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Thursday, 17 December 2015
Sunday, 22 November 2015
New church ad 'banned' in cinemas
Today's news that the Church of England has had its latest ad campaign banned by the cinema advertising authority has an irony to it.
Anyone who has seen the advert will realise that it's harmless. In fact, it's so anodyne that it even got a 'U' rating from the British Board of Film Classification before it was stopped. Compared to a lot of the horrific and gory images which flood Facebook these days it's like banning the Countryfile calendar.
Ban the Facebook post which is titled 'Terrorists playing football with the heads of Christians' (which I was shockingly naive in believing was going to be a nice interfaith football match between religious leaders). Forgive the black humour as we forgive those who write black humour against us.
Of course, I'm being disingenuous – it isn't discrimination because no faith (or political party) at all is allowed to advertise in the cinema. You can aggressively recruit young people into the army in cinema adverts. But some things are not allowed and so they are not truly 'banned' or 'censored' so much as subject to a kind of strange cinematic tradition. Like so many of the arbitrary rules which fill our lives.
You know, sometimes I feel alienated from my own culture. It shouldn't be that way. But when a harmless advert gets stopped it simply makes you question why these rules and traditions are there.
Come to think of it – isn't the C of E supposed to be broke? Where did it get this advertising money from? How much does it cost to advertise before the new Star Wars film? What would Han Solo do?
It all makes me want to turn to the dark side.
Think happy thoughts.
Think happy thoughts.
Posted by Nick at 14:27 2 comments:
Friday, 20 November 2015
Saturday, 31 October 2015
Short story - The Shade of Hades
The Shade of Hades
"Then I said, 'Sir, may I ask you, please, to explain to me what happens when we die, when we must each give back our soul? Will we be kept at rest until the time when you begin to make your new creation, or will our torment begin immediately?'"
Apocrypha - 2 Esdras 7:75
It is said that when a person dies they do not enter heaven or hell immediately. It is said that during the time between death and the final judgment there is an interim period. They say that people are separated into two camps like the removal of goats from sheep. One group rests in paradise, as if in a walled garden, protected. The others are confined within caves in Hades or left to wander. And when this happens the soul of a person waits.
But it isn't necessarily so. Nobody knows for sure as the way across the final river rarely has a return.
The irony was not lost on the dead man's soul. She certainly had no body left (souls are always female). There was a moment of joy. She had survived death – she had half-hoped, half-believed it to be possible. That was when the words came in a deep, low, fatherly voice, which held more sadness than malice.
"You only get to keep what you have given away."
A particular judgement. A 'chicken soup for the soul' judgement as kitsch and trite as it was moralistic. For a moment the soul wondered if she had heard the voice once before. It seemed to her that the voice had haunted her dreams and the deep places in her life, a half-forgotten memory of a life before birth. But everyone knows there is no such thing.
And the joy was pushed aside by the tone of the voice. The man had been afraid of something like this, some kind of moralistic nightmare in the afterlife. What he hadn't expected was the confinement. Or the thirst. Such a great thirst, as if her throat, what was left of her throat, was a dry sepulcher, blocked by a stone.
It had simply been a deep, matter-of-fact voice. If nostalgia were personified then it would have been that voice.
The cave was completely dark. Truth be told, the cave was completely dark except for some glow-in-the-dark stickers. But even though these stickers which lined the rough walls had an inner glow, the light was not enough to illuminate anything beyond the boundary of the soul's confinement. The stickers seemed mischievous, as if they were winking somehow.The soul of the dead man knew that it was a cavern because her invisible hands fumbled and scratched at a dusty, cold, rocky floor. She could see nothing except the stickers. But she could feel.
At first there were simply tears. Feelings of regret and despair, of a life lived badly. 'There is more shame than glory,' thought the soul as she cried. The tears were a small mercy at the time.
Eventually her invisible hands grasped further into the darkness, reaching one of the stickers – all of the stickers had been part of a childhood gift made to another child as a birthday present (because the man had stopped giving presents when he grew up). The sticker was shaped as a cartoon ghost, part of a set of scary Halloween stickers that had once been highly sought-after in some playgrounds by a certain kind of child.
"Remember," the sticker seemed to whisper, as if suddenly serious.
The soul of the man tried to find her body but could see nothing, even when she brought a finger close to the dim glow of the sticker. She was invisible, of that she felt sure – she thought she must simply be the memory of the man she once was. Perhaps she was a hovering orb or a butterfly. They always said that butterflies represented the soul. Except there was no flying to be done. And there was no free blue sky to soar into. There was darkness and there was confinement and there was fear.
She fell to the floor in despair. And that was when her invisible hands met something on the ground.
Coins. Handfuls of coins in a pile. The clinking of the coins echoed around the cave. The ghost of hands the ghosts of coins, the ghost of an echo.
A shifting. A movement and the soul pressed herself against a wall, still cool and rough to the touch but offering no comfort. Falling back to the ground she resumed her crawling. The soul thought back to her lifetime and fumbled around in the darkness sobbing. And then her hands touched something else on the floor. The shape was familiar. It was a packet of cigarettes and around the packet there were tens of loose cigarettes on the dusty ground. How the soul longed for one of the cigarettes - but there was no source of fire. Was there even breathing, or simply the memory of the breathing?
Still it was dark. Did time have meaning here? Did a sequence of events take place which could be formed into any kind of story? Perhaps that was what hell was – a place devoid of story. Certainly it seemed that it was a hell and it seemed as if time crouched motionless like a thief. All things had been stolen from the man. His health, his life, his friends and family. His possessions. His many, many possessions.
The soul stayed like this for perhaps a day, holding her soul-shape with crossed arms and rocking backwards and forwards. The weeping continued and the soul considered that this was her fate for a life lived badly, with regrets, with roads full of twists and never straight. That was when there were roads. Most of the time it had been climbing over all kinds of fences that should never have been climbed, ignoring warning signs and zig-zagging through places that were not straight and narrow. Or walking the wide open highways.
In life he had not been a kind or particularly generous man. He had been rich. But he had not been evil, he had never gone out of his way to harm others (although that may have happened on occasion). He had been born into a wealthy family. There had been big mistakes. He had held little faith in a God of any kind. He hadn't even believed in an afterlife. But the past meant very little. Except that, in the perpetual present of the soul's situation, the past now meant everything.
What kind of moralistic punishment was this? But there was no room for anger, only regret. And the thirst. And the waiting.
There was no sun to mark the passage of time but there were noises in the cave. Somewhere on the other side there was a ticking. It had tormented the soul for the first day (had it been a day?) when she simply rocked and sobbed. The ticking had been like a voice saying - 'no-hope', 'no-hope', 'no-hope'. In the end the soul of the man gave up the crying and forced herself to explore the cave again. Her shadowy hands caressed the dusty floor and she hoped to find some kind of light.
There, a bottle.
A bottle. In an instant the bottle was unscrewed and lifted and the liquid gulped down. The taste was of vodka and within a few moments the soul had swallowed half of the bottle. Perhaps it was only the memory of vodka. Perhaps it was only the memory of the pleasure in getting drunk, but the soul remembered and the vodka gave comfort. It was in that moment that she decided that she would try to hope in hope, if such a thing were possible.
Still there was the darkness. And the soul of the man began to ask questions. What else was in this cave with her?
Her invisible hands frantically felt further into the darkness, fumbling against furniture. There was some kind of chair. Why was there a chair? Was she to sit on it? The strange thing was that the chair felt familiar. It was then that she remembered it. It was a broken chair with a missing leg that had been taken to a charity shop when the man was upsizing. It was useless.
And then the soul began to understand. She was in a dark cavern surrounded by the things which she had given away in her lifetime as a man. How slow she felt in this dark epiphany. That was why there were so few things.
And then the soul began to understand. She was in a dark cavern surrounded by the things which she had given away in her lifetime as a man. How slow she felt in this dark epiphany. That was why there were so few things.
Perhaps she slept. Time seemed to pass. Strange visions seemed to mock her in the darkness. Above all there was a sense of despair and hopelessness. That she was condemned to remain in this state forever. The didactic intensity of it all had a sting to it. The walls of the cave seemed to bulge. Perhaps it was imagination, but it was all that she had. Imagination and the ghosts of the things she had once given away.
So she stretched out her hands once more and found a notebook and pen, a gift to a business partner. To survive, even to survive as she was, she opened the blank book and ripped out some of the pages. She scrabbled around on the floor with pieces of paper. The papers blurred in and out of her consciousness like a dream – like her mind was a mobile phone screen about to fade to darkness. A timed-out mind. She felt her thoughts slipping away, falling slightly to the right as a bone may shift in a socket and she fought to retain her sense of self. What could she write? What kind of plans could be made in this state? What kind of things could she read to help her? And still nothing could be seen. Perhaps she could do something. She drew a picture of the cave as she imagined it. She listed the things that were in the cave, exploring them piece by piece. She could see nothing that was written or drawn.
There were not many things in the cave, the cigarettes, a few bottles of alcohol – given as bribes usually. The glow in the dark stickers which winked and whispered. A second hand TV and a broken lawnmower which had never worked. A few other garden implements – kitchen utensils, the stump of a tree (a gift the man regretted when tree-stumps became fashionable in gardens). But at least it was another place to sit. He had tended to only give things away when he was compelled to do so or when it had been necessary to look good. Charities had never been in the man's thoughts. He had chosen not to make a will – perhaps if he had he would still be surrounded by all his possessions. Despite this, the man had never considered himself a miser – he merely considered himself prudent – a man of shrewd business sense.
How the soul regretted her stingy prudence now. So few things in her cave. The thought cut her – that she had been surrounded by the best in cars, houses and technology – the lair in which she had lived her life as a rich man. And now this. Now there was not enough. She had thought nothing eternal. As she thought of all this she felt that the ghosts of her hands were clenched tight as if still trying to grasp, as if still holding on to what remained. Life had been so dear and so intangible.
The soul rebelled once more against the forced morality of it all and she swore out loud. The echoes of her curse filled the almost empty cave and she began to cry once again. Biting against a God that had abandoned her in her greatest need. Kicking against the remains of a light now gone.
It was inevitable. The man had rarely prayed in his lifetime. It had been a conviction of his not to. It had always felt too much like a surrender. The man had been strong, the need to pray had rarely been there. Help had not been needed. But now the need was there. And it was now that the soul of the man prayed. She begged and pleaded for an escape. She asked to be alive again. She asked for help – anything. But there was no answer. She felt separated from God, as if he could not or would not hear her prayers. In the end she began to cry again. The tears were a small mercy.
There are those who say that tears are like a telescope or magnifying glass. Like a glass that can bring heaven closer somehow. Teardrops fell onto the ground, mixing with the dust.
And the teardrops seemed to speak in another whisper, a whisper which contained mercy, like a bottle containing water for a thirsty man.
'Deeper, dig deeper.'
The idea formed – it fell into her head with the voice of the teardrops. As if an angel had let a droplet of water fall from a fingertip into the mouth of a parched, thirsty throat.
The kitchen utensils included spoons and knives. She could dig.
Scrabbling over the dusty floor she felt for a spoon. And suddenly one was in her hand. And so the hope of hope of hope returned. Like moonlight from behind a cloud.
The digging took a long time. A very long time. She got through a lot of spoons and knives. The bottles ran out. It became a temptation to despair and fall into madness and the soul devised new, imaginative ways of keeping herself sane. She didn't entirely succeed in this. Especially after the first hundred years.
Of course she went mad. But the tunnel which she dug away at, clump by clump gave her some small comfort, some sense of purpose. There was, at least, no physical pain. There were none of the usual needs of life. Did life continue in the world she had once known? Were people born and did they die and did they share the same fate? Could others see them, as if they were gazing into a magic pool from some paradise which she was denied?
And there were times of despair, but in that sense it did not differ to the before-time. Had the memories ever been given away? There seemed so few of them as time passed. The upward slope was easy enough to navigate. It became a metre long, then two metres and so on. The clumps of earth began to fill the cave, burying the ghosts of the things given away. The soul didn't sleep. Or if she slept she had no memory of the sleeping.
Who knows how long it took? Who knows how full the cave was of soil from the tunnel? Time and space began to hold no meaning. The only meaning was the hope in the hope of hope.
And it took a long time before the soul broke through.
When she knew she had broken through she began to tug away clumps of earth with the echoes of her fingers. And these fingers touched other ghostly fingers. There was another soul. There was someone else. The invisible hands grasped each other thirstily. The comfort from the touch was indescribable after such a long time. Like drinking after intense thirst. And then there was a hole large enough to see something. The other soul had a light which lit up the cavern and the silhouette of the shadows which they had become. But the other soul was as ghostly as the soul of the man.
Another shadow. Another shade. Waiting.
Another shadow. Another shade. Waiting.
"One day the Venerable Macarius of Egypt was walking about the desert and found a dried-out human skull lying on the ground. Turning it over with his staff, the saint heard a sound, as though from a distance. Then Macarius asked the skull: "What manner of man wast thou?"
"I was the chief of the pagan priests that dwelt in this place," it replied. "When thou, O Abba Macarius, who art full of the Spirit of God, pray for us, taking pity on them that are in the torments of hell, we then receive a certain relief."
"And what manner of relief do ye receive?" asked Macarius. "And tell me, what torments are ye subjected to?"
"As far as heaven is above the earth," replied the skull with a groan, "so great is the fire in the midst of which we find ourselves, wrapped in flame from head to toe. At this time we cannot see each others' faces, but when thou prayest for us, we can see each other a little, and this affords us some consolation."
Eastern Orthodox
Posted by Nick at 07:00 No comments:
Sunday, 18 October 2015
Tuesday, 6 October 2015
Tuesday, 15 September 2015
Blog Entry 100
This is my 100th blog entry.
I'm working on a few new writing projects including a couple of book-length projects. I will also be publishing a halloween story here on October 31st (as it has become a bit of a tradition to do so).
But for now I'm going to publish a poem here (as poetry has eluded me for a while). It is dedicated to my lovely wife, Jen.
I'm working on a few new writing projects including a couple of book-length projects. I will also be publishing a halloween story here on October 31st (as it has become a bit of a tradition to do so).
But for now I'm going to publish a poem here (as poetry has eluded me for a while). It is dedicated to my lovely wife, Jen.
Your love to me is like the summer rain,
like beautiful rain pouring down,
like an applause of the rain pelting my leaves,
like the mercy of rain saturating the soil of my soul.
Your love to me is nourishment,
each droplet is unique, like a snowflake,
and each droplet is a diamond, inscribed with kindness,
but neither hard nor cold.
And my heart is your secret garden,
which contains seeds of love which are too often hidden,
containing small beginnings,which flourish because of your gentle rain.
Posted by Nick at 19:10 No comments:
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
Where do we go from here?
This is the 99th blog entry on Stories Make the World Go 'Round.
A single question presses to the front of the queue, like a pushy shopper - 'Where do we go from here?'
Providing we survive the blood moon prophecy and Jonathan Cahn's apocalyptic predictions for this September, I suggest we attempt to heal, learn and grow - even if everything else in the world conspires to prevent this.
Think happy thoughts.
Posted by Nick at 16:27 No comments:
Saturday, 22 August 2015
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
If Your Life Were a News Site...
If your life were a news website, what stories would it contain each day?
Perhaps the main story would change for each day. Perhaps: 'Lack of sleep causes our hero to feel lousy' would be today's headline.
There would also be other stories which recurred in the same way that the world news has recurring themes. 'Still looking for work', 'Still grieving', 'Still sick'.
Then there would be the days that some disaster strikes. 'Best friend dies'. Or 'Car crash' or 'Serious illness strikes'. Stories which would rumble on for weeks and years and wounds re-opened and griefs which never heal. In the news of our days each and every day.
And you, the hero or heroine. A whole world of stories from small filler articles about headaches through to the quirky and strange incidents which can fill life.
Other characters recurring in the stories. And the persistent tyranny of bad headlines which will not go away. 'Still looking for a miracle'. Stories so continual that we would bore of them and fail to read them and instead turn towards the better stories, or take an interest in someone else's personal news website.
There would be bad news and good news and mixtures of the two. Each day a whole new set of stories, with the regular columns, mixing fact and opinion. Comment and hard news. All kinds of stories for one reader. An audience of one it may seem.
And perhaps pictures too. And video. Things we play over in our minds again and again, things which make us cringe and things which make us happy. Working under the weight of guilt. Bad scenes, scenes of which we are not proud.
Maybe even there would be adverts in this news site. Maybe the adverts would be just right: 'Would you like a holiday in Nova Scotia?' 'You need kitchen roll, stick to your usual brand'. Things we buy and sell, things we want to buy but can't afford.
An intrusive pop-up reminding us that our lives are limited and mortal. A copyright disclaimer, 'All rights reserved' and thoughts about the rights and needs which we are denied. Or the rights which we assert. Or the right to be unique when there are so many of us.
When every person may have a similar website with similar sounding stories - even if they are in a different language and there is no Google translate available.
And when those other people shared their own websites there would be feature articles which they would be happy for you to read and there would be articles which they would never want you to read. And there would be hidden stories on pages which are unpublishable, archived pages, draft pages. Like the dark side of the moon.
Still the insistence of the rumbling recurring stories which cannot be ignored, which run and run and run with little editorial control. We could simply hope that one day such websites would be full of good news and that the stories of our problems would be settled and concluded, never to be read again.
And we would think back to our childhoods and how the stories were different and sometimes seemed better or worse in those archives, those forgotten editions.
But we get to do the writing and we get to set the agenda. Maybe some stories can't be resolved, but we can include the gentler stories, we can include the stories we care for, which don't bore us senseless with their brutality. We get to be the editors.
We may even be able to change the template and the wallpaper.
If every day your life were a news website – would there be continuity?
All rights reserved.
Posted by Nick at 19:29 No comments:
Thursday, 30 July 2015
One Riddle
It seems to me that few people are doing riddles these days so I thought I would give it a try. So welcome to my first (and possibly only) attempt to write a riddle. Well done if you figure it out...
There are four places to hide in a desert,
From the heat of the sun. Safe. Secure. Surrounded.
But you can't hide in hills.
There are many hiding places in a wood or a forest.
Even numbers can offer a sanctuary…
You can hide twice in one.
So why can't you hide in 1?
Posted by Nick at 20:36 No comments:
Sunday, 7 June 2015
Changed ebook cover
I have changed a couple of my ebook covers to maintain a theme.
I also wanted to make 'The Owl Flies at Night' look a little more like the short modern ghost story it is.
So here is its new cover...
I also wanted to make 'The Owl Flies at Night' look a little more like the short modern ghost story it is.
So here is its new cover...
Posted by Nick at 12:36 No comments:
Saturday, 6 June 2015
It seems as if the bees read my previous blog entry and have gathered at my command in an outside log store (perhaps I should call them minions).
A few days ago I began to repair the old log store door (as it is falling apart). A small gang of outraged bumblebees suddenly surrounded me.
'Leave... uzz... bee' the bees seemed to say.
I realised that there had to be a nest somewhere in the dry logs and retreated (getting stung by a queen bumblebee as a child does not give you special bee privileges). After a bit of research I found out that the queen bee must have chosen the log store as a nesting site and I read up on the falling bee population in this country.
It was soon decided that the best thing to do would be to let the bees be. Smoking them out or having them destroyed would not be very bee-nevolent. Lousy puns aside – the research also brought up some interesting folklore and superstitions regarding bees. I was delighted to learn that the ancient Greeks thought that a bee which landed on a baby meant that the child would become a great poet. Unfortunately, they didn't say what happened when the bee stung the child (maybe that child just thought he was a great poet).
There are many other superstitions regarding bees and most of them are positive. You know how it is with folklore and superstitions – almost everything that happens or everything you do means you are going to die imminently. If you accept some positive superstition do you have to accept all of the negative ones?
Borrowing from Greek mythology there is also a legend that a swarm of bees settled on St Ambrose soon after he was born, leaving behind a drop of honey. His parents considered this to be an omen of a honey-tongued future. And so it was.
No sting for Ambrose either. There are a plethora of other superstitions about bees, but few people bee-lieve them nowadays. (Sorry.)
So the bees are guests here for the summer. Later in the year they will have gone. The newly born bees will have flown away and the only existing survivor will be the queen bee who will fly away and hibernate in the soil somewhere. Queens have a habit of outliving the rest of us.
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust are a honeypot of information about bumblebees and I recommend them.
Posted by Nick at 11:35 No comments:
Saturday, 23 May 2015
The Shade of Hades
I designed this cover for my latest short story (which is titled 'The Shade of Hades'). Not quite sure what to do with it yet.
Posted by Nick at 16:41 No comments:
Monday, 27 April 2015
Bee-Man – Superheroes and Story
My parents told me a story about when I was a tiny baby. They said a huge bee, a bee bigger and fatter than they had ever seen before had somehow flown into my little bedroom and headed straight for me. The bee proceeded to sting me repeatedly. My parents found me bawling with a huge, dead bumblebee lying next to me, like some strange friend. They added (in that detailed way which gives stories a truth) that the bee was infested with mites. The bee had been so tormented that it must have flown into my room, stung me and died.
Ever since then I have had extraordinary powers. I grew up to become Bee-Man, able to fly, the ability to be impressed by flowers, able to bug people and sting my enemies (although only at the price of my life).
Obviously a costume was needed at some point. And every superhero (and supervillain) needs a lair of some kind to fight the forces of darkness (or light). And so the honeycomb was built.
Some of the above story is true but I do have a tenuous link with reality and so I have to admit that the superpowers have proved disappointing. They are as evasive as miracles.
The psychology of superheroes is a clever one. From the Avengers through to Strontium Dog and Beowolf there is a draw to this kind of character. Partly this is because we instinctively realise that we can be better than we are. And that our stories are not over. Although there may be more shame than glory in this world there is still the potential of doing great deeds.
Superhero powers hint at a new level of existence beyond the humdrum. Every time a superhero is knocked down they get back up. (And every time they are silenced they are able to speak again.) Nothing can stop them.
That is why it is so healthy (and not childish at all) to read and watch superhero stories – they draw us that little bit closer to wanting to do great deeds (unless, obviously, you identify with the supervillain).
The hints and patterns which are found in the superhero stories are not necessarily the wild goose chases or delusions which fade like mobile phone screens after a story has been told. They are not necessarily the red herrings of butterfly minds which would like so much for them to be so. There is a kernel of truth in them. These stories are so engrained within cultures and time periods. They are a mirror and a remembering of the stories and myths of heroes. They are what we could be.
And how can such superhuman powers be attained? There are patterns to our lives, there are threads of gold which link the love within our life stories. There are still mysteries and there are still supernatural elements to this world. Not all things are as they seem.
But sadly one of the side-effects of becoming Bee-Man is that I cannot reveal the true source of my power.
Think happy thoughts.
Posted by Nick at 10:49 No comments:
Labels: avengers, story, superheroes
Saturday, 21 March 2015
Prayers in Councils
Some time ago I wrote an article about the prayers which took place in the Houses of Parliament. You can see it here. Because of my Pentecostal background I believe in the power of prayer and so I've taken an esoteric interest in an obscure bill which will now be made law.
So here's the background in a nutshell – A bill was given royal assent on 26th March concerning whether local councils should be free to say prayers (any kind of prayer to any kind of god) before they make the decisions which make our lives hell. It also grants authorities to be present at any 'religious event'.
Over to Jake Berry MP (Cons) to explain the whole shebang: "I want to talk briefly about the purpose of the Bill, which will give local authorities the freedom to include prayers, other religious observances, or observances connected with a religious or philosophical belief as part of the business of that authority. The Bill will provide that local authorities in England may support, facilitate and make arrangements to be represented at religious events or an event with a religious element. I proposed the Bill because of a recent ruling made by the High Court. A councillor in Bideford town council attempted, through the courts, to put an end to the practice of the town council having prayers on its agenda, despite the practice dating back to the reign of Elizabeth I. As part of the High Court case, on 10 February 2012 Mr Justice Ouseley ruled that the council's prayers as part of official business were not, in fact, lawful. In short, on a narrow issue of whether section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972 gave councils the power to continue with prayers, the High Court ruled that it did not; councils therefore had no such statutory power to permit the practice to continue. At a stroke of the judge's pen, the High Court ended centuries of tradition in our country and put in doubt in the long-held practice of town hall prayers in local authorities."
You may be surprised to hear that prayer has largely been a choice of councils up until now (despite some recent controversy) and you may also be surprised to hear that the House of Commons (and Lords) also hold brief formal prayers (these meetings seem to be largely attended to gain seats in important debates rather than to petition God).
There was a campaign by the National Secular Society to petition MPs to prevent the prayers. They also covering this story. I'm like the obscure football player on the edge of a pitch, far, far away from the ball, perhaps supposedly marking an opponent. But enough of the football metaphor and back to the blog entry…
Who cares? For those of us who take an interest in this, it was interesting to note that the House of Commons was almost empty at report stage. Few MPs seem to care about prayer even when they claim to hold those involved in the latest disaster in their prayers. It is largely seen as an archaic tradition which is irrelevant to Government. Even the Christian community has mixed feelings on the issue. And perhaps it is the sheer effectiveness of councillors prayers which are in question. Many simply do not feel that prayers are effective or necessary when it comes to the life and death decisions which Government makes. Perhaps MPs are not the only ones who feel this way. It would be crass to suggest otherwise.
The new law gives Councillors the choice on whether to pray or not before a meeting. It allows Councillors of all faiths to pray according to their faiths and since there is no economic cost there was relatively little opposition. Prayers can be made in any faith (which is a slight change from the status quo). After the second reading one MP brought forward an amendment that the prayers should only take place with a local referendum for people. But this was rejected largely because it was seen to be costly.
The few MPs who were interested remarked that the bill was good because it is cheap. So worship (of a kind) does take place after all. Prayer is cheap according to MPs and although they consistently claim that their prayers and thoughts are with those who have suffered some injustice, in practice, based on the evidence of this debate and the lack of MPs attending formal prayers it would seem to be lip service only.
But it could be true that the issues on which the world swings start with small things like prayer. There are many people who believe that prayer changes things and that it is an incredibly powerful and spiritual force. MPs and Councillors seem to be reserving the right to pray, but not actively choosing to do so.
In fact you could say that they say they pray (when they say, for example, 'Our thoughts and prayers are with…') and yet they do not do so. I believe there may be a word for such claims.
Posted by Nick at 12:31 No comments:
Saturday, 7 February 2015
Handbook of Revivals:
Henry C. Fish
The above quote concerns an 18th century time period between America's spiritual awakenings. A spiritual ebb similar to that in which we currently live.
From Henry Fish's perspective it is the political sphere which acts as the true 'bread and circus' to distract people from more important, spiritual issues.
But let's be distracted for now...
There are 88 days to the next general election in the UK. It is highly unlikely that there will be a spiritual awakening or a revolution in this time period. I don't want to dishearten anyone, but it just is almost certainly not going to happen.
For the politically enlightened, most commentators concede that there are a few possibilities and variables for the future. Either Labour get in, the Tories retain power or else there is some kind of deal between parties again.
UKIP may be a political force, but few people think they will gain power. As of May we will almost certainly either have a Labour Government or remain with the Tories. Simply because this is how it seems to work. This is the most likely scenario. Please plan accordingly and vote with your conscience (of which you don't need another).
But the 'black swan theory' is a theory which suggests that the impossible shouldn't be ruled out (the idea being that black swans were thought not to exist until people spotted them and then everyone had to concede that the impossible is possible). So who knows? Maybe there could be a revolution under Russell Brand or a UKIP landslide. Maybe there could be a spiritual revival. Maybe there could be a new-age paradigm shift. Maybe the Queen could die. Maybe our personal lives could get so overhauled that we couldn't care less what happens in the country.
So we have to return from our bread and circuses to focus on the real things. We have to become or remain enlightened either politically or spiritually or else we are fast asleep, lulled into complacency by the eerie, comforting circus music which drones on and on and on...
As for myself, I am fast asleep. But at least I know that.
Posted by Nick at 17:48 No comments:
Saturday, 24 January 2015
My novel in print
Destiny and Dynasty is now published in print. It's available on Amazon now. The official date for publication was 23rd January 2015. The print version is £5.99.
I've also created a new website just for the book which can be seen here www.destinyanddynasty.com
I haven't had much time to market or promote the whole thing but hopefully I will be able to carve out a little time to do that in the coming weeks. But I will try to focus on some other topics for this blog as there are a lot of things I want to write about.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
Posted by Nick at 09:50 No comments:
Monday, 12 January 2015
Into the Woods we go again...
There are so many things which could be said in this blog - they range from comment on the report on the bill which has passed committee stage on prayers in local councils through to a criticism of the sheer scariness of childrens dolls these days.
And as one of the uber-fans of the musical 'Into the Woods' I could also whinge about the loss of the narrator in the film version. But it seems that Sondheim himself is complicit in the Disney decisions and I will spare you my rants. It's 'Agony' - for some feel that Sondheim has killed too many of his babies and the world has gone too far (Where is the intrusive narrator? Where are the best songs?).
I don't have anything useful to add to the existing comments on the events in France beyond saying that I feel too many people are affected by it. I wrote a parable called 'The Good Terrorist' some time ago and you are welcome to read it here. There is no particular agenda or message to it - I'm anti-violence so I have few ideological sympathies for either side (both of which use violence).
But my first novel, Destiny and Dynasty, has been published. I'm working on the print version which I hope to have available before Easter. If you need an escape then please read it.
Publishing the ebook was harder than you may think. There was a technological error which caused the ebook text to come out as grey instead of black. I spent the launch day uploading new files again and again and again. I did this ten times. In the end I felt that God himself was against the whole thing. Maybe he is, who knows, he is enigmatic and although I find him fascinating I do wonder at the things he allows.
I fear that I am a superficial oaf and I don't want to be that.
Think happy thoughts.
Posted by Nick at 10:55 No comments:
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India won't forgive Kejriwal, Nirupam for disrespecting army: Dharmendra Pradhan
| Updated: Aug 23, 2017 11:20 IST
New Delhi [India], Oct.5 (ANI): Calling Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam 'bankrupt' for demanding proof for the Indian army's surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) last month, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday said both leaders were unable to digest army's achievements, and thus were making illogical statements. Pradhan claimed both leaders were bent upon making headlines in the Pakistani media instead of celebrating the achievements of the Indian Army,. "Questioning the authenticity of the surgical strike be, it Kejriwal or Sanjay Nirupam, they are mentally bankrupt, unable to digest our achievements and thus, making such illogical statements. The nation will never forgive such people, words don't even begin to describe how shameful these comments are," Pradhan told ANI. "They don't respect the Indian Army. All they care about is how many papers in Pakistan have published them in their headlines," he added. Congress leader, Sanjay Nirupam on Thursday courted controversy by asking the Centre to give proof of the surgical strike that took place in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), while asserting that India was being insulted by Pakistan in the international arena for not doing so. However, minutes after his comments, the Congress distanced itself from it. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader P.Chindambaram also drew flak from Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for demanding proof of the surgical strikes. (ANI)

subset: commoncrawl


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General duties and responsibilities of Editors for Management Science Letters
In UCT Journals we adopt the COPE guidelines on publication ethics.
In UCT Journals including Management Science Letters, editor-in-chief and editorial boards are held responsible for all published materials in their journals. They do their best
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In UCT Journals , editors are held responsible to take any necessary actions to make sure the quality of published materials, recognizing that journals and sections within journals will have various objectives and standards.
All UCT Journals Editors' decisions to accept or reject any paper for publication are solely based on the paper's importance, originality, and clarity, and the research's relevance to the remit of the journal.
A description of peer review processes are published, and editors also constantly justify any important deviation from the described processes.
All UCT Journals including Management Science Letters have a declared mechanism for authors to appeal against Editorial decisions and they could ask editors to reconsider their decision by providing necessary facts and reasons.
In all UCT Journals , all editors publish guidance to authors on everything, which is expected. This guidance are also regularly updated.
Editors do not reverse decisions to accept submissions unless serious problems are detected with the submission. In Growing Science Journals including Management Science Letters, our new editors do not have the permission to overturn decisions to publish submissions made by the previous editor unless serious problems are determined.
Relations with reviewers
In UCT Journals, editors are responsible to publish guidance to reviewers on everything, which is expected. This guidance are regularly updated and all interested parties are referred or related links.
In UCT Journals , editors have appropriate systems to make sure that peer reviewers' identities are protected.
The peer-review process
In all UCT Journals , editors have the access to appropriate systems to make sure that material submitted to their journal are kept confidential while they are under review process.
In UCT Journals , Editors follow the procedure set out in the COPE flowchart. All editors respond to complaints quickly and make sure there is a way for dissatisfied complainants to take complaints further by sending an email to editor-in-chief of the journal. This mechanism are made clear in the Journal and include information on how to refer unresolved matters to COPE.
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"NAIA @RoboCup2020" by Sud-Ouest et Suez
The Neo-Aquitain Forum on Artificial Intelligence.
June 25th and 26th
Proposed to professionals, NAIA is the forum specialized in Artificial Intelligence issues in companies. NAIA's keynotes, breakout sessions and Business Corner at RoboCup 2020 will reach out to those who do AI and create business opportunities.
The Robotics Ecosystem of Professionals will also be present at RoboCup 2020 with its several clusters coming from all over France.


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Outdoor Film & Concert SeriesName: Outdoor Film & Concert SeriesDate: June 14, 2019Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM CDTWebsite: http://www.artstartrhinelander.orgEvent Description:Bring your friends, family, and a picnic to enjoy our outdoor concert and film!
Boat Patrol will be performing with Scott Kirby and Tyler Watkins with Evening of the Dead: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead.
The concert will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a film screening at dark of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923).
Cash bar available. No alcohol carry-ins please.
Upcoming Events


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Mining Capital's Alastair Ford looks back on what's been a busy few weeks for Bushveld Minerals Limited (LON:BMN).
They've announced they're moving forward with plans for a vanadium electrolyte plant in South Africa after a study predicted battery demand is set to soar.
They've also started work on an AIM listing for its tin business, Greenhills Resources.


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|Check out our Fall 2019 Issue of Simply Rooted® Magazine
Welcome to Whitsons' community blog forum! We believe it is important to get involved with our team members, clients, and customers, as well as create a space for information exchange, interesting perspectives, and interactive communications.
Here, you will find professionals from all around the company sharing their experiences and knowledge on a range of topics, from industry-specific trends and recipes to health and nutrition and team motivation.
Feel free to subscribe to this page (see button top right-hand corner) to be notified of the latest postings. If you like something you read, go ahead and share with your friends on Facebook, tweet it or send the link as an email.
We look forward to hearing your feedback, and to share about everything we stand for: People, Food, and Communications. Enjoy!!
100% grass fed, pasture raised, non-GMO, cage-free, all-natural….The list of claims, like these, can go on and on when reading labels, and for good reason. The demand for total transparency, in regards to what is in our food, continues to increase as we become more health-conscious and informed about what we eat. However, understanding and selecting food based on these transparency claims can leave even the savviest consumer asking, what is the "healthiest" option?
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Moon Taxi kicked off their fall tour last week and have their eyes set on the Fillmore halfway through the run on Saturday, September 30.
The Nashville-based quintet blends the quiet introspection and feel-good melodies of your favorite indie bands with a tenacious progressive rock and roll sound. Moon Taxi made an early name for themselves in the Southeast US, earning a constant buzz at festivals from Coachella to Bonnaroo.
Although they started out with a heavy jam-based influence, even winning a "Best New Jam" title from JamBase, the group has tightened up the scope of its sound significantly. They have released three albums, most recently 2015's Daybreaker.
Earlier this summer, Moon Taxi released a new song from their forthcoming, as-of-yet untitled album. Check out the new track, called "Two High," below.
Vocalist Trevor Terndrup explained to Relix that "Two High" is "a song about hope. Hope for understanding, hope for acceptance, and hope for our future. We were inspired by the simple and universal peace sign. It's a gesture we would like to see more of."
Joining Moon Taxi from September 26 in Arizona and through the end of the tour will be NYC's YouTube busking sensation Too Many Zooz. Founded in 2013 by three former students of the Manhattan School of Music, they released their first full-length album last summer and collaborated with Beyoncé at the CMAs in November.
If you like what you saw (and more importantly, heard) when Moon Hooch came to the Bay Area in the spring, there's a good chance that Too Many Zooz will tickle your fancy just the same. Make sure you arrive early and stick around for the main event.
Moon Taxi, Too Many Zooz
The Fillmore
September 30, 2017
9pm, $26.50 (18+)


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- The Song of the Transports, or The Eternal Unrest, or Grey Wings Through Grey Skies - EBOOK
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The Song of the Transports, or The Eternal Unrest, or Grey Wings Through Grey Skies - EBOOK
Publisher: Unlock the Past
Product Description
Media: EBOOK - 64 pages
File Format: PDF 6MB (64 pages)
Author: J. Medwell
Year: 2015
Other: b&w & colour photos
Publisher: Unlock the Past
Jeff Medwell (1923-2014) was the second child of May and Reginald Medwell. In April 1942, at age 19, Jeff joined the R.A.A.F. Following his discharge from the airforce he was employed in Broken Hill at the Barrier Miner newspaper, and then subsequently as a regional journalist for the ABC, later transferring to ABC in Adelaide becoming a talk back host.
During Jeff's active service he carried with him a 1937 portable Remington typewriter, which remained with him throughout his career as an "A" grade journalist and radio talk back host.
The original manuscript for this book was typed and dated on quarto paper soon after the events occurred, however a revised version was found amongst Jeff's many papers. This version is the basis for this book, although it omitted two of the original stories from the first draft.
Max Medwell, Jeff's brother has taken it upon himself to include along with the final article, those two events. One such story is headed "Some Clouds Have Hard Centres" and an abridged version is included in chapter seven. The other article is dated January 1st 1944 and related to the story of "Ron". Ron Okeden was the name Jeff used as a non de plume in his original manuscript. His family was not aware of this incident until he related it on air to ABC radio personality Peter Goers in July 2013..
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Song of the Transports
Jeff Medwell
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9 Some clouds have hard centres
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
The Crew that finds itself
The Song of the Transports, or The Eternal Unrest, or Grey Wings Through Grey Skies - printed book


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I really found the SCA references in the latest Honorverse book to be quite entertaining. I go to Pennsic every year and just retired from fighting heavy due to my age, my doctor, and the ambulance crew setting up behind our catapult crew.
I usually teach an astronomy class there as many people come from cities where they have never seen the night sky due to light pollution.
I am also hopeful that those who enjoy the science fiction appreciate the reality. I am a retired nuclear scientist and engineer. I used to play with our air museums warbirds under the the direction of the old officer responsible for building the Apollo Moon Rockets.


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The Top 10 Worst NFL Teams of All Time
Through NFL history, there have been some notoriously bad referee calls, some bad coaching decisions and some draft picks that left NFL fans everywhere shaking their heads. We'll take a look at 10 of the worst NFL teams in history.
While it's true that the teams change every year and sometimes the performance of a team fluctuates, there's been some years that earn a team their spot in this top 10 worst NFL teams list.
#10 – The Miami Dolphins (2007)
2007 was not a good year from the Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, you had the New England Patriots going down in history with a winning season of 16-0.
With Trent Green being injured early into the season, the Dolphins came dangerously close to ending the season with an appalling 0-16 score.
The main problem for this team was the fact that they had to cast Cleo Lemon as a quarterback and it was very apparent quickly to many fans that this was a terrible decision.
Not to mention them giving up Wes Welker was one of the worst decisions they'd ever made since he went on to basically help the New England Patriots score 16-0 in the 2007 season.


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good time to lighten your load. There are many burdens you
can get rid of that you'll easily be able to do without.
Start by abandoning all your resentments. Each resentment
costs an enormous amount of time and energy, and provides
absolutely nothing of value in return.
Next, you can walk away from your anxiety. All the anxiety
in the world cannot add a single positive moment to your
Pick up the pace by letting go of the need to prove that
you're right. Instead, use the time and energy to more
effectively listen and understand.
While you're at it, go ahead and leave behind your envy,
anger, impatience and frustration. After all, what have they
ever done for you?
Dropping the burdensome negativity from your life is
ridiculously easy once you realize how much it's all holding
you back. Lighten your load, and move quickly to where you
truly wish to be.
My other blogs;
1. Across this bridge
2. Marketing myself
3. Struggling parents
4. When life become a book
5. Read Between the Lines
6. Internet Lifestyle
7. The Sleeping Turtle Art Gallery
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Other mistake: When Phoebe and Ross are at JFK, some of the people who are at that airport are the same people who are also at Newark. It's particularly funny to see the people behind Ross and Phoebe at JFK when Phoebe claims they're on their honeymoon, and when it cuts to Rachel at Newark as she's looking for her boarding pass, those same people are there too.Super Grover
Continuity mistake: When Phoebe's driving Ross to the airport in her cab the rear view mirror vanishes from the windshield, then it reappears and disappears again. Additionally, when they start their drive the cab doesn't have a side view mirror on the passenger side, but en route the cab has acquired one, then it vanishes again.Super Grover
Revealing mistake: When everyone leaves the apartment together for the last time, they show Chandler and Monica with the twins in the stroller, and you can tell they are dolls.
Continuity mistake: On the plane, when Rachel says "She's almost never right," (about Phoebe) you can see the guy's hand is on the armrest. Then a split second later, his hand is about half a feet off the armrest while saying "But she is sometimes." (00:15:15)
Continuity mistake: After Ross decides to go after Rachel, in the overhead shot all four of the cab's doors are closed, but when it cuts to Ross and Phoebe getting in and shutting their front doors suddenly both back passenger doors are inexplicably wide open, then when Ross shouts about missing seatbelts both back doors are closed again. Then when the guy gets into the back seat he shuts his door, but when he asks for the medallion number both back doors are open, and then they're closed again.Super Grover
Continuity mistake: When the friends put down their keys, the keys' positions change when the camera pans the apartment. (00:25:30)
Revealing mistake: When Pheobe and Ross hit heads whilst in the cab on the bridge, they only just tap heads. Not enough to make them scream in pain. (00:05:15)Ssiscool
Factual error: When Rachel is boarding the plane to Paris, the plane's right hand side is being used for boarding. However in all airlines all over the world, they always use the left side for boarding. The right side is a 'service' side.mhcd_2000
Other mistake: The photo in Rachel's passport at the airport is not of her. (00:29:45)
Other mistake: When Rachel attempts to board the plane the first time, the man at the desk looks at her passport upside down.moviemaster101


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This bright, modern mall has over 175 stores selling everything from greeting cards to gold jewellery. Anchor stores include Grand Stores, Home Centre and Paris Gallery.
Where: Al Ain
Telephone: +971 3 766 0333
Website: www.alainmall.ae
Click, view and download all the essential Abu Dhabi information
Meet this new force in business events and discover your Advantage Abu Dhabi


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Product Description:
The superfine 4pl droplets produce delicate color gradations and high-definition. The twin lines of nozzles on the new print heads enable the iPF5000 to minimize the number of printing passes and still maintain print quality. Each of the 2 print heads contain 6 colors, for a total of 12, each employing 2,560 nozzles for a grand total of 30,720 nozzles. This print head technology enables the iPF5000 to print at a true 1200 dot pitch with remarkable speed.


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Statement by Minister Duclos on Government of Canada support to Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry workers Français
Jun 19, 2017, 18:42 ET
GATINEAU, QC, June 19, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, made the following statement after meeting with the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador:
"I was pleased to host Minister Crocker, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, to discuss the situation of workers impacted by the ice conditions along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Through various Employment Insurance (EI) program measures, the Government of Canada has been supporting workers, their families and the communities of Newfoundland and Labrador that face difficulties caused by the delayed start of the fishing season.
Through Budget 2016, the Government has been providing a targeted and temporary extension of EI regular benefits for workers who live in the 15 regions most impacted by the decline in commodity prices. Claimants for EI regular benefits residing in the 15 regions—including fish plant workers—in the rural EI economic region of Newfoundland and Labrador (excluding St. John's) can benefit from the extra 5 weeks with each new eligible claim that begins during January 4, 2015, to July 8, 2017, provided that they remain unemployed.
Fish plant workers in the EI region of Newfoundland and Labrador (excluding St. John's) can still qualify for EI with 420 hours of insurable employment and ordinarily receive between 32 and 45 weeks of benefits. When combined with the 5 extra weeks announced in Budget 2016, these workers may receive up to 50 weeks of regular benefits.
Minister Crocker and I also discussed the Government of Canada's recently announced Ice Assistance Emergency Program which will provide up to six weeks of income support for affected fish harvesters in parts of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador who have exhausted their EI fishing benefits entitlement. "
Associated Links
Ice Assistance Emergency Program
EI changes 2016
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Émilie Gauduchon-Campbell, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P., Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, 819-654-5546; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]


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Friday night, thought it will be another quiet night for me. I'm glad that I'm still managed to slot a last minute plan to watch a movie before the weekends. Awesome. 2-hour movies for midnight show at Twin Seats with mu guy. We bought tons of food as if we are going to have a great feast at the back seat during movies. The scene started so wrong. A woman with big boobs plus a wobbly organic pink cake that ended up a freaky gross make out scene in between! Gosh!
The story line is smooth as the flow is not that predictable after all. A touching twist towards the end of show that explained everything why and how this story between James and K started. Not going to spoil anything here. I could only say it's a worth watching movies that might have a tie with The Avengers that started showing last month.
Movie is obviously a PG-13 kind of stuff and it's a action adventure comedy fantasy genre. This time MIB 3 is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld with the usual starring actors Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones. This time the big ass villain is Josh Brolin. The story is about changing history and in the process there are surprises in between that I would thought of it's going to happen.
Quite entertaining with quite few punchline in between. Not a great one though yet it's still funny and worth to laugh about.
Duration: 1 hour 45 mins


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SCOTT TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — Police have arrested the suspect wanted in a double stabbing incident that left one man dead in Carnegie over the weekend.
Police say Richard "Stretch" Mickens Jr., 58, was taken into custody early Wednesday morning at a home on Spikenard Street in Scott Township.
According to investigators, police surrounded a home there after getting a tip that Mickens had threatened a person inside with a knife and then fell asleep. Two people inside the home managed to get out safely.
"The CERT team was notified because the actor in the house, he was known to have knives on him at the time," said Det. Dennis Lawrence, of Carnegie Police. "She was being held at knifepoint. She was able to get out of the house and notify police."
Scott Township Police officers then took Mickens into custody when he came out of a back door to let the dog out.
"The house was surrounded at the time and he was letting a small dog out the back porch and that's when he encountered the officers and was taken into custody," said Det. Lawrence.
He was taken to Allegheny County Police headquarters for questioning.
BREAKING: Suspect wanted in weekend murder in Carnegie has just been taken into police custody. Officers surrounded home where Richard Mickens was staying. #KDKA pic.twitter.com/vZ0T8j5Bn5
— Lisa Washington (@LisaWashing) May 15, 2019
Police say Mickens was wanted in the stabbing and strangulation of 51-year-old Luke Connolly at a home on Third Avenue early Sunday. Connolly was found dead at the scene with three stab wounds to the chest.
"That's my understanding, that they knew each other in some capacity prior to the event," said Insp. Andrew Schurman, Allegheny County Police Department, of the relationship between Mickens and Connolly. "So we're not sure exactly right now what precipitated the assault."
They also believe Mickens stabbed a woman who showed up at the home. She was also allegedly raped.
However, she was able to escape to a neighbor's home and then taken to a local hospital where she remains in critical condition.
This is a picture of Richard Mickens, the man taken into police custody this morning. Her faces charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault and rape for a weekend incident in Carnegie. Police say he may face additional charges for an unrelated incident this morning. #KDKA pic.twitter.com/wv7cgSppZg
— Lisa Washington (@LisaWashing) May 15, 2019
Mickens is facing charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, rape, criminal attempt, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint and recklessly endangering another person.
He will be held in the Allegheny County Jail.
Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the Allegheny County Police TipLine at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.


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The WBU-1000 is a completely wireless rearview camera. No drilling or hard-wiring is required. With our super easy installation you can be ready to go in minutes! All you need is a common screwdriver! Just charge the camera via the USB port, attach to your license plate and you're ready to go.
In the Box:
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Policies & plans
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1 Year Manufacturer's Warranty
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For questions regarding this product, please contact 1-800-531-0004.
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text: The following logical reasoning exercise (essay test) will assess your overall knowledge of judgment and analytical ability as well as legal writing. Please complete the exercise under real testing circumstances in order to ensure you received an objective assessment of your competencies. Following your submission, your response will be sent to PEG legal writing faculty members who will review it and provide detailed feedback on your answer within seven (7) days. Good luck!


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Like last year's edition of Latada, all the parade was lead by UBI's International Students that brought to Covilhã and it's citizens their huge happiness and colourfully painted faces, singing some songs of their countries. This year they made a flag parade, showing to the population all the countries that are represented in Covilhã. The International Students also carried a lane signed by all of them plus a very specific message: "Keep Calm and Mov'in Europe".
The tricky "Mov'in Europe" part is a game of words that tries to express the amount of students that already are on exchange programs inside of Europe. The number keeps growing every year and is right now around 190.000 students (just counting with Erasmus+ programs). "Mov'in Europe" is also a ESN International project that promotes international mobility between the students.
In International Student's Latada were represented many countries such as the traditional Brazil, Poland, Spain and Turkey plus Syria, Angola, Estonia, Greece, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Belarus, Romania, Moldavia, Hungary and Equador. Also the Portuguese country was represented on this group by entire ESN Covilhã and some veteranums that wanted to meet some of our International Students.
The podium of this year's Latada was the following:
1st: Biomedical Sciences;
2nd: Industrial Design;
3rd: Pharmaceutical Sciences.
3rd: Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Pedro Santos


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Coming Soon
Objective: place Canon DSLRs and Lenses in the hands of consumers in locations where they could most benefit from having better equipment and overcome the stigma that advanced cameras are too complicated for lay consumers.
Approach: American Park Network created an education-focused experiential marketing program—Photography in the Parks—enabled consumers to go on highly customized photo walks in some of the most iconic destination on the planet—Glacier Point and Yosemite Valley in Yosemite, Old Faithful Geyer in Yellowstone National Park, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, and Jordan Pond in Acadia. We created a permanent sense of brand appreciation by helping consumers overcome their fears about DSLRs and empowering them to take better photo and video. After taking the workshop, users were invited to print their photos and received a link to where they could download their images and share them thru social media.
Results: Canon connected with several thousand consumers who became brand evangelists. The program lead to direct sales by xx percent of participants and commitment to buy by xx percent of participants. The program generated more than 100,000,000 media exposures.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter


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If you want to build your personal brand, get noticed at work and get the best results from your team, meetings and presentations, you need to pay attention to how you 'show up'.
And when I say 'show up', I mean:
Are you bringing the best version of yourself?
When you stand up to present, when you join a meeting, when you go out for lunch, even when you simply walk in the door…are you the energetic, passionate, committed version of yourself, or are you the low energy, scruffy, bored version of yourself?
Whichever version you choose to be, know that it makes a huge difference to your confidence, the way you're perceived, and the effectiveness of your communication.
In this episode, I share why it's important to show up as your best self, both mentally and physically, in all areas of your life — and how to do it.
Notes from the episode:
- The first step is to understand that you have a choice: you can CHOOSE to show up as your 'bigger' or 'smaller' self.
- Decide how you want to be perceived — how do you want others to see you when you show up, both at work, and in life
- Write down what you're grateful for. Include this in a morning routine. Every morning, I wake up and go for a walk. And I ask myself the following questions, out loud (when no one's there, of course!): What am I grateful for today? What am I excited about today? What am I happy about today?
- Take care of your health. This is a big one, but I've discovered that if I'm not eating well, exercising, taking care of my physical health, I get tired, cranky, and that's definitely not the best version of me.
- Take pride in your physical appearance. Wear what you feel comfortable in, but not to the point of wearing baggy, unflattering clothes. Yes, they may be comfortable, but do you feel ready to do work, present in a meeting, or speak with a client?
- For me, showing up well in the way I present myself is super important to my own confidence and productivity.


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STM3 modelling school days only
Sep 28, 2015
Model parameters and overview
|File Size
|PDF file
Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher for the best experience.
This Sydney Strategic Transport Model (STM) is used by the Bureau of Transport Statistics at Transport for New South Wales to assess the impact of transport policy across the greater Sydney area. The demand model components of the STM have been developed by RAND Europe using discrete choice models estimated using household travel survey data.
This report summarises the demand model parameters in the 2011 base version of the model, with sections presenting the licence ownership, car ownership, travel frequency and mode-destination model parameters. It also presents validation tests undertaken for the mode-destination models.
The report also summarises some of the key features of the models. It includes a section the summarises the socio-economic segmentation used in the models, the choice structures that govern the relative sensitivities of the different choices represented, and the treatment of cost in the models.
The research described in this report was conducted by RAND Europe.
This report is part of the RAND Corporation research report series. RAND reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.
Permission is given to duplicate this electronic document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Copies may not be duplicated for commercial purposes. Unauthorized posting of RAND PDFs to a non-RAND Web site is prohibited. RAND PDFs are protected under copyright law. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit the RAND Permissions page.
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