: Guy Green
> Starring: Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters, Elizabeth Hartman
> Genre: Drama, Romance
"A Patch of Blue" is about a black man and a blind white teenage girl who fall in love. It has a 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes — with only six critic ratings — and an exceptional 8.0 out of 10 user rating on IMDb, with fewer than 6,500 users contributing.
Who Won the Oscar for Best Director Every Year Since the Oscars Began
3. A Face in the Crowd (1957)
> Directed by: Elia Kazan
> Starring: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Anthony Franciosa
> Genre: Drama, Music
Elia Kazan's "A Face in the Crowd" tells the story of a country music singer's rise to fame and beyond. The film was not a financial success when it first came out, but it was added to the National Film Registry in 2008.
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
2. The Train (1964)
> Directed by: John Frankenheimer, Arthur Penn
> Starring: Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield, Jeanne Moreau
> Genre: Thriller, War
"The Train" is the third film to appear on this list directed by John Frankenheimer — the others being "Seven Days in May" and "Seconds." The movie grossed $6.8 million at the domestic box office on a reported $5.8 million budget. It currently holds a 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
1. Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
> Directed by: Blake Edwards
> Starring: Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, Charles Bickford
> Genre: Drama
Blake Edwards, known for lighter cinematic fare such as the Pink Panther movies, dealt with a more sober subject in "Days of Wine and Roses." Jack Lemmon plays an alcoholic who marries a woman (Lee Remick) whom he gets addicted to alcohol. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards and won for Best Music, Original Song. The movie received a 100% freshness score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
1 … 6 7 8 9 10 11


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Langjökull Ice Cave
Ice cave tunnel, Into the glacier, Glacier, Darc Awards
The aim of the project was to develop the concept of a tunnel for tourists into the Icelandic glacier Langjökull, undertake all preparation and design, and manage the projects. Due to the nature of the project, great emphasis was placed on environmental and security issues.
The product of the project is an impressive tourist attraction, which has become very popular and received various awards, e.g. EFLA received the prestigious Darc Awards award for the tunnel's lighting design.
Into the Glacier ehf
Langjökull glacier, Iceland
Reynir Sævarsson Manager | Water Supply & Sewerage Phone: +354 412 6179 / +354 412 6179 E-mail: reynir.saevarsson@efla.is Reykjavík
The project's objective
In the summer of 2010, EFLA launched an examination of the possibility of making ice-caves in Langjökull glacier. Over the next three years, EFLA developed the project far enough to allow potential investors to invest in the project without much uncertainty.
EFLA played a diverse role in this unusual project. It was necessary to assess whether such tunnels would be safe, how long they would last and how much such an operation would cost. At the end of 2013, an agreement was reached with the Icelandic Tourism Fund on the acquisition of the project.
The project involved creating a new, safe and desirable tourist destination based on the attraction of Icelandic glaciers. At the time, the need had arisen for the development of new recreation in the tourism sector, which was exactly what this project is.
EFLA was the technical adviser and undertook a variety of other projects until a company was established around the project. A managing director was appointed, the company built up and eventually, the company took over from EFLA.
Award winning lighting design
EFLA's lighting design for the Langjökull glacier ice cave won the prestigious 2016 Darc Awards award as "Best Landscape Lighting Scheme", as well as being voted "Best of the Best." More than 500 projects were nominated in 2016.
The objective of the lighting design was to make the experience in the glacier extraordinary with natural colours, so that the ice mass, ice rings and layers of ash can be revealed in the best possible way. The aim was that no light source would be visible, but the glacier be lit up from behind. This was done, for example, by introducing LED light sources into the ice, and by drilling LED lights into the floor, walls and ceiling. With this method, the ash formation from the recent Eyjafjallajökull glacier volcanic eruption is clearly revealed.
The project was prepared in close consultation with all licensees, authorities and public bodies, such as: Borgarbyggð, West Iceland Health Inspectorate, Iceland's Environment Agency, Iceland's Planning Agency, Iceland Construction Authority and the National Energy Authority.
The Planning Agency was notified of the construction with a request for a tax assessment. The conclusion was that the implementation would not have to be assessed in terms of environmental impact, although various environmental issues were examined at this stage. Risk of the glacier's and groundwater's contamination during the construction and operation phase was of special concern, but investigation suggested the risk was small.
Service Components
Darc Awards 2016
Icecave - video
Into the glacier
EFLA's role
As a consultant, EFLA handled everything needed for the project to be realized:
Planning and licensing. The master plan for the area had to be edited and a site plan for the area had to be done. Several permits were required, such as an operating license, a license and a permit from the Environment Agency.
The risks involved in the project had to be analysed, during the construction and operation, and respond to them.
A safety manual was prepared for employees to work for.
All technical design of the cave, its features, ventilation, dewatering, lighting, power generation and piping.
Construction control and measurement of movements in the ice.
Descriptive design and participation in the exhibition design with Árni Páll Jóhannesson.
Raufarhólshellir – development of the lava tunnel
Sanitation facilities at tourist destinations
Skriðuklaustur visitor centre


Across Australia (and indeed across the world), there has been a movement fighting the establishment and development of various forms of mining and energy production, including what's known as 'fracking', which is a form of mining for oil and gas. It's been a very strong movement in Gippsland in recent years, with a moratorium placed on any such mining for the time being by the state government, which has not reduced the feelings within the communities in Gippsland. Signs are on properties everywhere.
Also, the extent of apparent mining licenses is staggering. The blue outlines in the screen shot from the State government website represents the areas covered by potential mining licences for a large part of Victoria.
However, a closer look shows that not all the licences shown on the State Government website detailed in 'Mining Licences Near Me' are about fracking or that they are active and/or approved. The following screen shots of the Mirboo North area clearly show that licenses have expired or have not been issued. That's not to say that other areas don't have active licenses, or that new ones can't be issued.
I'm anything but an expert on these matters, but I'm always concerned when protests about anything verge on the hysterical and more so when radical political groups become involved. The debate then becomes one not of reasonable scientific discussion, analysis and the like, but more about ideology, where everything that doesn't conform with that ideology is rejected outright. That said, it still behoves governments to do the right thing and to be seen to be doing the right thing, before any approval is given to potentially damaging activities. Until that is the case, the right to be concerned about new technologies and industries that have a potential to cause harm, is certainly valid.
Now considering that the same political groups believe that we are able to modify and adjust the planet's climate at will, then I would think that there should be a reasonable chance that we could better understand the effects of such activities like fracking, before dismissing them outright. One of the arguments against fracking is that is it pollutes the water table; but is that the case, or even a potential likelihood, everywhere? In our region, I'm not sure where we draw our water supplies, but I hope that it's not from the likes of the Tarwin River West Branch, which at the best of times looks like a toilet bowl after a bad curry. And when was the last time any of our water courses were checked for fertiliser and pesticide run-off, if water quality is of concern?
But what also concerns me are the alternatives, which are all too often presented as an 'absolute' by those same political groups, despite the clearly known issues that they often present. Wind farms are an option that is nearly always advertised as the 'future', yet so often don't appear to deliver the results that are promised. Not only don't they deliver on the purported energy outputs, but they are often the cause of significant unintended consequences. Ironically, those unintended consequences include the negative environmental aspects of manufacture, maintenance and installation (Bald Hills?), and the risk to many species of birds and bats, including endangered ones from their operation. They also have significant health impacts to nearby residents, affected by the sub-sonic noise that wind farms generate, but those concerns are often ignored. What I also find disturbing is the fact that these wind farms are a blight on the countryside. Pristine landscapes are suddenly overgrown with ugly, indolent, structures – what look like modern day forests after a bush fire.
But even a real forest after a bush fire is more pleasing to the eye and environment, and eventually will yield to new growth and return back to the soil. I have read comments from some that the windmills look beautiful, but I wonder if the same sentiment would be expressed if instead of generating electricity, they were pumping oil?
Australia is a country that has an abundance of natural resources for producing plentiful, cost effective and efficient power, and we indeed once had the cheapest electricity in the world. But Australia is now one of the most, if not the most, expensive countries for power in the world, so you have to wonder what happened? It's very similar to one of my previous articles about the cost and quality of food; once we were world leaders with the best and cheapest food available and now we're one of the followers. Obviously many have a vested interest in arguing their case, but the reality most certainly sits somewhere in-between and it's not a good thing for Australians in general, with the way that we are headed.
The unavoidable truth is that the world depends on power (electricity) for everything that we do. Turn the power off for a day (as we appear to experience just about every second month where we live) and everything stops; we are ostensibly back to living in a cave. And as power costs escalate, the cost of everything else that's dependent on power escalates, and so the social costs escalate in lock step (it's already a major concern for the less well off). Do we really want to return to the caves, even if we could? If you think that you can, go to your power box and flip the mains switch and see how long you can go without it turned on. Turn your power off and set an example for everyone else to follow.
Now this subject is controversial to say the least and I by no means advocate open slather when it comes to mining companies and the like (I've dealt with large corporations for many years and, metaphorically, were you to shake their hand, you'd want to count your fingers afterwards to make sure they were all there, but I could say the same about political groups). However, I'm not blind to the realities of what modern life requires in order to sustain the things that we are used to enjoying and, more importantly, depending on for our very existence. When milk, bread or petrol prices rise a few cents, everyone rages, but when power bills go up 20+%, it all goes very quiet. At what point do we question whether we're doing ourselves justice by demanding the closure of mines, coal and gas fired power stations, banning the development of new sources of energy etc and denying ourselves cost-effective and efficient power?
And I'll leave this topic with something interesting that's happened in the US under the Obama administration; US to become world leader in oil and gas thanks to fracking, ironically raising concerns that US fracking boom puts West African oil economies at risk.
This entry was posted in Odds'N'Sods and tagged Climate Change, Firewood, Global Warming, Renewable Energy, Solar Power, Wind Power, Wood Heating on 25/10/2014 by Ray.
I have been enjoying reading your well-thought and well-written pieces, and this is no exception. However, notwithstanding what appears to be a slight sop to the possible dangers of proceeding with fracking as a means to more plentiful and (presumably…) cheaper energy, I note that your argument against some alternative forms of energy production are partially aesthetic ones (hey, look up "frankentrees", which are now visually blighting our [US] landscapes…), but it offers little attention to a far more important issue. We tend as a whole (with corporate interests often being the worst offenders) to take short-term views with energy issues. It is becoming increasingly obvious that if we pursue our current rates of population growth, fresh water use, and energy production, life itself on this planet (at least as we know it) will have an astonishingly short future duration. Some credible studies indicate that if we burn only our currently-known energy reserves, we will have doomed our ability to survive on this planet due to atmospheric changes, resultant climate changes, and the reaching of irreversible "tipping points" in those changes. If these studies are correct in their predictions, it would take only a few decades (a mere "pip" in time…!) to do this.
In addition to this much more important issue, fracking is often done (with its attendant production of waste-water with "secret" ingredients, which is in itself a potential risk to water supplies) in areas where drilling through underground water supplies is necessary for reaching gas supplies. Claims are made that this is done "safely" (using steel and concrete lined shafts), but as anyone can easily observe, neither of these materials is very permanent over an even moderate length of time. Further, rather spectacular demonstrations are fairly common that gas has entered a water supply when a lighted match can be held near a running water faucet, with a gas explosion soon following. Also, in the US in areas where drilling for energy resources is common, it appears that earthquakes are becoming frequent in areas where they were formerly rare.
I think we really need to consider very carefully (and globally) ALL of the issues around our energy use and resources, and to do that VERY soon if we are to have a future on this planet.
I agree fully with what you're saying. I guess my issue is that people tend to take up arms against single issues when it comes to energy supply, rather than looking at the entire picture and doing so pragmatically. We have people fighting fracking on the one side and we have people fighting wind farms on the other. I'm personally wary of all sides of the political/ideological/science/corporate spectrum, as everyone tends to have vested interests (climate scientists being no exception).
In regard to climate change, we seem to have been at the 'tipping point' many times over the last two decades, nothing has changed, yet still the catastrophic tales keep emerging from the same people. It's a bit like the boy who cried wolf; people no longer believe that climate change is a major issue, if an issue at all, given the results of many recent surveys. I've personally had many dealing with scientists that are working on alternative energy projects and despite their earnest beliefs that these projects will replace conventional power sources, the reality is that it's not happening, or likely to happen for a very long time.
If things are going bad, as some believe, then we need to adapt, not attempt to change things that we really don't understand or have control over. The last thing we should do is make life miserable for people, especially the most vulnerable. Do we really want the cure to be worse than the disease?


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Once upon a time, booze was banned and hemp wasn't
What Can Today's Crusaders Against Prohibition Learn From Their Predecessors Who Ended the Alcohol Ban?
Of the 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the 18th is the only one explicitly aimed at restricting people's freedom. It is also the only one that has ever been repealed. Maybe that's encouraging, especially for those of us who recognize the parallels between that amendment, which ushered in the nationwide prohibition of alcohol, and current bans on other drugs.
But given the manifest failure and unpleasant side effects of Prohibition, its elimination after 14 years is not terribly surprising, despite the arduous process required to undo a constitutional amendment. The real puzzle, as the journalist Daniel Okrent argues in his masterful new history of the period, is how a nation that never had a teetotaling majority, let alone one committed to forcibly imposing its lifestyle on others, embarked upon such a doomed experiment to begin with. How did a country consisting mostly of drinkers agree to forbid drinking?
The short answer is that it didn't. As a reveler accurately protests during a Treasury Department raid on a private banquet in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, neither the 18th Amendment nor the Volstead Act, which implemented it, prohibited mere possession or consumption of alcohol. The amendment took effect a full year after ratification, and those who could afford it were free in the meantime to stock up on wine and liquor, which they were permitted to consume until the supplies ran out. The law also included exceptions that were important for those without well-stocked wine cellars or the means to buy the entire inventory of a liquor store ( as the actress Mary Pickford did ). Home production of cider, beer, and wine was permitted, as was commercial production of alcohol for religious, medicinal, and industrial use ( three loopholes that were widely abused ). In these respects Prohibition was much less onerous than our current drug laws. Indeed, the legal situation was akin to what today would be called "decriminalization" or even a form of "legalization."
After Prohibition took effect, Okrent shows, attempts to punish bootleggers with anything more than a slap on the wrist provoked public outrage and invited jury nullification. One can imagine what would have happened if the Anti-Saloon League and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union had demanded a legal regime in which possessing, say, five milliliters of whiskey triggered a mandatory five-year prison sentence ( as possessing five grams of crack cocaine did until recently ). The lack of penalties for consumption helped reassure drinkers who voted for Prohibition as legislators and supported it ( or did not vigorously resist it ) as citizens. Some of these "dry wets" sincerely believed that the barriers to drinking erected by Prohibition, while unnecessary for moderate imbibers like themselves, would save working-class saloon patrons from their own excesses. Pauline Morton Sabin, the well-heeled, martini-drinking Republican activist who went from supporting the 18th Amendment to heading the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform, one of the most influential pro-repeal groups, apparently had such an attitude.
In addition to paternalism, the longstanding American ambivalence toward pleasure in general and alcohol-fueled pleasure in particular helped pave the way to Prohibition. The Puritans were not dour teetotalers, but they were anxious about excess, and a similar discomfort may have discouraged drinkers from actively resisting dry demands. But by far the most important factor, Okrent persuasively argues, was the political maneuvering of the Anti-Saloon League ( ASL ) and its master strategist, Wayne Wheeler, who turned a minority position into the supreme law of the land by mobilizing a highly motivated bloc of swing voters.
Defining itself as "the Church in Action Against the Saloon," the clergy-led ASL reached dry sympathizers through churches ( mostly Methodist and Baptist ) across the country. Okrent says the group typically could deliver something like 10 percent of voters to whichever candidate sounded driest ( regardless of his private behavior ). This power was enough to change the outcome of elections, putting the fear of the ASL, which Okrent calls "the mightiest pressure group in the nation's history," into the state and federal legislators who would vote to approve the 18th Amendment. That doesn't mean none of the legislators who voted dry were sincere; many of them-including Richmond Hobson of Alabama and Morris Sheppard of Texas, the 18th Amendment's chief sponsors in the House and Senate, respectively-were deadly serious about reforming their fellow citizens by regulating their liquid diets. But even the most ardent drys depended on ASL-energized supporters for their political survival.
The ASL strategy worked because wet voters did not have the same passion and unity, while the affected business interests feuded among themselves until the day their industry was abolished. Americans who objected to Prohibition generally did not feel strongly enough to make that issue decisive in their choice of candidates, although they did make themselves heard when the issue itself was put to a vote. Californians, for example, defeated four successive ballot measures that would have established statewide prohibition before their legislature approved the 18th Amendment in 1919.
As Prohibition wore on, its unintended consequences provided the fire that wets had lacked before it was enacted. They were appalled by rampant corruption, black market violence, newly empowered criminals, invasions of privacy, and deaths linked to alcohol poisoned under government order to discourage diversion ( a policy that Sen. Edward Edwards of New Jersey denounced as "legalized murder" ). These burdens seemed all the more intolerable because Prohibition was so conspicuously ineffective. As a common saying of the time put it, the drys had their law and the wets had their liquor, thanks to myriad quasi-legal and illicit businesses that Okrent colorfully describes.
Entrepreneurs taking advantage of legal loopholes included operators of "booze cruises" to international waters, travel agents selling trips to Cuba ( which became a popular tourist destination on the strength of its proximity and wetness ), "medicinal" alcohol distributors whose brochures ( "for physician permittees only" ) resembled bar menus, priests and rabbis who obtained allegedly sacramental wine for their congregations ( which grew dramatically after Prohibition was enacted ), breweries that turned to selling "malt syrup" for home beer production, vintners who delivered fermentable juice directly into San Francisco cellars through chutes connected to grape-crushing trucks, and the marketers of the Vino-Sano Grape Brick, which "came in a printed wrapper instructing the purchaser to add water to make grape juice, but to be sure not to add yeast or sugar, or leave it in a dark place, or let it sit too long before drinking it because 'it might ferment and become wine.' " The outright lawbreakers included speakeasy proprietors such as the Stork Club's Sherman Billings-ley, gangsters such as Al Capone, rum runners such as Bill McCoy, and big-time bootleggers such as Sam Bronfman, the Canadian distiller who made a fortune shipping illicit liquor to thirsty Americans under the cover of false paperwork. Their stories, as related by Okrent, are illuminating as well as engaging, vividly showing how prohibition warps everything it touches, transforming ordinary business transactions into tales of intrigue.
The plain fact that the government could not stop the flow of booze, but merely divert it into new channels at great cost, led disillusioned drys to join angry wets in a coalition that achieved an unprecedented and never-repeated feat. As late as 1930, just three years before repeal, Morris Sheppard confidently asserted, "There is as much chance of repealing the Eighteenth Amendment as there is for a hummingbird to fly to the planet Mars with the Washington Monument tied to its tail."
That hummingbird was lifted partly by a rising tide of wet immigrants and urbanites. During the first few decades of the 20th century, the country became steadily less rural and less WASPy, a trend that ultimately made Prohibition democratically unsustainable. Understanding this demographic reality, dry members of Congress desperately delayed the constitutionally required reapportionment of legislative districts for nearly a decade after the 1920 census. "The dry refusal to allow Congress to recalculate state-by-state representation in the House during the 1920s is one of those political maneuvers in American history so audacious it's hard to believe it happened," Okrent writes. "The episode is all the more remarkable for never having established itself in the national consciousness."
Other Prohibition-driven assaults on the Constitution are likewise little remembered today. In 1922 the Court reinforced a dangerous exception to the Fifth Amendment's Double Jeopardy Clause by declaring that the "dual sovereignty" doctrine allowed prosecution of Prohibition violators in both state and federal courts for the same offense. In 1927 the Court ruled that requiring a bootlegger to declare his illegal earnings for tax purposes did not violate the Fifth Amendment's guarantee against compelled self-incrimination. And "in twenty separate cases between 1920 and 1933," Okrent notes, the Court carried out "a broad-strokes rewriting" of the case law concerning the Fourth Amendment's prohibition of "unreasonable searches and seizures." Among other things, the Court declared that a warrant was not needed to search a car suspected of carrying contraband liquor or to eavesdrop on telephone conversations between bootleggers ( a precedent that was not overturned until 1967 ). Because of Prohibition's demands, Okrent writes, "long-honored restraints on police authority soon gave way."
That tendency has a familiar ring to anyone who follows Supreme Court cases growing out of the war on drugs, which have steadily whittled away at the Fourth Amendment during the last few decades. But unlike today, the incursions required to enforce Prohibition elicited widespread dismay. Here is how The New York Times summarized the Anti-Saloon League's response to the wiretap decision: "It is feared by the dry forces that Prohibition will fall into 'disrepute' and suffer 'irreparable harm' if the American public concludes that 'universal snooping' is favored for enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment."
The fear of a popular backlash was well-founded. From the beginning, Prohibition was resisted in the wetter provinces of America, where the authorities often declined to enforce it. Maryland never passed its own version of the Volstead Act, while New York repealed its alcohol prohibition law in 1923. Eleven other states eliminated their statutes by referendum in November 1932, months before Congress presented the 21st Amendment ( which repealed the 18th ) and more than a year before it was ratified.
This history of noncooperation is instructive in considering an argument that was often made by opponents of Proposition 19, the marijuana legalization initiative that California voters rejected in November. The measure's detractors claimed legalizing marijuana at the state level would run afoul of the Supremacy Clause, which says "this Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof…shall be the supreme law of the land." Yet even under a prohibition system that, unlike the current one, was explicitly authorized by the Constitution, states had no obligation to ban what Congress banned or punish what Congress punished. In fact, state and local resistance to alcohol prohibition led the way to national repeal.
That precedent, while encouraging to antiprohibitionists who hope that federalism can help end the war on drugs, should be viewed with caution. For one thing, federalism isn't what it used to be. Alcohol prohibition was enacted and repealed before the Supreme Court transformed the Commerce Clause into an all-purpose license to meddle, when it was taken for granted that the federal government could not ban an intoxicant unless the Constitution was amended to provide such a power. While the feds may not have the resources to wage the war on drugs without state assistance, under existing precedents they clearly have the legal authority to try.
Another barrier to emulating the antiprohibitionists of the 1920s is that none of the currently banned drugs is ( or ever was ) as widely consumed in this country as alcohol. That fact is crucial in understanding the contrast between the outrage that led to the repeal of alcohol prohibition and Americans' general indifference to the damage done by the war on drugs today. The illegal drug that comes closest to alcohol in popularity is marijuana, which survey data indicate most Americans born after World War II have at least tried. That experience is reflected in rising public support for legalizing marijuana, which hit a record 46 percent in a nationwide Gallup poll conducted the week before Proposition 19 was defeated.
A third problem for today's antiprohibitionists is the deep roots of the status quo. Alcohol prohibition came and went in 14 years, which made it easy to distinguish between the bad effects of drinking and the bad effects of trying to stop it. By contrast, the government has been waging war on cocaine and opiates since 1914 and on marijuana since 1937 ( initially under the guise of enforcing revenue measures ). Few people living today have clear memories of a different legal regime. That is one reason why histories like Okrent's, which bring to life a period when booze was banned but pot was not, are so valuable.
Reflecting on the long-term impact of the vain attempt to get between Americans and their liquor, Okrent writes: "In 1920 could anyone have believed that the Eighteenth Amendment, ostensibly addressing the single subject of intoxicating beverages, would set off an avalanche of change in areas as diverse as international trade, speedboat design, tourism practices, soft-drink marketing, and the English language itself? Or that it would provoke the establishment of the first nationwide criminal syndicate, the idea of home dinner parties, the deep engagement of women in political issues other than suffrage, and the creation of Las Vegas?" Nearly a century after the war on other drugs was launched, Americans are only beginning to recognize its far-reaching consequences, most of which are considerably less fun than a dinner party or a trip to Vegas.
Source: AlterNet (US Web)
Copyright: 2011 Independent Media Institute
Website: http://www.alternet.org/
Author: Jacob Sullum, Reason


Manage a department staffing plan for overall function coverage in partnership with other supervisors as applicable.
Registered Nurse - Telemetry. Registered Nurse.
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Luxury waterfront senior living! Our 55+ resort style senior living center is located in the historic downtown river district of Ft Myers. Our Whitney model has a city view and features 1 bedroom and 1 bath. This stunning unit boasts an open-concept which incorporates premium finishes like granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, washer/dryer sets, ample natural sunlight, porcelain wood grain tile floors, as well as jaw-dropping skyline and river views. Some of our highlights include four uniquely designed dining venues, a sparkling swimming pool with jet spa, a 2,200-square-foot fitness center, a 49-seat movie theater, Bel Fiore Salon & Spa, a bocce court, a dog park, a ballroom, and more. Our dedicated services include 24-hour security and maintenance, housekeeping, complimentary breakfast, valet parking, a SUN Program calendar full of events, to name a few.


Allen Ray Andrade is presumed innocent, until proven guilty in a court of law. Not all of outcomes are known or final.
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Allen Ray Andrade was born on December 19,1976.
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Social recruiting is no longer just a buzzword, nor is it a secret weapon for finding talent. With 89 percent of businesses planning to use social media to aid their hiring efforts, it has simply become part of the talent management landscape.
Research from The Conference Board reveals that social recruiting has become a top priority for many HR and talent professionals. Why? According to some estimates, the typical time to fill empty positions at a record high of 27 days. What's more, managers are increasingly worried about the cost of those unfilled positions. Clearly, the pressure is on social media to meet hiring goals.
Here's the good news: Social media can help recruiters and hiring managers connect with passive candidates. You know, that part of the talent pool that is not in the process of looking for jobs. Passive candidates account for a whopping 75 percent of potential applicants, so they've got the potential to really help solve several hiring problems. These candidates won't be found on job boards or other places where companies advertise positions, but they are on social media.
But social recruiting doesn't come without its problems. Check out the infographic from Betterteam below to learn what happens when the world's most annoying boss tries to use social media to find employees.
For more advice on using social recruiting effectively—like how to time your social media posts and use hashtags on Twitter, check out another recent post on Betterteam (be sure to scroll past the infographic to see all the tips).
Adam Seabrook is co-founder of Betterteam, an online software that makes it easy for small businesses to hire staff fast. Before Betterteam, Adam spent 10 years recruiting for companies like Google, Atlassian, Dell, Symantec, Coca-Cola, Bigcommerce, and Oracle. He lives in Sydney, Australia.


CASBA is a small charity providing specialist advocacy services for learning disabled citizens in Birmingham.
Being a well-respected Charity in Birmingham and having held our very successful 30th Birthday celebrations in 2018, we require a new experienced Executive Manager, who will take us into a new phase of project development and partnerships.
· Lead on the marketing and promotion of the organisations and its key messages.
For further information please contact CASBA on 0121 475 0777 and ask to speak to Heather Baseley (Interim Manager).
To apply for this job email your details to casba@btconnect.com.


text:
Carriera

Club
Sopravvissuto all'incidente aereo della LaMia Airlines 2933 avvenuto il 29 novembre 2016 perché non convocato, decide di porre fine alla sua carriera dopo 299 partite ufficiali con la squadra del Chapecoense, con cui debuttò in Série A nel 2010.

Palmarès

Club

Competizioni statali

Chapecoense: 2007, 2011, 2016

Chapecoense: 2006

Competizioni internazionali

Chapecoense: 2016

Note

Collegamenti esterni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
October 1, 2012 RayB Comments 0 Comment
Saturday saw me at Billericay Town FC for their home match against Basingstoke Town FC (two "BTFC's" for the price of one? Bargain!) which meant a chance to catch up with fellow London and music enthusiast, Dave Cristy, or DC, as he is known. I'd not seen him since Basingstoke played Brentford last November, and DC, as is his way, was able to recall the date and result without missing a beat. It was really good to see him and fill him in on everything that has been going on in my hula-hoop since then, which took some time!
The game ended 1-3, but to me it was a side issue – it was more about catching up with a friend than the result. I had a fairly busy and important day planned for Sunday, so no alcohol was consumed post-match; yes, it IS actually possible to cover a game and stick to tea!
I was up quite early (for some) on Sunday at 7am. I'd recently obtained an album called "Original Musiquarium" by Stevie Wonder (1982) following fellow presenter Louis Barfe playing one track from it on a recent programme. I'd not yet listened to it, but woke up on Sunday with the tune in question "Do I Do" stuck in my head, or as is more commonly known, an "earworm". The only known cure is to listen to the earworm in question until it goes away. Three plays later it is still lodged firmly within, and at 10:31 in length, this is a worm of Olympic proportions. So, I decide to listen to the whole album. Okay, the scene: 7:30 am, Sunday morning, Stevie Wonder being belted out at a fairly boisterous level, with me adding vocal support where appropriate and maybe, just maybe doing the odd jig, as one might when one is on one's tod! Having seemingly shifted the worm, I moved onto Al Jarreau, with much the same input from me whilst I got the kit together.
It will surprise some that I could listen to Stevie Wonder for so long (a 2-cd album) and to be honest, I surprised myself – hitherto I could hardly be described as one of his fans, but Musiquarium is brilliant and if you've not listened to it, do consider giving it a go. So, what was the agenda for the day? There was the Pearly Kings & Queens Harvest celebrations at the Guildhall from 1pm and then it would be off to Chinatown for the end of the Chinese mid-autumn celebrations in the evening. I was being joined for the day by the same person I'd ventured South of the River (did I REALLY do that???) with on Wednesday.
We met up at Liverpool Street a little after 12 and decided to have a walk over to the Guildhall, but not on the main road – there are dozens, if not hundreds of little passages and streets that make up the area, some going back centuries and as Alex is interested in architecture it seemed like a good way to indulge our interests whilst heading to our first port of call. Now, as regulars will have gleaned, I am a big fan of EC4, which is effectively St. Paul's and westward – but we were in EC2 and I am nowhere near as familiar with this part of the City, so it was a joy to go exploring.
Before much longer we were at Guildhall. An arena had been set up for displays of maypole and morris dancing as well as somewhere for the various marching bands to perform.
The agenda was an arena event from 1-3pm, then a parade to the nearby St. Mary-le-Bow church for the harvest festival.
We'd first discussed coming to this event on Friday and Alex had done some research into the Pearly Kings and their origins. At this point I'll mention that she is not from the UK but Poland, and although she has lived here for 8 years or so, hasn't had the opportunity to dig into the history of London's traditions. Naturally, that is changing. I'd briefly explained the significance of the Pearly suits with the buttons but her research told her more than I ever could.
As I've mentioned before, tradition is something that London does very well and it was wonderful to see so many people wearing costumes and taking part; it's been a busy year for these people and it is a credit to them and the City that after all that has happened they still turn out and put on a show. It makes me feel very proud to call London my home when I get the chance to go to these events and to be able to discuss them with someone who is not as up to speed on some of the items makes it even more special.
The marching band were in the arena and began to play a medley of traditional Music Hall songs. Bear in mind this is London, celebrating a generally east-end tradition and the average age of the audience would have been (conservatively) in the mid 70's – a full blooded sing-song was quickly underway.
Having been brought up in the east end for the most part, I knew a lot of the songs and as regulars will know, I'm not shy when it comes to belting out a tune! I was talking to Alex afterwards and said to her that I am probably of the last generation that really know and understand the Music Hall traditions – my maternal grandmother died last year at the age of 91; she would have loved being here and would have known all the words to all the songs. She passed this on as best she could, but the lack of flashing lights and "apps" related to the topic means that the traditions we were witnessing today will be all but extinct in maybe 50 or so years. I hope not, but I do fear that there isn't the interest there once was.
The next part of the afternoon saw all the performers and distinguished guests form up for the parade to the church. We stayed to watch this leave the square and then decided to go in search of a warm drink. As we walked along Cheapside towards St. Paul's the parade caught up with us and we did a bit more watching, something I never tire of where traditions are involved and Alex seems to like it too, which is really great.
A quick look around inside the hideous One New Change shopping centre proved what I'd feared – nowhere to go and just get a tea/coffee and a bite – full blown restaurants only! As we went back onto Cheapside we both saw something which pleased and upset us in equal measure – Starbucks!
As I may have said before, I am no fan of identikit high street coffee chains. Give me Pellicci's in Bethnal Green, Balans or Bar Italia in Soho any day of the week. On the other hand, the need for refreshment was becoming increasingly urgent; Alex was freezing! So Starbucks it was.
Now, I really, really do not get these places. There is clearly a set of conventions or rules that people have to follow, vis. placing an order, paying for it and then having to move to another area to collect their purchase. But they are not all the same and it is quite a daunting prospect for someone who is an infrequent patron of such establishments. At this point I must offer a word of apology to DC – he'll be spitting feathers knowing I gave in to the corporate coffee chains!
That is the other thing – I Just. Wanted. Coffee. Not a thingy-chino, or a cuppa-mucha, choco-bollocko or whatever they are called. Just. Ordinary. Coffee. When I mentioned this to the woman behind the counter she made me feel as though I was from another planet. So, in an attempt to be as unambiguous as possible, I added "no froth, no bits, no sprinkles, just plain old coffee". "Oh, I can do you filter if you like?" I readily accepted and also ordered the Hot Chocolate that Alex was growing ever more anxious to get on the outside of.
Another point of clarification. My entry for the 2nd September included 875 words on Tea. I would have loved to have Tea and so would Alex. But we are of one mind when it comes to Tea in such places as that in which we found ourselves – just don't. When we attend our next outdoor event I think I'll take my flask – I should have thought of it this time, but, well, I'd had a long day, already!
We took time over our drinks; although we wanted to get to Chinatown as it was the last day of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, and I was keen to see how it was being celebrated in London, there was plenty of time. We walked past St. Paul's as I wanted Alex to see Paternoster Square – it is a good example of modern building blending in well with established sites of importance, and they don't come more established or important than St. Pauls, do they? As luck would have it, access to the square was blocked because a crane was in operation. A pity, but there will be other days. We had a look at the exterior of the Cathedral instead. I remarked how it was great that the building had been given a full external clean in recent years – it must have taken the thick end of a decade to do it, but she really does look majestic. I can recall seeing it in the 70's and 80's, with all the dirt and grime of London traffic resting on it – I really hope the advances in fuel technology means the building can stay clean for several years yet.
We needed to be heading west and as we walked down Ludgate Hill, Alex noticed that the church of St. Martin's had its doors open and wanted to take a look inside. It is a building I've been past hundreds of times but have never been in, so I was all for it. As might be expected for a church in the City, it was not on the large side, but it was immaculate. We were greeted by a Chinese lady clutching a baby who told us that they hold a service there every Sunday afternoon and that they had just finished so we were welcome to look around. She asked if either of us had been to China and I mentioned that I'd been twice, albeit for only a few days on each occasion in 2006. Alex hasn't been, although a cousin is working there at present and she is rather keen on going to visit. When I mentioned that I had been in Beijing, our host asked what I'd thought of it.
It was a bit of a mixed bag for me; a time of several "firsts" and it was great to see another totally different culture, but the really heavy pollution was a real downside and is something I'd not experienced before or since. I relayed this as best I could without trying to be too negative and it was something of a relief when she agreed with me! She told us that we should visit Hong Kong, which I have actually thought about, as there are some stunning night views to be captured. We chatted some more and then went on our way – I will go back there at some point soon, as I'd love to photograph the interior.
Being a mild early evening (it had warmed up compared to earlier on), we decided to take a walk along Fleet Street as it would be heading in the right direction for Chinatown. Alex needed to make a call so we left the main street and wandered into the churchyard around St. Bride's, which was free of traffic noise but we were treated to the sounds of a choir from within the church. I wandered around the outside to have a look but mainly so that Alex could make her call. Once she'd done we decided to make use of one of the many benches around the church – it was so quiet apart from the lovely sound coming from within the church – hard to grasp that Fleet Street was about 100 yards to the north!
After what seemed like no time at all, but in reality was the thick end of an hour and a half, we decided it was time to head west. Alex ambled off in the general direction of the gate whilst I took the opportunity to pop the flash onto the camera and re-arrange a few things – I knew it would be busy so it was easier to rig where I was. I soon followed Alex and she was heading back towards me, with a really worried look on her face. All she said was "We have a problem – the gate is locked".
Right; we are incarcerated in a churchyard, in the middle of the City of London on a Sunday evening. I had absolutely no reason to doubt her, but as you would, I went and checked the gate for myself. A bit like when someone says "that paint is wet" – you have to touch it and see, don't you? Don't you?
Anyway, having confirmed it for myself, a quick look around the grounds was in order to see if an alternative means of exit was available – there was, but alas that too was locked. I'm not aware of anyone being charged with "Breaking & Exiting" but I wasn't prepared to be the test case. Alex is busy looking at ways to scale the railings (which are a good 8-12 feet high) but there is a drop of an additional 5 or 6 feet on the other side as the churchyard is raised above street level. I foresaw broken bones and bruised pride, so quickly discounted the idea of playing the Great Escape.
Alex was beginning to look terrified and the last thing we needed was panic stations. I put a call through to the Met control room and explained the situation. Barely able to hide his laughter, the operator said he'd pass it to CoL as we were on their ground – but when you dial 101 in London all calls go through to the MPS desk.
I had a call back within a few minutes from the CoL at Wood Street. The operator was also having some difficulty in keeping a straight face, which was amusing. She said they were trying to raise a keyholder and she'd call back when there was news. I relayed this to Alex who was beginning to find it within herself to smile – it was bloody funny, really. After a short while, someone walked up to the gate and shouted a greeting. It seems the CoL desk had called him to see if he had contact details for anyone connected with the church, as he was responsible for another site nearby. As luck would have it, he did and had called the Vicar and explained our predicament. As he was updating us, two officers from the CoL Police arrived wearing grins that would give that bloody cat from Cheshire cause for concern. We were chatting to them through the gate and generally passing the time when another two officers arrived. I jokingly asked if it was a slow night as we now had 7 people involved and they all grinned something about having "grave" concerns for our safety – remember where we were? Yes, quite. The latter two said that they were only stopping by to offer assistance and were "ghouling" off duty now, in any case. I was beginning to realise how animals in a zoo must feel…
We all stand chatting about everything and nothing when we are joined by another, but from behind Alex and I, who are locked in! To add to what is rapidly becoming a farce, this new person is clad in pyjamas and a dressing gown! I kid you not, dear reader. He is the Vicar and is holding a bunch of keys. He was quite laid back and asked where we had been at lock-up . I told him where we were and he said that the grounds should have been checked so apologised and let us out. Apparently there is another gate at the back but is easily missed unless you know it is there – it leads to the vicarage!
The caretaker from the neighbouring building dashes off with our thanks, the Vicar goes back to whatever he was doing and we exchange a few words with the remaining CoL officers who then get a call and have to dash off. As soon as they are out of sight, Alex and I looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Once we've calmed down we resume our journey to Chinatown, but opt for the 15 bus to Piccadilly – after all, what could possibly go wrong? Well, nothing, thank gawd. I was expecting great things from the Chinese community, but to be honest it was a bit of a damp squib – either they don't go a bundle on it over here or they were celebrating in private. After a mooch around we popped into a small eating house for something to eat, which was lovely, then it was time to head home. But as weekends go, it was one of the best I've had in ages.
Stripping down a people carrier on the A406 at midnight and the trauma of dealing with an e-bay seller…