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Margaret Thatcher will be cremated tomorrow following a military funeral. The Daily Shift's Roisin Peddle takes a look at her long shadow cast over culture by her tenure as British Prime Minister…
Pity those without art in their soul; they know not what they lack. The late Margaret Thatcher was happily oblivious to almost anything outside politics. Her favourite song was either 'Tornado', a throwaway sixties instrumental, or 'How Much is That Doggie in the Window?' (The latter a preference shared by our own Bertie Ahern). She had little time for theatre, film or literature; she did once star in a self-penned sketch based on the popular BBC comedy Yes, Minister, but it has been whispered that Bernard Ingham, her press secretary, actually wrote the words.
Thatcher didn't much care for writers, once asking her biographer Hugo Moore why he didn't get a real job. To be fair to her, she did realise, on writing her own memoirs, that it could be gruelling work.
Her sense of humour was charitably called "not highly developed" by Nigel Lawson, one of her ministers. Indeed, it's alleged that the wit of the famous "the lady's not for turning" speech had to be explained to her, and she constantly made unintentional double entendres, not understanding why the press burst into sniggers. Yes, she may have been the most famous British Prime Minister since Winston Churchill, but she shared little of his quick wit or timing.
Yet, she can safely be called one of the most influential figures on pop culture of the last three decades. Everyone from J.K. Rowling to the writers of Doctor Who, to The Smiths, to Billy Bragg and to Oasis can cite the Iron Lady as a source of inspiration and/or funding. Funding, you say? Surely Maggie would have despised public money going to scruffy layabouts who spent their days messing with guitars? Well, funnily enough, a Tory initiative called the enterprise allowance scheme gave budding business people a £40 weekly grant to get them started; something taken up by the founder of Oasis' first record label, and the Happy Mondays, among others.
However, artists in Britain really hated Margaret Thatcher. Apart from the re-appropriation of 'Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead', other songs that celebrate Thatcher's demise with glee include Elvis Costello's 'Tramp the Dirt Down', Morrissey's 'Margaret on the Guillotine' and Pete Wylie's 'The Day That Margaret Thatcher Dies'. Books like GB84 (which reimagines the 1984 miners' strike as a civil war), Money by Martin Amis and Jonathan Coe's What a Carve Up! capture the individualistic, wealth-obsessed 1980s. Doctor Who depicted a planet ruled over by an evil female alien called Helen A, who outlawed unhappiness. Former Doctor Sylvester McCoy said in 2010: "Our feeling was that Margaret Thatcher was far more terrifying than any monster the Doctor had encountered."
Clever Harry Potter fans have worked out that the events of the series take place in the 1980s, and J.K. Rowling has said that Harry's horrible Aunt Marge (the one he accidentally blows up) is named after Thatcher, and channels some of her attitudes and beliefs. So too, does Dolores Umbridge, the pink-bow obsessed Ministry doyenne who is as hard and unbending as steel.
On this side of the Irish Sea, Thatcher is probably best remembered for her mishandling of Northern Ireland. Gerry Collins, who was in government at the time, recalls that Thatcher did not consider the Republic of Ireland a real state in any meaningful way; she did not understand why the British could not pursue the IRA over the border, not seeming to realise that such a thing would be construed as a foreign invasion. Indeed, her "out, out, out!" speech was a masterclass in how not to handle Irish people; our hackles rising almost instinctively whenever patronised by an upper-class English accent.
But Irish artists, outside of republican circles, studiously ignored Thatcher, probably grateful that they didn't have to deal with her. She was something of a running joke; witness Christy Moore's throwaway "that ould hoor in Number Ten" joke during 'Delirium Tremens'.
Thatcher's Britain was undoubtedly a grim place for many, yet there was a seam of rich comedy found in her reign. There was plenty to be mocked in Margaret Thatcher; her strident manner, her drawling, grahndly-accented speech, her handbags. Spitting Image was cruellest of all, with the infamous puppets that played up her prominent teeth and hawkish nose; but if Thatcher was even remotely bothered about being depicted in a man's suit she never let it show. The staff of the satirical magazine Private Eye might have secretly wept when she was pushed out in 1990; they found so much material in Britain's first female PM, including the Dear Bill letters, written from the point of view of Thatcher's long-suffering, anything-for-a-quiet-life husband Denis. Another Private Eye initiative was the Thatch card, to be carried in case of serious injury by those disconcerted by Maggie's habit of turning up unannounced at hospital beds.
My mother, who left Thatcher's Britain in 1989, is capable of shaking with rage when she remembers some of the Tory government's policies (especially with regards to Northern Ireland). She still chuckles though at the memory of her local MP changing his holiday plans when he found out the Swiss resort he wanted to visit was sometimes frequented by Margaret Thatcher. He told the Western Mail that he didn't give a flying fig whether it gained him votes; he just wanted to enjoy his time off in peace.
One of my favourite books as a young teenager, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, was written under the shadow of Thatcher; and the sensitive and perpetually unlucky Adrian considered her one of his mortal enemies. He even committed his ire to poetry; "Do you weep, Mrs Thatcher, do you weep? Do you wake, Mrs Thatcher, in your sleep? Do you weep like a sad willow on your Marks and Spencer's pillow? Are your tears molten steel? Do you weep?"
Was any art sympathetic to Thatcher? Apart from the hagiographical biopic The Iron Lady, there seems to be few examples. The Spice Girls repeatedly cited Margaret Thatcher as an inspiration, but the suspicion is that this was under some vague girl power pretext, rather than any admiration or even knowledge of her policies. Indeed, Geri Halliwell deleted a tweet mourning her heroine when she realised the extent of antipathy towards her; she wondered, bewildered, whether she knew enough about Thatcher's politics.
For someone who possessed a razor sharp brain and vast memory, Margaret Thatcher spent her last years in a fog of dementia. Some of her friends and former colleagues remember her as being bitter about her lost leadership; it's clear she didn't have much to occupy her. Not for her, the jazz music so beloved of Bill Clinton, or Mary McAleese's theology, or Winston Churchill's writing and bon vivant life. No, Margaret Thatcher was single minded. And yet her single-mindedness, her disregard for anything seemingly unimportant, has made her live on in the very media she dismissed.
*Lead image via Wikimedia Commons
Margaret Thatcher will be cremated tomorrow following a military funeral. The Daily Shift's Roisin Peddle takes a look at her long shadow cast over culture by her tenure as British Prime Minister…
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Still, in order that the "accessory" may be introduced
into the liturgy and yield its fruits, care must be taken to fulfill two
that the "accessory" does not become something cumbersome or more
important than what is "essential", "substantial", or ,'modal", and that
it does not become, for example, an opportunity for entertaining the congregations
that have gathered in the first place to participate in the Church's liturgy
(recall the famous "collage" pastoral letter [of the French bishops],
which now clutters our sanctuaries with brightly colored posters and felt
banners that are supposed to testify to the so-called participation of
children in the liturgy).
that the "accessory" does not make us lose sight of the "noble simplicity"
that the rites should have (cf. SC 34).
Did Jesus "invent" a Christian liturgy?
Christian liturgies, whatever their forms may be, have their origin in
the words spoken by Christ on Holy Thursday: "Do this in memory of me."
We too often forget that without this commandment, which is disarming
in its simplicity, we would never have had a liturgy. Should these words
of Jesus be considered unique, original, "revolutionary"? Must we see
in them a regulation that obliges believers to depart from the religious
framework of the Jewish era in order to invent something entirely new?
Not at all. In the time of Christ, indeed, all of the Jewish laws had
become identified with liturgical regulations that Mary, Joseph, and then
Jesus himself observed faithfully. [2] Now, in his teaching and in his
conduct, Jesus always affirmed the necessity of observing the law "to
the letter", without changing a single iota. Christ simply wanted to fulfill,
to complete these commandments with a supreme law that summarized them
all: the law of love. That was the novelty.
Jesus would have had plenty of reasons and occasions to rail against all
the abuses, the exaggerations, and all the liturgical deviations of his
day. However he never did so: at no point do the Gospels present him to
us in the guise of a proponent of liturgical reform, much less of a new
liturgy. To the Apostles who ask him how to pray, he does not reply by
inventing a "new" prayer; he is content to take up again the main themes
of daily prayers and of the psalms, which he prefaces with the traditional
invocation "Our Father, who art in heaven".
Finally, when Jesus institutes what will become the heart of all Christian
liturgical prayer, the Eucharist, he makes the institution of his Paschal
Mystery coincide with the anniversary of the Passover of Moses, in order
to underscore the fact that the sacrament of the New Covenant is the prolongation
and fulfillment of the Old Covenant.
The Apostles are faithful to the liturgical heritage
The Apostles, too, following the example of Jesus, did not create a new
liturgy; in the Acts of the Apostles, we see them "day by day attending
the temple together and breaking bread in their homes" (Acts 2:46).
This conjunction of two loyaltiesfidelity to the Jewish liturgy
on the one hand, and fidelity to Jesus' commandment ("Do this in memory
of me") on the otherillustrates perfectly how compliance with a
commandment just received is registered within the continuity of a liturgical
prayer that is already venerable.
Over the course of the centuries this apostolic fidelity will find its
expansion and its fulfillment in all the Christian liturgies, always proceeding
by way of evolution and not by revolution.
The organization of the Christian liturgy and the progressive establishment
of rites
Judeo-Christian in its origin, the newborn liturgical prayer of the Church
will espouse cultural and therefore cultic forms of a more universal character
as it gains non-Jewish neophytes, without thereby denying its Semitic
and Old Testament origins.
At Jerusalem and then in Antioch, in Alexandria, in Rome, and later on
in Byzantium, the same evangelical teaching, the same apostolic succession
[filiation], and the same liturgical prayer unite all the Christian
communities of the Empire, both in the eastern part and in the western
Although circumstances require that it be celebrated, during three centuries
of persecution, in private dwellings or subterranean cemeteries, the unfolding
of the principal liturgical act (the "breaking of the bread") is appreciably
the same everywhere.
To the Eucharistic anaphora, which constitutes the "essential component"
of the liturgy (the offertory, narrative of the Last Supper, Consecration,
and Communion), other elements are gradually added: readings from the
Letters of the Apostles, excerpts from the Gospel, prayers of intercession,
processions, recitation of the Apostles' Creed and of the "Jesus prayer",
and prayers of thanksgiving, etc., which will form the "substantial component"
of the [particular] rite.
Liturgy and orthodoxy
In the fourth century, the end of the persecutions means for all of Christianity
a new springtime and a flourishing, which is both theological and liturgical.
But the five mother churches (the apostolic Patriarchates of Jerusalem,
Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome and, later, Constantinople) must now fight
together against the first great heresies in order to preserve the true
faith, or "orthodoxy". Reverence for the liturgy that has been handed
down is what will guarantee fidelity to the true faith.
Thus, during the entire first millennium, unity of faith will be maintained
along with unity of liturgical prayer.
Yet, even if the liturgical unity remains quite evident, it does not exclude
legitimate differences, principally in the exterior forms and expressions
of worship.
Indeed, the different cultures in which these churches take root and develop
bring forth various cultic forms. So it is that in every liturgy the "accessory
components", which are closely bound up with the local cultural contexts
and associated with the "substantial components" of the worship as an
expression of Christian prayer, give rise to different rites.
It is very important to recall here, in connection with the rest of our
study, that the diversity of rites in the Church has never been the product
of division among Christians, nor of any sort of anarchy, nor of a refusal
to allow tradition to evolve; rather, it is the product of an "inculturation"
willed by Christ himself, so that his Church might be at the same time
"orthodox", faithful to her true beliefs and the true praise of God, [3]
and also "catholic", faithful to her universal mission. [4]
[1] Although we will place Gregorian chant in the modal part, since it
is characteristic of the Roman rite and makes it possible to unify the
essential and substantial parts of the liturgy, we will include the Latin
language, considered in itself, in the accessory part of the liturgy,
basing this decision on the teaching contained in the Preamble of the
Roman Missal (section 12): "The Second Vatican Council, like that of Trent,
examined in depth the didactic and pastoral nature of the liturgy. And
since there is no Catholic who would deny that the rite carried out in
the Latin language is legitimate and efficacious, it was able to concede
. . . . that the use of the living [vernacular] language can often be
very useful for the people, and it permitted its usage."
[2] Furthermore, it was in the area of liturgical observances, rather
than that of his teaching, that the enemies of Christ sought at first
to find fault with him.
[3] Cf. John Paul II, Letter Orientale Lumen ["Light of the East",
May 2, 1995].
[4] The present chapter is to a great extent inspired by a conference
given by Bishop Bernard Dupire at the Pro Liturgia Association,
79, rue du Général De Gaulle, 67560 Rosheim, France.
Related IgnatiusInsight.com
Does Christianity Need A Liturgy? |
Excerpt from The Heresy of Formlessness: The Roman Liturgy and Its Enemy | Martin Mosebach
Music and Liturgy |
Excerpt from The Spirit of the Liturgy | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
The Altar and the Direction of Liturgical Prayer |
Excerpt from The Spirit of the Liturgy | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
How Should
We Worship? | Preface to The Organic Development of the Liturgy
by Alcuin Reid, O.S.B. | by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Foreword to
U.M. Lang's Turning Towards the Lord: Orientation in Liturgical Prayer
| Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
To Heaven Backward | Interview with Father Jonathan Robinson of the
The Liturgy
Lived: The Divinization of Man | Jean Corbon, OP
The Mass of Vatican
II | Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J.
Liturgy, Catechesis,
and Conversion | Barbara Morgan
The Hierarchy of Truths | Douglas Bushman, STL
The Eucharist:
Source and Summit of Christian Spirituality | Mark Brumley
Denis Crouan holds a doctorate in theology. He is an organist, a
choirmaster, a specialist in Gregorian Chant and a professor of literature
and history. He is also the president of Pro Liturgia, an association dedicated
to promoting the true reform of the liturgy as intended by Vatican II. He
is the author of The
Liturgy Betrayed and
The Liturgy after Vatican II.
If you'd like to receive the FREE IgnatiusInsight.com
e-letter (about every 1 to 2 weeks), which includes regular updates
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subset: commoncrawl


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This week's post is taking us a step back from the practical and challenging us to think about something important: when we dream and plan only to find ourselves somewhere else.
Sometimes, it's a good somewhere else, like in the case of Mark's career goals. Read more in "God Didn't Fulfill My Dream."
Sometimes, it's a surprising discovery when we've reached our goals and had our dreams fulfilled: God's built something else along the way. Check out Bob Goff's reflection, "Sometimes We Build What We Didn't Plan to Build."
And sometimes, we find ourselves exactly where we don't want to be. In those times, we've got to keep the faith and seek God's dreams for us. Corey says, "Keep Calm and Carry On."
This post attempts to inspire those of us who dream and set goals.
Photo by Alan Levine. Used with permission. Sourced by Flickr.


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Not just corporations with multiplied business locations could benefit from personalized clocks. They can be customized and as used as promotional item or as an employee incentive or gift to your loyal customers. You can put your company logo, or marketing message on them. They are a great way of displaying your professional branding. Having trouble locating what you're looking for on this page? Try using the search feature to the left to find more-- We have man of clocks and other customized items to choose from!
Personalized Clocks Make High End Promotional Gifts
If there's one thing that modern people have in common, it's that we live our lives by the clock. We go to work, school, or meetings at specific times, and most events happen at particular times as well. Since everyone needs to know the time at various points throughout the day, this not only makes promotional clocks one of the promotional items with the broadest appeal, but also one of the items most likely to be seen at repeated intervals throughout the day. Choosing the right kind of customized clock can make this even more likely.
There are roughly three basic kinds of customized clocks. The first is just the simple, everyday promotional wall clock. These are the sort of clocks that you normally see in schools and offices, as well as on the walls of people's homes. However, in this case, they naturally have a logo printed on the face, so that anyone who looks at the time will see the logo as well. Companies typically use these in their own offices to maintain a consistent look, but they can also be given as gifts.
Promotional desk clocks are a little more commonly used as gifts. They can be analog or digital, and many digital ones have other useful tools built in to them in addition to the basic clock, such as thermometers or radios. Most people will have a use for a nice desk clock, and few will want to throw away something so useful, so they are very likely to end up in use by whoever receives them.
Finally, the third major type of clock consists of promotional travel clocks, or travel alarm clocks. These are battery-powered clocks that are meant to be taken on trips. They're typically fairly compact, so that they don't take up much space in a suitcase. Any company can give these as gifts, but they're especially appropriate for businesses that actually relate to travel, such as airlines, travel agents, or hotels. They can be given as gifts or even used as rewards for frequent customers.
Wall clocks, desk clocks, and travel clocks each have
their individual uses, but each of them works just as well as the rest.
Whichever of the three promotional clocks you choose to go with, you'll be
exposing your customers to your company logo whenever they glance up to check
the time.


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Here's some great news! Candice Glover, who won season 12 of American Idol (and, more importantly, got Mariah Carey's personal seal of approval), is back with a new single called "Cried". It hits iTunes on November 26 and promises to be a step up from winner's single "I Am Beautiful".
The big-lunged diva unveiled the cover today and she looks absolutely gorgeous in a sexy zip-front dress and wind-swept straight hair. Candice has a phenomenal set of pipes. All she needs is some great material to make huge waves on the music scene in 2014. Hopefully her debut LP Music Speaks delivers the goods. It drops February 18.
Are you checking for Candice? Let us know in the comments below.


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Dark, unsettling, heartbreaking, daunting reality.
Confused? These are not random adjectives but my TBR for this month. For June, I have handpicked three books and I hope I read them all by the end of the month. I have been sticking to my TBR in the past so let's hope it stays this way.
Tin Man by Sarah Winman
Genre: Contemporary
This is more of a re-read. However, I feel there are layers to the story still yet to be found which is why I decided to pick it up again. I will try to read it in one sitting.
Ellis and Michael are twelve when they first become friends, and for a long time it is just the two of them, cycling the streets of Oxford, teaching themselves how to swim, discovering poetry, and dodging the fists of an overbearing father. And then one day this closest of friendships grows into something more.
But then we fast forward a decade or so, to find that Ellis is married to Annie, and Michael is nowhere in sight. Which leads to the question, what happened in the years between?
This is almost a love story. But it's not as simple as that.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Genre: Historical Fiction
I saw this book in trend on Bookstagram and was an impulsive buy. Since this is a true story, I am unsure if I will be able to pull this book off. But I sure will try.
In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.
Imprisoned for more than two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Genre: Historical Fiction
One of my most anticipated books of this year. This book is really huge fyi. Not as huge as 1Q84 but huge in its own way. So, pray for me to finish it.
In a mining town in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find that brings them news and stories from places they have never seen or imagined. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments and is enlisted to use his talent to track down the resistance. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another
Book Talk
Have you read any of these books? Do you make a TBR or are you a mood reader?
If you have a made a TBR, ping back to this post or leave your post links in the comments. I will be making a dictionary of this month's TBR and adding yours to the list below.
June TBR across the world
Find me at Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Happy Reading


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Many readers will be very pleased to hear that since the new year local authorities have had to stop using chemicals on public spaces, roads and paths, and from 2019 private householders will have to do the same.
Even before the law change, 4,000 communes had re-thought how they looked after their public spaces, with many turning to gas burners to get rid of weeds, and traditional methods such as salt and vinegar on paths.
The city of Lyon has been pesticide free since 2008 for its 300 parks and gardens covering 430 hectares open to the public, and now has much greater biodiversity in return and the system pays for itself.
Its 230 garden staff complained at the work load when the plan to phase out chemical products was announced in 2002, but their complaints soon faded once they were reminded of the serious health warnings on the products they had been using.
Lyon transformed its green spaces with the help of thousands of ladybirds brought in to eat aphids and other bugs and by using mulch to stop weeds on the soil, beer traps to cut down on slugs and natural compost from its garden waste.
Before 2004 it spent €30,000 a year on chemicals and pesticides and also spent money transporting 3,500 tonnes of leaves and grass clippings by lorry to a company that turned it into compost. Now the city has bought its own garden shredders and created 3,000m2 of composting area.
It also has greater biodiversity with the return of butterflies, bees and birds to the Roseraie du Parc de la Tête d'Or rose garden and even a rare orchid. It has also increased its green spaces by 10% since going 'green'.
The pesticide ban is part of a wider environmental law change that includes a ban on throwaway plastic bags for fruit and veg and, from 2020, a ban on plastic cups, plates and utensils. The turn of the year also marked the creation of the Agence Française pour la Diodiversité, headed by French Canadian astrophysicist Hubert Reeves, which aims to preserve endangered species.


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UK official gold and foreign currency reserves
The UK's official holdings of international reserves are made up of:
- gold
- foreign currency assets
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) special drawing rights
- the UK's Reserve Tranche Position (RTP) at the IMF.
These reserves (except the RTP) are held in a government account known as the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA), which is administered by the Treasury. We act as the Treasury's agent in the day-to-day management of the EEA, dealing in foreign exchange and investing the reserves within the framework of a service-level agreement set annually by the Treasury.
We also act as the Treasury's agent for foreign currency liability management. This includes issuing foreign currency debt (bonds).
The Bank's foreign currency reserves
We also have our own foreign currency reserves, separate to the Treasury's reserves, which we can use to support our monetary policy objective. In December 2006 we announced that our foreign exchange reserves will be financed by issuing medium-term securities on an annual basis, with a regular timetable, a high degree of transparency and a group of banks to market and distribute each issue.


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Make a purse.
Sorry for the blurriness. Also for the visible detritus in the background. Such is life with kids. These charm squares were from the Anna Marie Horner's Bohemian fabric collection. I lined the inside with plain magenta. Basically this was made just like a tote, but instead of straps, I put in ribbon loops for the wooden handles and I added some pockets inside. The squares are quilted in a simple X pattern. The closure is a ribbon loop around a large wooden button.
Back side and inside view:


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Brief History of Polish Club Location ― Mission District
The Polish Club of San Francisco is located in a district rich with a diverse cultural history and significant historical events. Located in a region now known and referred to as the "Mission District" the area was originally the home of the Ohlone Indians who inhabited this region for over 2,000 years. When the first Spanish missionaries arrived here, during the late 18th century, they found the Ohlone Indians living peacefully in a village at the edge of a lagoon, hunting and gathering. In this location, in the year 1776, not very far from the present day Polish Club (22nd Street & Shotwell), the Spanish founded Mission San Francisco de Asis (16th Street & Dolores) otherwise known by San Franciscans and tourists alike as Mission Dolores. This Mission building has the distinction of being one of the oldest buildings in San Francisco. It was the sixth California mission founded by Lt. José Joaquin Moraga and Father Francisco Palou (both members of the de Anza Expedition). It received the nickname of "Mission Dolores" from the nearby Lago de los Dolores ("Lake of the Sorrows"), which has since vanished. The Mission itself was named for St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order. Unfortunately, the arrival of the Spaniards to this part of Northern California marked the beginning of the end of the Ohlone Indian culture.
Next, during the mid-19th Century, came the great European and Asian immigrations. The mid- 19th Century was marred by political turmoil in many parts of the world as well as great famines. Poland was one such country that was in the throws of political upheaval. The ancient state of Poland had been conquered and divided up by three imperial powers—the Russian, Prussian, and Austro-Hungarian empires. Although the national identity of the Poles came under harsh attack by these hostile imperial regimes, Poles were always unified by a belief in their right to their own independence, in their right to freedom of worship as Roman Catholics, and in their distinct identity as a people. However, the difficulty of maintaining this identity under hostile imperial regimes led many Poles to seek freedom overseas. This led large migrations of Poles to seek refuge outside their homeland. Many traveled to and settled in the United States. At the turn of the 20th Century, Polish immigration exploded. With imperial repression, land shortages, religious repression and chronic unemployment making life more and more unbearable for the Poles of Europe, and as the 19th century waned, they left for America by the thousands and then by the hundreds of thousands. By the mid to late 19th Century and beginning of the 20th Century, the majority of these immigrants settled in the eastern and mid-western states of the U.S. but many also ventured further west to search out new opportunities.
Initially, not all immigrants intended to make this foreign land their new home. Many of the earlier Poles, known as "za chlebem" meaning "for-bread" immigrants, planned on a temporary stay, to earn a nest egg and then to finally return to their homeland. But whatever their intentions, the majority of Polish immigrants ended up remaining in the United States. Nevertheless, they still felt the heart beat of their homeland and passionately guarded their language, faith, and sense of themselves as Poles. As Poles poured into the country, they came together in communities that preserved many aspects of the Polish way of life. They began building churches and schools, and establishing social, cultural and benevolent organizations.
"All immigrant groups developed mutual aid associations of one kind or another. The names of these organizations differed from nationality to nationality and the form and nature of organizational life differed as well, but whether they were called mutual aid, self-help, benevolent, fraternal, or sick benefit societies, the descriptive titles of the early ethno-cultural associations reflected the purpose of banding together.
They were the acknowledgement of mutual dependence among immigrants in the face of shared peril. Although the creation of these societies almost always answered socio-economic and ritual problems first, they also spoke to the dignity and morale of both the individual immigrant and the ethnic group in North America."
(Edited excerpt from the Introduction in Polyphony (Mutual Aid). Written by Robert F. Harney.)
Development and settlement of the various ethnic groups further intensified after the great 1906 Earthquake and fire. The earthquake struck San Francisco and the coast of northern California at 5:12 am on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted magnitude for the earthquake is a moment magnitude (Mw) 7.8; however, other values have been proposed from 7.7 to as high as 8.3 [1]. The main shock epicenter occurred offshore about 2 miles from the City. It ruptured along the San Andreas Fault both northward and southward for a total length of 296 miles (477 km)[2]. Shaking was felt from Oregon to Los Angeles, and inland as far as central Nevada. The earthquake and resulting fire would be remembered as one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the United States, comparable in devastation to the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Many of the City's displaced businesses and residents moved into the Mission district, making Mission Street a major ethnic commercial thoroughfare ― a characteristic it still retains. This was mainly due to the fact that on April 19th, 1906, a fire hydrant, now known as "THE LITTLE GIANT," was found to have water. Fire hoses were joined together and the water supply from "THE LITTLE GIANT" hydrant has been credited with stopping the conflagration from advancing any further into the Mission district. The fire that was sweeping the City was moving into the Mission District but was stopped at 20th and Dolores Streets by 3000 volunteers and a few firemen who fought the blaze with knapsacks, brooms and a little water from the operating hydrant at 20th and Church Streets. In memory of this significant event, which preserved many historic architectural buildings in the area, the hydrant is ceremoniously painted gold on an annual basis.
One such building saved from the conflagration was a local Baptist church located at 22nd and Shotwell Streets. This building has great significance for Polish immigrants to this day. Since the original Polish settlements in Northern California did not have a place to meet, they usually held their meetings in private homes or in spaces rented from other organizations. For example, the oldest San Francisco Polish society, founded in 1863 by Rudolf Korwin Piotrowski and Kazimierz Bielawski, known as the Polish Society of California, rented their offices at 273 Golden Gate Avenue, in a building that now no longer exists. The Polish organization known as St. Stanislaus Benevolent Society, also originating in San Francisco and founded in 1889, held its meetings at St. Boniface Catholic Church, a church established by the local German community. The Polish Community in San Francisco, seeing the great necessity to establish a meeting place of their own for social events and for the preservation of their culture and language, began to address this significant problem. Three of the most prominent Polish organizations of the day: (1) the Polish Society of California, (2) the St. Stanislaus Benevolent Society (Sw. Stanislaw Biskupa Polski), and (3) the Polish Literary and Dramatic Circle, came together at a formal meeting and decided to join forces to establish a Polish Club. A great fundraising drive began by these three Polish organizations and, in 1926, enough funds were collected to buy the church building (see above) officially establishing the first and only Polish Club of San Francisco. Today, it is commonly referred to by the Polish community as "Dom Polski" or "Polish House," is known to Poles throughout the world and continues to fulfill the functions for which it was purchased.
During the 1940s to 1960s, another large wave of immigrants and refugees from Central and South America, fleeing civil war, began to move into the area, giving back to the Mission district the characteristic Latin flavor it is known for today and began with in its early history. The Polish Club of San Francisco respects the Latin community and opens its doors to it for their personal events. However, the Club's main purpose was, and is, to serve as a center for the propagation of Polish culture, art, language and community and is representative of the unity of all Polish organizations not only in Northern California but the world at large.
Laying the Foundations for a Polish Club
The first written documents addressing the need to establish a Polish Club can be found in the Board Minutes of meetings of the Polish Society of California. They are written in Polish and are part of the archival records of the Polish Society of California. On August 2, 1925, during one such Board Meeting, the Polish Society of California invited Miss Wyrozynska, a representative of the Polish Literary and Dramatic Circle, to attend. She proposed that the Society create a Committee for the purpose of raising funds for a Polish Club. The Committee would be called the Polish Home Building Committee. Subsequently, Mr. Tomaszewski, also of the Polish Society of California, proposed rules for the establishment of support committees. Both organizations would initiate Polish Home Building Committees within their own organizational structures for the purpose of raising funds independently but towards the mutual goal of establishing a Polish Club. After this initial meeting, the committees of both organizations worked full speed at fundraising. Soon afterward, the St. Stanislaus Benevolent Society joined in this endeavor and initiated a third Polish Home Building Committee within its organization.
The first joint meeting of all three Polish Home Building Committees from all three organizations was held at the end of October 1925. During this meeting it was decided that each Society should elect five members to the Joint Committee. In addition, participants formulated the initial guidelines, which declared that the Joint Committee would elect its own Board and have its own bank account. In the meantime, a fundraising campaign for the Club was in full swing. It was run simultaneously, but independently, by all three Committees. The most important element of this campaign included participating in the 1925 Diamond Jubilee Parade, a celebration to mark the 75th anniversary of California's admission to the union, an event attended by numerous Polish- Americans from all over the State of California.
During this fundraising campaign a very interesting division of responsibilities emerged among the three Committees. The Polish Society of California, a fraternal benefit society, and the St. Stanislaus Benevolent Society, a sick benefit society, became financial pillars of the Polish Club due to their business skills. While the relatively new non-profit Polish Literary and Dramatic Circle, an organization promoting Polish culture and arts, became the spiritual engine and soul of the whole campaign.
Fundraising efforts were run harmoniously and at the end of winter on March 29, 1926, funds were sufficient to purchase a building. The Committees found the church building located at 3040 – 22nd Street in the then elegant Mission District of San Francisco and authorized its purchase. Formal purchase of the building was completed on April 19, 1926 for the sum of $5,000. Upon purchase of the building the Polish Club's governing rules were established as follows: it was decided that the three San Francisco Societies which participated in the fundraising would elect from their membership directors that would be seated as Board Members of the Polish Club. The Polish Society of California and the St. Stanislaus Benevolent Society would seat six directors each since they both contributed $3,000 to the purchase of the building; and the Polish Literary and Dramatic Circle would seat three directors each, since it represents a very large number of Poles and contributed to the fundraising effort but was unable to support the Club financially. Following such guidelines the first Board of Directors of the Polish Club was formed.
Soon after the purchase, the building was insured and remodeling and adaptation work was begun to convert the structure from a church into a social hall. First, the library of the Polish Society of California was moved to the new location on the first floor. It was also decided that all three Societies would pay $5.00 for the daily use of the Club for their meetings. The first recorded meeting was held there on October 1, 1926. This was a meeting of the Polish Society of California. Among other declarations in was decided that the library would be accessible to and open to each member of the three Societies of the Polish Club. This decision was one of the first declarations of the Polish Club and closes one of the most interesting and significant events of Polish history in California.
Halina Grochowska-Jimenez
More about the Polish Club of San Francisco:
, 2017.02.19


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How to fillet a round fish
How to fillet a fish like mackerel or sea bass.
Points to remember
- Remove head by cutting at an angle just under the fins near the head on each side, and then under the fin on the underside.
- Snap the head off, removing any innards.
- Make an incision along the skin on the back of the fish, to one side of the dorsal fin.
- Place the tip of the knife in and run from the heat to tail, along the bones. Midway along the fish, place the knife down and through to the underside of the fish, and then run the knife along the whole fillet, to the tail. Remove the fillet by stroking the knife under the fillet from the mid point of the fish, towards the head, then remove it from the frame. Repeat on the other side. Trim skin around the fillets to neaten them.
- Pinbone the fillet, using tweezers to pull out the sturdy bones from the centre of the fillet, or cut along either side of them and pull the whole strip of bones out.
Filleting a round fish
Fish should smell pleasantly of the sea - if it smells fishy, it's not fresh.
Filleting a round fish
The eyes should be bright and shining - dull eyes mean the fish is not fresh.
Filleting a round fish
If you pull the gills open, the insides should be bright pink-red - a dark bluey-purple colour means the fish isn't fresh.


text:
- Cost $75 (early bird price of $50 if purchased before February)
- Yearbook write-ups deadline: October 15 (Edited by Admin. No abbreviations, non-English words, numbers, or inappropriate language)
Grad Dinner/Dance & Graduation Leaving Ceremony
- Fees (see VP to discuss payment for events, if needed):
- School Leaving Ceremony Fee $80
- Dinner/Dance Ticket $110 (until April 30 $125 after)
- Dry After Grad (TBA)
- Fees (see VP to discuss payment for events, if needed):
- Criteria for Attendance:
- Academic achievement: Sem. 1 and Sem. 2 report cards will be looked at carefully.
- Any student short more than 3 courses for graduation may NOT be invited.
- Attendance: Students with poor attendance may NOT be invited
- Citizenship/Behaviour: Students with referrals to the office, suspensions,
or inappropriate behaviour in their conduct files may NOT be invited
- Attendance is by invitation only
- Must meet the criteria in all 3 categories to receive invitation
- Criteria for Attendance:


text:
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New Game Idea: Kill Team
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Topic: New Game Idea: Kill Team (Read 4421 times)
Posts: 67
A Very Powerful Wizard
Re: New Game Idea: Kill Team
Reply #15 on:
September 30, 2009, 08:46:02 AM »
1) I like the idea of a generic system, but if you do that it might be good to include a quick 'sample' setting to illustrate what you're imagining.
2) This sounds potentially a lot of fun, hopefully very streamlined.
4) I guess I have a few questions relating to this:
Are you thinking of using miniatures at all? If the game is all about tactics, encouraging combat on a grid can be really helpful. If you want to keep things flowing fast and smooth you may want to spend as much time looking at board games as you do RPGs.
Just how fatal is the game going to be, and do you have any mechanic for getting dead players back in the action with new characters? Really quick character creation is really important for keeping dead people from having nothing to do for the rest of the game, and makes the pain of losing a character quite a bit less painful. That said, if when you die on a mission you're just out until the mission ends you can probably afford a bit more complexity to the character creation process. I figure having a way for dead characters to get back in on the action will be pretty important for keeping the game moving well, though.
How important is having a customized character to you from the start? I like the idea of starting generic and becoming unique as you progress, but I bet there are ways to have a bit of both. Maybe you can make a set of level one 'templates' that determine your basic stats, and then just give a small number of points to buy abilities/qualities to determine your style within the template? As you gain experience you can buy more of these abilities/qualities and make your character your own, but at the start you get two or three of them, just enough to give your character some flavor.
How much non-combat are you going to support with the system? If you can find a way to make your combat-stats also into your non-combat skill stats that could go a long way to simplifying character creation, where when you try to lift something heavy you just roll Strength+Level or something. Exceptional skill at something non-combat and things like talking to people and so on can probably be handled by abilities/qualities, with roleplaying being the primary determiner of social things.
I think this could be really fun, but keeping it streamlined and fast-paced is maybe harder than you'd expect. Good luck!
Hello, Forge. My name is Misha. It is a pleasure to meet you.
Warrior Monk
Posts: 85
Re: New Game Idea: Kill Team
Reply #16 on:
October 01, 2009, 01:16:20 PM »
Quote from: Aapov on September 22, 2009, 08:14:17 AM
I think I will scrap the fluff, at least for now. The fluff is just way too big to fully develop.
After giving the ideas here serious thought I think my game is actually more about tactics than actual combat. Different scenarios will require different tactics. In one scenario speed might be the best choice, in another stealth, in another strong application of serious firepower, etc. Combat itself will have a lot of tactical choices that will give instant benefits either to the character or to his teammates (or both), or will take away enemy advantages. Generally the game is almost always going to have combat. The characters may be able to sneak all the way in, but as soon as they have the target the s*** hits the fan. Every scenario will start
in media res
, basically right after deployment or insertion. The reason for this is that the characters have to plan on the fly, rather than take half the game session to plan out the whole thing (that's Shadowrun). They have to think quickly and react to the immediate situation. Some missions may allow for more planning than others. There's potential for storyline and/or campaigns if a GM wanted to link together several missions. Every mission will have the following:
1) Insertion: how the characters got there and/or where the characters are in relation to the opfor (opposing forces) and the objective
2) Objective: what the characters are trying to accomplish
3) Opposition: strength, numbers, and location of opposing forces (characters won't be able to see everyone)
4) Extraction: getting to this point ends the mission
Here are some insertions:
1) Air-drop behind enemy lines; enemy is not too far away and is unaware
2) HALO (high altitude, low open) jump into installation; enemy is very close and aware (combat may start in the air)
3) Beach landing from submarine; enemy is far away and completely clueless
4) Helicopter insertion, enemy is far away and unaware
5) Hot-drop helicopter insertion, enemy is close and aware
These aren't the only options, or the only combinations. You could have the characters HALO jump with the enemy far away and aware, far away and unaware, close and unaware, etc. The opfor matters too. Maybe the characters insert close to some sentries or a patrol, but far away from the main force, or maybe they insert right into a hornet's nest.
The opfor should always be either stronger and better equipped than the kill team, or should out outnumber the kill team.
Here are some mission objectives:
Sabotage - the object is to destroy a target building, vehicle, installation, etc.
Assassination - the object is to kill a specific individual
Hit & Run - what the object is (place a homing device in the middle of an opfor base, access battle plans, poison water supply, etc) the characters must get in and get out as quick as possible
Recon - the object is to observe and record as much information about the opfor as possible
Ambush - the characters lie in wait to attack an opfor convoy or armored column
Surprise Attack - the object is to cause as much damage to a particular section of the opfor defenses and leave before reinforcements arrive
I got inspired by your post and made this mission generator, check out:
1) Far from enemy, enemy unaware
2) Close to enemy, enemy unaware
3) Far from enemy, enemy aware
4) Close to enemy, enemy aware
5) Enemy in movement to your position
6) Enemy in movement away from your position
1) Insufficient equipment and ammo, get your own on the road
2) Minimal standard equipment, count your rounds and make them count
3) Standard full equipment
4) Specific additional equipment relevant for the mission
5) Heavy Equipment and additional gadgets
6) Last generation equipment and reinforcements available
1) Team will have to get out of the zone by their own
2) Extraction in safe zone far from target in 1d6 hours
3) Extraction in unsafe zone far from target in 1d6 hours
4) Extraction in safe zone close to target as soon as is called in
5) Extraction on the target as soon as is called in
6) Reinforcements will arrive in 1d6 x 10 min. Hold the perimeter.
1) Sabotage to instalation or enemy vehicle
2) Assassination of an specific individual
3) Hit and Run
4) Recon
5) Ambush
6) Infiltration to obtain specific information.
Opposition numbers
1) Isolated unit
2) One squad
3) One platoon
4) One company
5) One Brigade
6) One division
Opposition strength
1) Insufficient equipment and ammo
2) Light opposition, maybe grenades and a machine-gun nest
3) anti-tank equipment and support vehicles
4) tanks and artillery support
5) aereal support, tanks, artillery and reinforcements coming
6) all of the above and the last advances in warfare
You just have to roll 1d6 for each aspect of the mission, some stuff you tell the players, some not. You can even tell them everything and then roll another d6 in secret to see what goes wrong, like this: (translating rolls into narration) Your team gets to me airdropped three clicks from unaware target with full equipment and optic camo to make a hit and run on an enemy factory. Intel says opposition is gonna be light from 3:00 to 6:00 for some blah blah reason. The team has to get out on their own, traveling 7 hours by night to the northwest and then forrowing a river to the nearest campbase. Then you roll for what goes wrong. If you roll one, that's insertion; so you roll another d6 to see how bad is it. A 5 may mean squad is shot down on route, so they have to get to the target on their own and beg they make it before 5:00.
You can roll the 'what goes wrong?' dice more than once and even do it along the session or for each part. Just cuz, you know, everything can go wrong
I didn't specify much on the tables on purpose, since I think this can either work for a WWII setting, modern combat or even space opera warfare. Hope this helps or give you some ideas to play with.
Creatures of Destiny
Posts: 66
Re: New Game Idea: Kill Team
Reply #17 on:
October 01, 2009, 02:19:48 PM »
Quote from: Aapov on September 22, 2009, 09:39:04 PM
Yes, but why an RPG?
I've been thinking about that a lot. I like RPGs. I like character progression, advancement, and development. But I also like Shadowrun. Shadowrun is the closest thing to the game I'm designing (at least that I'm familiar with). In Shadowrun I can create a character concept and almost perfectly create him. My concept does what he's supposed to be able to do in the first session. Yeah, sure, there's character development. But really I never need to do much (or anything) to my character once I've designed him. So I guess that's why RPGs: in-depth character creation with lots of options that allow players to create a concept exactly how it's supposed to be. There really doesn't need to be any advancement, although I'm currently working on ideas for advancement.
But then I'm thinking about character turnover. Part of my inspiration for Kill Team is Paranoia, which has high turnover (so much, in fact, that you automatically get 6 lives). What point is there to spend all this time and energy creating the perfect character when he dies halfway through the first mission? Dang, that sucks. I also want character creation to be quick and easy so you can start playing right away. That kind of counters the idea of an in-depth character creation with lots of options.
I guess I'm kinda stuck. Any suggestions?
How about "Training Missions" which are actually a part of character generation? Since the kill team are pretty elite, they could even die in basic training, or simply flunk, quit or be deemed unsuitable - it's as much an initiation/test as training.
Anyway I really like you "Player Points" idea so (probably because I used a similar concept in one of my games) so lets say in Training Missions you can use them to add abilities.
At the start of a training mission all players start with a pretty generic list - basically this is the first impression the character makes (brains, brawn, grace). So literally the player just says, I'll start with a big strong guy. All of the characters have been presumably chosen for some reason (perhaps Dirty Dozen style).
Okay so my Big Strong Guy is pretty limited, but during the training mission, AT ANY TIME during the training mission I can spend a Player Point to reveal something about my character: "An Exo-Harvester! Can anyone here operate one of these things?" I spend a Player Point, "Sure, My dad had me running these things since I was a kid." So now my character has both a handy mission ability/skill (expert exo-rig operation) and a bit of background. By the end of the mission I should have both a loose concept and a bunch of skills.
The training mission might also have opportunites to win Player Points, which unlike in real missions can be used to reveal an ability instantly. Also players could "foreshadow" abilities they don't have enough points to buy, so for example a character could use a point to "Notch" psychic abilites ("I always got these strange headaches then found myself somewhere else"). Later in actual missions the player might have enough points to actually give the character useful Psychic abilites "on the fly" - but only if they're "Notched" in training or between missions. What I mean is, a character with Notched "teleportation" can actually teleport in the VERY SAME ROUND they gain a player point to pay for the ability, while a character without cannot gain a new ability until after the mission (during downtime).
Players could either choose reveals or roll them randomly (perhaps random rolls enable the possibility of better abilites at a lower cost but are of course random.
So the "Training Mission" basically involes the characters getting to know each others' abilities and the PLAYER making those abilites up. You should be able to create a Shadowrun level of detail with a longer training mission, or simpler characters with shorter training missions.
Posts: 8
Re: New Game Idea: Kill Team
Reply #18 on:
October 01, 2009, 05:29:28 PM »
I promise I'm reading all these posts, I just haven't had a lot of time to reply. So, real quick:
Love the Mission Generator idea. I was thinking of doing something like that, but I haven't had a chance to spend much mental energy on it yet. What you have looks good, I think I might modify it a bit, but it's definitely awesome.
The "Training Mission" idea is brilliant, I don't why why I didn't think of it since both Oblivion and Fallout 3 use a similar concept, but i guess that's why I posted here in the first place. Anyway, mad props, that is definitely an idea I will use.
Again, thank you guys for taking time to make comments and suggestions, I truly appreciate it. As soon as I have more time I'll incorporate these ideas and start posting a more thorough concept. Anyway, thanks again and keep the ideas coming. I'm always anxious to hear your ideas.
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Seismologists To Study Earthquakes - KRDO and The Associated Press
A research team from the U.S. Geological Survey plans to visit the Las Animas County area just north of Raton to study a recent series of minor earthquakes. The area has had seven earthquakes just this month. The strongest was a magnitude of 3.6. There have been no reports of injury or damage from the quakes. A spokesman from USGS says the quakes need to be studied since the average number of quakes above magnitude 3 in the area has quadrupled in the last decade and that the majority of them appear to be related to deep injections of large volumes of wastewater from drilling.
Interior Secretary Jewell Visits New Mexico - The Associated Press
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is in southern New Mexico for a hike through a rugged stretch of desert.
She's also here to discuss federal legislation that aims to protect the Organ Mountains along with other scenic areas near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Jewell, officials with the Bureau of Land Management and New Mexico's two U.S. senators are hosting a public hearing on the proposal Friday afternoon in Las Cruces. Several hundred people are expected to attend.
Under the legislation, about 780 square miles would be designated as the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. The effort has been more than a decade in the making.
The monument would include eight wilderness areas, prompting concerns among some law enforcement officials that the proposal could limit their ability to patrol the area.
Lawmakers Face Flood Of Constitutional Proposals - The Associated Press
If some lawmakers have their way, New Mexico voters will be busy in the November general election deciding a host of policy questions ranging from legalizing marijuana to increasing the minimum wage.
A flurry of proposed constitutional amendments in the Legislature has Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and some lawmakers questioning whether the Constitution — a document defining fundamental law and rights — is being misused.
Constitutional amendments, unlike a bill to change statutory law, go straight to voters if approved by the Legislature. That provides a way to bypass the governor and a potential veto.
Senate President Mary Kay Papen, a Las Cruces Democrat, says she doesn't want lawmakers to make it a habit of using constitutional amendments to push proposals they don't think the governor would sign.
NM Lawmakers Flooded With Water Funding Requests - The Associated Press
New Mexico lawmakers are being inundated with requests for state funding to help pay for water infrastructure improvements.
From contaminated wells to a lack of storage for drinking water in Las Vegas, members of the Senate Finance Committee heard Thursday from state and local water officials and fellow lawmakers about the growing needs around the state.
The problem now is prioritizing which projects should be tackled first.
Gov. Susana Martinez has asked that lawmakers use at least 60 percent of capital outlay funds on water projects, but her administration has not put forward any specific list.
Finance Chair Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming says if Mother Nature doesn't get to work quickly in easing the drought, lawmakers need to be more efficient with the limited funding they have.
NM House, Senate Schedule Weekend Break - The Associated Press
Lawmakers have an opportunity for a long weekend before the pace of work quickens in the 30-day legislative session.
The House and Senate aren't holding floor sessions until Monday, although some committees will meet.
The House Appropriations and Finance Committee plans to continue budget hearings on Friday, and the House Education Committee is scheduled to meet Saturday to listen to testimony from teachers and other educational workers.
The Legislature convened on Tuesday, and the first week traditionally is devoted to starting the introduction of bills and organizing committees.
Lawmakers approved and sent to the governor one measure this week — a proposal providing about $5.3 million to cover expenses of the session.
Senate Leader Upset With Democratic Party Official - The Associated Press
A Senate Democratic leader is upset with the state Democratic Party chairman for suggesting a southern New Mexico lawmaker consider becoming a Republican if he blocks a proposed constitutional amendment for funding early childhood education.
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez of Belen said Thursday that party chairman Sam Bregman was wrong in recent remarks about Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming.
Bregman and some Democratic lawmakers want to use a state permanent fund to provide more money for early childhood education. The measure stalled last year when it didn't surface for a vote in Smith's committee.
Bregman isn't backing off his comments about Smith, a moderate Democrat who said he worries the proposed permanent fund change could leave less money in the future to meet the state's needs.
NM Officials To Allow Digital Signs Along Highways - The Associated Press
State officials will allow digital billboards along interstate highways and other federal routes in New Mexico.
The state Transportation Commission on Thursday approved rule changes that will legalize electronic billboards.
The current rules hadn't been revised since being adopted in 1998.
The commission approved an amendment that requires off-premises digital billboards to be spaced at least 1,000 feet apart regardless of face orientation.
The state Department of Transportation and representatives of Scenic America and the outdoor advertising industry also agreed to an amendment to restrict off-premises digital billboards to municipalities, towns and villages.
Outdoor advertisers already use digital signs in some places in New Mexico, including within the city of Albuquerque.
Critics say the signs are visual blight that damage the night sky, but outdoor advertising companies deny that claim.


text:
Top – Miss Selfridge
Bottoms – BDG Urban Outfitters
Shoes – Office
Choker – Ebay
Ring – Portobello Vendor
Cake – Cafe Lisboa
So last week was my first visit to Portobello Road and I've got to say, I'm in love with the vibe and eclectic feel of the area. It feels authentic enough in my experience without crossing into the commercial (sorry Camden market, thinking of you when I say this) and I honestly can't wait to visit again!
The vintage stores + the food got me feeling all types of ways – as you can see from the picture I have with the cake from Cafe Lisboa (why has no one ever taken me there before?!) I may have to pause for a minute here just to write an ode to that cafe. It made me reminisce about cafe's in Portugal, well it is part of the Sical franchise so I guess that it makes sense to but I wasn't expecting the cake to actually taste like Portuguese cake!
For those of you that don't know, Portuguese pastries are honestly some of the most delicious kind around, there's just something about the cream and custard they use that is unlike any other and the cake I had tasted 100% like it was made in Lisbon's Pasteleira de Belem. It was honestly a magical moment for me.
But focusing on what I wore for my visit (I actually had two outfits for the day). I had on my comfortable pair of BDG mom jeans, that actually didn't fit me up till the start of this year and a beautiful soft denim bardot top from Miss Selfridge. I felt happy and lighthearted in that outfit and being that comfortable made me feel super carefree and really did make my overall experience of the market even better. I guess my outfit and Portobello Road had real synergy haha
I actually got my ring from the market at this cute little stall near where all the main food stalls were and although I didn't want to spend any money on the day (I'm pretty broke) I had to get it once I had tried it on. The woman who makes them also told me the stone was a moonstone and I was sold after that. Asides from being one of my favourite stones, I just have a really impulsive personality trait wherein if something feels right to me, I've got to have it. Not always a good thing but I don't regret getting my ring! The choker I got off Ebay and it was sooo cheap, I honestly wasn't expecting it to be so pretty or well made (thought it would be pretty flimsy and cheap looking truth be told)
There will be another outfit post and even a little look video that my friends and I had a lot of fun playing around with. The first I've ever made so I'm a little nervous about posting it up but let me know what y'all think andddd what your experiences of the market have been like too!
Or if you haven't experienced it yet, please go and do!
It's honestly incredible (and you never know what you'll find until you look) xx


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Cid's Filipino Restaurant, 1328 N John Young Parkway, Kissimmee, FL.
I was searching for a good Filipino restaurant since eating at one in Chicago and again watching Andrew Zimmern enjoying some Crispy Pata. It was time to delve back into some awesome Filipino eats and I came upon Cid's.
Cid's is located in a strip mall right off the main drag in Kissimmee, John Young Parkway and Hwy 192/ Vine St., a suburb of Orlando. It's a little hole-in-the-wall, but generally those venues create the best food. An interesting menu, it was time to have a new experience. Definitely the small cigar looking Lumpia, (spring rolls and eggrolls are my jam) these will be right up my gullet alley. Siopao(steamed bun) and Lechon Kawali (pork belly) will round out this lunch. This is a pretty basic introduction into Filipino food if you're a beginner.
All three choices come with their own sauce, which I love. I'm a saucy chick. Everything looked amazing and made my mouth water. First up, the Lumpia. Oh yes, crispy outer with a nice filling of ground meat and spices. The sauce was very mild, so I dipped them in sweet chili sauce when I got home. Excellent! The Siopao (Special asada) was filled with a mixture of chicken, pork, Chinese sausage and egg. Delicious! Big, squishy, warm and a good amount of filling for a steamed bun. So tasty, with good sauce.
The Lechon Kawali is in a word…..awesome. Crispy skin, flavorful, fatty meaty pieces of pork heaven dipped in a golden sauce. I was told they have a customer who uses it to make tacos at home. Great idea! Sooooo good.
Very warm and welcoming people at this restaurant. Thoughtful with their food, and even packing it to go. To keep the integrity of the food, they cut an opening in the top of the container. Magical idea!
I will be back for their Crispy Pata next time, and their Daing Na Bangus. It is a whole fish that is marinated and fried. Freaking fabulous!
Hours: CLOSED MONDAYS. Tues: 11:00am – 6:00pm, Wed – Sat: 11:00am – 8:00pm, Sun: 11:00am – 5:00pm. ** Last Dine-In 30 minutes before closing.
5 out of 5 Fantastic Filipino Points


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The Modern Exodus
Moses led his people through the desert on the journey to the Holy Land.
Those who are coming today don't have a leader and are not coming for religious reasons: they are mostly Sudanese, Ethiopians and Eritreans who escaped their homeland because of war, poverty and violence. They regard Israel as a safe destination.
However, there is one thing these two exoduses have in common: also in the exodus of today, they travel by foot.
One story I would like to share is the story of 21-year-old Hiyoba, who was, as many other children, kidnapped by the Eritrean army and forced into the life of a child soldier. Educated to be a sniper, he had to kill for the first time when he was only eleven years old. He got to eat only every third day and was forced into unconditional obedience. Twice he was shot by a bullet, one streaked his head. Only with luck, he survived. In total, he had been a soldier for 10 years, until he was finally able to succeed in his escape to Israel.
Nightmares and scars on his body and soul are remainders of this past. How many people he killed, he doesn't know – but he dreams of a future.
As a deserter, he lived for five months in poor circumstances in an Ethiopian refugee camp. The escape to Israel appeared to him as the only possibility to outrun his murderous past and his unbearable present.
Human traffickers brought him, together with other refugees, without passports or papers inside a container of a freight ship as blind passengers over the Nile River into Sudan.
The hygienic conditions were catastrophic, five people died. After his arrival in Sudan, his journey continued to Egypt – only this time it was by foot. The land was in war-like condition, and the journey perilous. One foggy night, under fire from Egyptian soldiers, he successfully crossed the border.
After a three-month-long journey, he then faced the last big and risky step of their route: the border passing into Israel. There were 56 refugees who crossed the border together. The Egyptian army opened fire on them. The Africans – men, women, and children – ran for their lives. Eight of them were killed, on their way to a better life, by Egyptian bullets. Hiyoba, arrived on the Israeli side and was put on a bus to Tel Aviv by Israeli soldiers. He got a residence permit. However, this permit is only temporary.
He wishes to go to Europe. But how is this possible without a passport? His residence permit in Israel will expire in a few months. Hiyoba is in panic and fears that the Israeli officials will send him back to Egypt, or worse, to Eritrea where he would surely face the death penalty as a deserter. He figured out by now that Israel isn't the Holy Land for him.
Hiyoba, 21 years old, a former child soldier who should be given a new start, but instead he has his end in front of his eyes once more. He doesn't want to give up, he is a fighter. However, sometimes he asks himself if a "Holy Land" exists for him at all.


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This recipe is another one of my mom's that I remember from when I was little. She used to make the most delicious Banana Coconut Tea Bread that she would serve when friends would come for an afternoon visit. Traditionally, her recipe is made with toasted coconut and coarsely chopped walnuts and is lovely sliced. Just for fun, I decided to break out of the mold a bit and play around with a few different flavor combinations. I also shortened the bake time by making muffins.
(makes 1 loaf or 12x muffins)
Here is the banana batter base:
- 1/3 cup butter, unsalted at room temperature
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 eggs, large
- 3 Tbs milk, whole
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups flour, all-purpose
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (Tip: I place peel-on bananas in a ziplock bag in the freezer when they have gotten perfectly ripe. They will be preserved in time until you are ready for them!)
Now have some fun:
- 1 cup toasted coconut + 1 cup chopped walnuts (traditional)
- 1 cup mini reese's pieces peanut butter cups
- 1 cup candied ginger, chopped + 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup peanut butter + 1 cup chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 350F
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in milk, lemon juice and almond extract.
- Combine dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- With mixer on low, slowly incorporate dry ingredients. Do not over mix.
- Stir in bananas. Fold in desired filling.
- If making muffins, use paper liners. If making a loaf, grease the pan.
- Bake muffins approx 25 minutes. Bake the loaf approx. 55 minutes.
- Pull from oven and allow to cool before turning out on rack to finish cooling.
What is your favorite flavor combination to pair with banana??? Always excited for new ideas…


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Rep Mark Sanford, R-S.C., on Wednesday called the accusations made against him by his ex-wife in their divorce "preposterous, crazy and wrong."
Attorneys for his ex-wife, Jenny Sanford, requested the former South Carolina governor undergo psychiatric tests and take anger management and parenting courses, the Associated Press reported. The legal claim also is attempting to limit his visitation rights with their youngest child.
"It seems that nothing I can do at this point is enough, appropriate or adequate," Sanford said in a statement. "The different accusations and requests made are, by their very nature preposterous, crazy, and wrong."
After disappearing to Argentina for seven days and admitting to an affair with Maria Belen Chapur in 2009, Sanford's wife filed for divorce, and Sanford proposed to Chapur in 2012.
-- Frank Thorp V


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When you are in Paris, you get to choose from a handful of restaurants to have your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and pass time food. Just like monitoring one's eating habit, you must be shrewd in finding the best restaurants in Paris having the budget cuisines. Below are some general tips to help explore the city and its varied tastes in food.
Explore the Districts
The Eiffel Tower tends to have some of the most expensive eateries that are unsurprising, given the number of tourists. While you explore the city, look for places such as the Marais district and the Bastille district. Oftentimes, the inland of a populated town, and not the real people-congested areas, have the best cuisines.
Keep a Schedule
When you go sightseeing, you may not even care about filling your tummy in the morning. Think of it this way: 2-in-1 lunch from a buffet restaurant! This is perfectly possible since the brunches open mid-day in Paris, allowing tourists a place to sit comfortably and enjoy their "skipped" mealtime.
Find the Free Food Joints
One of the favorite Parisian foods that originated in North Africa is served abundantly in the free food joints. Known as the Couscous, the dish is served along with vegetables and meat stew, offering a great chance for cultures to mingle together in the process. This is one of the great escapist pleasures of Paris, aside of the sightseeing.
Explore the Vietnamese Eateries
Paris is a cosmopolitan city with a high populace of Asian immigrants. If you love Chinese and Vietnamese food, go to the thirteenth arrondissement of Paris. These are small, budget eateries having preset menu. You even have inexpensive food for as less as $7 and chat with your loved ones for as long as you want.
Go for a Trip
Often people overlook the great benefits of heading to the central parks situated in the main tourist hubs. Parks such as the Place des Vosges and the beautiful Buttes Chaumont offers utmost comfort for those out for hobnobbing and sightseeing. You can buy some baked delicacies, pastries, or chips to pass time.
Dancing around in clubs is not prohibited in the City of Love, but you should avoid having any type of food on top of a terrace during your Paris walking tours. A foreign land may leave you excited often, and at times, you may even be literally in the groove. Yet make sure to enjoy the escapist pleasure to the fullest.


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Sailfish X install: "Locked phone detected"
Tried to install Sailfish on my Xperia X. Followed all the instructions 1.2.4., but the Emma software informs "Locked phone detected" and that's it. Quintuple checked that the build version is the latest and required. Also checked that the phone is indeed NOT locked ("Rooting status: Bootloader unlock allowed: Yes"). So what now?
Yep, I got the same. It seems the EMMA tool is total crap. It seems to do nothing for us, by the time we muck about unlocking the boot loader we are 95% of the way finished anyway.SymbianRefugee ( 2017-10-11 22:54:55 +0300 )edit
I'd like ot add the instructions on the Sony website are terrible.SymbianRefugee ( 2017-10-11 22:55:31 +0300 )edit


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A blog about my pen and ink drawings and other things.
Above is a map of my drawings – just the first 100 as the mapping product limits me to 100 items. I want to see if I can break it down by year. ■ Aaron arrived home a few days ago. Left San Diego. I wonder if he'll miss it. ■


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This is another one from goodlifezen.com …
I chose this question because it seemed a little odd, different from the typical purpose finding questions. The website suggests walking around your home like a detective looking for clues, as if you didn't know the people who live there. I didn't really do that. I decided to just start writing and see what happens. So … what clues does my home reveal about me? Well, I don't like cleaning up and I when I'm busy the messes just seem to get worse. I try to get organized a couple of times a year, but I like projects and tend to leave project debris around the house. I'd like to keep plants but mostly I forget to water them. My dog does pretty much whatever he wants. So, in my home I'm not the most disciplined person you've ever met. People tend to comment on the number of family photos I have. And, the art on the walls, most of which is by family or gifts from family. I have a strong sense of heritage and connection to family and ancestors. I like natural stuff for the most part – wood and tile floors, stone fireplace, windows that open, grass and trees and 'volunteer' plants (aka weeds) surround my home. The house itself is not only well established (built in 1923) in the oldest part of the city (founded in 1882) but I had personal history with the house before we bought it. It belonged to the parents of friends. Both my brother and I spent time with our friends in the house before we bought it a few years ago. So, what my home reveals about me is that I love to be connected – connected to the earth, connected to the past, connected to a place, connected to friends and family and ancestors. I have a touch of wanderlust and dream of travelling and living in far away places. So, I don't think the fact that I live in an old house in an old part of this city that I've lived in for most of my life means that I want to grow deep roots and stay forever. I think it tells me that I love old houses in old parts of cities with stories and history. These clues tell me I love to be connected to my family and heritage – photos can always travel with me. I know I want to travel to (maybe even live in) the UK and Ireland – places where I know I have deep roots. I know that wherever I live I'll want to have natural, earthy elements in my home – maybe even a home made of rammed earth on the West Coast … I also know that I have too many things. I don't like tidying up and fewer things means fewer messes to clean up! This odd little question has been one of the more revelatory ones I've tackled through this process.
When you reflect on where you live, how you live and what clues your home may hold, what do you think you might find?
Be Lovely to Each Other,


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Reasons To Love 'LOVE'
Reviews have been admittedly mixed for Netflix's newest original series Love.
The show's casting and presence of 1x Judd Apatow on the creators list looked so promising that the series was always going to trip and stumble as soon as the entire first season became available for our binge watching pleasure just after Valentines Day this February. But binge watch, we did, and we have found many an admirable quality in the series. To name a few…
1) Gillian Jacobs – Better known to most of us as Community's Britta Perry, Jacobs inhabits an only moderately less neurotic character in Mickey Dobbs but she's got that shtick on lock. Mickey is infinitely more self-loathing than the completely clueless Britta and her disdain for herself leaks out of her every perfectly refined pore. It's masterfully executed and brutally painful to watch.
2) Jordan Rock – Chris' younger brother shines as an ambitious slacker on set the fictional TV show Wichitah. He's a rock for a new generation of comedy lovers, unfamiliar with Chris' command of blockbusters of old.
3) Claudia O'Doherty– Another Aussie, another absolute show stealer! You may have noticed her sly Aussie accent in Inside Amy Schumer recently. She is a writer for the show and was discovered after Bill Hader sent Schumer her Channel 4 Webisodes (suss them here). O'Doherty's been on the stand up circuit in our fair country for years but her weirdness truly shines in the presence of some knobby Los Angelites.
4) Things are not as they appear- LOVE feels initially like it's playing into a nerd wins the girl stereotype before slowly and deliberately picking it apart. Its two leads, despite all initial appearances, aren't a 'sensitive nice guy' or a 'callous hot girl' , they are infinitely more complex archetypes. They have been lumped into the hip surrounds of LA's Echo Park and provided with the cool cliche jobs as per usual but their interactions with one another while navigating desperate 30-something relationships play out in a new and engrossing manner.
LOVE is streaming in full now on Netflix Australia.


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Our Creative Director, Richard Mackney and Simon Mackney from Mackney Photography were invited to photograph a wind tunnel for a new Brawn GP wind tunnel website and spent a couple of days at the Brawn GP headquarters and factory getting to grips with this opportunity to show them how creative we can be! We were invited to spend a couple of days at the Brawn GP factory to capture images of one ... Read more
Fish Media team up with F1 winners
A Derby/Midlands based digital media company has teamed up with Brawn GP, the current 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship leaders, to provide fans with the latest news of the team's success. Fish Media, based on Prime Park Way in Derby, has been appointed by the Brawn GP Formula One Team to handle their email newsletter which is sent out regularly to all fans who have registered at ... Read more
Latest business win drives Fish Media forward
Derby-based New Media solution provider Fish Media is really motoring with its latest business win. Autoworld Ltd, motor group, has appointed Fish Media to re-design the websites of its HarleyWorld Harley-Davidson dealership - the Authorised North Derbyshire and Sheffield Harley Davidson dealer. As part of the re-design brief, Fish Media will ensure that the website of the Nottingham ... Read more


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Are You Using Coaching As A Source of Revenue and Results
Forget Exercise and Make More Revenue
It's only taken 30 years for the fitness industry to realize that it isn't the exercise, the nutrition, but the thoughts around it that keep our customers from sticking with it.
They don't get up in the morning thinking "I'm going to do exactly the opposite of what my trainer suggested."
They just have obstacles that we ignore. We assume they'll enjoy exercise. Hello, princess. Not so much. We assume they'll feel good once they start or after it's over. Read the research about overweight and obese exercise? Not so much.
Until we…YOU…grow your business to include and focus on the part of the person between the ears…you can't overcome 30 or 40 or 50 years of thinking with 3 sessions or 8 weeks of imposing something they don't like. Won't happen. And we have 30 years of statistics to prove it. Since 1984 when I began research and learning about exercise, fitness instruction, physiology….. our number of actively pursuing fitness activities at enough frequency or intensity to meet minimum standards has not improved…and the number of obese and overweight adults and children has increased.
We have to change behavior and you only do that by changing thoughts. Don't dive into exercise and nutrition. You first have to look at the murky murky waters that lie deep. The superficial exercise does not matter if a person deep down believes she can't.
What you'll find by not exercising your exercise prescription so hard…is that you also have a revenue stream that can impact not only more lives but yours and your business.
Listen to today's podcast here.
Download and listen on your lunch hour workout. With a small amount of time dedicated to making coaching a separate revenue stream you can significantly expand your reach, your customers results and your your revenue.
Take your business out of the box of bootcamp, exercise prescription, following some diet …and get to what matters most.
Don't miss the weekly live marketing class. Register to get live or access to recordings.


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Your Link to the Ottawa HR Community
The Human Resources Professionals Association, Ottawa Chapter provides leadership, assistance and education to those working in and studying the field of HR.
We have over 1,800 members who come from diverse work backgrounds such as public service, professional services, not-for-profit, hospitality, tourism, manufacturing and financial services.
We are a strong voice for you at HRPA and we support the community by offering support to our students and new HR professionals as well as professional development and networking opportunities.
As a member of the HRPA Ottawa Chapter, you'll not only have the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and build relationships with other HR professionals who share similar challenges and experiences, but also have access to member-only benefits such as access for professional development through a variety of events with interesting topics and professional speakers and session leaders.
As a member you also have an opportunity to give back to our professional community through volunteering.
We welcome your comments & questions to the HRPA Ottawa Chapter at email@example.com.
Chapter Events Calendar
Community HR Events
HR Update


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New feature: Advanced EHR Day Sheets
We now have a more advanced day sheet. What is a day sheet? It is a report of procedures, payments and adjustments for insurance and patients. At the end of the day, a doctor and his staff can use this for accounting purposes.
Easily scan to find a procedure and the price with an elegant interface.
You can find them under the billing section, then select day sheets.


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I scream, you scream… we all scream for Cones Collective!
We love art and music, so we can't forget the culture and the creatives that help it thrive. We figured we'd highlight our brothers at Cones, a Colorado based clothing line that constantly makes waves with their colorways and constant collaborations. Their newest pastel release (focusing on a more female touch) has proven they can consistently capture our attention with more than just their products, but also their promotion.
If you haven't delved into the colorful world of Cones, you're missing out on some tasty content! The quality of their merchandise reciprocates the care and creativity of their social media feeds, primarily their Instagram page @ConesCollective.
Headed by Caleb Clark and Corbin Meyer, the brand survives off killer graphics and top-of-the-line embroidery. They've manufactered products for major companies as well as independent artists, showing their flexibility and passion for helping anyone.
Yes, we know… Colorado is known for its abundance of weed. With over 1.3 billion dollars in marijuana sales last year, it's no surprise everybody from musicians to health nuts try to capitalize on the stoner stigma. It's no surprise to see people from all walks of life are still flocking here (yeah… you can go home now). What IS surprising is when a brand can capture the essence and mentality of the modern day smoker and translate it to a wider audience.
What brands or businesses do you love to rep? What styles are trending now? Welove to show love so share what you or friends are working on and maybe we can work together. Until then, get you a double scoop of Cones Collective today!


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- Get monitored with real-time to train the right way! Experience different workouts customised for you.
Gold's Gym started in Venice California in 1965, and soon became the hotbed for the development of training techniques, equipment and nutritional concepts that formed the foundation for the modern fitness revolution. In 1975, Gold's Gym received international attention when it was featured in the major motion picture, 'Pumping Iron'. It was thus effectively established as the 'Mecca of Bodybuilding'.
Today, Gold's Gym has over 700 facilities. It is the largest international gym chain in the world recognized for its passion, unique heritage, and experience as the final authority in fitness and lifestyle.
The India chapter of Gold's Gym started in 2002, when the first Gold's Gym India branch was set up in Mumbai.
Promoted by partners Jagdish K Valecha, Rajesh Advani, G.Ramachandran, Ashwin Ramesh & Karan Valecha Gold's Gym India has slowly and steadily carved its name in the Indian market and built a reputation to reckon with.
Globally, Gold's Gym is acknowledged for its unrivalled success in providing the finest equipment and fitness knowledge available to help its members achieve their individual potential. It follows a globally proven fitness training module with state-of-the-art infrastructure and delivery methodology and continuous up gradation through training programs. With certified trainers and nutritional counseling, Gold's Gym provides a comprehensive approach to the health and well being of its member. Whether your goal is to burn fat, tone or add muscle, build strength, increase flexibility or improve your cardiovascular health, only Gold's Gym has the atmosphere and experience you need


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REMEMBERING CALEB – 9 September 2011
"We give them back to you, O Lord,
Who first gave them to us;
And as you did not lose them in the giving
So we do not lose them in the return"
I recently gave birth to my stillborn son, Caleb, at 29 weeks. He had a very rare chromosomal abnormality which was only picked up at 22 weeks. I chose to carry him until nature took it's course.
On the 4th July 2011 as I drove to work, two cars stood out like sore thumbs – one which said simply "God Knows" and the other a picture of Jesus enveloped in rainbow light signalling open arms and to come to him. That afternoon, we were told of the devastating news of our little one and the many complications he faced. From that moment on we were overwhelmed with the love and prayers from family and friends. Prayer chains were started in Cape Town, Durban etc. With the outlook and provided options so bleak, there was absolutely one thing I was certain of. This was my little boy and no one was going to take him away from us. I will carry him. It is the only option which made sense. At this point, the only scripture which made sense to me was Mark 14:36: "Father take this cup of suffering away from me but Your will be done and not mine" and this is how I faced the calamity in front of me, trusting God every step of the way.
Every mother will know the experience of getting to know her unborn child. From the tiniest stirrings of movement which were evident from a few weeks before the news, my love and acquaintance with Caleb grew. Caleb was an active baby before he passed – always letting his mom know he was around. I was always afraid of his kicks to stop, signalling to me that his time had come. 7 weeks later in tears before bed I told Adrian that time was running out. The following night I woke up and I knew he was gone. The next morning, Caleb was unusually quiet and my fears were confirmed.
On the 26th August 2011 at 23h15, 3 days later, our little Caleb was born. God blessed us in that despite what the Dr's said, Caleb's face was beautiful and we had the opportunity to hold him and say goodbye. Caleb looked at peace, like he was just in a deep sleep although Dad & Mom both agreed then that he would have given us a run for our money with a sneaky stubborn streak on his face!
Thank you Lord and thank you Caleb for giving us 29 wonderful weeks of your life. You pushed on for 7 more weeks despite what the Dr's said and I am grateful that you were able to pass in a place where you were safe, protected and very loved. I am definitely even more focused on my salvation knowing that you, my Caleb, will be standing there with open arms to welcome me home. Eternity is a long time in comparison to the short time we have on earth so I look forward to an eternity to spend with you my beautiful boy. You indeed proceeded into the Promised Land of heaven ahead of us and I can't wait to meet you there. I love you so much.
Thank you to family and friends for the countless times we have felt God's love-and the understanding and care of others-reaching down to encourage and comfort us whether it be through messages, phone calls, food, flowers or candles lighting Caleb's way to heaven. Thank you. Thank you for acknowledging that we lost Caleb and that he was real to us – a life that God trusted us with.
We choose to continue worshipping God in this brokenness and in our way forward we can claim these of the many promises from God:
Jacqueline Hewitt permalinkNovember 17, 2011 7:03 am
Loved reading this Margs…brought tears to my eyes..but also excited for you to meet Caleb in the next life ! love you lots..you are amazing!
kristy permalinkNovember 17, 2011 7:32 am
what awesome people you and Adrian are Margs…like we have said over and over again-the strength and encouragement you guys gave us-was amazing.
You are amazing children of God and i cant imagine how people can walk through life with these problems and not have God on there side…How hard and difficult it must be.We as a family have gone through so much pain and worry these last couple of years and God has held our hands and shown us light at the end of the tunnel.
We can thank him daily for our blessings and his love for us.We serve an amazing God.
I am proud of you and Adrian as you have remained faithful and humble servants of God and have set examples of what true Christians are and true faith is..
We love you dearly and can only pray and thank God for your amazing future that he has planned for you guys.
He has a plan for you-and a good plan for your lives…
We trust you guys will continue to walk in strength and live each day as a blessed day.
Love you
Brett and Kristy
Alexa Kirsten permalinkDecember 16, 2011 9:04 pm
Thank you so much for writing this beautiful, sad story – so sensitive and touching – I am deeply grateful to God for giving you and me this amazing hope within us, the hope and sureity that we will certainly meet Him and Caleb The Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you and thank you for sharing this deeply intimate story with us.
(I am an old school friend of your Mums and so was aware of what was happening to you all.)
Marique permalinkDecember 20, 2012 7:46 am
This is incredible. For two weeks I have been walking around with so many emotions (most negative) about the loss of my baby boy? You have done what no one could do, with your storie you have made me see the best part of my baby. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Marique


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Last Monday marked an important day in the history of planning and development in Malta. I am talking about the Planning Authority's decision to refuse a development application in Mosta, which would have taken up a massive stretch of land. The development would have required over 38,000 square metres of land, which is a substantial amount, considering the limited land are we have in Malta.
It is vital that for all massive developments, such as the one turned down yesterday, a sustainable development approach is taken into consideration. This means taking into consideration all the social, economic and environmental impacts.
Currently we've already urbanised over a third of our country. Unless we plan and take decisions in a responsible way, that is sustainably, we will suffer substantial consequences in the near future. It seems sometimes that we forget about our limited land area we have in Malta. The Maltese Islands together only comprise some 316 square kilometres. For this reason it is of utmost importance that decisions are taken based on the common good and not entirely on an economic basis. Only then can we achieve a sustainable level of planning, which will also significantly contribute positively to our quality of life.
Pascal Aloisio – ADŻ Malta Green Youth Publications Officer