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Camera straps are traditionally worn around the neck or slung on one shoulder, but they can become quite ungainly because they limit your movement or get in the way whenever you bring it up to your eye.
The BlackRapid system uses a patent-pending design built around a D-ring that is secured to the tripod mount of your camera. This allows the camera to hang upside down by your side from a padded shoulder strap. The camera slides from rest to a shooting position in a fluid movement, with no straps to get in the way.
In this review, we take a look at the BlackRapid RS-7 – a modular camera strap from the R-strap series, as well as the BRAD, an optional attachment that secures the RS-7 and makes sure it stays in place.
How does it work in practice? Let's take a look.
Features top
The BlackRapid RS-7 model reviewed here features a curved, low-profile shoulder pad, allowing it to fit snugly on your shoulder. Priced at $59 USD, it is constructed mainly of ballistic nylon and feels very durable, even down to the stitching and quality of the plastic clips.There is a very small pocket on the rear of the strap, which will hold something thin and narrow, like a USB key or a pen, or perhaps some spare memory cards. The strap length is fully adjustable, and also has a clip that allows easy removal if you have a few things around your neck.
At the business end of the strap, two adjustable plastic bumpers ensure that the attachment point stays where you secure it. A little carabiner attaches the strap to the D-ring, giving the ability to swap between different camera bodies without having to remove the strap.
The D-ring screws into the tripod mount, and has a rubber base which provides a very snug fit. Once attached, I found that the D-ring stayed put and did not wiggle around.
Usage top
Overall, the BlackRapid RS-7 felt very natural in use and was leaps and bounds ahead of traditional camera straps in terms of comfort and security. The contoured shoulder pad moulded to my neck area and allowed the strap to stay put without cutting or digging into the neck.
When attached, the camera hangs naturally by your side – I found that the strap sat flat against the body and the weight of the camera pinned it against the side of the thigh. The single mount point design causes it flop around a bit though when walking briskly or running, although a gentle hand by the side was enough to stabilize it.
The draw action also felt very natural. At rest, my hand instinctively rested on the camera grip and when bringing it up to eye level, all the straps ended up tucked out of the way under the camera. Throughout the whole process the viewfinder and LCD area remained unobstructed. Note that the strap slides back around your body slightly as you bring the camera up, so if you wear other equipment such as a backpack around your body, you might want to put the strap on last to allow it freedom of movement.
Long term, the metal carabiner might raise a bit of concern to those who like to keep their camera body pristine and scratch free. I found that the metal corner could potentially strike the LCD and plastic area underneath the camera – so you could experience some wear and tear under certain conditions. Perhaps BlackRapid could use a rubber coating or something similar to ensure peace of mind.
Another obvious observation is that the tripod mount system means you need unscrew the D-ring before using a tripod – a minor inconvenience. Also, the D-ring means that your camera won't sit flat on a table anymore – another niggle that is probably inconsequential to most.
The RS-7 also features a MODS system – accessories which clip on to the strap to add functionality. Two types MODS are currently available: an underarm stabilizing strap (BRAD), and attachable pouches (JOEY) to hold additional gear. The second part of this review covers the BRAD.
BRAD top
The BlackRapid Arm Defense mod, or BRAD, attaches under the arm to further secure the R-strap to your body, to further ensure that it doesn't move about. Basically, it hooks on to both front and back of the R-strap, and has an adjustable length and also a clip for easy removal. According to their site, the BRAD will set you back $16 USD.
In practice, it does what it advertises – after using the BRAD, the camera strap hardly slides around your body, giving that additional level of comfort and security. Additionally, the BRAD helps keep the straps tighter against the body, minimizing camera movement when walking about.
The tradeoff in using the BRAD is twofold. Firstly, it makes putting on and taking off the R-Strap just a little more fiddly – something that will probably become easier with practice. Secondly, I found that because the R-strap didn't slide around anymore, it made it just that bit harder to bring the camera up to eye level. One could probably get around this by lengthening the R-strap to give it a bit more play at the front.
It may come down to individual preference, but personally I think that for everyday use, the RS-7 is secure enough without the BRAD and the additional complexity it brings. However, if you're planning on performing activities involving a high amount of movement then the BRAD is a solid investment.
Conclusion top
The BlackRapid system features a simple yet uniquely revolutionary design which is effective in execution. I really liked how the strap kept the camera comfortably out of the way yet quickly accessible, and how the upside-down design prevented the strap from interfering with shooting. The contoured pad is a pleasure on the shoulders and prevents slippage. The whole system oozes quality and it is obvious that a lot of thought has been put into the design, with nice touches such as clips and carabiners for easy removal, and the flexible MODS system.
On the negative side, my biggest concern is with metal bits potentially causing damage to the camera, something I hope BlackRapid could address in future. The BRAD was a nice addition but I personally found it not worth the inconvenience – although photographers who engage in vigorous or high-impact activities would probably disagree and welcome the additional stability.
Overall, I highly recommend the BlackRapid RS-7 – it is truly a useful product and is worth the investment.
Find out more about the BlackRapid RS-7 and the BRAD, as well as other BlackRapid products on their website.


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Battling back-to-school worries? This time of year, parents have many questions – from how to transition from a laid back summer schedule to a busy school time routine, to concerns about discipline, behavior, and potty training. Take a deep breath and take out your calendar. Join a back-to-school live chat presented by Learning Care Group on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 9:00-10:30 pm. ET hosted by Dr. Heather Wittenberg, a licensed child psychologist and mother of four children.
The chat will be held simultaneously on the Facebook home pages for Learning Care Group's school brands – Childtime, The Children's Courtyard, La Petite Academy and Tutor Time. Participate by clicking on any of the links below:
Dr. Heather specializes in the development of babies, toddlers, preschoolers – and parents. Come hear her practical, real-world advice about parenting young children. Get your toughest questions ready:
"It's back to school at my house, too," Dr. Heather notes. "I'll tell you why my 5-year-old already 'hates' recess, how my 21-month-old has started awakening at night again – and what we're doing to help ease their transition to this new, busy time of year. I'll share my own hard-won parenting tips – which I've 'road tested' in my own home – and fact-checked with the newest, best child-development research. I can't wait to 'talk' with all of you online with our new video format!"
Just for joining the conversation, eight chat participants will have a chance to win a $100 Target® gift card (restrictions apply). At the end of the chat, Dr. Heather will reveal a code word. E-mail that code word to firstname.lastname@example.com by 12 p.m. ET on Sept. 1, 2011 and you will be entered to win. (Be sure your e-mail subject line says Childtime, The Children's Courtyard, La Petite Academy or Tutor Time.)
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About Dr. Heather Wittenberg
Dr. Heather Wittenberg specializes in the development of babies, toddlers, young children – and parents. She offers no-hype, practical advice rooted in science and road-tested in her own home as the mother of four young children. Dr. Heather has helped thousands of parents over the years, finding individualized, workable solutions that help make parenting easier and more fun. She works from her island home in Hawaii, where she lives with her husband (also a shrink), and their four children. Dr. Heather's parenting and child-development advice can also be found on her website – http://www.babyshrink.com
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Inspiring Stories of Black Women Living With HIV
African-American women aging with HIV share encouraging stories of hope, purpose, and life-altering lessons.
February 04 2020 7:31 PM EST
May 26 2023 2:18 PM EST
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African-American women aging with HIV share encouraging stories of hope, purpose, and life-altering lessons.
Sophia Harrision (above), also a breast cancer survivor, has been living with HIV for over a decade.
Sophia Harrison, 51, is a single mother of two, with an extended family to support. She has lived with epilepsy her entire life, she suffers from hypertension, and she is a breast cancer survivor.
Yet more challenging than any of these was learning she was HIV-positive.
"I was crying for at least six months," she said of learning she was HIV-positive 10 years ago. "It hurt me real bad."
Harrison's story is far from unusual. She is one of about 140,000 African-American women living and aging with HIV. While she is grateful to be alive, she faces multiple health challenges in addition to HIV, like hypertension, diabetes, and breast cancer, that disproportionately plague African-American women. And they often struggle to take care of themselves and their families because of limited resources. In working with older African-American women who are HIV-positive, I learned about their individual stories.
In the 1980s and 1990s, an HIV diagnosis often equated to a death sentence, with many given weeks or months to live. Much of the public health focus in the early years was on white gay men in urban centers.
Early stories of women living with HIV focused on sex workers and injection drug users, those who were highly stigmatized by society for behaviors it deemed immoral. Conversations about women with HIV were silenced and shamed, causing delays in testing and treatment for women. HIV research specifically excluded women, perpetuating the myth that women were not at risk for HIV. Even today, women represent less than a quarter of clinical trial participants for HIV medications, and prevention strategies for women lag far behind those for men.
As a result, African-American women living in places like Washington, D.C. and Maryland were not tested routinely or well informed about HIV until they fell seriously ill, I found as part of my research. Many who were in their 20s and 30s when they were first diagnosed were in a state of shock and denial, certain that they would not live to see their next birthday.
My research, which has involved ethnographic and oral history interviews with 45 women over five years, reveals that HIV for African-American women has never been a single issue, separate from histories of addiction, trauma, and poverty.
For some, an HIV diagnosis signaled death and an end to the future they had imagined for themselves. While for others, diagnosis was a form of redemption and a second chance at life.
Regardless of how HIV altered their lives, these women, now in their 50s and 60s, suffer from debilitating health problems, a result of living a lifetime with HIV and the toxic effects of long-term medication use. Many rely on fragmented public safety nets and will need even more health and disability benefits as they age.
While public health officials and politicians are focused on ending HIV in the next decade, very few resources are available to those already living and aging with HIV. Amid the uncertainty that life with HIV brings, African-American women, like those featured here, live with hope and strength. "I'm a survivor," Harrison told me.
Marcella Wright, who's been living with HIV since the early '90s, has also overcome abuse and addiction
Marcella Wright was born in Washington, D.C., in 1943. She has suffered from debilitating asthma for as long as she can remember. When she was growing up, her neighbors grew wild cannabis and treated her with the vapor. She eventually learned to smoke cannabis to ease the pain of her asthma. She later added alcohol to the mix.
After graduating from high school, she found out that her boyfriend of two years was going to marry an older woman. "After that I didn't give a damn. I didn't care what happened to me."
She became pregnant by a man who would eventually end up in jail, and she gave birth in a home for unwed mothers. She recalled: "I had the baby all alone in the cold. It seemed like one of the most horrifying moments of my life. And I have had guns to my head, I have been choked, and all that. But this particular time, having this baby. All alone."
Wright was forced to marry her son's father, and the relationship became abusive. She turned to crack cocaine to cope and became hooked. "You wanted to do the right thing because you're a mom and you got this damn job you have to get to," she said. "But you didn't have any control. You wanted it all the damn time."
She lost her job and became homeless. She began to get sick. Even though she knew something was seriously wrong, she was either too high or too scared to go the hospital. She decided to get clean in 1989 for her children. A few years later, she found out that she had HIV.
She was recruited into one of the earliest treatment programs for people living with HIV. She was the only woman when she enrolled. Most of the other participants who began the program with her, mainly gay men, have since died.
Wright's experience was transformative. "If it wasn't for them I may not have accepted this situation," she stated. "They just did everything that I expected everyone to do all my life—take care of me."
She also credits her faith in God for getting her here. "He allowed me to know that this is just a journey," she stated. "That is what keeps me."
Toya Tolson, living with HIV for nearly 15 years, has overcome grief, addiction, and homelessness
"I have a lot of stories," said Toya Tolson. "They are real-life stories of pain."
She became pregnant when she was in 10th grade. Her son was born prematurely, and he died right after his birth. She remembers holding him. "I have his birth and his death certificates," she said between tears.
She coped by turning to drugs, mainly marijuana and love boat, a street drug made of marijuana dipped in a toxic chemical like formaldehyde, PCP, or both. It can cause severe brain damage and even death. She didn't care. "I was getting high," she said. "I was selling. I was my best customer."
Eventually she became homeless. Alone on the streets, she became numb to feelings. "I put myself in a lot of dangerous situations," she said. "It was just about survival."
She was involved with a lot of strangers. "They weren't relationships. They were sexual activities when I was out in the streets. I was in a confused state of mind. Where I probably encountered AIDS."
What she really wanted was affection and attention, things that she felt like were always missing from her life. "I wanted to be loved. I wanted just to be around and thought they were my friends. But they wasn't. They was using me. I didn't comprehend until it was too late."
Things hit bottom when she fell into a coma. No one expected her to survive. She spent months in rehabilitation, until she was sent home in 2005. That's when she found out that she had HIV.
Today, she is thankful for being alive. "Every morning I wake up, I'm more than a moment. It's a gratefulness. I'm still here. I have a second, an hour, another day."
Deborah Dyson, a childhood sexual abuse survivor, has also been living with HIV for 30 years
"My life wasn't what I hoped it to be," Deborah Dyson said.
Both of Dyson's parents were alcoholics. Raised by her godmother, her life took a turn for the worse when she moved back in with her biological family. A relative began to rape her when she was 12. Out of fear, she didn't tell anyone. She turned to alcohol and drugs, both readily available in her home.
Things soon spun out of control. She dropped out of high school. A sister introduced her to crack.
She remembers the first time she smoked it. "That's when you first figure out how crack works," she recalled. "Because drinking was a thing I knew how to do, so I just needed to add the drinking to the crack to make that high. When you first drink, you get that good little buzz, so you're always trying to find it again. That's what I was doing, trying to find that feeling again."
Soon, she turned to heroin. She used for 17 years, often out on the street.
Early in 1989, she became increasingly sick. Her friends urged her to get tested for HIV.
"I didn't know anything about HIV," she said. "I had friends dying of it but I didn't know anything. I started taking AZT. I hated it. I got sick of it. I got mad. One day I took the whole bottle of pills and threw them up on the roof. I thought I'd rather die than take this."
A friend recommended that she switch doctors and clinics, and this change made a huge difference. "They showed me that I could live. They gave me good medical treatment," she said.
Being around others with HIV and becoming a grandmother has also helped Dyson be less fearful of death and HIV. "I don't let anything scare me because I know at the end of the day God has my back," she said. "I'm not perfect, but I don't allow a disease to tell me what I can and cannot do."
Thurka Sangaramoorthy is an associate professor of Anthropology at the University of Maryland. This piece was previously printed in The Conversation (TheConversation.com).
All photography by Aamir Khuller.
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In the interests of transparency here is Emma Alberici's article on corporate tax cuts that the Prime Minister asked the ABC to remove. His appointed General Manager of the ABC complied by removing the article saying it was opinion not fact (which is rubbish). This action by the PM is abhorant to democracy, amounting to political censorship. Read and make up your own mind.
See article re-published by John Menadue at <https://johnmenadue.com/emma-alberici-theres-no-case-for-a-corporate-tax...
EMMA ALBERICI. There's no case for a corporate tax cut when one in five of Australia's top companies don't pay it.
15 February 2018
There is no compelling evidence that giving the country's biggest companies a tax cut sees that money passed on to workers in the form of higher wages.
Treasury modelling relies on theories that belie the reality that's playing out around the world.
Since the peak of the commodities boom in 2011-12, profit margins have risen to levels not seen since the early 2000s but wages growth has been slower than at any time since the 1960s.
It's also disingenuous to talk about a 30 per cent rate when so few companies pay anything like that thanks to tax legislation that allows them to avoid paying corporate tax. Exclusive analysis released by ABC today reveals one in five of Australia's top companies has paid zero tax for the past three years.
And while the Treasurer and Finance Minister warn that Australia's relatively high headline corporate tax rate means Australia remains uncompetitive and companies will choose to invest in lower taxing countries, the facts don't bear that out. Business investment in Australia has been at historically high levels over much of the past decade despite our comparatively high headline corporate tax rate.
There's more to investment than corporate tax rates
Before Donald Trump cut the US corporate tax rate earlier this year, it was 5 to 9 percentage points higher than Australia's. That hasn't deterred Australian companies from seeking opportunities in America instead of Ireland, where the corporate tax rate is less than half ours (12.5 per cent), or Singapore (17 per cent).
In truth, businesses make decisions about where in the world to park their money based on myriad reasons, possibly least of which is the headline corporate tax rate.
Will I be closer to my main customers? Where is the best talent located? What are the labour costs? How onerous are the regulatory hurdles to investment? Is the culture and language easy to navigate? Is the country politically stable and is there respect for the rule of law?
When Incitec Pivot chose to build a $1 billion factory in Louisiana rather than Australia, it did so due to America's strong productivity levels and its speedy approvals processes. Tax was insignificant on the pros and cons list.
Tax rates don't matter if you're not paying tax
High-profile chief executives like Qantas chief Alan Joyce are adamant that investment decisions rest largely on the rate of a country's corporate tax. But it's hard to see how a lower tax rate is an incentive for investment when one in five of our biggest companies haven't paid any corporate tax at all in at least three years.
Qantas is about to clock its 10th year tax free. Qantas won't pay tax again until its profits exceed the tax losses recorded since 2010. Only when all the accumulated losses are offset will a lower tax rate mean a higher cash flow. Besides, regardless of where the corporate tax rate sits, the airline has already indicated an intention to invest $3 billion across 2018 and 2019.
The overwhelming benefit of higher profits flows to shareholders. A zero corporate tax bill at Qantas has certainly seen one significant wage rise at the company — the chief executive's. The benefit to workers has been less pronounced.
According to the Australian Services Union, representing just under half of all Qantas workers, the average pay rises for staff since the airline has returned to profitability have barely kept pace with inflation.
Alan Joyce, on the other hand, has seen his total salary close to double from $12.9 million in 2016 to $24.6 million last year thanks to a huge jump in the value of shares provided as part of a bonus scheme.
Linda White, Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Services Union told the ABC she is far from convinced about the value for workers of a corporate tax cut:
"While Qantas workers have seen pay rises of less than 3 per cent on average over the past decade, we've seen the CEO's salary balloon to almost $100,000 a day — much more than most workers earn in a year. It doesn't trickle down — it trickles up, and the rules need to change to give workers a better deal in this country."
The apples and apples comparison
When drawing comparisons with experiences in other countries, Canada provides a good like for like profile.
Australia and Canada share a similar history and are both resource rich economies. Our financial and political systems are also on par.
Canada cut its corporate tax rate from 42.4 per cent in 2000 to about 26 per cent in 2011, where it has remained. In 2000, Australia cut its corporate tax rate from 34 per cent to its present 30 per cent.
Business investment rose in both countries during the mining boom but it rose more in Australia, despite a corporate tax rate that's four percentage points higher than Canada's.
Economist Saul Eslake says:
"It can be argued that the mining investment boom was bigger in Australia than Canada but now that it's over in both countries, it's worth noting that business investment as a share of GDP was 2.4 per cent higher in Australia in 2016 than in 2000, as against only 1.5 per cent higher in Canada, despite Canada's massive cut in company tax."
It is also worth noting that wages have risen by about 20 per cent more (in nominal terms) in Australia than in Canada since 2000, despite Canadian companies having had a much bigger corporate tax cut.
Do workers really win?
The White House claims the recently legislated cut in the US corporate tax rate will translate to higher wages for the average worker of between $4,000 and $9,000 a year, but there is no credible evidence to support that boast.
In fact, the opposite has been true in practice when you compare business activity in Britain and America. Between 2006 and 2013, while British businesses were paying increasingly less in tax (from 30 per cent to 19 per cent), wages went down not up. UK wages have started to grow over the past four years but at a much slower rate than in the United States where corporate tax rates had remained high.
Some commentators have seized on a study from Germany to support their theories about corporate tax cuts trickling down to workers. Saul Eslake makes the point that the German economy is not all that similar to Australia's:
"Among other things, workers' representatives sit on the 'supervisory boards' of large German companies so there is probably a different debate within German boardrooms as to how the benefits of any cut in the corporate tax rate in Germany might be shared among employees and other stakeholders."
In his speech last week, the Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe reiterated the need for Australia to pursue an internationally competitive tax system but he did not specify which, if any parts of the Tax Act, might need amendment. He kept his comments on the topic vague:
"The issue of how the tax system affects the competitiveness of Australia as a destination for investment is one of ongoing political debate."
The headline 30 per cent rate is misleading
Adding to this debate is the issue of average and effective tax rates. Effective tax rates are said to drive investment decisions and take account of what companies actually pay once deductions, depreciation and other tax minimisation strategies are considered.
According to a report published last year by the US Congressional Budget Office, Australia's effective tax rate, at 10.4 per cent, is among the lowest in the world.
The average rate paid by American companies in Australia is just 17 per cent.
The Treasurer's office takes issues with these figures, claiming they are out of date because they are based on data from 2012. The Government prefers a study by Oxford University that puts Australia's effective average tax rate at 26.6per cent and at the higher end of the scale.
Several analysts consulted by the ABC disagree. Managing director of Plato Investment Management, Don Hamson says:
"Whilst the data used in the 2017 CBO report is from 2012, it is the best analysis available and I don't believe the Australian company tax landscape has changed significantly since 2012."
Dr Hamson has worked in banking and finance in Australia, as a university professor in Australia and the United States and has served on the ASX Corporate Governance Council.
Regardless of which effective tax rate you prefer, both the Oxford and the CBO data demonstrate the folly of focusing exclusively on the headline corporate tax rate of 30 per cent.
Do tax cuts boost investment?
Chris Richardson from Deloitte Access Economics told the ABC's Q&A that there was a "consensus" from the experts about the macroeconomic benefits of a corporate tax cut.
He said the cut represented $20 billion a year in growth for the Australian economy with two out of every three dollars showing up as higher wages. Those figures (and experts) came from Treasury who provided modelling on behalf of the Government.
The numbers are based on the widely, but not universally, accepted theory that cutting the company tax rate will raise investment, which should in turn boost productivity and lift wages.
Apart from the obvious point that all else is not equal in practice, not all investment boosts labour productivity.
According to other Treasury-commissioned modelling, if the rate is lowered from 30 per cent to 25 per cent then gross domestic product will double by September 2038 as opposed to December 2038 without the cut. Both models predict that in 20 years' time the unemployment rate will be 5 per cent regardless of whether we spend $65 billion on company tax cuts or not.
In truth, it is hard to find real-world evidence to support these economic theories, so the Government might be wise to heed the words of Plato: "A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers."
Dividend imputation often overlooked
The other issue often overlooked is the impact of Australia's dividend imputation system. Australia and New Zealand are the only two countries in the OECD that grant companies the right to attach tax credits to dividends paid out to investors.
In most countries, companies pay tax and then shareholders pay tax on their dividends. Australia taxes just once. Cutting the company tax rate therefore doesn't result in a higher after-tax return on investment to Australian shareholders in Australian businesses so Treasury's theoretical model doesn't hold.
Experts including economist Saul Eslake estimate that Australia's 30 per cent corporate rate with dividend imputation raises about as much tax for the government as a 20 per cent rate without dividend imputation.
The principal beneficiaries of a cut in Australia's corporate tax rate are overwhelmingly foreign companies and foreign shareholders in Australian companies. There is no guarantee at all that cutting the tax they pay in Australia will lead them to increase the level of business investment in Australia.
Can Australia afford to spend $65 billion?
The last time a government splashed around cash in the form of tax cuts the treasurer was Peter Costello, who had no debt and no deficit to contend with, thanks to oversized profits and attendant corporate tax flowing from the mining boom.
In 2018's Australia, it's hard to imagine how a government could ever again manage to give away the equivalent of Mr Costello's $170 billion worth of tax cuts while still protecting the surplus.
It's been 10 years since the Australian budget was last in surplus. With a debt of more than $600 billion, many are questioning the merits of prioritising a $65 billion giveaway to big business in the form of a tax cut.
Back in November 2016, the president of the Business Council of Australia, Grant King was warning the Government not to put the country's AAA credit rating at risk by ignoring budget repair. He told ABC's AM program:
"We are seeing indications that the deficit is deteriorating so it is going to be a challenge."
Yet today the BCA and its high-profile members like Mr Joyce are insisting on a company tax cut that would blow a massive hole in the Government's revenues and push the budget and national debt further into the red.
Emma Alberici is the ABC's chief economics correspondent. This article first appeared on the ABC website.


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Russia withdraws troops after Ukraine encircles key city
Sep 30, 2022, 11:50 PM | Updated: Oct 2, 2022, 1:31 am
(AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — After being encircled by Ukrainian forces, Russia pulled troops out Saturday from an eastern Ukrainian city that it had been using as a front-line hub. It was the latest victory for the Ukrainian counteroffensive that has humiliated and angered the Kremlin.
Russia's withdrawal from Lyman complicates its internationally vilified declaration just a day earlier that it had annexed four regions of Ukraine — an area that includes Lyman. Taking the city paves the way for Ukrainian troops to potentially push further into land that Moscow now illegally claims as its own.
"The Ukrainian flag is already in Lyman, Donetsk region. Fighting is still going on there. But there is no trace of any pseudo-referendum there," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Saturday.
He was referring to "referendums" that Russia held at gunpoint in the four regions before annexing them — Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
The fighting comes at a pivotal moment in Russian President Vladimir Putin's war. Facing Ukrainian gains on the battlefield — which he frames as a U.S.-orchestrated effort to destroy Russia — Putin this week heightened threats of nuclear force and used his most aggressive, anti-Western rhetoric to date.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have inflicted damage on Ukrainian forces in battling to hold Lyman, but said outnumbered Russian troops were withdrawn to more favorable positions. Ukrainian forces moved into the city, and Zelenskyy's chief of staff posted photos of a Ukrainian flag being hoisted on the town's outskirts.
Lyman had been an important link in the Russian front line for ground communications and logistics. Located 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, it's in the Donetsk region near the border with Luhansk, two regions that Russia annexed Friday.
Ukrainian forces have retaken vast swaths of territory in a counteroffensive that started in September. They have pushed Russian forces out of the Kharkiv area and moved east across the Oskil River.
Moscow's withdrawal from Lyman prompted immediate criticism from some Russian officials. The leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, blamed the retreat, without evidence, on one Russian general being "covered up for by higher-up leaders in the General Staff." He called for "more drastic measures."
Meanwhile, on the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, the governor of the city of Sevastopol announced an emergency situation at an airfield there. Explosions and huge billows of smoke could be seen by beachgoers in the Russian-held resort. Authorities said a plane rolled off the runway at the Belbek airfield, and said ammunition on board had caught fire.
Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 in violation of international law.
Russian bombardment has intensified in recent days as Moscow moved swiftly with its latest annexation and ordered a mass mobilization at home to bolster its forces. The Russian call-up has proven unpopular at home, prompting tens of thousands of Russian men to flee the country.
Zelenskyy and his military have vowed to keep fighting to liberate the regions that Putin claimed to have annexed Friday, and other Russian-occupied areas.
Ukrainian authorities accused Russian forces of targeting two humanitarian convoys in recent days, killing dozens of civilians.
The governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Syniehubov, said 24 civilians were killed in an attack this week on a convoy trying to flee the Kupiansk district. He called it "?ruelty that can't be justified." He said 13 children and a pregnant woman were among the dead.
"The Russians fired at civilians almost at point-blank range," Syniehubov wrote on Telegram.
The Security Service of Ukraine, the secret police force known by the acronym SBU, posted photographs of the attacked convoy. At least one truck appeared to have been blown up, with burned corpses in what remained of its truck bed. Another vehicle at the front of the convoy was torched. Bodies lay on the side of the road or still inside vehicles that were pockmarked with bullet holes.
Russia's Defense Ministry said its rockets destroyed Ukrainian military targets in the area but has not commented on accusations that it targeted fleeing civilians. Russian troops have retreated from much of the Kharkiv region but continue to shell the area.
And a Russian strike in the Zaporizhzhia region's capital killed 31 people and wounded 88, Ukrainian officials said. The British Defense Ministry said the Russians "almost certainly" struck a humanitarian convoy there with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. Russian-installed officials in Zaporizhzhia blamed Ukrainian forces but gave no evidence.
In other developments, in an apparent attempt to secure Moscow's hold on the newly annexed territory, Russian forces seized the director-general of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Ihor Murashov, on Friday, according to the Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom.
Energoatom said Russian troops stopped Murashov's car, blindfolded him and took him to an undisclosed location.
Russia did not comment on the report. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Russia told it that "the director-general of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was temporarily detained to answer questions."
The Vienna-based IAEA said it "has been actively seeking clarifications and hopes for a prompt and satisfactory resolution of this matter."
The power plant has been caught in the crossfire of the war. Ukrainian technicians continued running it after Russian troops seized the power station, and its last reactor was shut down in September as a precautionary measure amid ongoing shelling nearby.
In other fighting reported Saturday, four people were killed by Russian shelling Friday in the Donetsk region, governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said. The Russian army struck the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv twice overnight, once with drones and the second time with missiles, according to the regional governor.
Russia now claims sovereignty over 15% of Ukraine in what NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called "the largest attempted annexation of European territory by force since the Second World War."
Zelenskyy on Friday formally applied for NATO membership, upping the pressure on Western allies to defend Ukraine.
In Washington, President Joe Biden signed a bill that provides another infusion — more than $12.3 billion — in military and economic aid linked to the war in Ukraine.
Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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At this point readers might be thinking of dropping Cold Case back in the book return.
But when the blood appears on the prep table at the top of page seven, readers will find good reason to continue. And if that's not enough to hook them, the dead body in the freezer on page eight will have them moving quickly to Chapter Two.
Julia Platt Leonard has written a great murder mystery filled with pretty much every ingredient needed for a great murder mystery for younger readers. For example:
- Mom is out of town. In Paris. She won't be back anytime soon.
- A suspicious relative. Why wasn't Dave's car home when Oz woke up Saturday morning, and why did the dead man have a note that read "D. Keiller Fri night-midnight. Use back door."?
- Shifty employees. One guy "disappears" for a while. Another is named Razor. You know that's suspicious.
- An interesting back story. Oz's father died of a heart attack before Oz was born, but Oz learns that his father was caught stealing nuclear secrets from Los Alamos National Laboratory.
- Present day connections to the interesting back story. The dead guy? He's the journalist who broke the story on Oz's dad.
- A good friend. Rusty is Oz's combat boot-wearing friend, and she has agreed to help solve the murder.
- Oh yeah, and there's a politician involved. Nothin' more suspicious than a politician in a murder mystery.
Some readers with more distinguished tastes (read: grown-ups) might complain that Cold Case is a formulaic and predictable mystery. Maybe. But the young readers who double as literary connoisseurs are few and far between.
Most young readers just want a good book. And Cold Case will give them just that.


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Today, I want to share a story with you about appreciation. Appreciating people, events, experiences or things appearing in my life has become really important to me over the last months.
For me, appreciating what I notice in any given moment, no matter how small it might be, has become key to my general well-being and happiness. But, let me share a recent story with you to explain what I mean.
This last Wednesday I woke up all excited to get to work. I expected a response that day from a company that I wanted to work with on a really cool project. It sounded all really promising and I was eager to get started and had reserved some time in between all my other projects. [Read more…]


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Car Park Marking Contractors in Staffordshire | Car Park Lining Services
Enquire Today For A Free No Obligation Quote
Car Park Marking Contractors specialise in providing professional line marking services for various types of car parks across the UK.
As a leading company in the industry, we offer top-notch solutions for road marking, including car park line painting in Staffordshire and maintenance.
Our expertise extends beyond traditional line marking services to cover a wide range of areas such as warehouse floor marking, school playground markings, and sports court line painting.
Customers rely on us for our meticulous attention to detail and commitment to delivering durable and high-quality markings that adhere to safety standards.
With a team of skilled professionals, we utilise the latest technology and materials to ensure precise and long-lasting results.
Regarding car park line painting and maintenance, our track record speaks volumes about our dedication to excellence.
Who Are We?
We are a dedicated team of professionals at Car Park Marking Contractors, committed to delivering high-quality car park marking services tailored to our clients' needs. With expertise in car park line marking and safety markings, we ensure precision and efficiency in all our projects.
Why Choose Us?
Choosing Car Park Marking Contractors means opting for excellence in car park line marking services in Staffordshire, car park surfacing, and white lining solutions. Our team's dedication to quality, precision, and timely completion sets us apart in the industry.
With years of unparalleled experience, our company is known for delivering top-notch line marking services that ensure safety and efficiency in all parking areas.
Our expertise in car park surfacing guarantees durable and visually appealing results that exceed customer expectations.
The meticulous attention to detail and use of high-quality materials in our white lining services demonstrates our commitment to providing long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing solutions for all clients.
When you choose us, you are investing in professionalism, reliability, and the highest standards of workmanship.
Types of Car Park Markings
There are several types of car park markings commonly used in the UK:
- Bay Markings: These delineate individual parking spaces. They can be marked with lines, rectangles, or other shapes.
- Disabled Parking Bays: These are marked with a wheelchair symbol and are reserved for vehicles displaying a valid disabled parking permit.
- Parent and Child Spaces: These are larger parking bays designated for parents with young children. They often have additional signage indicating their purpose.
- Loading Bays: These are designated for loading and unloading goods and may have time restrictions.
- Reserved Spaces: Marked with specific numbers or letters, these spaces are reserved for specific individuals or businesses.
- No Parking Zones: Areas where parking is prohibited, usually marked with yellow lines or other signage.
- Pedestrian Crossings: Car parks may have marked pedestrian walkways and crossings to ensure safe pedestrian access.
- Directional Arrows: Arrows indicating the direction of traffic flow within the car park to avoid congestion and accidents.
- Clearway Markings: Markings indicating areas where vehicles must not stop or park under any circumstances.
- Bus and Taxi Bays: Designated areas for buses and taxis to pick up and drop off passengers.
These markings in Staffordshire help regulate traffic flow, ensure safety, and maximize efficiency within car parks.
How much does Car Park Line Marking Cost Per Metre in the UK?
The average cost of car park line marking is 40p per metre to £1.40 per metre in the UK.
However, the cost of car park line marking varies based on factors such as the type of line marking paint used, the complexity of the project, and any additional services like line removal.
When determining the price for car park line marking in Staffordshire, it is essential to consider the quality and durability of the line marking paint chosen. Premium quality paints may come at a higher initial cost but can provide long-term cost savings due to their longevity.
The intricacy of the project plays a significant role in pricing. Simple, straight lines are generally more cost-effective than intricate designs or patterns.
Customisation options, such as logo incorporation or specific colour choices, can also impact the overall cost.
What are the Benefits of Having Proper Car Park Markings?
Proper car park markings offer a host of benefits, including improved safety measures, clear delineation of parking spaces, adherence to regulatory requirements, and enhanced aesthetic appeal.
Our company ensures that these advantages are maximised in every project.
Improved Safety and Traffic Flow
Safety markings in Staffordshire play a crucial role in enhancing safety and optimising traffic flow within car parks. We prioritise safety measures and traffic management solutions to ensure a secure environment for all users.
These markings not only guide drivers in efficiently navigating through the car parks but also serve as a visual cue for pedestrians to follow designated walkways, reducing the risk of accidents.
Clear markings for parking spaces, zebra crossings, and loading bays are essential elements in creating a well-organised and safe car park.
By adhering to industry standards and regulations, our company contributes significantly to improving overall safety and traffic management.
Clear and Organised Parking Spaces
Clear and organised parking spaces, delineated by well-defined parking bays and block paving, contribute to a seamless parking experience for visitors. Our team excels in creating structured parking layouts that enhance user convenience.
These well-designed parking areas not only help maximise the space utilisation but also ensure efficient traffic flow within the premises.
By providing clearly marked parking bay design in Staffordshire, drivers can easily locate available spots, reducing congestion and frustration.
The strategic placement of parking bays enhances safety by maintaining proper vehicle separation and pedestrian walkways.
Compliance with Regulations
Ensuring compliance with local authority regulations and civil engineering standards is paramount in all our projects.
We work diligently to meet the requirements set by regulatory bodies, including the precise application of white line markings.
By abiding by these regulations, our marking company not only ensures the overall safety and functionality of the parking areas but also contributes to the smooth flow of traffic and pedestrian safety.
The expertise we bring to the table allows us to navigate the complexities of municipal codes, zoning restrictions, and compliance effortlessly.
Each project undergoes thorough scrutiny to guarantee that it aligns with the specified guidelines while exceeding industry expectations.
Our commitment to quality and precision reflects our dedication to upholding the highest standards in the industry.
Enhanced Aesthetic Appeal
Along with safety and functionality, our car park markings enhance the aesthetic appeal of properties. The use of anti-skid surfacing in Staffordshire, tarmac repairs, and quality materials ensures a visually appealing and durable finish for all projects.
Car park markings in Staffordshire play a crucial role in creating a welcoming and organised environment for visitors and employees alike. The careful selection of materials not only adds to the visual appeal but also contributes to the overall safety and longevity of the markings.
Tarmac surfacing is particularly effective in withstanding heavy traffic and adverse weather conditions, making it a reliable choice for long-lasting and attractive parking areas.
How do you Mark Out a Car Park?
To mark out a car park using preformed thermoplastic markings, follow these steps:
- Preparation: Ensure the surface is clean, dry, and free of debris. Any existing markings should be removed or covered.
- Layout Design: Plan the layout of the car park, including parking bays, driving lanes, pedestrian walkways, and any designated areas such as disabled parking spaces or loading bays.
- Positioning: Place the preformed thermoplastic markings on the designated areas according to the layout design. Ensure they are aligned correctly and spaced appropriately.
- Heating: Heat the preformed thermoplastic markings using a specialised heating machine or torch. Apply heat evenly across the surface until the thermoplastic material becomes soft and adheres to the surface.
- Application: Press the heated preformed thermoplastic markings firmly onto the surface, ensuring good contact and adhesion. Use a roller or squeegee to smooth out any air bubbles and ensure a secure bond.
- Curing: Allow the thermoplastic markings to cool and cure. This usually takes a few minutes, depending on the ambient temperature and thickness of the applied material.
- Finishing Touches: Once the thermoplastic markings have cooled and solidified, remove any excess material or residue around the edges for a clean finish.
- Maintenance: Regularly inspect the thermoplastic markings for wear and tear, and replace or touch up as needed to maintain visibility and functionality.
What Services do we Offer?
We provide a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet diverse line marking needs. As a trusted line marking contractor and marking company, we offer expert installation, maintenance, and removal of car park markings.
Car Park Marking Installation in Staffordshire
Our car park marking installation services include specialised solutions such as parent and child car park markings, thermoplastic paint applications, and road markings. We ensure the highest quality standards in every installation project.
Parent and child car park markings play a crucial role in ensuring adequate space for families with young children, promoting safety and easy access. Utilising thermoplastic paint offers durability and visibility, ideal for high-traffic areas within the car park.
Road markings enhance traffic flow and organisation, contributing to a smoother parking experience for all users. The expertise of our company guarantees precision and efficiency in implementing these essential markers in various parking facilities.
Car Park Marking Maintenance in Staffordshire
Regular maintenance of car park markings is essential to preserve their functionality and appearance.
By ensuring the proper upkeep of road line marking within car parks, businesses and establishments not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of their premises but also contribute to enhanced safety measures for both drivers and pedestrians.
Consistent maintenance helps in preventing confusion for drivers, ensuring smooth traffic flow and reducing the risk of accidents or incidents.
Implementing a comprehensive maintenance plan not only aligns with regulatory requirements but also fosters a positive image for the organisation by showcasing a commitment to safety and adherence to industry standards.
Car park marking maintenance serves as a proactive approach to address potential hazards and liabilities that may arise due to faded or inadequate markings.
Car Park Marking Removal in Staffordshire
Regarding car park marking removal, our expert team covers a wide range of areas, ensuring thorough and efficient removal of markings. Using industry-approved techniques and high-quality marking paint, we guarantee superior results in every project.
Our skilled professionals meticulously analyse the surface, identifying the best approach for removal based on the type of marking and the underlying pavement material.
Ensuring precise removal, we utilise state-of-the-art equipment that efficiently eliminates old markings, leaving a clean and clear surface.
Our team's experience in handling various marking paints allows us to adapt our removal techniques according to the specific requirements of each project, ensuring optimal outcomes.
From simple paint stripes to complex symbols and designs, we have the expertise to complete the task meticulously.
What Types of Car Parks do we Work On?
Our company caters to a diverse range of car park projects, including commercial car parks, residential complexes, public parking areas, and school playground markings. Our expertise extends to various settings to meet the unique needs of our clients.
Commercial Car Parks in Staffordshire
Commercial car parks require efficient marking solutions to optimise parking space utilisation and ensure smooth traffic flow. We offer expert services in road surfacing and road marking to enhance the functionality of commercial car park areas.
Along with marking solutions, efficient traffic flow within commercial car parks is crucial to prevent congestion and ensure a seamless parking experience for customers.
By utilising innovative road marking services techniques, contractors can create designated lanes and zones for vehicles, pedestrians, and loading areas, further enhancing the overall safety and organisation of the parking facility.
Residential Car Parks in Staffordshire
Residential car parks benefit from well-designed parking bays and efficient road surfacing solutions. We prioritise the aesthetics and functionality of residential parking areas to enhance the overall appeal of properties.
Regarding residential car parks, the layout and design of parking bays are crucial for maximising space and ensuring smooth traffic flow.
Elements such as clear markings, designated spaces for different vehicle sizes, and accessibility for access device information play a significant role in creating a user-friendly parking environment.
Along with practical considerations, the choice of road surfacing materials is essential for durability and safety. Utilising high-quality surfaces that can withstand heavy vehicle loads and various weather conditions is imperative for long-term maintenance and efficiency.
Incorporating aesthetic enhancements such as landscaping, lighting, and signage can transform a mundane parking area into an inviting space that adds value to the overall property.
By blending functionality with visual appeal, residential car parks can become attractive and welcoming environments for residents and visitors alike.
Public Car Parks in Staffordshire
Public car parks require clear and accessible parking spaces, including designated areas for disabled parking. We specialise in road marking services that ensure efficient traffic management and user convenience in public parking facilities.
Having well-defined parking spaces is essential to prevent chaos and ensure smooth traffic flow within public parking areas.
Disabled parking provisions are crucial to cater to the needs of individuals with mobility challenges and provide them with the necessary accessibility.
These designated spaces not only comply with regulations but also promote inclusivity and convenience for all users.
Professional road marking services play a vital role in enhancing safety and guiding drivers to navigate through the car park efficiently.
What are Car Park Markings?
Car park markings encompass a wide range of elements, from safety markings and car electric charging points to road markings and directional indicators.
Safety markings play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth flow of vehicles and pedestrian safety within a car park environment.
These markings, often painted in bold, contrasting colours, help drivers navigate the parking area efficiently while maintaining a safe distance from walkways and other vehicles.
In addition, car park markings in often include designated electric charging points, catering to the increasing popularity of electric vehicles. These charging stations are strategically placed to enable drivers to conveniently charge their vehicles while parked.
Directional indicators, such as arrows and symbols, guide drivers to the entrance, exit, and available parking spaces within the car park.
Clear and visible road markings further aid in traffic management, delineating lanes, pedestrian crossings, and other critical areas.
Get In Touch
For all your Staffordshire car park marking needs, contact Car Park Marking Contractors today. Our team of expert line marking specialists in Staffordshire and experienced contractors cover a wide range of areas to deliver exceptional services tailored to your requirements.
Whether you are looking for standard parking lot markings, specialised symbols, or custom design solutions, our skilled professionals have the knowledge and tools to meet your specific demands.
With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to quality, we ensure that every job is completed to perfection.
From shopping centres and airports to schools and industrial complexes, our services cater to various clientele across different sectors.
Trust our specialised team to enhance the safety and organisation of your parking facility with precision and expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the British Standards for Car Parks?
The British Standards relevant to car parks include:
- BS 8210:2012: "Code of practice for design of roads and streets." While not specific to car parks, it includes guidelines for road design that may be applicable to car park layout and design.
- BS EN 1991-1-1: "Eurocode 1: Actions on structures – Part 1-1: General actions – Densities, self-weight, imposed loads for buildings." This standard provides guidance on the design loads, including vehicle loads, which are relevant to car park design.
- BS 6180:2011: "Barriers in and about buildings – Code of practice." This standard specifies requirements and recommendations for the design and installation of barriers in car parks and other areas.
- BS 124:2014: "Specification for bitumen-based hot-applied crack sealants for asphalt." While not specific to car parks, it includes specifications for materials commonly used in car park maintenance, such as crack sealants.
- BS 8500-1:2015: "Concrete – Complementary British Standard to BS EN 206-1 – Method of specifying and guidance for the specifier." This standard provides guidance on the specification of concrete, which may be relevant to car park construction.
These standards cover various aspects of car park design, construction, and maintenance, ensuring that car parks are built to appropriate safety and quality standards in the UK.
What are the Bay Markings in Car Park?
In a car park, bay markings are the designated spaces where vehicles can park. These markings typically consist of painted lines or other indicators on the ground that delineate individual parking spaces. Bay markings serve several purposes:
- Organisation: They help organise the parking area by clearly defining individual spaces, ensuring efficient use of available space.
- Safety: Bay markings create clear pathways for vehicles to navigate within the car park, reducing the risk of accidents and collisions.
- Accessibility: They guide drivers, indicating where it is safe and permissible to park, including designated areas for disabled parking, parent and child parking, and other specialised spaces.
- Regulation: Bay markings may also be used to enforce parking regulations, such as indicating no-parking zones, loading zones, or reserved spaces.
Overall, bay markings play a crucial role in managing traffic flow, optimizing space utilisation, and ensuring safety within car parks.
What are the Different Parking Patterns?
There are several different parking patterns commonly used in car parks:
- Parallel Parking: Vehicles park parallel to the curb or edge of the parking area, typically in a straight line.
- Perpendicular Parking: Vehicles park at a 90-degree angle to the curb or edge of the parking area, creating rows of parking spaces.
- Angle Parking: Vehicles park at an angle to the curb or edge of the parking area, typically at 45 or 60-degree angles. This pattern allows for easier entry and exit compared to perpendicular parking.
- Diagonal Parking: Similar to angle parking, vehicles park at diagonal angles to the curb or edge of the parking area. This pattern may vary in angle and direction depending on the layout of the parking lot.
- Head-in Parking: Vehicles enter the parking space front-first, with the front of the vehicle facing the aisle or driving lane.
- Back-in Parking: Vehicles enter the parking space rear-first, with the front of the vehicle facing away from the aisle or driving lane. This pattern is sometimes preferred for safety reasons as it allows for better visibility when exiting the parking space.
- Mixed Parking: A combination of different parking patterns within the same parking area, often used to maximize space utilisation and accommodate varying traffic flows.
These parking patterns can be adapted and combined to suit the specific requirements of different car parks, taking into account factors such as space availability, traffic flow, and ease of access.
Can you Paint your Own Parking Space?
In most cases, painting your own parking space on public roads or in public car parks is not permitted.
Parking spaces are typically designated and maintained by local authorities or private property owners, and painting your own space without authorization can result in fines or other penalties.
Find More Info
Make sure you contact us today for a number of great car park marking services in West Midlands.
Here are some towns we cover near Staffordshire.
Stafford, Stone, Rugeley, Hednesford, CannockFor more information on car park marking services in Staffordshire, fill in the contact form below to receive a free quote today.
Exceptional service! We recently hired Car Park Marking Contractors for our car park marking needs, and we couldn't be happier with the results. Their team was professional, efficient, and delivered high-quality workmanship. Our car park now looks fresh, well-organised, and safe for both drivers and pedestrians. Highly recommend their services to anyone in need of reliable marking contractors!
Lucas Pero
Choosing Car Park Marking Contractors for our car park was a fantastic decision. From start to finish, their team demonstrated expertise and attention to detail. They worked swiftly to complete the project without compromising on quality. Thanks to their meticulous approach, our car park now boasts clear, durable markings that have significantly improved traffic flow and safety. We're thoroughly impressed and wouldn't hesitate to enlist their services again!
Marie Jennings


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This section is from the book "Legendary Fictions Of The Irish Celts", by Patrick Kennedy. Also available from Amazon: Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts.
Shemus Rua (Red James) was awakened from his sleep one night by noises in his kitchen. Stealing to the door, he saw half-a-dozen old women, sitting round the fire, jesting, and laughing, his own old housekeeper, Madge, quite frisky and gay, helping her sister crones to cheering glasses of punch. He began to admire the impudence and imprudence of Madge, displayed in the invitation and the riot, but recollected on the instant her ofificiousness in urging him to take a comfortable posset, which she had brought to his bedside just before he fell asleep. Had he drunk it he would have been just now deaf to the witches' glee. He heard and saw them drink his health in such a mocking style as nearly to tempt him to charge them, besom in hand, but he restrained himself. The jug being emptied, one of them cried out, " It is time to be gone," and at the same moment, putting on a red cap, she added-" By yarrow and rue, And my red cap too, Hie over to England."
Making use of a twig which she held in her hand as a steed, she gracefully soared up the chimney, and was rapidly followed by the rest. But when it came to the housekeeper's turn, Shemus interposed. " By your leave, ma'am !" said he, snatching twig and cap. " Ah, you desateful ould crocodile ! If I find you here on my return, there'll be wigs on the green.
" By yarrow and rue, And my red cap too, Hie over to England."1
The words were not out of his mouth when he was soaring above the ridge-pole, and swiftly ploughing the air. He was careful to speak no word (being somewhat conversant in witch lore), as the result would be a tumble, and the immediate return of the expedition. In a very short time they had crossed the Wicklow hills, the Irish Sea, and the Welsh mountains, and were charging at whirlwind speed the hall-door of a castle. Shemus, only for the company in which he found himself, would have cried out for pardon, expecting to be mummy against the hard oak door in a moment; but all bewildered he found himself passing through the key-hole, along a passage, down a flight of steps, and through a cellar-door key-hole, before he could form any clear idea of his situation.
Waking to the full consciousness of his position, he found himself sitting on a stillion, plenty of lights glimmering round, and he and his companions, with full tumblers of frothing wine in hand, hob-nobbing and drinking healths as jovially and recklessly as if the liquor was honestly come by, and they were sitting in Shemus's own kitchen. The red birredh had assimilated Shemus's nature for the time being to that of his unholy companions. The heady liquors soon got in their brains, and a period of unconsciousness succeeded the ecstasy, the head-ache, the turning round of the barrels, and the " scattered sight " of poor Shemus. He woke up under the impression of being roughly seized, and shaken, and dragged upstairs, and subjected to a disagreeable examination by the lord of the castle, in his state parlour. There was much derision and laughter among the whole company, gentle and simple, on hearing Shemus's explanation ; and as the thing occurred in the dark ages, the unlucky Leinster-man was sentenced to be hung as soon as the gallows could be prepared for the occasion.
1 For the above formulary the words Borraun, Borraun, Borraun are sometimes substituted. Borran is anger, booraun a domestic article mentioned already ; the reader is at liberty to fashion a theory on these data.
The poor Hibernian was in the cart proceeding on his last journey, with a label upon his back, and another on his breast, announcing him as the remorseless villain who for the last month had been draining the casks in my lord's vault every night. He was striving to say a prayer, when he was surprised to hear himself addressed by his name, and in his native tongue, by an old woman in the crowd. " Ach, Shemus, alanna ! is it going to die you are in a strange place, without your cappeeri d,arg 1'" These words infused hope and courage into the victim's heart. He turned to the lord, and humbly asked leave to die in his red cap, which he supposed had dropped from his head in the vault. A servant was sent for the head-piece, and Shemus felt lively hope warming his heart while placing it on his head. On the platform he was graciously allowed to address the spectators, which he proceeded to do in the usual formula composed for the benefit of flying stationers :-" Good people all, a warning take by me;" but when he had finished the line, " My parients rared me tenderly," he unexpectedly added-" By yarrow and rue," etc. and the disappointed spectators saw him shoot up obliquely through the air in the style of a sky-rocket that had missed its aim. It is said that the lord took the circumstance much to heart, and never afterwards hung a man for twenty-four hours after his offence.
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fiction, Irish, Celtic myths, sacred text, St. Patrick, stories