ALDI supermarket - 'Dairy Fine' assorted chocolates!
I love the fact that each individual piece of chocolate of the choc block had the strawberry filling embedded inside, the milk chocolate coating outside had a lovely smooth and creamy texture and consistency, there's nothing to complain about the milk choc. However, my issue with this one was the strawberry filling, although I liked the nice gooey texture of the filling which was not too thick, but the strawberry flavour itself tasted clearly very artificial, so that was quite disappointing...I was hoping the filling would contain at least some traces of real strawberry, but sadly all I could taste from the strawberry filling was artificial flavours, and the colour of the filling was clearly artificial pink colouring also. I also checked the list of ingredients printed at the back of the packet and unfortunately the specific ingredients used to make the strawberry filling was not listed, it just says "Strawberry filling (40%)", which is quite odd, and it means that I can't be sure exactly what ingredients were used to make the strawberry filling. But if I'm just going to rely on my taste buds, then clearly the filling tasted of very artificial strawberry flavour and artificial coloring. That was my only issue with this product...but then again, I shouldn't be too disappointed, since most confectionery manufacturers worldwide use alot of cheap artificial flavourings and colourings in their products anyway.
Despite the disappointing artificial strawberry filling inside the milk chocolate, I think these chocolates are still a great product overall for your money's worth, considering they only cost $1 each! A 100g block of chocolate from a more well-known mainstream brand usually costs about AU$3-$5 here in Australia (depending on the brand and the shop), and usually it's just for a plain block of chocolate. So just $1 for a block of chocolate of this size is a massive bargain! and what makes these Dairy Fine chocs even better is that these are not just boring plain chocs, these chocs are more fancy with different kinds of fillings inside, so they are more worth your money! I would happily buy this again for the super cheap price!
I had taken a few points off because of the disappointing artificial strawberry filling, I would've given this full marks if the filling had contained at least some traces of real strawberry.
again there is nothing to fault the milk chocolate coating, it had a smooth consistency and texture, my only issue was the filling again...but this time it wasn't as disappointing as the strawberry filling one, I liked this peppermint flavour filling better than the strawberry one. I usually love mint flavour foods and sweets, and I'm quite familiar with mint flavours, and my taste buds did detect some actual peppermint oil in the filling, which I was happy with, because it means they at least had used some genuine peppermint flavours in the filling. However, I thought the peppermint flavour still wasn't quite as strong as I would've liked it to be...I also checked the list of ingredients printed on the back of the packaging and peppermint oil was indeed listed, however only a very tiny amount was used, I don't remember exactly how much peppermint oil was used for the filling, but I remember it was listed somewhere less than 0.50%, which is BARELY any trace at all! I understand that peppermint oil has a very strong scent and flavour and just a tiny amount is usually enough, but even the very minuscule amount used for the filling was still too little for my taste, even adding just a little bit more peppermint oil would've made a significant difference for me. But it just depends on personal preference, I like my mint flavour sweets & foods to have a strong minty flavour, and the peppermint flavour in the filling just wasn't strong enough for me. Oh well, I'm still more satisfied with this peppermint filling than the other strawberry one, and the gooey texture & consistency of the filling was really nice too, so I can't complain too much.
Overall I think this milk chocolate with peppermint filling is definitely better, I will certainly buy more of this one the next time I shop at ALDI for my groceries!
Have a great day everyone, and until next time, bye!
Well technically Xmas has already passed, so I suppose it's a 'belated' Xmas greeting from me!
Ok, so it seems like I have reverted back to my old habit of only updating this blog once every several months since my last update was 5 months ago I'm so sorry everyone, and I won't even begin to explain myself again about why I had abandoned this blog for so long AGAIN, I'm sure you all are tired of my excuses by now, so I won't waste anymore time and let's just get right into my food reviews for today shall we?
these biscuits were really delectable, the biscuits had a soft but crispy texture and tasty, they were like mini 'Ritz' crackers. But the star of the show for me was the strawberry chocolate filling, it had a nice sweetness, but what I love about it is that unlike most confectionery manufacturers nowadays that tend to use alot of artificial flavouring and colouring, Bourbon used REAL freeze dry strawberries to make the strawberry chocolate filling, as the chocolate had a slight natural sour taste. Although the second photo is a bit blurry, but you can just barely see the real freeze dry strawberry bits infused into the chocolate filling. The sweetness of the chocolate combined with the sourness of the freeze dry strawberry bits was well-balanced and brought out a lovely natural strawberry flavour, and it complemented nicely with the soft & crispy biscuits.
Overall these strawberry chocolate biscuits were really yummy and great to snack on anytime anywhere, I will certainly buy them again!
the texture of these strawberry choc chip cookies were also quite soft but still crunchy, I believe real strawberries were again infused into the cookie batter prior to baking because I was able to taste the same natural slightly sour flavour of strawberries in the cookies. The little chocolate chip pieces embedded in the cookies also enhanced the sweetness and added some nice texture to the cookies.
Overall these strawberry choc chip cookies were really good too, however I think they're still not quite as yummy as the mini strawberry chocolate biscuits. Although I really appreciate the fact that Bourbon uses alot of real natural ingredients to make alot of their snacks and confectioneries, sadly unlike most other confectionery companies nowadays.
Ok so these are my reviews for today...to be perfectly frank, I'm not exactly sure when I'll be updating this blog again, but hopefully it won't be too long, I'll try to update again in the next few weeks, ok?
So today I will be reviewing 2 snacks I bought from Maruyu Japanese supermarket last week.
The puff pastry cookies were very crispy and flaky, like puff pastry should be, and there were some caramelised sugar granules on top of the cookies, which gave the cookies a nice complementing sweetness, the sweetness from the sugar was not too strong, but mild enough to complement the puff pastry cookies. The chocolate filling inside was also good, although it had solidified instead of being soft and smooth, but that didn't bother me much.
Overall these milk chocolate 'Pie no Mi' cookies were really yummy, definitely better than the strawberry cheesecake flavour I reviewed in the past, they are certainly worth coming back for more!
as you can see they're not really "pies" (at least not in the conventional sense in the western world) they are actually cookies made of pastry, but in Japan however, pastry cookies like these are apparently called 'pies', I don't know why. But with my many years of observing Japanese culture & pop culture, I've come to realise that the Japanese sometimes use certain english words differently to how they're normally used in the western world, which results in the disparity of the meanings for certain words or names in Japan.
Anyway, so these cookies were also made of puff pastry, they actually resemble French butterfly pastries aka Palmiers, they probably are anyway, the many layers of pastry shaping the cookies gave them some nice texture and soft crunch and crispiness, the cookies also had a subtle but pleasant amount of buttery taste. There were also caramelised sugar granules coating the outer edges of the cookies which helped to add some sweetness to the cookies and balance out the buttery taste.
The only complaint I have about these pastry cookies is that on the package it clearly markets the cookies as "creamy & crispy", they were certainly crispy, but not "creamy" at all.
Today I will be reviewing 2 more snacks from Bourbon's popular 'Petit' series; mini white chocolate and matcha chocolate biscuits/cookies, they're virtually the same as the mini milk chocolate biscuits I reviewed last time, only with different types of choc fillings.
like I mentioned before, these white choc biscuits are virtually the same as the milk choc ones, these biscuits also have the same lovely soft and melty texture as the milk choc ones...and just like the milk choc biscuits, the white choc filling in these biscuits were also rather basic and nothing special in comparison to the soft biscuits.
However overall, these white choc biscuits were still really yummy, the soft and melty biscuits were still the star of the show, and although the white choc filling was plain and ordinary, it was still sweet without being overpowering. And again, the white choc filling was complementary to the soft biscuits.
Like many of the other yummy snacks in Bourbon's 'Petit' series, these white choc biscuits were very well executed.
once again, the texture of these mini biscuits were delightfully soft and melty, and matcha chocolate is more special compared to just plain basic milk and white choc. But although I was able to taste the bitter flavour of matcha in the green choc filling, I feel that the matcha flavor could've been a little stronger, the makers at Bourbon could've infused a bit more matcha powder into the chocolate. For me personally, the matcha flavour was just not strong enough for my taste, therefore the balance between the bitterness of the matcha and the sweetness of the chocolate was not consistent, at least to me, so that was a little disappointing for me.
However overall, these matcha biscuits were still oishii (yummy), they just needed a little more matcha flavour in the choc filling, that's all.
Here's my 4th review about Bourbon's 'Petit' series snacks, I have to admit that lately I've become OBSESSED with these little treats! They're convenient, affordable and most importantly, they're really yummy!
Today I will be reviewing this pack of mini chocolate biscuits/cookies from the 'Petit' series, apparently it's 1 of the classic favourites from the series, so of course I was urged to give it a try, especially since Bourbon's 'Petit' series is 1 of my favourite snack brands!
the first thing I realised when I popped one of these small bite-size biscuits into my mouth was how soft the texture of those biscuits were! I was pleasantly surprised, they were soft and crumbly and actually melted in my mouth, I didn't even need to bite into it, it started melting almost as soon as I had popped them in my mouth, even faster than the chocolate filling itself. The chocolate filling that was sandwiched between the biscuits was just basic milk chocolate, and although the choc filling was nice, in contrast to the soft biscuits, the choc filling was simple and frankly, very ordinary and nothing special.
Overall these mini choc biscuits were very yummy too, I love the soft and crumbly texture of those biscuits, and as ordinary as the chocolate filling was, it was still nice, I mean, who doesn't like chocolate? But the star of the show is definitely those soft biscuits!
However I always try not to forget to review the various non-Japanese snacks at least once in a while (even though I can be quite forgetful at times)...however, since it has been more than a year since I last posted a review about a snack that is not from Japan, I decided it's about time I do so again...before I forget again!
basically they were wafer rolls filled with a taro filling and coated with white chocolate, the taro filling had a powdery texture and consistency, when I read the list of ingredients in the back of the box, I realised that taro powder was indeed used, so I assumed that the taro filling was the taro powder.
I will comment on the taro filling first, which unfortunately was a big disappointment...even with its impressive and relatively accurate colour, the powdery filling was basically tasteless; I could not taste any trace of taro, in fact, my taste buds were not able to detect any sort of flavour at all in the filling, the flavour was just bland and much too subtle.
But despite the disappointing taro filling, there were some upsides to these Choco rolls too; the wafers were crispy with a nice soft crunch to them, and the white chocolate coating was substantially thick and sweet. No doubt the wafers and white chocolate coating were the only form of redemption for these choco rolls. However, because of the bland and tasteless flavour of the taro filling, the balance of flavours was very inconsistent, which meant that the only flavour I was really able to taste was the sweetness from the white chocolate coating.
But in the manufacturer's defence, it's always not easy to incorporate taro in a confectionery and execute the taro flavour effectively without using any sort of artificial flavour enhancer since taro itself naturally has a very subtle flavour. This is why I am often quite wary about taro flavoured sweets and snacks.
After a while though, the sweetness from the white chocolate became a little too excessive for me so I ate about 3/4 of the choco rolls and gave the rest to my fiance.
Overall these taro choco rolls were decent, the wafer rolls were very nice and crispy and the white chocolate coating was quite good, very substantial but a little too sweet for my taste after a while, I loved the wafer rolls the most. The only let-down of the whole product was that bland taro powdery filling; which in my opinion, should have been the star of the whole snack, but sadly it wasn't. Would I want to buy these taro choco rolls again? Probably not.
Sorry for yet another very slow update, the last few weeks for me has been rather crazy with so many things going on that I haven't had the chance to update this blog.
The box contained 12 individually wrapped smaller pieces of chocolate so you can share the little treats with others.
What I love most about these Crunky chocolate snacks are those little crispy malt puffs embedded throughout the choc, they give the choc some very nice texture, crunchiness and crispiness. This matcha ice cream flavor was no different in terms of the texture due to the malt puffs. The letdown with this particular flavor was the matcha ice cream flavored white chocolate itself. Although you can't really see it in the photo itself because of the lighting & angle, but the chocolates had a very nice tint of soft pastel green, but the flavor was very weak to the point that the matcha flavor was non-existent. Although it's true that the flavor of matcha is significantly reduced when made into ice cream, so I was not expecting the matcha flavor to be particularly strong anyway. However in all those matcha ice creams I've savored over the years, they all retained at least a little bit of matcha flavor, so I was expecting at the very least a hint of matcha flavor in those chocolates, but there wasn't any, not even a little tiny hint of it. Either the matcha flavor was simply non-existent or it was just too weak and overpowered by the sweetness of the chocolate. But the consistency of the chocolates was good, rich and smooth, just the flavor was very lacking.
Overall this was not a particularly good attempt by LOTTE in terms of execution due to the lacking of accurate flavor, but I will give points for the yummy crispy malt puffs & the smooth consistency of the chocolate.
This is no where near as good as any of the other Crunky flavors I've tried over the years, that's for sure.


text:
Likely Consequences for Strangeways Rooftop Protestor
Jeremy Pinson, specialist Prison Law solicitor, considers the repercussions for Stuart Horner following his protest at HMP Manchester
The rooftop protester Stuart Horner finally came off the roof of HMP Manchester at 03.00 am this morning after reportedly being offered a pizza and a can of coke. Mr Horner is a convicted murderer having received a life sentence with a tariff of 27 years in 2012 for the murder of his uncle. He started the protest on Sunday at 2pm and during such protest stripped to a pair of Manchester United boxer shorts, smashed windows, threw items from the roof and goaded prison officers in between pleas for reform of the prison system.
Disruption at HMP Manchester
Mr Horner has caused significant disruption at HMP Manchester during his 60 hour long protest against increasingly poor conditions across the prison estate as a consequence of continued cuts imposed by the Ministry of Justice.
It is reported that the disturbance has resulted in 60 prisoners being moved out of HMP Manchester with 25 Category A prisoners from E wing having to be relocated due to damage to the roof of E wing and other concerns.
Categorisation of Prisoners
Whilst Mr Horner could well face criminal proceedings as a result of his actions during the protest, the action undertaken by him will have significant consequences in terms of his progression though the prison system. Mr Horner is likely to be considered a higher escape risk and will most probably face being transferred around the high security dispersal estate. It is understood that he had had only recently been moved to HMP Manchester from HMP Garth as it was considered his escape risk had increased and the Prison Service had reclassified him as a Category A prisoner.
There is the possibility he will be moved to one of the high security units also known as a Closed Supervision Centre. The CSC system is designed to deal with the most disruptive of inmates and there is little doubt that the Prison Service will now impose on Mr Horner measures that will reflect in their opinion the disruption he has caused.
Jeremy Pinson – Specialist Prison Lawyer
Written by Jeremy Pinson. Jeremy is a specialist Prison Law solicitor and he has conducted a wide range of public law actions on behalf of serving prisoners. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Prison Lawyers.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Tirumeniazhagar, Mappadugai, Nagapattinam
Basic information about the temple
Moolavar: Tirumeni Azhagar Ambal / Thayar: Soundaranayaki
Deity: Siva Historical name:
Vriksham: Vanni Teertham:
Agamam:
Age (years):
Timing: to & to Parikaram:
Temple group: –
Sung by:
Temple set:
Navagraham:
Nakshatram:
City / town: Mappadugai District: Nagapattinam
Maps from (click): Current location Mayiladuthurai (1 km) Kumbakonam (38 km)
Tiruvarur (46 km) Nagapattinam (56 km)
Sthala puranam and temple information
The area of Sholampettai is actually a group of smaller villages including Sholampettai, Ramapuram and Mappadugai. Mappadugai also goes by the name of Pandaravadai. There are several temples in this cluster of villages, including the Tirumeni Azhagar, Chandrasekharar temple and Lakshmi Narayana Perumal at Mappadugai; Azhagiyanathar temple, Thanthondreeswarar temple and Vanamutti Perumal at Sholampettai; and a Siva and Perumal temple in Ramapuram.
The name of the village – Mappadugai – is rather unusual and there are two stories for this. The first is that this place would likely have been a large area of mango trees (maamaram; padukkai means a bed). The other story is much more interesting! It is said that both the Ramayanam and Mahabharatam have taken place at various times in different parts of the country. In the local retelling of the Ramayanam, Ravana engaged his uncle Maricha to take the form of a golden deer to distract Sita and lure Rama into chasing it. Eventually, Rama captured the deer, as it came to rest at this place. This gave the place the name Maan (deer) Padukkai (resting place). Over time, this has corrupted to Mappadugai.
The temple is said to be very ancient; however, there are no records to authenticate its age. However, this entire structural temple is of brickwork, which is suggestive that it was perhaps built originally before the stone temples of the Chola period, making this perhaps over 1300 years old.
There is no raja gopuram here. A flat entrance arch welcomes us, which leads into a long, covered corridor. There is no dhwajasthambam, but one can find a bali peetham and Nandi mandapam in the corridor. Beyond this is the maha mandapam. The entire structure is contained in the surroundings of a verdant garden.
In the maha mandapam are the garbhagriham for the moolavar and the south-facing shrine for Soundaranayaki Amman. The garbhagriham is flanked by two smaller dwarapalakas as also Vinayakar and Murugan.
In the koshtams are Dakshinamurti, Lingodhbhavar, Brahma and Durga. In the prakaram are shrines for Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts Valli and Deivanai, Mahalakshmi, Chandikeswarar, . In the northern portion of the nandavanam is the sthala vriksham (vanni) under which is a pedestal with some Lingams and Naagar vigrahams, and also Ayyanar.
In the inner part of the eastern side is a mandapam with a separate west-facing Lingam (of Kasi Viswanathar) with Visalakshi Amman and Nandi, as well as vigrahams of Bhairavar, Suryan and Chandran. Facing them is a very old vigraham of Vinayakar. Beside this is the Navagraham shrine, with a unique alignment and positioning of the Navagraham deities – all of them face Suryan.
What's more is that both Suryan and Chandran both face west, and are in the same line (usually they are positioned diagonally). This is said to be representative of lunar eclipses, where the earth comes between the sun and moon, making the earth's shadow fall on the moon, thereby obscuring the latter. Worshipping at this temple on the days of lunar eclipse is said to be beneficial for those under the katakam, Rishabham and vrischika rasis. Those under other rasis also worship here on lunar eclipses, to as to avoid Chandra dosham.
Other information for your visit
April 15, 2022 January 2, 2023 AniruddhTempleChandran, Chola temple, Cholas, Deer, eclipse, Mappadugai, Nagapattinam, Rama, Ramayanam, Siva, Siva temple, Suryan, Unique Navagraham
Previous Post Brahmapureeswarar, Sitharkadu, Mayiladuthurai
Next Post Chandrasekharar, Mappadugai, Mayiladuthurai


I found some inspiration and painted a few of the signs I painted Saturday.
First, I started with a sign for Brittany's baby, Parker.
I love how the black chalk paint turned out. I swiped the board with chalk and used a cloth to smear it around.
I used acrylic paint for the name and flower.
The sign measures about 19 inches by 8 inches.
I can't wait to see Brittany's face when she sees this! I love how well this turned out!


text:
Rumboci är en ort i Bosnien och Hercegovina.   Den ligger i entiteten Federationen Bosnien och Hercegovina, i den centrala delen av landet,  km väster om huvudstaden Sarajevo. Rumboci ligger  meter över havet och antalet invånare är . Den ligger vid sjön Ramsko Jezero.

Terrängen runt Rumboci är kuperad åt nordväst, men åt sydost är den bergig. Rumboci ligger nere i en dal. Den högsta punkten i närheten är Plišavica,  meter över havet,  km nordväst om Rumboci. Närmaste större samhälle är Prozor,  km öster om Rumboci.

Omgivningarna runt Rumboci är en mosaik av jordbruksmark och naturlig växtlighet. Runt Rumboci är det ganska tätbefolkat, med  invånare per kvadratkilometer.  Trakten ingår i den hemiboreala klimatzonen. Årsmedeltemperaturen i trakten är  °C. Den varmaste månaden är augusti, då medeltemperaturen är  °C, och den kallaste är januari, med  °C. Genomsnittlig årsnederbörd är  millimeter. Den regnigaste månaden är februari, med i genomsnitt  mm nederbörd, och den torraste är augusti, med  mm nederbörd.

Kommentarer

Källor

Orter i Federationen Bosnien och Hercegovina
Kontrollbehov inkommande wikilänkar

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


CAMBRIDGE ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY & others vs. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES (and a companion case [Note 1]).
Present: TAURO, C.J., REARDON, HENNESSEY, & KAPLAN, JJ.
termination procedures for nonseasonal residential customers of gas and electric companies, which complemented the department's statutory functions, was regulatory under the State Administrative Procedure Act, G. L. c. 30A, not "adjudicatory" [485-487]; there was no merit in a claim that because the hearings were not conducted as quasi judicial hearings, and because the "legal rights, duties or privileges" of the companies were materially affected, their constitutional rights were infringed .
Regulations adopted by the Department of Public Utilities but not yet put into operation were not deemed arbitrary on their face by this court with respect to a ban on gas and electric companies from cutting off service to customers for nonpayment of disputed portions of bills pending resolution of the disputes, with respect to the department interposing itself as impartial umpire in customer-company disputes, or with respect to directives as to the details of meter reading and billing [496-498]; nor could the regulations be condemned beforehand as confiscatory [498-499].
PETITIONS filed in the Supreme Judicial Court for the county of Suffolk on December 31, 1970, January 5, 1971, January 7, 1971, and January 13, 1971.
BILL IN EQUITY filed in the above court on January 12, 1971.
The cases were consolidated and reserved and reported without decision by Braucher, J.
Edwin J. Carr (Marshall S. Davis & William C. Hardy with him) for Cambridge Electric Light Company & others; Richard L. Morningstar, for Western Massachusetts Electric Company, also with him.
Philip H. R. Cahill for Massachusetts Electric Company & others.
Andrew M. Wolfe, Assistant Attorney General, for the Department of Public Utilities.
John Bowman for Massachusetts Law Reform Institute & another, interveners.
John J. Desmond, III, for Boston Edison Company, and Joseph P. Rooney & Robert D. Canty, for Brockton Edison Company & another, joined in a brief.
KAPLAN, J. The petitioners, eighteen gas or electric utility corporations within the jurisdiction of the respondent Department of Public Utilities (department), seek to annul certain regulations dealing with billing of customers and termination of service approved and promulgated by the department after public hearings. The petitioners have made their challenge in the form of several petitions for appeal in the county court under the provisions of G. L. c. 25, Section 5. Because of uncertainty about whether appeal under that statute is the correct avenue for judicial review of the department's action, nine of the petitioners have, in addition, lodged in the county court a bill for declaratory relief against the department under G. L. c. 30A, Section 7, and G. L. c. 231A, Section 2, seeking a declaration of invalidity of the regulations. The single justice on motion consolidated the appeals and reserved and reported that case without decision to the full court. He similarly reserved and reported the case for declaratory relief, and finally consolidated the two cases for hearing. By order of the single justice, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) [Note 2] and Massachusetts Welfare Rights Organization (MWRO) [Note 3] were permitted to intervene and they have participated in argument before this court. Operation of the regulations was stayed pending disposition of the suits.
A. Proceedings before the department. We first describe the departmental proceedings as they appear from the record made there and incorporated in the reservation and report.
rate of interest to be paid by gas, water, electric, telephone and telegraph companies upon deposits made by their customers. On the same date the department instituted its proceeding numbered D.P.U. 16386A by issuing a further proposal under Section 2 to adopt regulations, originally drafted by the intervener MLRI, applicable to the same classes of companies, regarding deposits by customers and meter reading, billing, and termination and restoration of service. A public hearing in the two proceedings was set for December 11, 1969, and any interested persons were invited to present "data, views or arguments" [Note 4] orally or in writing. Notice was published in newspapers and sent to a list including the utility corporations of the classes mentioned in the proposals.
introduced were the written replies made by a few companies to a set of questions put to them by MLRI.
MLRI emphasized that utility services -- especially gas and electric supply -- are, as one witness put it, "essential to ordinary living," and that any inequities or ambiguities in the provision of such services would fall most heavily on the poor.
service, but refrain from actually terminating, thus lulling the customer into the belief that he was being "carried"; then the company would suddenly make good the threat.
MLRI proposed a standardization of the period after billing and nonpayment before service could be discontinued, as well as correction of the injustice (as MLRI saw it) of having a company decide unilaterally that the customer was in fact delinquent when he was maintaining the contrary; there should be a final impartial arbiter, which might be the department itself. Related meter reading and billing practices should be reformed and better regularized.
During the hearing a question arose as to the affidavits received. The chairman said the Commission had procedural leeway; the companies could not insist upon exclusion of the affidavits in case the affiants were not produced for cross-examination, but the Commission would then take that factor into account in ascribing weight to the affidavits. Counsel who had produced the affidavits indicated they would do their best to produce the affiants at a later date.
A further hearing in D.P.U. 16386 and 16386A was scheduled for January 6, 1970, but it was not held. The Commission decided to sever and deal separately with the whole matter of security deposits. Accordingly, a proceeding D.P.U. 16696 was commenced on July 31, 1970, with due publication and notice, calling for a public hearing on August 25, 1970, on regulations proposed under Section 2 of the Administrative Procedure Act applicable to gas, electric, and telephone companies on the subjects of billings, meter readings, estimated bills, termination of service, opportunities to contest termination of service, and use of multiple meters. This proceeding superseded D.P.U. 16386A and absorbed and carried forward the relevant parts of the record made at the December hearing.
with security deposit provisions eliminated. The August hearing [Note 8] was devoted almost entirely to oral statements on behalf of companies, supplemented by a number of written statements, [Note 9] the whole elucidating company attitudes and practices and presenting criticisms of the proposed regulations, accompanied in some instances by suggested specific changes of the text.
who paid their bills without cavil. Making the department the final arbiter of disputed bills would create an unmanageable problem for the department. There were a great many terminations, [Note 12] and a large number could wind up as appeals to the department.
With respect to billing and meter reading procedures, the companies offered technical and other reasons why estimated billing should not and probably could not be eliminated. They commented also on the desirability and feasibility of the ultimate objective (foreshadowed in the proposals) of eliminating metering of a number of residence units en bloc and attaining universal metering of individual residence units.
When the companies had completed their oral statements at the August hearing, the question arose how to carry the proceeding to an end. It was suggested that there were no serious issues of fact on which further testimony would be helpful to the Commission when it came to decide the questions of policy posed by the regulations. After discussion there was apparent agreement that the companies might submit additional written statements which, so far as they made assertions of fact, would be taken as conceded unless they were put in question. Some written statements were submitted; no questions were raised.
Termination on grounds other than nonpayment of a bill may occur if the department certifies its approval after giving the parties an opportunity to be heard, [Note 20] but provisions of the General Laws regulating and limiting terminations in the light of safety, health, and like factors are unaffected.
the change of practice, the bill to each residence unit in the multiple residence shall indicate what portion it represents of the total use for the building.
There is a general right on the part of a person aggrieved by company action in violation of the regulations to request an investigation by a complaint officer and subsequently to appeal to the department.
C. Regularity of the departmental proceeding leading to issuance of the regulations. The petitioners attack the regulations, first, as eventuating from a departmental proceeding conducted without proper procedural safeguards, and, second, as exceeding in their substance the department's powers and being otherwise invalid. In this point C we deal with the first objection.
Recognizing that a boundary between the concepts of "regulation" and "adjudication" has not been exactly placed despite formidable attempts at clarification, [Note 25] we still think the present case falls well to the regulatory (or legislative or political) side. The Administrative Procedure Act defines "regulation" as every rule "of general application and future effect" which may be adopted by an agency "to implement or interpret the law" administered by it. Section 1 (5). "[D]ecisions issued in adjudicatory proceedings" (Section 1  [e]) contrast with "regulations," and an adjudicatory proceeding is described as one in which "the legal rights, duties or privileges of specifically named persons are required by constitutional right or by any provision of the General Laws to be determined after opportunity for an agency hearing." Section 1 (1). What was at stake in the departmental proceeding in the present case was a set of rules for the future affecting the relations of two industries with an indeterminate public, rules that would fill out or complement a large statutory scheme administered by the department. The proceeding could not be fittingly described as intended simply to determine the particular legal interests of specifically identified persons.
own knowledge and to help it shape a workable set of regulations if that was needed. Such contributions it elicited by its invitation to any interested persons under Section 2. No purpose would have been served by importing formal litigious procedures. There were no disputes about specific facts concerning particular persons, their business or property, their motives, their relations to a given transaction [Note 26] -- so called "adjudicative facts" [Note 27] -- which needed untangling by trial methods. The introduction of case histories of disputes between individual customers and companies was not for the purpose of settling those quarrels but rather to domesticate or illustrate the general problems, and could not have the effect of transforming the regulatory endeavor into an adjudicatory one. See Midwest Television, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commn. 426 F. 2d 1222, 1226-1228 (D. C. Cir.).
This court has dealt on other occasions with the classification of agency proceedings as regulatory or adjudicatory and the matter need not be reexamined here in detail. See Milligan v. Board of Registration in Pharmacy, 348 Mass. 491 , 495-498; Reid v. Acting Commr. of the Dept. of Community Affairs, 362 Mass. 136 , 138-145. Considering the cases cited by the petitioners themselves as examples, on the one hand, of regulatory or legislative activity, [Note 28] and, on the other hand, of adjudication, [Note 29] we think the present case is readily assimilated to the former group.
(2) Any constitutional claim to a trial type hearing fails if the proceeding was indeed regulatory or legislative or political. The question is not to be decided by a mechanical process of categorization; rather we rely on the considerations of functional suitability already mentioned. Hayeck v. Metropolitan Dist. Commn., supra, at 375. Natick Trust Co. v. Board of Bank Incorporation, supra, at 617. Reid v. Acting Commr. of the Dept. of Community Affairs, supra, at 140. Bi-Metallic Inv. Co. v. State Bd. of Equalization of Colorado, 239 U.S. 441, 445-446. United States v. Storer Bdcst. Co. 351 U.S. 192, 200-206. The constitutional claim is not enhanced by saying that the petitioners' "legal rights, duties or privileges" were materially affected by the hearings in the sense that the regulations may increase their operating costs and alter their conditions of service. A regulation, like legislation, often increases costs or diminishes business expectations or even proprietary rights, but neither demands a prior confrontation resembling a lawsuit because an inquiry so tightly controlled is not a necessary basis for the governmental judgment involved. In the Bi-Metallic case, for example, the valuation of taxable property was increased; in the Hayeck and Reid cases land had been or was expected to be taken by eminent domain. The petitioners rely on Massachusetts Medical Serv. v. Commissioner of Ins. 344 Mass. 335 , 339-340, and Massachusetts Gen. Hosp. v. Commissioner of Admn. 353 Mass. 369 , 374-375, cases involving administrative rate settings which can be read as requiring quasi judicial hearings as a matter of constitutional right; but the administrative decisions turned necessarily on analysis of specific figures justifying the rates to be paid, in the one case by Blue Shield for services of participating physicians, and, in the other case, by various State and municipal agencies to the several hospitals for treatment of public patients.
(3) The petitioners say that the departmental proceeding was so conducted as to render it adjudicatory, but the demonstration is hollow.
The petitioners suggest that because they (among others) were given mailed notice of the hearings, they became "specifically named persons" within Section 1 (1). It is enough to say that the notice came about through the "list notice" system provided by the statute (Sections 2 , 3 ) under which anyone who wishes may place his name on an agency list for the year and thereby receive notice by mail of regulatory hearings likely to affect him. The system was intended simply to supplement newspaper notice as a means of alerting interested persons. See Sacks & Curran in 1954 Ann. Surv. Mass. Law, Section 14.4, pp. 131-132.
the end the petitioners seemed content simply to submit oral and written statements of fact and position. They did not offer to submit more, yet they complain of the thinness of the data on which the department acted. This is to argue as if MLRI or the department had to sustain a burden of proof as does a proponent in an ordinary action.
(4) The question is raised whether the department was not required to make a formal demonstration that the regulations as promulgated were within the department's statutory authority to adopt regulations. See G. L. c. 164, Section 76C (department to establish rules and regulations). More particularly, Section 11 (8) of the Administrative Procedure Act is cited as requiring an agency "decision" to be accompanied by "a statement of reasons for the decision, including determination of each issue of fact or law necessary to the decision." Section 11 (8) is linked to Section 14 (8) which governs judicial review of agency decisions and obliges the court to overturn a decision that is not supported by substantial evidence.
process is needed, nor would it usually be desirable, with respect to general rules prescribed by an agency to govern future conduct, for here judicial review is quite limited (see point D ,  below); for the court to check back on the agency's "reasons" and "determination[s]" of fact and law would have an unhealthy tendency to substitute the court for the agency as policy-maker. Our cases delineate the differences just discussed. Compare Salisbury Water Supply Co. v. Department of Pub. Util. 344 Mass. 716 , 718, and School Comm. of Chicopee v. Massachusetts Commn. Against Discrimination, 361 Mass. 352 , 354-355, with Natick Trust Co. v. Board of Bank Incorporation, 337 Mass. 615 , 617, and First Natl. Bank v. Board of Bank Incorporation, 361 Mass. 381 , 383. See Electronics Corp. of Am. v. City Council of Cambridge, 348 Mass. 563 , 568.
G. L. c. 30A, Sections 2, 3, which is not subject to those provisions of c. 30A governing adjudicatory proceedings) to develop a record containing substantial evidence, and preferably definite D.P.U. findings supported by that evidence, which establishes the validity of the regulations under applicable constitutional or statutory [meaning State statutory] provisions." (At 485.) The court went on to say that "[a]pplicable constitutional considerations in this area call . . . for D.P.U. determinations" (at 486) that the regulations did not conflict with Federal enactments or unlawfully burden interstate commerce and that, complying with the State statutory authority under which the regulations were issued (chiefly G. L. c. 159, Section 16), they were reasonably necessary or appropriate (at 486). The court of course granted that the question of necessity for railroad regulations was for the department, but said that the evidence before the department supporting the regulations was "fragmentary, speculative, and unconvincing" (at 486) and that a better showing should be made. The department was directed to reconsider and expand its record.
department into the dimensions of a constitutional crisis.
(5) In transmitting the regulations to the Secretary of the Commonwealth pursuant to G. L. c. 30, Section 37, the chairman of the Commission wrote that they had been "adopted by vote of the Commission"; there is also record of a D.P.U. certificate from the Secretary of the Commission to this court certifying "a true copy of the actual vote of the Commission . . .," consisting of a copy of the regulations stamped "Approved" and signed by the chairman and five other Commissioners. The petitioners question whether the foregoing shows compliance with Section 11A of the Administrative Procedure Act requiring agencies to "maintain accurate records of their meetings, setting forth the action taken at each meeting." See First Natl. Bank v. Board of Bank Incorporation, 361 Mass. 381 , 383-384. This question of form can be met by the Commission's making an accurate record of the vote taken to approve the regulations.
D. Validity of the regulations. An attack is made on the substance of the regulations, but the petitioners can ask from the court at this time an opinion only as to the apparent or surface validity of the regulations, for they have not yet been put to practical use. Practice may show up particular features of the regulations in a new light and in that event we shall not be foreclosed from reconsidering the views here expressed.
The basic authority for the regulations is G. L. c. 164, Section 76C, inserted by St. 1969, c. 645, which states: "The department may establish from time to time such reasonable rules and regulations consistent with this chapter as may be necessary to carry out the administration thereof."
external effects of a substantive character. On its face, however, Section 76C is a broad grant of regulatory power enabling the department to further the purposes of c. 164, a lengthy chapter dealing in a comprehensive way with the organization and operations of gas and electric companies.
201-203; Federal Power Commn. v. Texaco, 377 U.S. 33, 39-42. See also Shapiro, The Choice of Rulemaking or Adjudication in the Development of Administrative Policy, 78 Harv. L. Rev. 921, 972. Cf. Commonwealth v. Diaz, 326 Mass. 525 , 527-528.
The petitioners assert that the regulations collide with particular sections of c. 164, but we do not agree; indeed, we find the more important sections cited to be supportive of the regulations. Thus Section 92 states that when a gas or electric company refuses or neglects to supply a person with service, he may petition the department which, upon notice to the company to appear and show cause why relief should not be granted, may order the company to supply service upon legal and reasonable terms. [Note 32] There is no literal or functional inconsistency between Section 92 and the present regulations; rather the regulations should be read as aiding the section by establishing a procedure that anticipates the company's actual refusal of service for nonpayment of a bill. In fact it appears that the department in the light of Section 92 has in some instances heard the parties when refusal of service was threatened but not yet carried out. See Petition of Augustine J. Randolph, D.P.U. No. 15932 (1968); Note 67 Harv. L. Rev. 845, 849.
Some eleven sections of c. 164 are cited which have to do with meters, meter reading, and billing of customers. [Note 35] These statutes exemplify the legislative purpose to make meter readings and billings understandable and fair; they do not conflict with or exclude the present regulations seeking to achieve similar ends.
of notice and hearing attach. Ihrke v. Northern States Power Co. 459 F. 2d 566 (8th Cir.), judgment vacated sub nom. Northern States Power Co. v. Ihrke, 409 U.S. 815. Palmer v. Columbia Gas Co. of Ohio, Inc. 342 F. Supp. 241 (N. D., Ohio). Stanford v. Gas Serv. Co. 346 F. Supp. 717 (D. Kans.). Bronson v. Consolidated Edison Co. of N. Y. Inc. 350 F. Supp. 443 (S. D. N. Y.). Contra, Lucas v. Wisconsin Elec. Power Co. 466 F. 2d 638 (7th Cir.) (two judges dissenting), cert. den. 409 U.S. 1114. These cases stem from recent Supreme Court decisions imposing due process requirements upon the State's cancelling an individual's access to a service or benefit which the State has extended to the public, even a service or benefit which it might initially have withheld. Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254. Bell v. Burson, 402 U.S. 535. See Sniadach v. Family Fin. Corp. of Bay View, 395 U.S. 337; Fuentes v. Shevin, 407 U.S. 67. Finally, as to the directives of the regulations on the details of meter reading and billing (in large part organically connected with the termination problem), we can hardly declare them to be capricious as against the judgment of the agency which has long supervised these industries. See Natick Trust Co. v. Board of Bank Incorporation, 337 Mass. 615 , 617; Penn Cent. Co. v. Department of Pub. Util. 356 Mass. 478 , 487.
Of course the present regulations cannot be held arbitrary merely because it might have been reasonable for the department to agree with the companies and the status quo, or to frame regulations in a quite different way.
as the department might see them. If the predicted results are realized at all, one would expect them to be reflected on the books of the several companies in different ways and to different degrees. The dollars and cents figures would then enter into the calculations which are presented at rate making proceedings and become the basis for rate adjustments. The regulations cannot be condemned beforehand as confiscatory. See Bowker v. Worcester, 334 Mass. 422 , 434; Electronics Corp. of Am. v. City Council of Cambridge, 348 Mass. 563 , 567-568.
(4) Under the regulations a customer within seven days of receipt of the complaint officer's adverse decision may notify the department that he wishes to appeal, whereupon "a representative of the Department shall notify the company and thereafter shall conduct an investigation. Such investigation shall include an opportunity for each side in the dispute to be heard, but such hearing shall not be construed to be an `adjudicatory proceeding' as defined by . . . [the Administrative Procedure Act]. Pending final determination of the appeal by the Department, the Department may enter any temporary orders to the company or to the customer which it deems just and equitable."
As originally drafted, the regulations provided expressly that the agency representative called a hearing officer, was to conduct an adjudicatory proceeding. This characterization was withdrawn in the second draft considered at the August hearing. As adopted, the regulations contain the negative statement. The reason for the turnabout evidently was that the companies had continually stressed the burden that would be cast on the department by customer appeals; counsel for one of the companies suggested that the burden would be reduced if the procedure was made summary.
Act, while the interveners indicate they are willing to accept something less which will, however, afford the essentials of a fair hearing.
Turning once more to Section 1 (1) of the act defining an adjudicatory proceeding, we surely have at stake, in the dispute between company and customer, "the legal rights, duties or privileges of specifically named persons." This legal relationship is an important one, and if it is "determined" by the agency in a practical sense, then opportunity for an agency hearing is required by constitutional right (even if not required by separate statute), and Sections 1 (1) and 10-11 define the kind of hearing to be then afforded. See Milligan v. Board of Registration in Pharmacy, 348 Mass. 491 , 499-500. Cf. Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254, 263-266. It is intimated in the interveners' brief that the departmental representative will not be making a determination, or at any rate a firm determination, because his decision will be fully reviewable by a court at the behest of the disappointed party, the limitations on scope of judicial review laid down in Section 14 being inapplicable because the decision would not have eventuated from an adjudicatory proceeding. This line of reasoning is questionable because it might open the way for an agency to circumvent the requirement of an adjudicatory proceeding whenever it was willing to pay the price of full, rather than restricted, judicial review of its action. But more fundamentally, the agency decision here should be considered as in reality final, because in the great bulk of cases resort to the courts is not practical, surely not for the customer, and almost as certainly not for the company.
regulations themselves do not exclude the interpretation that a party, disappointed by the result of the investigation-plus-hearing conducted by the departmental representative, and desiring to persist beyond that decision, may claim an adjudicatory proceeding under Sections 10-11 which may undo the representative's decision. A two step arrangement is not uncommon in administrative agencies, particularly those which have to process numerous claims, and it is indeed envisaged by Section 10 (second par.) of our act, providing that in such a situation the requirements for an adjudicatory proceeding need be met only at the second stage. Cf. Rowan v. United States Post Office Dept. 397 U.S. 728, 738-739. Few appeals, one imagines, would here survive action by the complaint officer and decision by the departmental representative and wind up as adjudicatory proceedings. Protraction to that point seems especially unlikely when one considers the tendency of such matters, where the issues are, after all, few and relatively simple, to be disposed of by threshold informal mediation. [Note 37] In all events, the department should make clear in the regulations that an adjudicatory proceeding will be available.
E. Mode of judicial review of the legality of the regulations. The parties ask guidance as to the proper form of judicial review of regulations such as those in question. There is no difficulty with the declaratory case, for Section 7 of the Administrative Procedure Act states that "[u]nless an exclusive mode of review is provided by law" judicial review of a "regulation" may be had by means of a proceeding for declaratory relief under G. L. c. 231A, Section 2, which extends the declaratory suit to tests of the validity of administrative regulations. As already shown, we have here "regulations," and, whatever may be said of appeal under G. L. c. 25, Section 5 (discussed immediately below), we do not think it qualifies as the exclusive method of reviewing them.
review or appeal is provided" with respect to an agency decision in an adjudicatory proceeding, that statutory form shall govern, but the standards for review shall (with an exception) be those set forth in Section 14 (8).
There are many cases in which appeal in accordance with G. L. c. 25, Section 5, has in fact been used for the review of decisions in adjudicatory proceedings; often the court in those cases has made cross-references to sections of the Administrative Procedure Act dealing with such proceedings. [Note 41] It is noteworthy that after the enactment of the Administrative Procedure Act, the provisions of c. 25, Section 5, as to preparation of the record for review were amended to conform to the cognate provisions Sections 11 and 14 of the act on review of decisions in adjudicatory proceedings. Commentators incline toward the view here taken. [Note 42] In the case of Penn Cent. v. Department of Pub. Util. 356 Mass. 478 , this court reviewed under c. 25, Section 5, actions of the department that were evidently considered in the nature of regulations, but the method of review was not discussed. The parties may have been led to Section 5 because the regulations in question were issued under a statute calling in terms for an "order" by the Commission.
we shall treat the appeals under c. 25, Section 5, as if they were suits for declaratory relief.
F. The interventions. The single justice allowed a motion by MLRI and MWRO to intervene in the consolidated case. These organizations as interveners expressed their opposition to a stay of the effectiveness of the regulations and have also argued in support of the regulations. The petitioners say that the department, through the Attorney General, adequately represented the public interest, and it was improper to allow an intervention by others presumably for the same purpose. Intervention by an outsider in a cause to which the government is a party may be of dubious value where it has the effect of diminishing the government's control of the litigation: so, for example, in the famous El Paso antitrust litigation, [Note 43] where parties, once admitted as interveners, were assumed to have a right to prevent a voluntary settlement by a consent decree acceptable to the United States. [Note 44] No such question arises in the present case where, as the petitioners apparently agree, the intervention amounts to no more than an opportunity to argue as an amicus. We think the single justice had wide discretion in dealing with interventions, see American Woolen Co. v. Old Colony Trust Co. 263 Mass. 321 , 325, and it seems particularly fitting that MLRI, for itself and MWRO, was permitted to speak, for MLRI had originally framed the regulations in suit.
valid in the sense of this opinion (see point D, first paragraph, above). The stay heretofore granted by the single justice will be vacated.
[Note 1] Massachusetts Electric Company & others vs. Department of Public Utilities.
[Note 2] An organization funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity working on common problems of legal service organizations in the Commonwealth.
[Note 3] A membership organization sponsoring the interests of welfare recipients.
[Note 4] The quoted words were evidently taken from Section 3 (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act (G. L. c. 30A, Section 3 ), dealing like Section 2 with adoption of regulations.
[Note 5] Under G. L. c. 25, Section 2, the department is under the supervision and control of a Commission of seven members. The hearing was attended by three Commissioners in addition to the chairman.
[Note 7] See Note, 78 Yale L. J. 448.
[Note 8] Two Commissioners were in attendance.
[Note 9] A few written statements had been tendered just after the December hearing and are also made part of the record.
[Note 10] Our digest of the hearing is composite and so does not fully describe some differences of outlook among the companies.
[Note 11] See the reference under point D (1) below to G. L. c. 164, Section 124.
[Note 12] Boston Gas Company (not a petitioner) estimated that it had 1,500 shutoffs for nonpayment a month in the first half of 1970.
[Note 13] Telephone companies were not included. Counsel for these interests had argued before the department that the capacity of the telephone subscriber to run up a large bill in a very short time put telephone companies in a special situation with respect to discontinuance of servce.
[Note 14] The companies had argued for this limitation.
[Note 15] This is a somewhat simplified statement as to bills on a monthly basis. For companies with billing periods longer than forty-five days, the termination period may not be shorter than the billing period.
[Note 16] But any undisputed remainder of a bill is unaffected and nonpayment thereof for a sufficient time may result in termination of service. This feature of the regulations was suggested by the companies.
[Note 17] As to the latter statement, see point D (4) below.
[Note 18] A brief explanation of the procedure, starting with the customer's complaint, is to be set forth on each bill.
[Note 19] This provision responds to the companies' insistence on preventing indefinite protraction of an appeal with corresponding suspension of the right of the company to shut off service.
[Note 20] Also to be considered nonadjudicatory.
[Note 21] There is provision for situations where the company is denied or cannot obtain access to the meter.
[Note 22] This arrangement is to be distinguished from one where the whole use within a multiple residence is billed to the landlord, who makes no separate charge for the service to the tenant - a "rent inclusive" arrangement. See Boston Real Estate Bd. v. Department of Pub. Util. 334 Mass. 477 , 481.
[Note 23] Section 2 applies where a public hearing to consider a regulation is required "by any law," i.e., another statute; Section 3 where it is not. Thus, technically, Section 3 was applicable here; this would permit omission of a public hearing but still leave the requirements of notice and opportunity to be heard. See Sacks & Curran in 1954 Ann. Surv. Mass. Law, Section 14.4, p. 131. It is unnecessary to distinguish between these sections for present purposes.
[Note 24] This line of argument appears to have been first explicitly taken in requests for rulings of law filed by several petitioners after the second hearing.
[Note 25] See Shapiro, The Choice of Rulemaking or Adjudication in the Development of Administrative Policy, 78 Harv. L. Rev. 921; Bernstein, The NLRB's Adjudication - Rule Making Dilemma Under the Administrative Procedure Act, 79 Yale L. J. 571.
[Note 26] See Bernstein, supra, fn. 25, at 610-615; Davis, supra, Section 7.02.
[Note 27] See Milligan v. Board of Registration in Pharmacy, 348 Mass. 491 , 495-496; Davis, Administrative Law Treatise, Section 7.02.
[Note 28] Hayeck v. Metropolitan Dist. Commn. 335 Mass. 372 , 373-375 (denial of access to land appropriated for public use). Natick Trust Co. v. Board of Bank Incorporation, 337 Mass. 615 , 617 (determination that banking facilities in a town were inadequate). The Reid case, supra, at 142-143 (hearings on urban renewal plan).
[Note 29] Newton v. Department of Pub. Util. 339 Mass. 535 (hearing on petition of railroad to discontinue service on a particular line). Salisbury Water Supply Co. v. Department of Pub. Util. 344 Mass. 716 (hearing on petitions of three water companies to increase their rate schedules). New York Cent. R.R. v. Department of Pub. Util. 347 Mass. 586 (hearing on railroad's petition for exemption of certain land from local zoning law). New York Cent. R.R. v. Department of Pub. Works, 354 Mass. 332 (hearing on petition of railroad to set up a grade crossing).
[Note 30] To the petitioners' suggestion that evidence by affidavit was incompetent, it suffices to answer that such proof has been considered acceptable even in an adjudicatory proceeding. See AAA Movers v. Department of Pub. Util. 354 Mass. 390 , 392-394, and Section 11 (2) of the Administrative Procedure Act.
[Note 31] Also to be mentioned here is G. L. c. 164, Section 94, regarding rates, interpreted in Boston Real Estate Bd. v. Department of Pub. Util. 334 Mass. 477 , 484-485, as giving the department power over "rate practices" as well as "rate scales," and not only over "rates, prices and charges for various classifications of service, and the relationship between classifications," but also "reasonably related terms and conditions stated in the service contract or the filed schedules."
[Note 32] Wyatt v. Boston Consol. Gas Co. 319 Mass. 251 , held that a party seeking to compel a company to reestablish service after a voluntary discontinuance must apply to the department under Section 92 and could not sue the company direct.
[Note 33] Sections 124A-124C prohibit termination: at any home where there is serious illness; at certain medical institutions, unless fourteen days' notice is given to the department as well as to the customer, and then only on conditions determined by the department; or because the customer has failed to pay for an appliance furnished by the company. The present regulations leave these sections unaffected.
[Note 34] General Laws c. 164, Section 94D, permitting discounts for prompt payment, supports the distinction by implicitly recognizing that billing dates, discount dates, and default dates may be separate points in time.
[Note 35] G. L. c. 164, Sections 115, 115A, 116, 117-119, 119A, 120-123. The petitioners' related argument that the regulations constitute an undue intrusion into the management of the utilities is untenable; this court has allowed the department to intervene in business affairs of utilities in a much more significant way than it would be doing under these regulations. See, e.g., New England Tel. & Tel. Co. v. Department of Pub. Util. 327 Mass. 81 , 90.
[Note 36] We have traced this to "constitutional right," but G. L. c. 164, Section 92 (see point D  above) might well be held a "provision of the General Laws" requiring agency hearing when demanded by the customer in the face of an actual or threatened discontinuance of service.
[Note 37] See Davis, Administrative Law Treatise, Section 4.11, citing the Report of the Attorney General's Committee on Administrative Procedure (1941). Section 10 (first par.) of our act encourages this informality by the provision that agencies may "make informal dispositions of any adjudicatory proceeding by stipulation, agreed settlement, consent order or default."
[Note 38] What has been said in this point D (4) applies also to appeals to the department under the regulations unrelated to the issue of termination of service for nonpayment of bills.
[Note 39] Section 5 was originally enacted in 1906 and has been amended five times since.
[Note 40] Requests for rulings were made by some of the petitioners here, see n. 24, supra, but the Commission left them unanswered.
[Note 41] See, e.g., New York Cent. R.R. v. Department of Pub. Util. 347 Mass. 586 , 592-593; Almeida Bus Lines, Inc. v. Department of Pub. Util. 348 Mass. 331 , 341-342; Westborough v. Department of Pub. Util. 358 Mass. 716 , 717-718.
[Note 42] See Curran in 1956 Ann. Surv. Mass. Law, Section 13.4, p. 128; Gadsby in 1954 Ann. Surv. Mass. Law, Section 17.8, p. 183; Segal, Administrative Procedure in Massachusetts; Rule Making and Judicial Review, 33 B. U. L. Rev. 1, 25-26.
[Note 43] See Cascade Natural Gas Corp. v. El Paso Natural Gas Co. 386 U.S. 129.
[Note 44] As to the possibility of limiting or conditioning interventions, see Wright & Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure, Section 1922; Shapiro, Some Thoughts on Intervention before Courts, Agencies, and Arbitrators, 81 Harv. L. Rev. 721, 752-756.


MMPA is governed by a Board of Directors. The MMPA Board of Directors is responsible for setting policy, for approving investments in new plants, and for overseeing management. Each MMPA member has a representative on MMPA's Board and an alternate representative.


text:
Dare to spend the night in a wolf enclosure?
Amy Hopkins and her family try a sleepover with a difference at the new Wolf Lodge at Port Lympne wildlife reserve in Kent
There's something unnerving about watching a wolf greedily lock eyes on your baby, especially when the animal begins to paw at the pane of glass that separates them. My three-month old daughter, Annie, is perched on my husband's knee, just inches from a pair of European grey wolves who can't seem to take their eyes off her. We are sitting in the private garden of Wolf Lodge, at Port Lympne wildlife reserve in Kent, which is to be our home for the night. Our garden wall, with its two large windows, is all that separates us from the park's wolf enclosure.
New for 2018, Wolf Lodge is the latest in a series of unique accommodation experiences to open at Port Lympne. There are now a handful of cottages inside enclosures, allowing intrepid guests to share sleepovers with rhinos, bears and most famously, tigers. The creation of these unique animal lodges has been a multi-million pound project, and it shows. You might be sleeping a few yards away from a pile of animal dung, but make no mistake, this is luxury accommodation.
Even without our furry neighbours, Wolf Lodge would be a special place to spend the night. A renovated Grade II cottage, it was originally one of the gatehouses of the sprawling 600-acre Port Lympne estate. Inside, the two stylish double bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom, are worthy of the finest country house hotel. Plus, if spending the night in a wildlife reserve isn't excitement enough, Wolf Lodge also boasts a cinema room, popcorn maker and even a PS4 with a selection of games.
Unsurprisingly, these extraordinary sleepovers aren't cheap. A night at Wolf Lodge starts from £409, and Tiger Lodge (the most expensive) rises to £800 a night in high season. However, all the money from your stay goes back into the park's vital conservation work. You see, Port Lympne is not your typical zoo. Port Lympne and its sister park, Howletts in Kent, are part of the Aspinall Foundation, one of the world's most successful breeders of endangered animals. Since its foundation 30 years ago, it has achieved births of hundreds of gorilla, black rhino and African elephants.
Several of the park's keepers tell me that they are anti-zoo and many Family Traveller readers would say the same, but for animals facing extinction, breeding in captivity is often the only way to increase numbers. I am surprised to learn that even our neighbours the grey wolves are classified by the World Conservation Union as endangered or vulnerable in several European countries. I look forward to bringing Annie back here when she's old enough to understand the serious conservation mission that underpins a fun day out at a wildlife park like Port Lympne.
Throughout the evening, we watch the wolves from our garden and later from the windows of our cottage. Disappointingly, I don't hear any actual howling, but there's plenty of snuffling and yapping. They are curious creatures and trot right up to the glass several times, allowing us to admire them close up. At 3am Annie wakes from her travel cot for a feed. I sit sleepily at the bedroom window, nursing my baby and watching a lone male wolf busily digging in the dirt.
The next morning, our wolves are nowhere to be seen. A bit like my darling child, it seems they're most active at dawn and dusk. We enjoy a hearty breakfast in the Port Lympne Hotel, in a themed dining room that resembles a more upmarket version of London's Rainforest Cafe, and then climb into a safari truck for a tour of the park. We trundle over the dirt tracks of the park's 150 acre African Experience, where animals like zebra, wildebeest, antelope and critically endangered black rhino roam free. Our guide tells us he can do this trip ten times in one day and see different animals every time – not surprising, given that Port Lympne is home to some 700 animals.
As we make our way through the Kent savannah, a pair of nosey ostrich trot along beside us, pecking at my husband's phone as he photographs them. Later, we wait patiently while Gucci, one of the female camels, mozies over to rub her hairy, malting body of the bonnet of our vehicle. For us, the highlight of the safari is feeding the Rothschild giraffe. Annie obliges us by snoozing in her car seat, giving her dad and I chance to spend time with Port Lympne's graceful giants. We hold willow branches aloft – the giraffes go crazy for the sweet flavour – and the animals loom down, wrapping their long black tongues around the branches and expertly stripping the leaves. With their long eyelashes and soft sandy snouts, they're even more beautiful close-up.
Back at Wolf Lodge I enjoy an indulgent soak in the roll top bath, made even better by the complimentary Bramford products. As the sun sets, we climb aboard our golf cart (every lodge comes with its own buggy) and make our way to dinner at Port Lympne's Babydoll pizza restaurant. Driving through the park at dusk, it feels almost unbelievable that we're allowed to do this. During the ten minute journey, we don't pass another soul – not human anyway. We bid good evening to gibbons, spectacled bears and funny looking tapir and it's like we have the entire place to ourselves. Somewhere in the nearby distance we hear the deep, guttural roar of a lion. Even though we're less than two hours from home (north London) and have a new baby in tow, this feels like a real adventure.
During our stay I'm lucky enough to get a behind-the-scenes peek at the new Giraffe Manor, an attraction due to open in 2019 that is guaranteed to send wildlife lovers into a spin. Modelled on the world famous Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya, Port Lympne's new attraction will be a 20 bedroom luxury hotel, where giraffes will wonder the grounds and poke their heads through guests' bedroom windows. The park's Managing Director, Bob O'Connor, takes me on a room-by-room tour of the derelict 15th century Grade II listed house that will soon be transformed into the new hotel. It's one hell of a project, but I can tell it's going to be sensational. The house sits on a hill overlooking the rolling Kent countryside and the views alone make it worth a visit. But, if you like the idea of waking up to a giraffe at your window without having to travel to Kenya, don't hang about. There's already a waiting list.
As we check out and say our goodbyes, I mention to one of the keepers that the wolves seem to have taken an unhealthy interest in baby Annie. 'Makes sense,' he replies. 'It's natural from them to want to pick off the smallest in the pack.' Yes, it's unnerving watching a wolf eye up my baby daughter as a lunch option, but perhaps not as unnerving as the prospect of these bewitching animals, and dozens like them, being wiped out. I want Annie to grow up in a world where wolves, tiger and rhino are more than pictures in a history book. Even though I don't like the idea of caged animals, until conservation projects like the ones funded by Port Lympne are no longer needed, a night at Wolf Lodge is money well spent.
The lowdon: Port Lympne
Where: Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, Hythe, Kent
Price: An overnight stay at Wolf Lodge starts from £409. Day visits to the park cost £25 for adults and £21 for children
There are many ways to stay the night at Port Lympne, including cheaper options such as treetop houses and glamping.
Book and find out more: www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne
All profits from Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve go directly to The Aspinall Foundation to further its vital work of restoring animals to the native homelands where so many have been driven to the brink of extinction by the ravages of mankind.
Family Safari Holidays
Wonderful family wildlife holidays
Finding the right safari for your family
Family nature holidays
Sleeping with animals: 10 great wildlife adventures
Incredible family holiday destination guide for 2022
Responsible holidays
10 best family eco adventures to have with kids in 2022
7 top family travel trends for 2021 (and beyond)
Top 5 winter escapes for adventurous families
The best places for a wildlife watching holiday
5 of the best family-friendly safaris
Natural wildlife experiences on fantastic family holidays
5 of the best safari and wildlife trips
Explore more of England
20 UK attractions to take kids to before they grow up
10 UK family attractions opening in April for days out with kids
10 unusual things to do in London with kids
10 best beaches for Easter breaks in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset
9 magical UK experiences for kids to try before they grow up
9 buggy walks in the Lake District for easy family days out
Half term break inspiration? Skip off to Skipton Yorkshire
15 fun things to do in the UK with families this November
8 of the best stylish summer staycations
Top 10 family friendly festivals in 2018
Activities for toddlers in The Lake District
Top ten foodie cities
Discover what's going down for families in Kent Downs AONB, it's exciting!
Find the best ice rinks for days out with kids this winter
Families save up to 60% on wonderful winter staycations with Tripbeat
Book a cosy family cottage for an adventure in Northumberland
We've found the most Christmassy Christmas events for kids this December
20 fabulous family theatre shows to see with kids this Christmas


Your privacy is very important to us. In addition to providing you with the best possible user experience, we are also committed to securing the privacy of your personal information. We will not disclose your personally identifiable information to any third party without your consent.
Please be aware that when you click on links that take you to third-party websites, you will be subject to their respective privacy policies. While we support the protection of privacy on the Internet, we cannot be responsible for practices employed by websites linked to or from this website nor the information or content therein. These links are provided for informational purposes only.


This entry was posted on October 10, 2009 at 11:46 am	and is filed under History of SPD Abuses. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


text:
Guest Artist Exhibit: Joel Fremion
When: Feb 6 , 2023
Franklin College, 101 Branigin Blvd.
Franklin, Indiana 46131
The Franklin College Art Department welcomes its second guest artist exhibit of the 2022-2023 academic year to campus in February. The exhibition is titled Painting with Fabric.
Joel Fremion will exhibit his work in the Elba L. & Gene Portteus Branigin Atrium, located in the Johnson Center for Fine Arts. He will open the exhibit with a lecture about his work and process at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, in the Henderson Conference Room, located on the second floor of the Johnson Center for Fine Arts. An opening reception will follow the lecture. The public is invited to view Fremion's work at this free event.
Fremion is an award-winning, nationally recognized artist living in Fort Wayne. After growing up in his grandparents' upholstery/fabric shop, and being influenced as the son of an interior designer, Fremion's early college education centered around architectural and interior design. As he explored the fine arts, particularly painting, he eventually created his own technique of fabric collage. This very tactile artwork is an intricate blend of fabric and leather to create collages that are then further enhanced with painted details. The result is remarkably detailed images that startle the eye and intrigue the mind.
Fremion has received numerous awards for his artwork, including a Jury Prize of Distinction in the Indianapolis Museum of Art's Indiana Artists 86th Annual Exhibit, a Best of Category, 2-D Mixed Award in the Fairview Heights, Illinois Midwest Salute to the Arts and a Best of Show in the South Bend "For the Love of Art" Exhibit. He has also received several awards from the Hoosier Salon, including Best Work, First-Time Exhibitor in 1992 to the Jury Prize of Distinction in 2012. He has enjoyed a long and prosperous career in the creative arts.


Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, drummer for "Weird Al" Yankovic, joins the Cringe podcast! Bermuda will be performing around the country and beyond this summer as part of the Mandatory World Tour with Weird Al. Their latest album, "Mandatory Fun," won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 charts! This episode, we cover a wide range of topics from Bermuda's long career in music as well some hair-raising behind-the-scenes stories from being in Al's band! Bermuda also takes your questions from social media, e-mail, and Facebook - including specially submitted questions from the Close, Personal Friends of Al Facebook group!


text:
Q: Using Cloudformation to Deploy Lamba, Including a Parameter that the function will have access to We have an API that will be used to provision certain resources in AWS using Cloud Formation. This includes a Lambda function that will send events to S3, with the bucket being configurable. The thing is, we will know the bucket name when we provision the lambda, not within the lambda code itself.
As far as I can tell, there is no way to inject the S3 bucket name at the time of provisioning, in the Cloud Formation Template itself. Is that true?
The only solution I can see is to generate the function code on the fly, and embed that into the Cloud Formation template. This would make us unable to use any NPM dependencies along with the function code. Is there a better option?

A: So, I realized I had never updated this question with my eventual solution. I ended up embedding a proxy lambda function into the cloudformation template, which enabled me to inject template parameters.
Example:
{
"AWSTemplateFormatVersion": "2010-09-09",
"Description": "Creates a function to relay messages from a Kinesis instance to S3",
"Parameters": {
    "S3Bucket" : {
        "Type": "String",
        "Description": "The name of the S3 bucket where the data will be stored"
    },
    "S3Key": {
        "Type": "String",
        "Description": "The key of the directory where the data will be stored"
    }
},

"Resources": {
    "mainLambda": {
        "Type" : "AWS::Lambda::Function",
        "Properties" : {
            "Handler" : "index.handler",
            "Description" : "Writes events to S3",
            "Role" : { "Ref": "LambdaRoleARN" },
            "Runtime" : "nodejs4.3",
            "Code" : {
                "S3Bucket": "streams-resources",
                "S3Key": "astro-bass/${GIT_COMMIT}/lambda/astro-bass.zip"
            }
        }
    },

    "lambdaProxy": {
        "Type" : "AWS::Lambda::Function",
        "Properties" : {
            "Handler" : "index.handler",
            "Runtime" : "nodejs",
            "Code" : {
                "ZipFile": { "Fn::Join": ["", [
                    "var AWS = require('aws-sdk');",
                    "var lambda = new AWS.Lambda();",
                    "exports.handler = function(event, context) {",
                        "event.bundledParams = ['",
                            { "Ref": "S3Bucket" },
                            "','",
                            { "Ref": "S3Key" },
                        "'];",
                        "lambda.invoke({",
                            "FunctionName: '",
                            { "Ref": "mainLambda" },
                            "',",
                            "Payload: JSON.stringify(event, null, 2),",
                            "InvocationType: 'Event'",
                        "}, function(err, data) {",
                            "if(err) {",
                                "context.fail(err);",
                            "}",
                            "context.done();",
                        "});",
                    "};"
                ]]}
            }
        }
    },
},

...
}

The proxy function had the parameters injected into its code (s3bucket/key), and then it invokes the main lambda with a modified event object. It's a little unorthodox but struck me as much cleaner than the other available solutions, such as parse stacknames/etc. Worked well thus far.
Note that this solution only works currently with the legacy node environment. Not an issue, but worrisome in terms of the longevity of this solution.
UPDATE:
We ran into limitations with the previous solution and had to devise yet another one. We ended up with an off-label usage of the description field to embed configuration values. Here is our Lambda
'use strict';
var aws = require('aws-sdk');
var lambda = new aws.Lambda({apiVersion: '2014-11-11'});

let promise = lambda.getFunctionConfiguration({ FunctionName: process.env['AWS_LAMBDA_FUNCTION_NAME'] }).promise();

exports.handler = async function getTheConfig(event, context, cb) {
    try {
        let data = await promise;
        cb(null, JSON.parse(data.Description).bucket);
    } catch(e) {
        cb(e);
    }
};

Then, in the description field, you can embed a simple JSON snipped like so:
{
    "bucket": "bucket-name"
}

Moreover, this structure, using the promise outside of the handler, limits the request to only occurring when the container is spawned - not for each individual lambda execution.
Not quite the cleanest solution, but the most functional one we've found.

A: There is no way of passing parameters to a Lambda function beside the event itself at the moment.
If you are creating a Lambda function with CloudFormation you could use the following workaround:

*

*Use the Lambda function name to derive the CloudFormation stack name.

*Use the CloudFormation stack name to access resources, or parameters of the stack when executing the Lambda function.

A: I would suggest doing it like this.
First create an index.js file and add this code.
var AWS = require('aws-sdk');

const s3 = new AWS.S3();

const https = require('https');

exports.handler = (event, context, callback) => {

    const options = {
        hostname: process.env.ApiUrl,
        port: 443,
        path: '/todos',
        method: 'GET'
    };

    const req = https.request(options, (res) => {
        console.log('statusCode:', res.statusCode);
        console.log('headers:', res.headers);

        res.on('data', (d) => {
            process.stdout.write(d);
        });
    });

    req.on('error', (e) => {
        console.error(e);
    });
    req.end();

};

Zip the index.js file and upload it to an S3 bucket in the same region as your lambda function.
Then use this Cloudformation template make sure you specific the correct bucket name.
{
    "AWSTemplateFormatVersion": "2010-09-09",
    "Description": "ApiWorkflow",
    "Metadata": {

    },
    "Parameters": {
        "ApiUrl": {
            "Description": "Specify the api url",
            "Type": "String",
            "Default": "jsonplaceholder.typicode.com"
        },
    },
    "Mappings": {

    },
    "Conditions": {

    },
    "Resources": {
        "lambdaVodFunction": {
            "Type": "AWS::Lambda::Function",
            "Properties": {
                "Code": {
                    "S3Bucket": "lamdba-exec-tests",
                    "S3Key": "index.js.zip"
                },
                "Handler": "index.handler",
                "Role": "arn:aws:iam::000000000:role/BasicLambdaExecRole",
                "Runtime": "nodejs10.x",
                "FunctionName": "ApiWorkflow",
                "MemorySize": 128,
                "Timeout": 5,
                "Description": "Texting Lambda",
                "Environment": {
                    "Variables": {
                        "ApiUrl": {
                            "Ref": "ApiUrl"
                        },
                        "Test2": "Hello World"
                    }
                },
            }
        }
    },
    "Outputs": {
        "ApiUrl": {
            "Description": "Set api url",
            "Value": {
                "Ref": "ApiUrl"
            }
        }
    }
}

You should see in the template Environmental variables you can access these in your NodeJS Lambda function like this.
process.env.ApiUrl

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This artistic table lamp is a swell addition to a modern home. The lampshade is handcrafted in luxurious crochet while the P-shaped iron bar gives perspective and the sheesham wooden base keeps it subtle. Use a dim yellow Led bulb to add a warm glow to your interiors or a clear incandescent bulb to accentuate shadow patterns if you prefer to create drama.
This contemporary tripod floor lamp adds oodles of style to living spaces. The lampshade is painstakingly handcrafted in luxurious crochet while the sleek wooden neck is shaped from high-quality wood. The white iron tripod base lends it a sophisticated charm.
This macramé lamp is trendy, 100% hand-made by rural artisans and inspired by the ancient jewels. The ivory lampshade is evocative of laid-back archipelagos and white sandy beaches. Hang it in a corner, centre or off-centre and see a room come alive.
Together these small and cozy crocheted luxuries with fun and stylish macramé will adorn your home with hints of rich traditions and a unique contemporary look.


At 7:30 this morning I had every intention of completing a 70 mile bike ride. By 1:00PM I arrived at the 55 mile rest stop with absolutely no energy and a horrible feeling of failure. I sat on a cooler, against a truck in a sliver of shade. The oppressive heat that radiated from the black pavement and the lack of shade, for miles at a time, had taken its toll.
Did I mention the hills? This particular ride is known for its hills. Yes, hills in Texas. The ride description said "The Goatneck Bike ride is a rolling hill course which averages around 35 feet per mile of climbing." I've been doing hill work. I've been trying to ride in the heat….it just wasn't enough.
As I sat in that sliver of shade, pouring ice water over my head, my riding buddy (Rachael) and a nice gentleman (Pat) that I rode with off and on throughout the day, helped me realize the importance of knowing when enough is enough. Pat said to me several times how difficult it is to come back from a heat related illness. Rachael simply helped me understand taking the SAG ride to the finish line was not quitting, it was the smart choice.
As I rode in the SAG truck, I still wasn't convinced I had made the right choice. Then we rounded a bend in the road and I saw yet another long (very long) hill. I looked at the SAG driver and said, "If I were still on my bike I think the sight of that hill would have caused me to just sit down in the middle of the road." I had made the right choice, my legs were shot for the day.
It was a humbling experience. I hate giving up, especially when it comes to an athletic activity. One of the mantras I use is, "just keep moving forward." Today I could not.
The first half-marathon I ran, I didn't think I would finish. I struggled the last 3 miles and crossed the finish line with calf cramps and knee pain. Instead of deciding this wasn't for me, I started planning how to train smarter so I would be better prepared for the next one. The same thoughts crossed my mind today. Instead of giving into my frustration and anger I started planning for next year. I started thinking about where I could do more hill work, how to strengthen my back and my core and how to return next year better and stronger.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged cycling, Goatneck, hill climbs, Texas Heat on July 31, 2016 by treerabold.
You did well, Tree! No failure at all!
You should focus on the fact you got 55 miles under your belt! Many can't say that.
It's smart you stopped b4 hurting yourself. However, you can use these thoughts of 'not finishing' in the future to prod yourself on to train for the day you can finish the 70 miles, without injury!
🙂 your encouragement is appreciated…a lot!!
I live in Texas and I do my best to not even venture outside this time of year, so I am very impressed with what you accomplished!
Thank you! It's hard to imagine the Texas heat if you don't live here. Stay cool!!
Some days it's just not there for you. I concur that knowing when to stop is an important skill to have. It ensures that injury / illness is prevented. Fifty-five miles on a hilly, hot course not feeling 100%? Sounds like success to me.
I hate to hear you've experienced heat exhaustion. Yesterday was the closest I've come and it did not feel good.
How is the collarbone coming along?
Heat exhaustion is definitely not fun. It took me 3 weeks to recover from dehydration and heat exhaustion! Better to quit while you're ahead!!
That is an interesting concept?
Now that you have figured that out have you slowed down?
Well, since I hurt my shoulder trying to spin indoors on my bike last week … yes, I've slowed down. I was quite worried I had done some damage to the bone that was trying to mend. I've learned my lesson.
I hope so. I'll look forward to the update. Stay off all bikes….2 wheel and stationary!!
ouch. I hope he fared better than I did!!
Yes, he was very sore but nothing broken.
You came back with a plan for next year. I'd say that's a good thing. I also agree you did the right thing to stop when you did. 55 miles is no small thing!
You were wise to stop when the conditions would have endangered your well being. There's always another time.
Thank you Imelda. In hind sight I'm sure I did the right thing. I've continued thinking about that ride non-stop…next year!


Much has been and will be written about the Holy Father's latest teaching in his Apostolic Exhortation, Gaudete et Exsultate. Some have latched onto it as an opportunity to bash their perceived opponents in the Church. One writer felt compelled to rush a tweet gleefully proclaiming certain passages as "taking aim" at particular Catholics with whom the well-known tweeter obviously has problems. Others have used the words of the exhortation to support their pet political agendas.
Witness the headlines of major news organizations, which quickly latched on to the seeming moral equivalency posited by His Holiness between opposition for abortion and support for immigration. Considerable ink will be spilled and or electronic bytes consumed in the coming weeks and months trying to parse the Holy Father's words as to whether a) the Holy Father meant to posit such an equivalency and b) whether such an equivalency does in fact exist.
St. Theresa of Avila once advised, "Let nothing disturb you." The blessed Doctor would undoubtedly be frantically reasserting this counsel during this stormy pontificate.
There is one thing, though, about Gaudete et Exsultate which has left this simple layman scratching his head – the fact that in a 22,000-word document that reissues the Church's millennia-long call to holiness in the faithful, relatively little attention is paid to the primary means to obtain holiness: the sacraments.
The Eucharist is mentioned only five times and doesn't make its first appearance until paragraph 110, roughly two-thirds of the way through. Similarly, Reconciliation (Confession) is mentioned only six times, also making its first appearance alongside the Eucharist in paragraph 110. In a document written as an exhortation to a holiness that expresses itself in mission, it seems strange to give such short shrift to the means to attain the holiness – the grace – to carry out that mission.
But is this true? Are the inestimable means of sanctification – Eucharist and Confession – truly "already known," even to those who profess to be Catholic?
The statistics are well known, dreary, yet bear repeating, here. According to Georgetown University's, Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), weekly mass attendance in 2017 in the United States stood at only 23 percent. Even worse, again as reported by CARA, only 2 percent of all American Catholics reported going to Confession at least once a month, while fully 75 percent say they go to Confession less than once a year. Or never.
So, no, I'm not at all certain we can assume, as the Holy Father does, that the normative, most efficacious means for sanctification are "well-known." I'm not sure an exhortation that exuberantly and eloquently calls, as this one does, for a renewed zeal for mission and community will bear the hoped-for fruit absent the infusion of grace to be found only in the sacraments.
St. Augustine taught us that, "The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works." Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, beautifully reiterating the theology of St. Paul observed that, "In the Eucharist a communion takes place that corresponds to the union of man and woman in marriage. Just as they become 'one flesh,' so in Communion we all become 'one spirit,' one person, with Christ." Put simply, Confession and Eucharist are the necessary predicates for the Mission and Community to which Gaudete et Exsultate so forcefully calls us.
Not that long ago the Church held an ecumenical council, the primary results of which were: a) to reassert the "universal call to holiness" (as does the Holy Father in this latest exhortation) and b) to exalt, once again, the Holy Eucharist as "the source and summit of the Faith." Vatican II clearly saw the two are linked.
All of the things to which His Holiness exhorts us – "small gestures" of holiness, lives lived in beatitude, the battle against the devil, discernment, etc. – can only efficaciously be accomplished and bear fruit with the graces obtained in the Blessed Sacrament and, by extension, the other sacraments.
There are other charitable institutions and other philosophies based upon and possessing natural virtues. What raises the Church up, what differentiates Her from, all other human endeavors is this Gift, this gift of the Body, Blood, Soul and, Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the share in God's life, the grace, which comes with it. It's the most precious gift She offers to the world.
Thus, I find it curious so little attention is paid in His Holiness's exhortation to the pivotal role played by the sacraments in attaining holiness. Indeed, to attempt holiness without them would be, well, to flirt with neo-Pelagianism, wouldn't it?


Would you please explain the variation in spelling of the word gray vs. grey?
Short answer: gray is standard American spelling and grey is British spelling for the same color.
The spellings have bounced back and forth.
The Old English stem was spelled grǣg.
According to the OED, "The variation between spellings in ei, ey, etc., and in ai, ay, etc., in later Middle English results from the general Middle English merger of the ei and ai diphthongs." Examples of spellings that evolved from the merger are clay, gray, grey, and whey.
G. W. Samson Elem. Art Crit. v. i. 483. Professional, if not primitive English usage has made a distinction between gray and grey. The spelling gray may with propriety be employed to designate admixtures in which simple black and white are employed. The form grey may indicate those admixtures which have the same general hue, but into which blue and its compounds more or less slightly enter.
Individuals may prefer one spelling to the other, but the rule is, American spelling gray; British spelling grey.
A breed of fast-running, keen-sighted dog having a long slender body and head and long legs, long used in hunting and coursing, and now used in racing; a dog of this breed.
Somehow I grew up spelling it "grey"; not sure why, since I grew up in New York USA. Might be because of the books I read. I also remember being very surprised to find out that few, if any, greyhounds are grey/gray. My dog, a wonderful rescue greyhound named Jake, is considered red, although how they decided to call his color red is beyond me; to me he appears kind of tan/tawny or camel-colored. And I was disappointed to find out that he cannot travel with me on Greyhound [buses].
I also grew up spelling it "grey," in the USA.
It's interesting to me to read that some writers see a difference in the hue of "grey" and "gray." Similarly to the "many correspondents" above, I think of "grey" being a warmer, lighter neutral color; "gray" is cooler and darker. But I didn't imagine that anyone else would would actually think like that!
Gray is the color. Grey is the surname.


Well our group has been busy working to finish this story board and script for our flipped PD presentation. Because we are an elementary focused group, we decided to take what we are already doing in our elementary classroom and add technology to it. I'm really glad that we decided to focus on Daily 5 and utilizing specific technologies within that. To read the script we will be using, click to view our Google Doc.
My responsibility was to create all of the script. By this, I mean the explanations. Pretty much all of the talking, specifically about the Daily 5, is all me. I will probably be the voice of this as well. The boys, Eric and Dan, are both taking the technologies and showing how exactly to utilize them, making it as user friendly as possible. I'm sad to say that I still haven't heard from Amanda. We have emailed her often and assigned her the job of focussing on research and info. Because we still haven't heard from her, I took some of that responsibility by incorporating research about Daily 5. I hope everything is okay with her. I think we are going to collaborate by adding our own bits of the project to the Google Presentation. Hopefully it all works out!