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(Not As You Would Expect) Fairy Tales on the Fourth Plinth (One and Other) performance art in Trafalgar Square, London.
Once upon a time, there was a little princess, who sat upon a big stone plinth in the square and told deliciously dark fairy tales, just because everybody likes storytime
in the afternoon. She took her dearest companion, Mr Teddy, with his very best black satin bow, and wore her favourite green taffeta party dress, and had a nice cup
of tea and some ginger beer.
Miss Leanna (From The One and Other site - edited)
The Postcard
A postally unused postcard that was published by C. Richter (Publishers) ltd. of London NW6. The artwork was by Trow, and the card has a divided back.
Trow
"Trow" has been claimed as the pseudonym of Frank Eric Smith, who was born in Salisbury on the 2nd. March 1908, and who lived most of his life in Dorset and Wiltshire. He died on the 5th. October 1985.
According to Smith's family, he drew many seaside postcards in the late 40's and early 50's, and derived his pseudonym from 'Trowbridge', the county town of Wiltshire.
However, Smith claimed to have stopped drawing in 1952, whilst new cards signed "Trow" continued to appear in large numbers until the late 1960's.
It seems that the cards prosecuted by the DPP for indecency in the 1950's were in fact drawn by Thomas Trow (1909-1971) of Stoke on Trent, whose address appears on the reverse of surviving artwork, as the Greyfriars Art Studio.
Hi Family,
I don't usually send stuff like this on, but I thought this was really important. Full of vital truths.
Dad
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> Texas A&M Commencement Address
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> Neal Boortz is a Texan, a lawyer, a Texas Aggie (Texas A&M) graduate, and now a nationally syndicated talk show host from Atlanta . His commencement address to the graduates of a recent Texas A&M class is far different from what either the students or the faculty expected. Whether you agree or disagree, his views are certainly thought provoking.
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> "I am honored by the invitation to address you on this august occasion. It's about time. Be warned, however, that I am not here to impress you; you'll have enough smoke blown up your bloomers today. And you can bet your tassels I'm not here to impress the faculty and administration. You may not like much of what I have to say, and that's fine. You will remember it though. Especially after about 10 years out there in the real world. This, it goes without saying, does not apply to those of you who will seek your careers and your fortunes as government employees.
> This gowned gaggle behind me is your faculty. You've heard the old saying that those who can - do. Those who can't - teach. That sounds deliciously insensitive. But there is often raw truth in insensitivity, just as you often find feel-good falsehoods and lies in compassion. Say good-bye to your faculty because now you are getting ready to go out there and do. These folks behind me are going to stay right here and teach.
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> By the way, just because you are leaving this place with a diploma doesn't mean the learning is over. When an FAA flight examiner handed me my private pilot's license many years ago, he said, Here, this is your ticket to learn. The same can be said for your diploma. Believe me, the learning has just begun.
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> Now, I realize that most of you consider yourselves Liberals. In fact, you are probably very proud of your liberal views. You care so much. You feel so much. You want to help so much. After all, you're a compassionate and caring person, aren't you now? Well, isn't that just so extraordinarily special. Now, at this age, is as good a time as any to be a liberal; as good a time as any to know absolutely everything. You have plenty of time, starting tomorrow, for the truth to set in.
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> Over the next few years, as you begin to feel the cold breath of reality down your neck, things are going to start changing pretty fast... Including your own assessment of just how much you really know.
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> So here are the first assignments for your initial class in reality: Pay attention to the news, read newspapers, and listen to the words and phrases that proud Liberals use to promote their causes. Then, compare the words of the left to the words and phrases you hear from those evil, heartless, greedy conservatives. From the Left you will hear "I feel." >From the Right you will hear "I think." From the Liberals you will hear references to groups -- The Blacks, the Poor, the Rich, the Disadvantaged, the Less Fortunate. From the Right you will hear references to individuals. On the Left you hear talk of group rights; on the Right, individual rights.
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> That about sums it up, really: Liberals feel. Liberals care. They are pack animals whose identity is tied up in group dynamics. Conservatives think -- and, setting aside the theocracy crowd, their identity is centered on the individual.
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> Liberals feel that their favored groups have enforceable rights to the property and services of productive individuals. Conservatives, I among them I might add, think that individuals have the right to protect their lives and their property from the plunder of the masses.
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> In college you developed a group mentality, but if you look closely at your diplomas you will see that they have your individual names on them. Not the name of your school mascot, or of your fraternity or sorority, but your name. Your group identity is going away. Your recognition and appreciation of your individual identity starts now.
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> If, by the time you reach the age of 30, you do not consider yourself to be a conservative, rush right back here as quickly as you can and apply for a faculty position. These people will welcome you with open arms. They will welcome you, that is, so long as you haven't developed an individual identity. Once again you will have to be willing to sign on to the group mentality you embraced during the past four years.
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> Something is going to happen soon that is going to really open your eyes. You're going to actually get a full time job!
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> You're also going to get a lifelong work partner. This partner isn't going to help you do your job. This partner is just going to sit back and wait for payday. This partner doesn't want to share in your effort, but in your earnings.
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> Your new lifelong partner is actually an agent; an agent representing a strange and diverse group of people; an agent for every teenager with an illegitimate child; an agent for a research scientist who wanted to make some cash answering the age-old question of why monkeys grind their teeth. An agent for some poor demented hippie who considers herself to be a meaningful and talented artist, but who just can't manage to sell any of her artwork on the open market.
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> Your new partner is an agent for every person with limited, if any, job skills, but who wanted a job at City Hall. An agent for tin-horn dictators in fancy military uniforms grasping for American foreign aid. An agent for multi-million dollar companies who want someone else to pay for their overseas advertising. An agent for everybody who wants to use the unimaginable power of this agent's for their personal enrichment and benefit.
> That agent is our wonderful, caring, compassionate, oppressive government. Believe me, you will be awed by the unimaginable power this agent has. Power that you do not have. A power that no individual has, or will have. This agent has the legal power to use force, deadly force to accomplish its goals.
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> You have no choice here. Your new friend is just going to walk up to you, introduce itself rather gruffly, hand you a few forms to fill out, and move right on in. Say hello to your own personal one ton gorilla. It will sleep anywhere it wants to.
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> Now, let me tell you, this agent is not cheap. As you become successful it will seize about 40% of everything you earn. And no, I'm sorry, there just isn't any way you can fire this agent of plunder, and you can't decrease its share of your income. That power rests with him, not you.
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> So, here I am saying negative things to you about government. Well, be clear on this: It is not wrong to distrust government. It is not wrong to fear government. In certain cases it is not even wrong to despise government for government is inherently evil. Yes, a necessary evil, but dangerous nonetheless, somewhat like a drug. Just as a drug that in the proper dosage can save your life, an overdose of government can be fatal.
>
> Now let's address a few things that have been crammed into your minds at this university. There are some ideas you need to expunge as soon as possible. These ideas may work well in academic environment, but they fail miserably out there in the real world.
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> First is that favorite buzz word of the media and academia: Diversity! You have been taught that the real value of any group of people - be it a social group, an employee group, a management group, whatever - is based on diversity. This is a favored liberal ideal because diversity is based not on an individuals abilities or character, but on a person's identity and status as a member of a group. Yes, it's that liberal group identity thing again.
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> Within the great diversity movement group identification - be it racial, gender based, or some other minority status - means more than the individuals integrity, character or other qualifications.
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> Brace yourself. You are about to move from this academic atmosphere where diversity rules, to a workplace and a culture where individual achievement and excellence actually count. No matter what your professors have taught you over the last four years, you are about to learn that diversity is absolutely no replacement for excellence, ability, and individual hard work. From this day on every single time you hear the word "diversity" you can rest assured that there is someone close by who is determined to rob you of every vestige of individuality you possess.
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> We also need to address this thing you seem to have about "rights." We have witnessed an obscene explosion of so-called "rights" in the last few decades, usually emanating from college campuses.
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> You know the mantra: You have the right to a job. The right to a place to live. The right to a living wage. The right to health care. The right to an education. You probably even have your own pet right - the right to a Beemer for instance, or the right to have someone else provide for that child you plan on downloading in a year or so.
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> Forget it. Forget those rights! I'll tell you what your rights are. You have a right to live free, and to the results of 60% -75% of your labor. I'll also tell you have no right to any portion of the life or labor of another.
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> You may, for instance, think that you have a right to health care. After all, President Obama said so, didn't he? But you cannot receive health-care unless some doctor or health practitioner surrenders some of his time - his life - to you. He may be willing to do this for compensation, but that's his choice. You have no "right" to his time or property. You have no right to his or any other person's life or to any portion thereof.
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> You may also think you have some "right" to a job; a job with a living wage, whatever that is. Do you mean to tell me that you have a right to force your services on another person, and then the right to demand that this person compensate you with their money? Sorry, forget it. I am sure you would scream if some urban outdoorsmen (that would be "homeless person" for those of you who don't want to give these less fortunate people a romantic and adventurous title) came to you and demanded his job and your money.
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> The people who have been telling you about all the rights you have are simply exercising one of theirs - the right to be imbeciles. Their being imbeciles didn't cost anyone else either property or time. It's their right, and they exercise it brilliantly.
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> By the way, did you catch my use of the phrase "less fortunate" a bit ago when I was talking about the urban outdoorsmen? That phrase is a favorite of the Left. Think about it, and you'll understand why.
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> To imply that one person is homeless, destitute, dirty, drunk, spaced out on drugs, unemployable, and generally miserable because he is "less fortunate" is to imply that a successful person - one with a job, a home and a future - is in that position because he or she was "fortunate." The dictionary says that fortunate means "having derived good from an unexpected place." There is nothing unexpected about deriving good from hard work. There is also nothing unexpected about deriving misery from choosing drugs, alcohol, and the street.
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> If the Liberal Left can create the common perception that success and failure are simple matters of "fortune" or "luck," then it is easy to promote and justify their various income redistribution schemes. After all, we are just evening out the odds a little bit. This "success equals luck" idea the liberals like to push is seen everywhere. Former Democratic presidential candidate Richard Gephardt refers to high-achievers as "people who have won life's lottery." He wants you to believe they are making the big bucks because they are lucky. It's not luck, my friends. It's choice. One of the greatest lessons I ever learned was in a book by Og Mandino, entitled, "The Greatest Secret in the World." The lesson? Very simple: "Use wisely your power of choice."
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> That bum sitting on a heating grate, smelling like a wharf rat? He's there by choice. He is there because of the sum total of the choices he has made in his life. This truism is absolutely the hardest thing for some people to accept, especially those who consider themselves to be victims of something or other - victims of discrimination, bad luck, the system, capitalism, whatever. After all, nobody really wants to accept the blame for his or her position in life. Not when it is so much easier to point and say, "Look! He did this to me!" than it is to look into a mirror and say, "You S. O. B.! You did this to me!"
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> The key to accepting responsibility for your life is to accept the fact that your choices, every one of them, are leading you inexorably to either success or failure, however you define those terms.
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> Some of the choices are obvious: Whether or not to stay in school. Whether or not to get pregnant. Whether or not to hit the bottle. Whether or not to keep this job you hate until you get another better-paying job. Whether or not to save some of your money, or saddle yourself with huge payments for that new car.
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> Some of the choices are seemingly insignificant: Whom to go to the movies with. Whose car to ride home in. Whether to watch the tube tonight, or read a book on investing. But, and you can be sure of this, each choice counts. Each choice is a building block - some large, some small. But each one is a part of the structure of your life. If you make the right choices, or if you make more right choices than wrong ones, something absolutely terrible may happen to you. Something unthinkable. You, my friend, could become one of the hated, the evil, the ugly, the feared, the filthy, the successful, the rich.
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> The rich basically serve two purposes in this country. First, they provide the investments, the investment capital, and the brains for the formation of new businesses. Businesses that hire people. Businesses that send millions of paychecks home each week to the un-rich.
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> Second, the rich are a wonderful object of ridicule, distrust, and hatred. Few things are more valuable to a politician than the envy most Americans feel for the evil rich.
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> Envy is a powerful emotion. Even more powerful than the emotional minefield that surrounded Bill Clinton when he reviewed his last batch of White House interns. Politicians use envy to get votes and power. And they keep that power by promising the envious that the envied will be punished: "The rich will pay their fair share of taxes if I have anything to do with it." The truth is that the top 10% of income earners in this country pays almost 50% of all income taxes collected. I shudder to think what these job producers would be paying if our tax system were any more "fair."
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> You have heard, no doubt, that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Interestingly enough, our government's own numbers show that many of the poor actually get richer, and that quite a few of the rich actually get poorer. But for the rich who do actually get richer, and the poor who remain poor .. there's an explanation -- a reason. The rich, you see, keep doing the things that make them rich; while the poor keep doing the things that make them poor.
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> Speaking of the poor, during your adult life you are going to hear an endless string of politicians bemoaning the plight of the poor. So, you need to know that under our government's definition of "poor" you can have a $5 million net worth, a $300,000 home and a new $90,000 Mercedes, all completely paid for. You can also have a maid, cook, and valet, and a million in your checking account, and you can still be officially defined by our government as "living in poverty." Now there's something you haven't seen on the evening news.
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> How does the government pull this one off? Very simple, really. To determine whether or not some poor soul is "living in poverty," the government measures one thing -- just one thing. Income.
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> It doesn't matter one bit how much you have, how much you own, how many cars you drive or how big they are, whether or not your pool is heated, whether you winter in Aspen and spend the summers in the Bahamas, or how much is in your savings account. It only matters how much income you claim in that particular year. This means that if you take a one-year leave of absence from your high-paying job and decide to live off the money in your savings and checking accounts while you write the next great American novel, the government says you are living in poverty."
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> This isn't exactly what you had in mind when you heard these gloomy statistics, is it? Do you need more convincing? Try this. The government's own statistics show that people who are said to be "living in poverty" spend more than $1.50 for each dollar of income they claim. Something is a bit fishy here. Just remember all this the next time Charles Gibson tells you about some hideous new poverty statistics.
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> Why has the government concocted this phony poverty scam? Because the government needs an excuse to grow and to expand its social welfare programs, which translates into an expansion of its power. If the government can convince you, in all your compassion, that the number of "poor" is increasing, it will have all the excuse it needs to sway an electorate suffering from the advanced stages of Obsessive-Compulsive Compassion Disorder.
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> I'm about to be stoned by the faculty here. They've already changed their minds about that honorary degree I was going to get. That's OK, though. I still have my PhD. in Insensitivity from the Neal Boortz Institute for Insensitivity Training. I learned that, in short, sensitivity sucks. It's a trap. Thin k about it - the truth knows no sensitivity. Life can be insensitive. Wallow too much in sensitivity and you'll be unable to deal with life, or the truth, so get over it.
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> Now, before the dean has me shackled and hauled off, I have a few random thoughts.
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> * You need to register to vote, unless you are on welfare. If you are living off the efforts of others, please do us the favor of sitting down and shutting up until you are on your own again.
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> * When you do vote, your votes for the House and the Senate are more important than your vote for President. The House controls the purse strings, so concentrate your awareness there.
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> * Liars cannot be trusted, even when the liar is the President of the country. If someone can't deal honestly with you, send them packing.
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> * Don't bow to the temptation to use the government as an instrument of plunder. If it is wrong for you to take money from someone else who earned it -- to take their money by force for your own needs -- then it is certainly just as wrong for you to demand that the government step forward and do this dirty work for you.
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> * Don't look in other people's pockets. You have no business there. What they earn is theirs. What you earn is yours. Keep it that way. Nobody owes you anything, except to respect your privacy and your rights, and leave you the hell alone.
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> * Speaking of earning, the revered 40-hour workweek is for losers. Forty hours should be considered the minimum, not the maximum. You don't see highly successful people clocking out of the office every afternoon at five. The losers are the ones caught up in that afternoon rush hour. The winners drive home in the dark.
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> * Free speech is meant to protect unpopular speech. Popular speech, by definition, needs no protection.
>
> * Finally (and aren't you glad to hear that word), as Og Mandino wrote,
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> 1. Proclaim your rarity. Each of you is a rare and unique human being.
> 2. Use wisely your power of choice.
> 3. Go the extra mile, drive home in the dark.
>
>
> Oh, and put off buying a television set as long as you can. Now, if you have any idea at all what's good for you, you will get out of here and never come back.
> Class dismissed"
>
Expect More. Pay Less...
So I got a little creative and made her a dress out of plastic bag... OF COURSE... from Target :P
These images are of my friend visiting her mother at Hospice. Her mother has cancer. We thought it would be nice to include her in some maternity photos.
20250426 – working with AI – sometimes finds other ways than expected and opens their eyes to incredible designs and content
Living Sounds is a music event that brings its own scent of musical flavour to Floripa talented performers and DJ’s will be gracing the floripa stage once a month starting from the 1st April. During the night expect some funky Latino Vibes together with The ‘Living Sounds’ band who will be playing some ultimate tunage to keep the music at its very best.
Expecting mother with the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) - a type of community health worker in India - who accompanied her to the facility for an antenatal care visit. Urban Primary Health Center (UPHC), Ambapua, Berhampur.
Photo Credit: Mubeen Siddiqui/MCSP
What a surprise! We were told to expect a dusting of snow... we woke up to 6 inches!! :D It was simply beautiful outside!
Every month we have something special going on in the world, something that connects us no matter where we are. In the month of the February 2015, this is what we are all expecting:
1 – Valentines Day
14 of February is one of most wordily recognized days, symbol of love, romance and...
Parkinson Takes Down Fanning to Claim Golden Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Sunday, April 24, 2011) – Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, has claimed the 2011 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger over compatriot and former two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, in an electric Final in solid six-to-eight foot (2 – 2.5 metre) waves at Bells Beach.
The second stop of the 2011 ASP World Title season, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach celebrated its 50th year of operation this season and the Southern Ocean delivered one of the best swells in recent history for the world’s best to sink their collective fangs into. Today’s Final ran in front of a capacity crowd at Bells Beach, maxing out as early as 11am with cars lined back to the center of Torquay, and the elite ASP Top 34 delivered in sensational fashion.
Leaving little to chance in the highly-anticipated Final, Parkinson opened up with an 8.53 on the first ride of the heat and drove the nail into the coffin with a Perfect 10.
“To me, Mick (Fanning) has been the form surfer of the event and I was never going to take him lightly,” Parkinson said. “I think we both had the same game plan of getting the first good one that came through and putting the momentum behind us. We scrapped for that first wave and I got the nod. Even though it was a mid-8, I knew I needed a lot more to hold him off so I just kept the pressure on from there.”
Today’s victory marks the third Bells title for the Gold Coaster and his 10th elite tour win overall.
“It’s incredible,” Parkinson said. “It’s not so much the fact that I’ve won the event, but more so that it’s the 50th anniversary. It feels that much more special. We’ve had such good waves too. I can’t remember the last time that Bells had such good waves. I’m so excited. I can’t believe this.”
Parkinson, who’s last two ASP World Title campaigns have been marred by injuries, is adamant that he is 100% healthy this season and surfing better than ever.
“I definitely feel like I’m back,” Parkinson said. “I feel like I’m surfing better than I was back in ’09 before I hurt my ankle. I’m feeling fit, I have some really good boards under my feet and I’m excited for the rest of the year.”
Parkinson vaults from 9th to 2nd on the ASP World Title Rankings.
Fanning, who last rung the bell as a wildcard in 2001, was the in-form surfer of the event, consistently notching the highest single-wave scores and heat totals from Round 1 onwards. However, the lightning-fast natural-footer was unable to overtake his Gold Coast sparring partner in the Final.
"It was a tough Final," Fanning said. "For some reason overtime we have a heat he gets in sync real early. I tried to fight back but it was too little too late. Surfing against your mate is just like surfing against anyone else you've just got to go out and think about yourself and catching waves and getting scores. To have a mate beat me makes it a bit easier to swallow, but I'm still fired up for the rest of the year."
Fanning moves from 13th to 6th on the ASP World Title Rankings.
Jordy Smith (ZAF), 24, 2010 ASP World Runner-Up, cruised through to the Semifinals of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach despite admittedly feeling out of rhythm throughout the event.
"It was a nice last wave, but it was a pity I didn't get any before that," Smith said. "I've felt off all week so to get a 3rd is pretty good. I've got two 3rds now, which is kind of frustrating because you want to make the Final, but that's how it goes sometimes. 3rd is better than 5th.”
Smith further cements his position at ASP World No. 3.
Adriano de Souza (BRA), 24, flew the South American flag high through the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, scalping a number of high-profile competitors before falling to Parkinson in the Semifinal.
"I found my rhythm in the heat against Kelly (Slater)," De Souza said. "But against Joel (Parkinson) I couldn't find any waves. I'm so frustrated because I wanted to ring the Bell, but I'm really happy with my result. Kelly is my hero, 10 x ASP World Champ, he just didn't get any waves, then it happened to me in the next round. It happens to everyone. Next up is my home event in Brazil, I hope Brazil is proud of me and Jadson (Andre) for doing well at this event."
De Souza goes from 9th to 4th on the ASP World Title Rankings.
Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 1, suffered a surprise elimination at the hands of De Souza in this morning’s Quarterfinal clash. The young Brazilian left little room for the Champ to respond and an admittedly out-of-rhythm Slater saw his Bells Beach title defense cut abruptly short.
“It's not my day, not my week and that happens,” Slater said. “For some reason you don't make the right choices and you're not in sync with it, I'm definitely not in the zone this week at all. Every heat of mine has had slow surf and then when there were, waves I was on the wrong ones. It's the way it goes, you win some you lose some.”
Slater’s Equal 5th at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach sees the American holding the lead in the race for the 2011 ASP World Title heading into the next stop in Brazil.
“We're two events in and I've got a 1st and a 5th so I'm averaging about a 3rd, you want to be there and higher,” Slater said. “These kind of waves favor the best guys, the guys you're going to expect to be at the top at the end of the year and all those guys are still in the event. A 5th isn't that bad a result, but when all the guys who you expect to be in the world title hunt finish higher than you it feels like a 17th.”
Highlights from the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by FORD will be available via www.live.ripcurl.com
The next stop on the 2011 ASP World Title season is the Billabong Pro Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from May 11 – 22, 2011.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.53
2 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.26
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.33 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.00
SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.87 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.23
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.66 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 13.16
QF 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 18.00 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 11.24
QF 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.16 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 11.10
QF 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.46 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.03
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.17 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.26
Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.97 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.66
Heat 3: Chris Davidson (AUS) 16.03 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.37
Heat 4: Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.37 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.93
ASP WORLD TITLE RATINGS (After Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach):
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 15,200 pts
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14,000 pts
3. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13,000 pts
4. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10,500 pts
4. Tiago Pires (PRT) 10,500 pts
Photo ASP/Kirstin
The evening before the expected release of new methane regulations by the European Commission, the Gastivists Collective and local ally Tegengas organized a “guerrilla projection” action at the Vilvoorde gas plant on the outskirts of Brussels. The action highlighted new infrared videos of methane leakage taken by Clean Air Task Force from fossil fuel infrastructure sites across Europe.
“Just weeks ago, at the COP26 conference, the EU signed the ‘Methane Pledge’ to reduce methane emissions. Despite this, there are still billions of euros of public money that is slated to go to new fossil gas projects. If we are committed to reducing methane emissions, we need to stop importing methane and start leaving it in the ground,” said Kevin Buckland of the Gastivists Collective.
Methane, sold conventionally as fossil gas (“natural gas’), is quickly being recognized as a false solution to the global climate crisis, and incompatible with the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, the continued expansion of fossil gas infrastructure is only possible through massive investments of public money that is obtained through relentless industry greenwashing and lobbying that tries to pass off methane as a climate solution. Fossil gas is blocking real climate action, and the reliable, decentralized, and renewable energy systems the people most vulnerable to global price shocks and fossil fuel extraction so desperately need.
Europe is the world's largest importer of fossil gas (much of which comes from fracking). New EU legislation, however, only calculates methane emissions of this dirty energy source from inside Europe, while ignoring the massive leaks from extraction and transport outside of EU borders. Europe needs to own up to its responsibility to the full lifecycle emissions of the energy it consumes, and move away from false solutions such as nuclear, hydrogen, and fossil gas.
Groups across Europe are demanding legislation that listens to climate science, and not the fossil fuel industry, and thus a full fossil gas phase-out by 2035. Any new fossil gas infrastructure that is approved today will either become a climate menace or a stranded asset. Our public money should be going to pay for a just climate transition, not to maintain industry share prices.
The current energy situation across Europe, from the conflict between Morocco and Algeria to Russia’s leverage of gas as a geopolitical tool, proves to us that energy is too important to be left in the hands of for-profit industry and rogue politicians and kings. The EU needs to have transparent and reliable methane emissions reporting, and make policy based on science - not by industry lobby groups such as ENTSOG. It is time for Europe to lead the world in developing locally-owned, reliable, and resilient energy systems, instead of continuing to burn public money through the relentless combustion of fossil fuels.
Photo by Pieter Geens
Expected mother sitting with the counselor at Urban Primary Health Center (UPHC), Ambapua, Berhampur.
Photo Credit: Mubeen Siddiqui/MCSP
Convincing Towns Cup win against City of Derry
by Roger Corbett
Last year’s Towns Cup winners were comprehensively beaten 48-10 in the first round of this year’s competition by a well drilled and cohesive Bangor side.
With conditions very soft underfoot at Upritchard Park, the decision was made to play at the Bangor Grammar School’s new pitch nearby. It was hoped that the firmer ground and better than expected weather would give both sides a good opportunity to play to their respective strengths. As City of Derry 2nds were the current holders of the Towns Cup, and having brought a strong team to defend that position, Bangor were expecting a tough contest.
The visitors kicked off with a slight wind advantage, and pushed forward into Bangor’s twenty two. However, after 7 minutes of play, Bangor produced a fine break through crisp handling and good support that involved several players, before the ball came to Darren Kelly. With 10 metres to go, he powered through the Derry defence to score to the left of the posts. Neil Cuthbertson’s conversion was successful, getting the home side off to a great 7-0 start.
Shortly afterwards, another good combination between forwards and backs saw the ball come to Jason Morgan who seemed sure to score, but the ball somehow slipped from his grasp within sight of the Derry line. From the resulting scrum, Derry won the ball and cleared their lines by kicking for touch. The Bangor lineout was taken cleanly by Kelly, and Bangor picked off where they had left off moments earlier. This time it was Jamie Clegg who made the break before passing outside to Mark Widdowson on the left wing. Although he had to juggle the ball before controlling it, he still managed to squeeze in at the corner for Bangor’s second try. The touchline kick was missed making the score now 12-0 with 14 minutes gone.
City of Derry settled themselves and within 10 minutes were applying sustained pressure in Bangor’s twenty two. Having drawn in Bangor players to a ruck, they quickly passed the ball across their backs to find just enough room to score in the left hand corner. The kick was missed, but the gap had now closed to 12-5.
From Mark Thompson’s restart kick, the ball was knocked on by the City of Derry receiver. The Bangor scrum on the half way line was secured by Clegg before passing to Mike Aspley who accelerated through a gap in the centre, shook off a number of tackles and looked to be through for a score. However, with the City of Derry full back in front of him, Aspley unselfishly passed inside to Morgan who made the last few metres to score under the posts. Cuthberton’s simple kick made the score 19-5.
Most of the attacking play was now coming from the home side, prompting some desperate defending by the visitors. With 35 minutes gone, Derry were penalised for a deliberate knock on within their twenty two. The penalty was kicked to touch, and the subsequent lineout was again taken cleanly, this time by Adam Rushe. In a reversal of the previous try, Morgan took the ball forward before returning the compliment to Aspley to score close to the posts. The conversion brought the score to 26-5.
With the first half drawing to a close, Bangor kept up their pressure, forcing Derry to concede another penalty. From Bangor’s chosen scrum, the ball came to Morgan who, although wrapped up in defenders, managed to off-load to James Henly who made good ground before passing outside to Cuthbertson on the right wing who scored in the corner. His subsequent kick hit the upright and bounced out, but Bangor’s lead as the referee blew for half time was now 31-5.
City of Derry’s half time talk appeared to be paying dividends, as they started the second half with renewed vigour and eventually turned over a Bangor scrum. Having won the ball, they moved it wide to their right wing to score in the corner. Although the kick was missed, they were now in double figures at 31-10, with just a few minutes of the half gone.
Unfortunately, the Derry men were unable to build further from this promising start. On the 15 minute mark, Widdowson took a pass above his head, before side stepping the last defender to dive over in the left hand corner for his second try. A great kick by Cuthbertson made the score 38-10.
Several minutes later, Aspley had another good run, but this time was stopped short of the line. Undeterred, from the Bangor ruck, Andrew Jackson got the ball and, having pushed forward and brought play back into the centre, passed outside to Kelly who powered over from a couple of metres out to score his second try. The kick was missed, making the score 43-10.
With the contest all but over, and waiting for the final whistle, another Bangor attack saw Clegg push through before passing to Widdowson on his left. With defenders in front of him, and with little room to work with, Widdowson chipped over the defence and set off in pursuit. The ball didn’t bounce kindly for him, but did for the supporting Phil Whyte who gathered it well and dived over for a well-deserved try. For the second time in the game, Cuthbertson’s conversion hit the upright, making the final score 48-10.
This was another excellent Bangor performance that has brought a return to the kind of form shown at the start of the season. The timing couldn’t be better as the next game is away to league leaders Clogher Valley, who themselves are enjoying a great run of results.
Bangor side: P Whyte, A Jackson, J Harrison (J Leary), A Rushe, D Kelly, J Henly, R Latimer, J Clegg (c), C Harper, M Thompson, M Widdowson, M Aspley, J Morgan (G Caughey), N Cuthbertson, D Charles
Subs: J Leary, G Caughey
Bangor scores: D Kelly (2T), M Widdowson (2T), J Morgan (1T), M Aspley (1T), N Cuthbertson (1T, 4C), P Whyte (1T)
Convincing Towns Cup win against City of Derry
by Roger Corbett
Last year’s Towns Cup winners were comprehensively beaten 48-10 in the first round of this year’s competition by a well drilled and cohesive Bangor side.
With conditions very soft underfoot at Upritchard Park, the decision was made to play at the Bangor Grammar School’s new pitch nearby. It was hoped that the firmer ground and better than expected weather would give both sides a good opportunity to play to their respective strengths. As City of Derry 2nds were the current holders of the Towns Cup, and having brought a strong team to defend that position, Bangor were expecting a tough contest.
The visitors kicked off with a slight wind advantage, and pushed forward into Bangor’s twenty two. However, after 7 minutes of play, Bangor produced a fine break through crisp handling and good support that involved several players, before the ball came to Darren Kelly. With 10 metres to go, he powered through the Derry defence to score to the left of the posts. Neil Cuthbertson’s conversion was successful, getting the home side off to a great 7-0 start.
Shortly afterwards, another good combination between forwards and backs saw the ball come to Jason Morgan who seemed sure to score, but the ball somehow slipped from his grasp within sight of the Derry line. From the resulting scrum, Derry won the ball and cleared their lines by kicking for touch. The Bangor lineout was taken cleanly by Kelly, and Bangor picked off where they had left off moments earlier. This time it was Jamie Clegg who made the break before passing outside to Mark Widdowson on the left wing. Although he had to juggle the ball before controlling it, he still managed to squeeze in at the corner for Bangor’s second try. The touchline kick was missed making the score now 12-0 with 14 minutes gone.
City of Derry settled themselves and within 10 minutes were applying sustained pressure in Bangor’s twenty two. Having drawn in Bangor players to a ruck, they quickly passed the ball across their backs to find just enough room to score in the left hand corner. The kick was missed, but the gap had now closed to 12-5.
From Mark Thompson’s restart kick, the ball was knocked on by the City of Derry receiver. The Bangor scrum on the half way line was secured by Clegg before passing to Mike Aspley who accelerated through a gap in the centre, shook off a number of tackles and looked to be through for a score. However, with the City of Derry full back in front of him, Aspley unselfishly passed inside to Morgan who made the last few metres to score under the posts. Cuthberton’s simple kick made the score 19-5.
Most of the attacking play was now coming from the home side, prompting some desperate defending by the visitors. With 35 minutes gone, Derry were penalised for a deliberate knock on within their twenty two. The penalty was kicked to touch, and the subsequent lineout was again taken cleanly, this time by Adam Rushe. In a reversal of the previous try, Morgan took the ball forward before returning the compliment to Aspley to score close to the posts. The conversion brought the score to 26-5.
With the first half drawing to a close, Bangor kept up their pressure, forcing Derry to concede another penalty. From Bangor’s chosen scrum, the ball came to Morgan who, although wrapped up in defenders, managed to off-load to James Henly who made good ground before passing outside to Cuthbertson on the right wing who scored in the corner. His subsequent kick hit the upright and bounced out, but Bangor’s lead as the referee blew for half time was now 31-5.
City of Derry’s half time talk appeared to be paying dividends, as they started the second half with renewed vigour and eventually turned over a Bangor scrum. Having won the ball, they moved it wide to their right wing to score in the corner. Although the kick was missed, they were now in double figures at 31-10, with just a few minutes of the half gone.
Unfortunately, the Derry men were unable to build further from this promising start. On the 15 minute mark, Widdowson took a pass above his head, before side stepping the last defender to dive over in the left hand corner for his second try. A great kick by Cuthbertson made the score 38-10.
Several minutes later, Aspley had another good run, but this time was stopped short of the line. Undeterred, from the Bangor ruck, Andrew Jackson got the ball and, having pushed forward and brought play back into the centre, passed outside to Kelly who powered over from a couple of metres out to score his second try. The kick was missed, making the score 43-10.
With the contest all but over, and waiting for the final whistle, another Bangor attack saw Clegg push through before passing to Widdowson on his left. With defenders in front of him, and with little room to work with, Widdowson chipped over the defence and set off in pursuit. The ball didn’t bounce kindly for him, but did for the supporting Phil Whyte who gathered it well and dived over for a well-deserved try. For the second time in the game, Cuthbertson’s conversion hit the upright, making the final score 48-10.
This was another excellent Bangor performance that has brought a return to the kind of form shown at the start of the season. The timing couldn’t be better as the next game is away to league leaders Clogher Valley, who themselves are enjoying a great run of results.
Bangor side: P Whyte, A Jackson, J Harrison (J Leary), A Rushe, D Kelly, J Henly, R Latimer, J Clegg (c), C Harper, M Thompson, M Widdowson, M Aspley, J Morgan (G Caughey), N Cuthbertson, D Charles
Subs: J Leary, G Caughey
Bangor scores: D Kelly (2T), M Widdowson (2T), J Morgan (1T), M Aspley (1T), N Cuthbertson (1T, 4C), P Whyte (1T)
County Grand Lodge of Ayrshire Renfrewshire Argyll,
Paisley Ferguslie Gardens Park,
Flute Bands Parade Saturday June 25th 2016,
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David Cameron Paisley Photographer defiantpose@talktalk.net
"All preview images are scaled down & low rez"
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Expected Bands,
Imperial Blues Flute,
Parkinson Accordion,
Prince of Wales Accordion,
Ayrshire Blue Belles Flute,
Saltcoats Protestant Boys Flute,
Ardrossan Winton Flute,
Leeds Crown Defenders Flute,
Govan Protestant Boys Flute,
Sir George White Memorial Flute,
Grenadiers Memorial Flute,
Batts Purple Star Flute,
New Stevenson Loyal Flute,
Pride of the Hill Flute,
Cambuslang Brittania Flute,
Bridgeton Loyalist Flute,
Caldercruix Defenders Flute,
Newtown Defenders Flute,
Crown Accordion,
Sandy Road Flute,
Spirit of Stewarton Flute,
Dykehead Sons of William Flute,
Saltcoats Protestant Girls Flute,
Heirs of Cromwell Flute,
Sons of Ulster Portrush Flute,
Partick Protestant Boys Flute,
Netherton Road Flute,
Ayr Protestant Boys Flute,
Pride of Bargeddie Flute,
Abbey Star Flute,
Lanarkshire Loyalist Flute,
Saracen Truth Defenders Flute,
Drongan Young Conquerors Flute,
Patna Faith Defenders Flute,
Camlachie Loyal Star Flute,
Sons of the Somme Flute,
Prince William Young Defenders Flute,
www.bandparades.co.uk/event/county-grand-lodge-of-ayrshir...
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The spirit of Scotland remembrance project
the-remembrance-project.blogspot.co.uk/
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Everybody along the eastern half of New Jersey was expecting the worst from Winter Storm Juno, (which was the cousin of Winter Storm Nemo from 2013) scaring us with snow totals of up to two feet of snow (24 inches...60cm). Last night we all rushed home and took inventory of all canned food items and hunkered down in our homes expected to be stuck here for a few days, even weeks.
Instead most of us in New Jersey got around 5 to 8 inches; the bulk of the snow hit Long Island, NY and especially the Boston area, where some cities could see up to 36 inches of snow.
Thank you Mother Nature for sparing us the wrath of Juno and giving it to Boston. (We don't like the Patriots down here anyway.....LOL)
This is a statue of the founder of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
ISKCON has popularized Indian philosophy particularly related to Krishna, the Hindu god, amongst the people of the western society.
Little did I expect to the see the purple and orange livery of 172 339 of West Midlands Railway while waiting for my train at Birmingham Moor Street Station!
It was after I popped to the city centre on the way back from Longbridge via Birmingham New Street, to see the Bullring Bull in it's orange West Midlands Railway outfit.
This time, I managed to also get the sides of the train as it advertised places such as Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the Black Country Living Museum (neither are really close to a railway line - although University or Five Ways are close to the BBG).
The train was heading to Stourbridge Junction, before later heading down to Dorridge.
Expecting, expecting, expecting.
Strobist Info - SB600 triggered remotely through a shoot through umbrella camera left @ 1/8 power.
'"Catastrophic:' Chronic homelessness in LA County expected to skyrocket by 86% in next 4 years" ABC Reports. Homeless sites across Los Angeles are overwhelmed as more cases of the UK and South African COVID variants are discovered across Southern California. Coronavirus cases surge. The strong rain storm is expected to bring 7 feet of snow from California to Maine.