text:
N8 Tips and Tricks – Using Widgets
Posted on October 20, 2010 by Dennis Bournique
US tech blogs have been having a field day panning the new Nokia N8, something I don't quite understand. I've had my N8 for a couple of weeks now and I'm loving it. It's replaced an Android phone as the handset I carry everywhere. I'm pleased as punch with it's responsiveness, reception, call quantity and vibrant screen with reflective coating that makes it usable in sunlight. The camera is in a world of it's own as it's by far the best ever on a phone. The sleek metal body feels and looks good in the hand. I think the N8's distinctive style looks better and different than the dozens of nearly identical touchscreen slab phones flooding the market.
Most of the criticism of the N8 centers around the user interface. That's a valid point. The N8's UI is very different than that of the Android and the iPhone. It's also less intuitive and has a steeper learning curve than either for new users. But learning how to use Symbian^3 is really something you only have to do once. Once you grasp the few unique paradigms, change some default settings and commit common operations to muscle memory, using the N8 becomes second nature and getting things done on it is as quick as with other smartphone platforms.
Symbian^3 also has it's strengths too. In some respects it equals or beats the best of its competitors. One of those is home screen widgets. Nokia introduced widgets to Symbian with the N97, but that phone didn't have enough RAM to be able to run more than a few before running low on memory. The N8 has over 100 MB of memory free at startup Even after I completely filled all three N8 home screens with widgets I still had 83 MB free!
The N8 home screens can be completely customized with widgets. To customize any screen:
Do a long press anywhere on the screen to enter edit mode (indicated by a cross hatch pattern over the screen.
Tap any of the the Plus sign placeholders (first image, above) to add a widget. The phone's Widget catalog appears (second image, above) showing the available widgets on the phone with a button to launch the Ovi store and download more widgets.
Drag an existing widget to move it up or down on the same screen..
Tap a widget to adjust its settings or remove it (third image, above).
Some my favorite widgets (images above) are:
Mail – displays the latest email from one account, tap to open the full screen Mail app. Add multiple Mail widgets for multiple accounts.
Calendar – see your upcoming events at a glance, tap to open the calendar app
Favorite contacts – displays your most called contacts. Tap a contact to call. Four contacts display at once, scroll sideways to see more.
Notifications – Displays unread messages, missed calls, voice mails and imminent calendar events. Tap a notification to open the associated app.
WiFi wizard – a mini wardriving app that shows available WiFi networks and lets you connect or disconnect from one with a couple of taps.
Shortcuts – this widget is how you add apps and browser bookmarks to a home screen. When first installed it shows four default apps. Tap it to edit each of the four positions to show any installed app or browser bookmark.
Music Player – Displays the artist, title and album art from the currently playing song and lets you control the music player with pause/play and skip buttons.
National Geographic – displays a photo and title from a random video from the magazin'es free Symbian app. Tap to open the app and watch the video.
Social – shows recent Twitter tweets and Facebook statuses and lets you update you status or send a tweet.
RSS Feeds – lets can add any feed as a widget. Here's how:
Open the browser and visit a site whose feed you want to add.
Tap the double headed arrow icon in the bottom, right of the browser screen (first image, above) to bring up the browser menu.
Tap the menu icon on the left with the three bars on it (second image, above).
Tap "Subsc. feeds", (third image above) and all of the site's feeds will be listed (first image, below). Tap a feed and you will see a list of all your subscribed feeds (second image, below).
The new feed will have a generic title like "RSS 2.0 Feed". Tap it and you will be taken to a page where you can edit the feed title, URL and update frequency.
Hit "Back", confirm you want to save changes and the feed will now be available in the Widget Catalog and can be added to a homescreen. I seem t get an error with feed URLs that redirect to a Feedburner feed like WapReview's. I can add them but get a "Format not supported" error when I try to open them. A work around is to manually add the feed's Feedburner URL like, http://feeds.feedburner.com/WapReview, for example.
All the above widgets come with the phone, so there's nothing to download, you just install them. You can download more widgets from the Ovi store. Two I'm trying that look promising are:
Accuweather – displays the current conditions and temperature at your location, tap it to open Accuweather's full featured weather app with detailed hourly and nine day forecasts and radar maps.
Bloomberg – displays a live stock ticker showing an alternating selection of stocks, apparently picked at random. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any way to specify which stocks the widget displays. Tapping the the widget displays the Bloomberg app.
With widgets you can add a lot of add a glance information and functionality to the home screen. The N8's ample memory means you don't really have to worry about the amount of RAM they use. Battery life might be a concern, although I've been running 14 widgets for several days now, including four (Accuweather, Mail, WiFi Wizard and Social) that periodically check the network for updates and my battery still lasts through the day. If you get into a situation where your battery is getting low, you can hit the "Options" button in the bottom left corner of any home screen and choose "Widgets to offline mode" to shut off all widget network access.
This entry was posted in Nokia and tagged idle screen, tutorials, Widgets by Dennis Bournique. Bookmark the permalink.
44 thoughts on "N8 Tips and Tricks – Using Widgets"
Abinayah on December 22, 2011 at 5:53 am said:
When I open my web browser, It says Web browser: Unable to perform operation. But the other Ovi applications- Ovi store and Ovi Music work just fine. Am not able to rectify the problem. Any solutions?
Jade Wilson on October 13, 2011 at 4:01 am said:
Since the release, I've had two N8s. I love the phone, but have never been able to access Ovi store via wap. I was never too bothered before, but now I have moved and haven't got round to setting up my home broadband yet. Some other apps, such as mail, will also only run on wifi. The top left of the screen shows it trying to connect to PAYG WAP and Contract wap. Then tells me connection unavailable. How can I fix this? Any ideas?
Dennis Bournique on October 13, 2011 at 8:12 am said:
1. Open Settings > Connectivity > Destinations > Internet and verify that you operator's apn is the 1st one listed (long press and choose Change priority if it isn't) and it's settings are correct (double tab to check). Tap options > advanced and verify that the proxy settings are correct if your operator requires you to use a proxy to connect to the Internet. If your operator doesn't require a proxy, be sure that proxy server address is "None" and Proxy port is 0
2. Open the Web Browser, go to Settings > General and verify that Access point is set to Internet and change if it's not.
With the above settings it should work, if not try contacting Nokia Care for help. Open Mokia.com, select you county and then click "Contact Support" for country specific phone numbers and email addresses.
Tony Yang on October 13, 2011 at 8:17 am said:
N8 is one of the very few phones out there that can run GPS without network support. I have more than one phones & often use it for GPS without SIM card inserted. This is what you do to get it going:
1. Download maps from Ovi store first. Choose which state(s) or even countries you want to download.
2. Go to Settings->Application Settings->Positioning->Positioning Methods, uncheck Assisted GPS, Network based & Wi-Fi/Network. Run it only with Integrated GPS
3. Go back to Application Settings->Map Apps->General, make sure Connection is set "Offline" instead of "Online"
That should get your N8 running GPS without network or Wi-Fi support. It may take awhile to set your position because you're only running on N8's integrated GPS. In other countries, it may take as long as 20 to 30 minutes!!
furqi on February 24, 2011 at 12:55 pm said:
hey dennis..tell me abt symbian^4 release date…
Dennis Bournique on February 25, 2011 at 8:34 am said:
Symbian^4 will not be released. Instead the features of Symbian^4 will gradually be released as a serries of updates for existing Symbian^3 phones. The first of which was the recently released PR1.1.
PR2 which includes a new browser and portrait QWERTY keyboard is supposed to arrive sometime this year.
furqi on February 25, 2011 at 1:47 pm said:
hey dennis..
thx for the reply..
i wana ask a few more things..
ive downloaded PR1.1, but i dint feel any difference..so what really the difference is??
secondly i downloaded the latest update related to quick search and improved conversation..but i dint feel any difference in that either..so plz if u could tell me the difference related to its performance..
3rdly..as in iphone, we can have cracks of applications through Installous, do v have smthing like that for n8 as well??
i'll be grateful..
Dennis Bournique on February 26, 2011 at 1:47 pm said:
The things I've noticed in 1.1 so far
The email app loads messages much faster
The Pro version of Quick Office that allows you to edit documents is included
I haven't bothered to get the new search yet.
Abhishek on February 21, 2011 at 8:54 am said:
Hi dennis, can u plz tell me how reinstall the social widget and Nat geo on n8??
Dennis Bournique on February 21, 2011 at 10:18 am said:
I believe that the only way is to apply the full version of the PR1.1 update using Nokia Software Updater on a PC.
Keath on February 20, 2011 at 9:23 am said:
I have N 8 and when i connect it to the WIFI it says connected but when i brows the web page it says that (web :Unable To Perform Operation)so i dont know what to do plz help me thanks Keath…
aalekh on January 26, 2011 at 3:29 pm said:
i have nokia n8.by mistake i format my cell phone.the you tube downloader also delete from my cell phone.how can i get it back.this creates problem in watching videos.
Filip on January 11, 2011 at 6:18 am said:
my web tv doesnt work i have only a black screen or ReferenceError: Can't find variable device
Maddog on December 14, 2010 at 9:28 am said:
OK, here's some follow up information that some may find helpful:
1. My CNN & Reuter widget not loading/refreshing – the problem is Fring. Uninstall Fring, and both widgets will work fine.
2. CNBC Asia widget: Here is the offical response from CNBC Asia:
From: Ee, Adeline (NBC Universal, CNBC Asia) [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 3:51 AM
To: Yang Tony
Subject: RE: Technical Support
Hi Tony
We are currently in the process of modifying the widget and have temporarily suspended the news feed.
In the meantime, please access the CNBC Mobile website via your browser. Our URL is http://asia.cnbc.com
gangesh on December 6, 2010 at 11:34 pm said:
pl help i by mistake formatted my n8 and lost all the movie teasers and waps which were factory setting and the wall papers. please can u help me to have them specially movie teasers please
Dennis Bournique on December 7, 2010 at 9:51 am said:
You probably have to take it to a Nokia service center to get the missing content restored. Or possibly when a firmware update comes out upgrading may replace the missing content.
Maddog on December 6, 2010 at 9:48 am said:
Dear Dennis, the CNBC, CNN & Reuters widgets are not connecting (while AP, bloomberg are working fine). Any hints?
Dennis Bournique on December 7, 2010 at 10:00 am said:
Deleting and re-adding the widgets to the home scree might help. There are any settings for the individual widgets so there's nothing you can change.
FWIW, the CNN and Reuters widgets, which are just the RSS widget pre-configured with those services, work normally for me. I don't find the RSS widget useful because the headlines are so badly truncated that they generally don't tell what the item is abour.
The CNBC widget connects and displays headlines but there only seem to be 3 headlines which never update and clicking a headline in the widget takes me to the CNBC app's main page rather than to the the story.
Maddog on December 7, 2010 at 4:45 pm said:
Thanks Dennis, you're feedback is greatly appreciated!
Jlebron on November 13, 2010 at 8:20 pm said:
Hi, I want to add the "Call Mailbox" icon to one of the home screen but this icon is deep into the settings menu. Can it be done?
Dennis Bournique on November 13, 2010 at 8:40 pm said:
Not directly, but you could add the Call Mailbox number to your to your contacts, add it to your Favorite Contacts list and then add a Favorite Contacts widget to the home screen.
topbuzz on November 8, 2010 at 7:04 am said:
There are several ways to force the phone to use WiFi only but the easiest seems to be to go to Settings > Connectivity > Settings and set both "Data use in home network" and "Data use when roaming to "Wi-Fi network only" i tried this but it just says unable to perform operation when i try to connect to a page.seems for whatever reason i cant use wifi with the web browser so i just don't use the web browser as i'm on vodafone in the uk which takes upto a couple minutes to load a page with a 3.5g signal! lol i think the wifi wouldnt help too much with the very poor web browser on the n8 anyway! just annoying that i have to keep my n900 with me too for when i need to browse the net
bandi on November 6, 2010 at 11:38 am said:
does n8 have stock widget like the one in iphones and if it works as well as it works in iphones
Dennis Bournique on November 6, 2010 at 4:57 pm said:
I mentioned the Bloomberg widget in the post and it appears in one of the screenshots. It displays a live stock ticker showing an alternating selection of random stocks. There doesn't seem to be any way to specify which stocks the widget displays. Tapping the the widget displays the Bloomberg app.
I've never seen the iPhone stock widget. Actually. I don't think the iPhone supports widgets.
Ito Lopa on November 4, 2010 at 8:26 am said:
how come skype stopped working with my nimbuzz on my n8? also, when will skype have its own widget for the n8? how do i get a widget for facebook specifically on my N8?
ito Lopa
Dennis Bournique on November 4, 2010 at 8:38 am said:
Skype's not working in Nimbuzz because Skype has blocked Nimbuzz.
I have no idea when there will be a Skype app for the N8.
The Nokia Social widget is pre-installed on the N8 and works with Facebook.
Seth on November 4, 2010 at 7:53 am said:
I'm curious to know if Nokia's webkit has caught up to the othe mobile webkits out there. http://www.iui-js.appspot.com/samples/music/music.html#_home works on iOS,Android and the latest BB, any chance you'd review the N8's performance with iUI?
I'm not reviewing the current N8 browser because it's really not any different than the N97's. I'm waiting to review the new, completely redesigned version of the Nokia browser which is due to be released this year.
As for iUI, it looks interesting but needs to support all modern standards compliant mobile browsers including Opera, mobile Firefox and microB rather than just "iPhone class devices".
Jakob on October 24, 2010 at 9:12 am said:
Ok, yeah it seems to be widespread enough. I won't worry about it then. Thanks!
Hi Dennis, thank you for help. Actually I have found the problem, it was Fring. Once I deleted Fring off my phone my RSS feeds worked. I am now trying to diagnose my Web tv apps. Nat Geo does not load for me. But thanks again for your explanations.
National Geographic has stopped working for me too. Probably a server issue.
manojlds on October 24, 2010 at 5:35 am said:
"One of those is home screen widgets."
I disagree. The widgets on the N8 are very limited ( am not sure if the OS api itself limits them. ) After seeing widgets on Android, I am very disappointed. I don't like widgets that are all of the same size. And the Social widget is useless. Only two updates. Same goes for mail.
Regarding the WiFi, Packet data thingy, set in Settings -> Connetctivity to always ask, so that you can choose the access point for Internet from WiFi or your Packet Data APN.
The N8 doesn't seem to play m4a video. It treats it as audio and play only audio from the video.
Jakob on October 23, 2010 at 11:45 pm said:
Hi Dennis, could you explain better how to get the feeds going? None of my default pre-loaded feeds work and when I try and modify the URL's nothing happens. So for example what is in your URL box for Reuters? Thank you.
Setting up a feed is pretty simple. I already explained it as clearly as I could. If it doesn't work check the browser's connection settings. You have to be able to use the browser for feeds to work.
The URL for the Reuters feed is http://feeds.reuters.com/reuters/topNews/
Mat on October 22, 2010 at 7:09 pm said:
anytime i try to connect to the web, even if there is a wifi connection on; N8 still tries to connect to the WAP service of the service provider. how do u prevent that
Dennis Bournique on October 22, 2010 at 7:45 pm said:
There are several ways to force the phone to use WiFi only but the easiest seems to be to go to Settings > Connectivity > Settings and set both "Data use in home network" and "Data use when roaming to "Wi-Fi network only"
carlos on October 22, 2010 at 5:28 pm said:
good teach Dennis i like this OS, do you know when will be available the C7 on the US?
I've heard rumors that it will be available at the end of the month.
Kenny on October 22, 2010 at 3:59 pm said:
How's the GPS reception on the N8?
It's pretty good. I just tried it with no SIM in the phone (so no network assist) and got a GPS fix in about 30 seconds standing near a window indoors.
James Pearce on October 21, 2010 at 12:03 pm said:
How's the web browser?
Underwhelming. Not much different than the one on my old N95. No location provider support, slow JavaScript. It has pinch zooming but text doesn't reflow when zooming in.
Cpsathar on October 21, 2010 at 1:13 am said:
How your web tv experience on N8?
In spite of its name, WebTV is not live TV, it's just an app that lets you watch a small number of streaming videos. My US market N8 came with only National Geographic and Paramount movie trailer "channels". The Ovi store lists four more (which I haven't tried); Eros Bollywood, India Today. Speed Racer TV and Mega Man TV. The first two are free, the others are $4.99 for a one-time purchase of 11 Speed Racer or 3 Mega Man videos.
The videos play full stream and the sound and picture quality is excellent. I'm not sure what the point of WebTV is. The N8 has very good video recording and playback capabilities and can handle a wide variety of video formats through the browser or playing from the SD card. Web TV seems like more of a showcase for the N8's video capacities than a serious attempt to build a new video distribution platform.


text:
WISeKey forms joint venture with Saudi Advanced Technologies
Ninjacart secures over $89 million in investment from Tiger Global
Reliance denies allegations it has breached US sanctions on Venezuela
San Francisco startup Lyric raises $160m in Airbnb-led funding round
Canada's Canopy Growth enters UK and Poland medical cannabis market
Mateen Dalal January 22, 2019 Business
The move will offer doctors and patients access to cannabis-based medicinal products that manage a wide range of clinical symptoms.
Canada's cannabis company, Canopy Growth Corp. has recently announced its expansion in the UK and Poland where its medically-focused units Spectrum Biomedical UK and Spectrum Cannabis Polska continue to build a pan-European cannabis network that serves the needs of physicians and their patients throughout the continent.
For the record, specialist doctors in the UK, under the new federal classification, can now prescribe cannabis-based medicines to patients for managing a wide range of symptoms, from muscle spasticity to chemotherapy-induced nausea, chronic pain and vomiting.
Sources cite that Spectrum Biomedical UK, following the launch, be able to offer Spectrum Cannabis medicinal cannabis products to patients and doctors in the UK. The firm will also engage in physician education to ensure doctors are exposed to the deep research showing the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
According to a press release, Dr. Mark Ware, CMO, Canopy Growth, said that there is a significant clinical and real-world evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of cannabis-based medicinal products. He said that Spectrum UK owns expertise and a vision to simplify the UK medicinal cannabis sector and ensures access to medicinal cannabis products for patients with unmet clinical needs.
Reportedly, Spectrum Cannabis Polska has also completed its first successful medical cannabis import after completing a tough regulatory approval process to have the product assessed and approved for sale in Poland.
Dr. Pierre Debs, MD, Canopy Growth Europe, said that medical cannabis import is an important milestone for the company towards building its pan-European operations. He said that the company will continue to follow its overall self-sufficiency strategy in Europe to provide individuals with high-quality medical cannabis.
For the record, Spectrum Cannabis Polska is the fifth new cannabis unit of Canopy Growth in European markets. The company aims at transforming healthcare in Europe by offering access to medicinal cannabis-based treatments that have the potential to improve the lives of millions of patients, claim reports.
Qualcomm and Apple resolve lawsuit over smartphone processor costs
Credit Suisse to acquire controlling stake in China securities venture
Mateen Dalal
Currently working as a content developer for news-researchers.com, Mateen Dalal is also equipped with the experience of having worked as a quality and test engineer earlier. An electronics and telecommunication engineering graduate, Mateen also finds interest in trekking, gaming, and swimming. He can be contacted at- [email protected] | https://twitter.com/MateenDalal
news-researchers Copyright © 2020.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Tech watchdogs call on Facebook and Google for transparency around censored content
Home › Tech Tech watchdogs call on Facebook and Google for transparency around censored content
If a company like Facebook can't even understand why its moderation tools work the way they do, then its users certainly don't have a fighting shot. Anyway, that's the idea behind what a coalition of digital rights groups are calling The Santa Clara Principles (PDF), "a set of minimum standards" aimed at Facebook, Google, Twitter and other tech companies that moderate the content published on their platforms.
The suggested guidelines grew out of a set of events addressing "Content Moderation and Removal at Scale," the second of which is taking place today in Washington, D.C. The group participating in these conversations shared the goal of coming up with a suggested ruleset for how major tech companies should disclose which content is being censored, why it is being censored and how much speech is censored overall.
"Users deserve more transparency and greater accountability from platforms that play an outsized role — in Myanmar, Australia, Europe, and China, as well as in marginalized communities in the U.S. and elsewhere — in deciding what can be said on the internet," Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Director for International Freedom of Expression Jillian C. York said.
As the Center for Democracy and Technology explains, The Santa Clara principles (PDF) ask tech companies to disclose three categories of information:
Numbers (of posts removed, accounts suspended);
Notice (to users about content removals and account suspensions); and
Appeals (for users impacted by content removals or account suspensions).
"The Santa Clara Principles are the product of years of effort by privacy advocates to push tech companies to provide users with more disclosure and a better understanding of how content policing works," EFF Senior Staff Attorney Nate Cardozo added.
"Facebook and Google have taken some steps recently to improve transparency, and we applaud that. But it's not enough. We hope to see the companies embrace The Santa Clara Principles and move the bar on transparency and accountability even higher."
Participants in drafting The Santa Clara Principles include the ACLU Foundation of Northern California, Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation, New America's Open Technology Institute and a handful of scholars from departments studying ethics and communications.
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The easy-to-read display was a key feature that sold me on Oxo's digital thermometer.
I've got a couple of different thermometers that I use in the kitchen, each for different purposes. My candy thermometer is great for high-temperature work (boiling sugar for making things like marshmallows and macarons), and my little dial thermometer adequately handles lighter duties like checking baking temperatures.
The downside with both is that they take a long time to reach an accurate measurement, and they're hard to read while frantically whipping something up in the kitchen. And so the allure of this Oxo digital thermometer — giant numbers, reads temperatures quickly — was easy to grasp.
It's great for baking. I use it to check water temperatures when I'm proofing yeast, as well as for checking the temperatures of other liquids I'm adding to a batter or dough. Also good for checking air temperature in the spot where I want to leave a loaf of bread to rise.
The temperature readings really are quick and easy.
It's idiot-proof. There's an on/off button, and a Celsius/Fahrenheit button. That's it. You don't need a manual to operate it.
The centre of gravity on the head of the thermometer is not well balanced at all. When standing up at an angle in a cup or bowl, it wants to spin around, obscuring the readout screen. You have to hold it or find a way to prop it up for it to be useful.
I tried using it to make marshmallows, which requires precise measurement of boiling sugar temperatures. While it seemed fine at providing temperature readings, it was a pain to hold up in the boiling sugar. I quickly switched back to my glass candy thermometer (with clip) so I wouldn't burn myself.
I don't cook a lot of meat, but the probe has a sharp point that should easily work its way into a slab of meat to check the internal temperature.
An Oxo digital thermometer, still in the easy-to-spot package.
Cost: $21.95 at Call the Kettle Black, a kitchen shop in Edmonton.
Value for cash money: Not bad. Seems well built, so I expect it to last me for years.
Availability: Kitchen shops, department store kitchen sections.
Temperature range: From -40 to 302 Fahrenheit (-40 to 150 Celsius).
Digital vs. Analogue: Comes down to personal preference. Personally, I like the big digital readout, but I know some people prefer the old-school lines on a glass tube.
The verdict: For basic temperature-taking, it's perfect. I use it all the time when I'm baking or making lattes. I've learned its limitations, but I'm still happy with the product. For making candy, look elsewhere.
*makes mental note*Oxo digital thermometer-Call The Kettle Black!! *underlines heavily* Thanks Iain, just what I was looking(well, thinking of looking) for. I had bought one of the single cup Aeropress coffee makers & it'll be reassuring to use water at exactly 170 degrees as opposed to…eh, roughly 170.
Excellent! I like knowing the exact temperature of things, instead of just kind of guesstimating. I've used it a lot for proofing yeast and other baking tasks. I keep finding new uses for it. Worth the $22, IMHO.


text:
Viewtiful Joe (TV series)
Viewtiful Joe
Viewtiful Joe Volume 1 DVD cover
ビューティフル ジョー
(Byūtifuru Jō)
Action, comedy, superhero[1][2]
Anime television series
Takaaki Ishiyama
GGB
Takehiko Itsukida
Yūsuke Hayashi
Group TAC
Geneon Entertainment
TV Tokyo
English network
Kids' WB!
Original run
October 2, 2004 – September 24, 2005
51 (Japanese)
26 (English)
(List of episodes)
Anime and manga portal
Viewtiful Joe[a] is an anime series based on the video game series of the same name. The series loosely adapts the first two titles in the series, Viewtiful Joe and Viewtiful Joe 2, while introducing several original characters and scenarios. The series, comprising fifty-one episodes, was shown every Saturday on the Japanese television station TV Tokyo from October 2, 2004, until September 24, 2005. The show was licensed by anime distributor Geneon Entertainment, with its first twenty-six episodes airing in the United States on Kids' WB.[3][4] It was taken off the air when the block was moved to The CW.[5]
Viewtiful Joe was later licensed for distribution in other parts of the world by MGM Television. The anime debuted in the United Kingdom on Jetix on July 2, 2007.[6] Viewtiful Joe premiered on Cartoon Network Brazil on July 3, 2006, and ran again in the country's RedeTV! in HD on November 27, 2006.[7][8] It aired in Mexico starting on July 4, 2006.[9] On June 23, 2008, the show began airing on Cartoon Network in other parts of Latin America.[10] In 2009, Viewtiful Joe became available on Crunchyroll's streaming service for its users outside Asia.[11]
1 Plot
2 Characters
3 Media
3.1 Anime
3.2 CDs
3.3 Film books
5 Notes
7 External links
Following the games' storyline, movie lover Joe and his girlfriend Silvia enjoy a seemingly normal trip to the movies to see an action flick starring Joe's idol, Captain Blue, when suddenly the leader of the evil Jadow force reaches out of the screen and takes Silvia into the movie. Joe is forced to follow her by Captain Blue's mecha, Six Machine (renamed "Machine Six" in the English anime dub), and meets Captain Blue in the flesh who grants Joe the power to become an action movie hero in his own right called Viewtiful Joe.[12]
Joe: He is a fanboy of movies who gets to live his dream as Viewtiful Joe while he saves Silvia from Jadow. He assumes his superhero outfit via the catchphrase "Henshin-a-Go-Go, Baby!!" He is often distracted by double cheeseburgers and doesn't take a lot of things seriously.
Silvia: Joe's love interest and partner. In the beginning of the series, she was abducted by Jadow for their evil plan to succeed. After Shadow's defeat, Silvia obtained a V-Watch from Captain Blue so she can team up with Joe as Sexy Silvia (in the English anime dub Go-Go Silvia) instead of being the "damsel-in-distress".
Junior: Another self-proclaimed hero worshipper like Joe, only younger. He lived in Blue Town, which was named after Captain Blue, serving as its protector Captain Blue Jr. Despite his jealousy for Joe being Blue's successor, Junior decided to become Joe's sidekick and offered his knowledge of Movieland as a helping hand. As the series progresses into the Gedow arc, Junior received the V-Yoyos from Captain Blue, assuming his new superhero outfit via the phrase "Henshin-a-Yo-Yo, Baby!!"
Captain Blue: Joe's idol and mentor. He gave Joe the V-Watch which enables him to use his VFX powers. In season two, he was transformed into the "Captain Blue Device" by the Black Emperor, which Gedow uses to create monsters. The Black Emperor gave him the scar on his face.
Alastor: An agent of Jadow that uses the nicknames "The Midnight Thunder Boy" and "Blade Master." Though he was helping Jadow, Alastor doesn't care about their goals, but instead seeking out the ultimate battle, and can be considered an antihero to an extent. He considers himself Joe's rival, despite questioning Joe's methods. Alastor has the habit of watching over Joe during his adventures through Movieland and the two tend to act more like friends rather than enemies, becoming a perfect example of text-book frenemies. He was also the one who gave Joe the inspiration for his hero name. During Fire Leo's fight with Joe, Alastor restrained Fire Leo as they both fell into the void that surrounds Jadow headquarters, but Alastor promised to survive so he and Joe can finally settle their rivalry. Following the event Alastor lost his powers and could only restore them by a solar eclipse. During the time his power was lost, he appears in his normal form giving the heroes advice and sometimes help in fights. His power is restored to him during a solar eclipse.
Sprocket: Coordinator of Jadow and second in command of the organization. She is one of the few characters who is actually from the real world, being a member of Blue's film crew who was pulled into Movieland. She is annoyed with the antics and incompetence of Jadow's henchmen Charles III, Hulk Davidson, and Gran Bruce. When Jadow was no more, she along with Charles, Hulk, and Bruce joined up with Gedow.
Almighty Leader: The leader of Jadow, the antagonistic organization of the anime's first season. When Joe managed to get into Jadow headquarters, he found Silvia, only to see her abducted by the evil leader. Once Joe got to the stadium, "Almighty Leader" was revealed to be none other than Captain Blue, who attempted to break Joe's spirit and thus devastated Joe mentally before destroying him physically. But the words of those Joe had befriended in his adventures enabled Joe's confidence to return and fight Blue back. Piloting the King Blue giant robot, Blue was defeated by Joe in Six Majin.
The Black Emperor: Leader of the Gedow, the invading alien organization of the anime's second season whose goal is to use their various monsters and foot soldiers to corrupt a movie and alter the ending, causing the film to radiate with darkness. Pilots a battle machine. The Black Emperor is a superhero named Jet Black, Joe's father, owner of the theater and Captain Blue's best friend. He turned evil by the Black V-Watch and the Black Film. He was freed from the Black Film's corruption by Joe and Silvia. In episode 50, it is confirmed he gave Captain Blue his scar with a swipe of his blade.
Main article: List of Viewtiful Joe episodes
Viewtiful Joe was produced by animation company Group TAC. The producer for the video game franchise, Atsushi Inaba, and his team gave Group TAC its character designs for the video games, as well as original character designs for the animated series.[13] The main cast includes Tomokazu Seki, Natsuko Kuwatani, Makoto Tsumura, Mayumi Asano, Shin-ichiro Miki and Banjō Ginga.[14]
The English version of the anime features voice acting by Jason Palmer, Philece Sampler, Mona Marshall, and Wendee Lee, among others. Bob Papenbrook, under the name John Smallberries, voiced Captain Blue for the show's first twenty-one English dubbed episodes. Papenbrook died on March 17, 2006, due to complications from a chronic lung condition, making Viewtiful Joe his final piece of work.[15] He was replaced by Paul St. Peter for the remainder of the dub.
The U.S. broadcast began with the fifth episode, with the first three episodes not being shown until a month later.[16][17] The show's pilot was localized in the United States by phuuz entertainment.[18] A few censoring edits were made to the English dubbed version of Viewtiful Joe. In Brazil and Spain, the show was aired completely uncut. In the English version, the name of Joe's flying machine, Six Machine, was renamed in the English dub to Machine Six. There is speculation that it was renamed because its original name sounded close to the phrase "sex machine". Also, Six Majin was renamed to Robo-Six. Joe's middle finger was edited out in his henshin transformation sequence. Silvia's super hero alter ego is renamed from "Sexy Silvia" (which was also used in the games) to "Go-Go Silvia". Sprocket's jumpsuit is always zipped up completely, though it was originally unzipped (showing large amounts of cleavage) and one of her signature moves was to zip it up. This move was eliminated in the dub by cutting out the scenes, resulting in Sprocket having much less screen time than in the original.
Episodes of the series have been released on both DVD and UMD.[19] In North America, Geneon partnered with Kids Foot Locker to promote the show by including DVDs with purchases at the shoe retailer.[20]
Cover of Viewtiful Joe CD soundtrack
The Japanese version of Viewtiful Joe features music composed by Takehiko Gokita and Yuusuke Hayashi. The show features two opening themes by the band SaGa. The song "Brighter Side" is used for the first thirty-eight episodes and the song "Spirit Awake" is used for the remaining episodes. "Brighter Side" is also used in the English version of the show.[21] The Japanese version also features the ending theme "And You" by SaGa for the first thirty-eight episodes, and "Tougenkyou" (also known as Shangri-La Village) by Amasia Landscape for the remainder. A 36-track CD was released by Geneon on February 7, 2006, and contains the anime's music, as well as the bonus track "Viewtiful World" from the first Viewtiful Joe game.[22]
SaGa released two CD singles of their vocal songs in Viewtiful Joe. The first one was released on March 30, 2005, and features both the Japanese and English versions of "Brighter Side" and "And You", as well as a DVD containing one music clip and the opening and ending Viewtiful Joe cinematics with the respective songs.[23] The second single was released on August 31, 2005, and features both language versions of the songs "Spirit Awake" and "Wonder", as well as a DVD music clip of the former.[24] In North America, a CD soundtrack was packaged with the first DVD volume.[25]
Five film books for the anime were released by Capcom in early 2005.[26][27] The books consist of manga-style panels of the show's storyline shown with screenshots.
Geneon's press release of the third North American DVD and UMD release of Viewtiful Joe in early 2006 showed that the anime was the top-ranked show in its timeslot for the ages 2–11 Nielsen ratings demographic.[28][19]
Reviews of Viewtiful Joe by various media outlets mostly agreed that the show is faithful to the video games on which it is based, but complained of its animation framerates and English localization. Matt Casamassina of IGN praised the Viewtiful Joe for staying true to its source material. He states, "[...] the episodes never stray too far from the original subject matter. As a result, anybody who played the Joe titles will have a sense of dējā vu as they watch these toons. Viewers who know the franchise's history will find no contradictions in these episodes - merely more back story, most of it entertaining." Despite his appreciation for its artwork, Casamassina was displeased with the show's lack of animation.[12] This was concurred upon by Zac Bertschy of the Anime News Network (ANN), who was also very critical of the show's English dub, giving the first DVD volume an overall "F". Specifically, he found that the localization's attempt to be hip with a nearly constant use of slang in order to cater to younger audiences resulted in a "insultingly bad dub".[21] Carlo Santos, also of ANN, had a similar opinion, and gave the second DVD volume an overall "D". He found fault not only in the voice acting, but the script writing as well. "Joe's vocabulary is all, like, totally, DUDE every time he opens his mouth, and when he's not hamming it up with unconvincing slang, he's spouting lines that are supposed to sound witty but aren't." Santos also noted the series as being too repetitive, but enjoyed the anime's character design, coloring, and visual style taken from the games.[29] Buzz McClain of Video Business asserted that the show is "clearly influenced by the animation style of Hayao Miyazaki", and that its use of narrative is much more linear and easy to follow than other anime.[30]
^ Japanese: ビューティフル ジョー, Hepburn: Byūtifuru Jō
^ "Viewtiful Joe on Kids'WB". Anime News Network. June 21, 2005. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
^ Paul (June 28, 2007). "Jetix UK line up Viewtiful Joe for UK TV; starting in July". Anime UK News. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
^ Cole, Michael (September 1, 2004). "Television is Viewtiful". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
^ Baisley, Sarah (July 21, 2005). "Viewtiful Joe Comes To Kids' WB! This Fall". AWN. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
^ "CW to Replace Kids' WB! Block with 4Kids on Saturdays (Updated)". Anime News Network. October 7, 2007. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
^ Azure (June 23, 2007). "Henshin a-Go-Go baby! Viewtiful Joe on Jetix UK". Otaku News. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
^ Lobão, David Denis (May 19, 2006). ""Viewtiful Joe" nas madrugadas de julho do Cartoon Network" (in Portuguese). ohaYO!. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
^ Takano, Andréia (November 27, 2006). "RedeTV! estréia novos desenhos" (in Portuguese). Ofuxico. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
^ "nos de anime en TV de Mexico en 2006" (in Spanish). Animexis. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
^ "Cartoon Network estrena la serie Viewtiful Joe" (in Spanish). Pizquita. June 23, 2008. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
^ "Crunchyroll Anime Now on ANN". Anime News Network. April 22, 2009. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
^ a b Casamassina, Matt (January 27, 2006). "IGN: Viewtiful Joe - Vol. 1 Review". IGN. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
^ Berghammer, Billy (September 28, 2004). "TGS 2004: Atsushi Inaba Interview". Game Informer. Archived from the original on November 4, 2005. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
^ Viewtiful Joe (in Japanese). AT-X. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
^ DeMott, Rick (March 27, 2006). "Voice Actor Papenbrook Passes Away". AWN. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
^ "Viewtiful Joe Episodes - Season 1-2". TV.com. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
^ DeMott, Rick (December 16, 2005). "Kids' WB! Throws Holiday Sock Party". AWN. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
^ "phuuz entertainment - projects". phuuz entertainment. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
^ a b GameSpot (January 5, 2006). "The Global Phenomenon Viewtiful Joe is Coming to DVD and UMD!". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
^ Johannes, Amy (February 8, 2006). "Kids Footlocker Lures Consumers with DVD Incentives". Promo Magazine. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
^ a b Bertschy, Zac (December 27, 2005). "Viewtiful Joe DVD - Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
^ "Viewtiful Joe CD Soundtrack". Right Stuf. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
^ "VIEWTIFUL JOE CD発売!" (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
^ "VIEWTIFUL JOE CD発売!" (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
^ IGN DVD (January 5, 2006). "IGN: Viewtiful Joe". IGN. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
^ "ビューティフルジョー オフィシャルフィルムブック vol.1 カプコンオフィシャルブックス (コミック)" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
^ "ビューティフルジョー オフィシャルフィルムブック vol.2 (カプコンオフィシャルブックス) (単行本)" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
^ "VIEWTIFUL JOE, Vol. 3". Geneon Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
^ Santos, Carlo (June 16, 2006). "Viewtiful Joe DVD 2 - Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
^ McClain, Buzz (January 23, 2006). "Viewtiful Joe, Vol. 1". Video Business. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
Official website (in Japanese)
Viewtiful Joe at IMDb
Viewtiful Joe (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
Viewtiful Joe
Viewtiful Joe 2
Red Hot Rumble
Double Trouble!
Hideki Kamiya
Atsushi Inaba
Viewtiful Joe (character)
Clover Studio
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Puzzle Fighter
Huckleberry no Bōken (1976)
Manga Ijin Monogatari (1977–1978)
Tokimeki Tonight (1982–1983)
Igano Kabamaru (1983–1984)
Touch (1985–1987)
Hiatari Ryōkō! (1987–1988)
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990–1991)
Sunset on Third Street (1990–1991)
Yadamon (1992–1993)
Tama of Third Street: Do You Know My Tama? (1993–1994)
Jungle King Tar-chan (1993–1994)
Gakkō no Kowai Uwasa: Hanako-san ga Kita!! (1994–1995)
Soar High! Isami (1995–1996)
Street Fighter II V (1995)
Bonobono (1995–1996)
Those Who Hunt Elves (1996)
YAT Anshin! Uchū Ryokō (1996–1998)
Fair, then Partly Piggy (1997–1998)
Those Who Hunt Elves 2 (1997)
Android Announcer Maico 2010 (1998)
Flint the Time Detective (1998–1999)
Super Doll Licca-chan (1998–1999)
Legend of Himiko (1999)
Kyorochan (1999–2001)
Oruchuban Ebichu (1999)
Ippatsu Kiki Musume (1999)
Monkey Magic (1999–2000)
Miami Guns (2000)
Fighting Foodons (2000–2001)
Grappler Baki (2001)
The Family's Defensive Alliance (2001)
Cosmic Baton Girl Princess Comet (2001–2002)
Gyōten Ningen Batseelor (2001–2002)
Grappler Baki: Maximum Tournament (2001)
Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002 (2001–2002)
Gilgamesh (2003–2004)
Twin Spica (2003–2004)
Area 88 (2004)
Viewtiful Joe (2004–2005)
Ton-Ton Atta to Niigata no Mukashi Banashi (2004)
Grenadier (2004–2005)
Gakuen Alice (2004–2005)
Nanami-chan (2004–2009)
Kage Kara Mamoru! (2006)
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora (2006)
Ballad of a Shinigami (2006)
Tokko (2006)
Tama and Friends: Search For It! The Magic Puni-Puni Stone (2006)
Black Blood Brothers (2006)
Tetsuko no Tabi (2007)
Happy Happy Clover (2007)
Jack and the Beanstalk (1974)
11 Piki no Neko (1980–1986)
Zō no Inai Dōbutsuen (1982)
Nine (1983)
Nine the Original (1983)
Nine 2: Sweetheart Declaration (1983)
Nine 3: Final (1984)
Captain Tsubasa: Europe Daikessen (1985)
Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985)
Captain Tsubasa: Ayaushi, Zen Nippon Jr. (1985)
Captain Tsubasa: Asu ni Mukatte Hashire (1986)
Touch: Sebangō no Nai Ace (1986)
Captain Tsubasa: Sekai Daikessen!! Jr. World Cup (1986)
Touch 2: Sayonara no Okurimono (1986)
Touch 3: Kimi ga Tōri Sugita Ato ni (1987)
Murasaki Shikibu Genji Monogatari (1987)
Hiatari Ryōkō! Ka - su - mi: Yume no Naka ni Kimi ga Ita (1988)
White Wolf (1990)
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1991)
Tama of Third Street: Please! Search for Momo-chan!! (1993)
Bonobono (1993)
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (1994)
Spring and Chaos (1996)
Touch: Miss Lonely Yesterday (1998)
Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation (2000)
The Laws of the Sun (2000)
Touch: Cross Road (2001)
The Golden Laws (2003)
Arashi no Yoru ni (2005)
The Laws of Eternity (2006)
The Rebirth of Buddha (2009)
Hutch the Honeybee (2010)
OVAs/ONAs
Tama and Friends: Third Street Story (1988–1990)
Manga Edo Ero Banashi (1989)
Everyday is Sunday (1990–1992)
Sweet Spot (1991)
Nozomi Witches (1992–1993)
Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (1994)
Princess Minerva (1995)
Strange Love (1997)
Grandeek (2000)
Submarine 707R (2003)
Blame! (2003)
Ajisai no Uta (2004)
Shinran-sama: Negai, Soshite Hikari (2008)
Kids' WB
Program list
Saturday-morning cartoon (preview specials)
Weekday cartoon
Modern animation in the United States
Pillow Head Hour
Toonami
Succeeding blocks
The CW4Kids / Toonzai (programs)
Asian cartoons and anime
dubbed in English
Astro Boy (2004)
Cardcaptor Sakura (2000–2001)
Cubix: Robots for Everyone (2001–2003)
Dragon Ball Z (2001)
Eon Kid (2007–2008)
MegaMan NT Warrior (2003–2005)
Pokémon (1999–2006)
Sailor Moon (2001)
Transformers: Cybertron (2005)
Yu-Gi-Oh! (2001–2006)
DiC Entertainment/
Cookie Jar Group/
Wildbrain
Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1997–1998)
Johnny Test (2006–2008, seasons 2–3)
Magi-Nation (2007–2008)
Spider Riders (2006–2007)
Will and Dewitt (2007–2008)
World of Quest (2008)
X-Men: Evolution (2000–2003)
The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008)
Adelaide Productions/
Sony Pictures Television
Channel Umptee-3 (1997–1998)
Generation O! (2000–2001)
Jackie Chan Adventures (2000–2005)
Max Steel (2000–2001)
Men in Black: The Series (1997–2001)
Phantom Investigators (2002)
Universal Animation Studios/
DreamWorks Animation/
NBCU TV Distribution
Earthworm Jim (1995–1996)
Invasion America (1998)
The Mummy (2001–2003)
Nelvana
Rescue Heroes (2001–2003)
Waynehead (1996–1997)
Warner Bros. Animation/
Warner Bros. Television
Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island (2005–2006)
Detention (1999–2001)
Histeria! (1998–2001)
Johnny Test (2005–2007, Seasons 1-2)
¡Mucha Lucha! (2002–2005)
The Nightmare Room (2001–2002)
Ozzy & Drix (2002–2004)
Road Rovers (1996–1997)
Xiaolin Showdown (2003–2006)
Animaniacs (1995–1998)
Freakazoid! (1995–1997)
Pinky and the Brain (1995–2000)
Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain (1998–1999)
DC Comics
Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995)
Batman Beyond (1999–2001)
The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999)
The New Batman/Superman Adventures (1997–2000)
Static Shock (2000–2004)
Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000)
The Zeta Project (2001–2002)
Teen Titans (2003–2005; 2007–2008)
The Batman (TV series) (2004–2008)
Krypto the Superdog (2006–2007)
Legion of Super Heroes (2006–2008)
Hanna-
The New Adventures of Captain Planet (1997–1998)
The New Scooby-Doo Movies (2002)
Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! (2006–2008)
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (2002)
Tom and Jerry Tales (2006–2008)
What's New, Scooby-Doo? (2002–2005)
Tiny Toon Adventures (1997–2000)
Bugs 'n' Daffy (1996–1999)
The Cat&Birdy Warneroonie PinkyBrainy Big Cartoonie Show (1999–2000)
The Daffy Duck Show (1996–1997)
Loonatics Unleashed (2005–2007)
The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries (1995–2001)
That's Warner Bros.! (1995–1996)
Cartoon Network Studios
Codename: Kids Next Door (2004)
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (2005)
The Powerpuff Girls (2002)
Samurai Jack (2001)
Misc. programs
Brats of the Lost Nebula (1998)
Da Boom Crew (2004)
The Legend of Calamity Jane (1997)
Monster Allergy (2006–2007)
Skunk Fu! (2007–2008)
Thumb Wrestling Federation (2007–2008)
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (2002; 2004)
Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys (2005)
Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon (2006)
Wakko's Wish (2000)
This page was last edited on 8 December 2021, at 18:44


The English Pedant – who are you calling lubricious?
One matter every writer should take into account is what level to pitch his vocabulary at. It is no use using words that the reader doesn't understand. Some may take the trouble to look them up, but most won't bother and the piece of writing will fall into one of those categories proudly invented by the lazy and ignorant: similar to TLDR (too long, didn't read). This one might be TCDU (too clever, didn't understand).
Whether we meant to be like that (unlikely) or we just didn't notice we were doing it (must be more vigilant), it's a sure way of alienating readers and is to be avoided.
Of course, this means guessing at the intellectual and educational level of our readers, which is not easy to gauge, and it is equally self-defeating to talk down to people, but such is life. Most of us spend much of our time trying to fit in, rather than being ourselves.
Those writers who don't care end up catering for a small readership of fellow intellectuals in highbrow magazines and Sunday newspaper supplements.
A similar phenomenon at the other end of the scale is using unnecessarily fancy words in an attempt to look more intelligent. Any young journalist taking that sickly path through writing advertorials will be familiar with the scenario of the client deciding to jazz up the professional's effort by changing 'while' to 'whilst' and generally trying to make it sound as though the 'article' (a thinly-veiled advertisement for their tattoo and piercings shop) was written by Jane Austen.
Appropriateness, then, is what we should be aiming at. Neither pretentious nor condescending. Call a spade a spade unless you're using it for the second time in a paragraph, when you could take the 'garden implement' route simply to void duplication.
What this does, though, is deprive us of some beautiful, evocative words.
Lubricious, for instance. Sounds great, doesn't it? It's a word that glistens, shimmers in the light, full of untold delights and refined decadence.
Wouldn't you love to describe something or someone as lubricious? Just once before the angels carry you off to literary heaven to have dinner with John Keats and Oscar Wilde?
Offensively displaying or intended to arouse sexual desire.
Smooth and slippery with oil or a similar substance.
Better look it up first in future. Because that is how we improve our language skills – by looking things up.
One of my favourite novels is Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence. Not because of the sexual content, although that is handled with brilliant forthrightness and you can see why it caused such a furore 50 or 60 years ago.
But what is beautiful about the book is the language Lawrence uses to describe his surroundings: the countryside around the stately home, pockmarked with mines and mining villages. That and his frank understanding of human beings.
The first time I read it I spent half the time with my nose in a dictionary. The writing is not flowery, it's evocative, and it's not just a matter of looking up words you don't know, but of finding out why a word you do know is used in a different context. When you have looked them up, you're grateful to have learnt something.
But that's a great novel, not your double glazing company report or university thesis on landfill sites.
However, if you do find a way of slipping lubricious into one of those documents, please let me know.


Tom Pride catches the Mail and the Express with their pants down, telling lies on behalf of the government. The people concerned could justifiably sue those papers for slander, on the grounds that they AREN'T on a government 'top ten benefit fraudster' list, and that they DIDN'T defraud the taxpayer out of anything like as much money as those tabloids (let's not call them newspapers) are suggesting.
I dream of the British public getting off their asses and fighting for justice. Unfortunately that's all it is, a dream.
Just like the top ten list for tax avoiders – it doesn't exist, however with this government of the two lists the tax one will never exist as it would have too many Tories or their supporters on it.


JONATHAN DAVID MOORE is a Marketing Manager from London. This person was born in November 1968, which was over 50 years ago. JONATHAN DAVID MOORE is British and resident in United Kingdom. This company officer is, or was, associated with at least 2 company roles.
Companies associated with this officer had at least £10,659 shareholder value and £2,431 cash in recent accounts.
Their most recent appointment, in our records, was to 14 MOWBRAY ROAD LIMITED on 2003-04-18, from which they resigned on 2007-03-02.


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Home / In the Media / YNet: On tape: Palestinians harassed in Hebron 'cage'
YNet: On tape: Palestinians harassed in Hebron 'cage'
in In the Media January 10, 2007
by Ali Waked, January 1oth
(VIDEO) Tape obtained by B'Tselem shows heated argument between Palestinian family in Hebron and woman Jewish settler; quarrel just one example of suffering we endure on daily basis, head of Palestinian family tells Ynet. Settlers' spokesman: Claims exaggerated
VIDEO – The Abu- Aisha family in Hebron has been suffering at the hands of their neighbors from the nearby Jewish settler community of Tel-Rumeda for a along time now. A video filmed by 16-year-old Raja Abu Aisha and obtained by B'Tselem depicts a confrontation with a woman resident of the "Ramat Yishai" neighborhood in Tel-Rumeda.
Members of the Abu Aisha family claimed that the quarrel was just one example of the suffering they endure on a daily basis.
Taiseer Abu- Aisha, 43, told Ynet that he had filed between 200 and 300 complaints in recent years, but police did nothing to stop the harassing.
Abu-Aisha and his extended family live in a two-storey house. "The cage you see in the video is where we live. Not once do we open the door and not hear curse words or get stones and eggs thrown at us," he said. "The latest fashion during this cold winter – the settlers spray us with cold water using a big fire hose located near the house."
Abu- Aisha said "hell" is not a strong enough word to describe what his family is going through.
"To prevent confrontations with the settlers – we coordinate the time we leave the cage we live in with the settlers' schedule," he said. "We leave for work and school only after they do – and this results in tardiness."
According to Abu Aisha, during the Eid al-Adha holiday a week ago he was forced to obtain special permits for his family to visit his home.
"My wife's family has not visited us for the past five years because there are no permits and for fear of settler harassments," he said.
Every once in a while, like today, Civil Administration officials visit the Abu Aisha house to make certain that no strangers reside there with the family members. Recently they have been required to obtain permits to bring their sheep into the property.
"The charity organizations wanted to give my father three sheep so he may raise them and earn a living, and we the Red Cross to coordinate their entrance (to the property), he said. "This is how life is in hell."
Noam Arnon, spokesperson for the Jewish settlement in Hebron, told Ynet in response to the Abu Aisha family's claims that "I am not saying there weren't any incidents in which the family was attacked, but I thin it is being exaggerated. The claim regarding the hose sounds very odd to me, because as far as I know, the fire hose is municipal property, and people can't use it at their own will."
He added that "I know that the family once claimed that it is being harassed and that is why they built these bars, I believe with the funding of European organizations. Even if there was a certain need (for the bars), I believe they were placed here mainly for show; to display their misery. This description of daily abuse sounds unfounded.
Yishai District Police officials denied the Palestinian family's claims, saying in a statement that, "We treat every complaint regardless of race, religion or sex, and evidence of this is the rise in the number of files opened after we received complaint of disorder.
"Police know how to differentiate between protecting the Jews of Hebron and dealing with complaints and disorderly conduct," the statement said.
Hebron	2007-01-10
ISM Media Group
Tagged with: Hebron
Waiting at a checkpoint
#ShutElbitDown https://t.co/dVXlbqgR2B 7 mins ago
Prayers and protests today against the seizure of local citizens' land for illegal Israeli-only settlement outposts… https://t.co/g1oKC02sXU 2021/01/08


Help ! Day 15 and no air cell.
Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by Youngfamily1989, Oct 12, 2007.
I have been candling through this incubation ; after reading some post I've realized the egg should not be blacked out when candled. The eggs I've candled are solid black.
Is there anything I can do? I will candle all of them tonight to see if all are the same way.
I have not filled the other water trough yet I'm supposed to fill it at day 19 and stop turning. Should I still fill it ?
Sometimes, depending on the type, size and color of an egg, it is hard to see the air cell. Especially if you are not sure what you are looking for. Your light should be very bright and hold it at an angle on the big end of the egg. If you can't see it, hold the light against the egg and slowly spin the egg around until you can see it. The black part that you are seeing in the egg is a chick, so yes fill the other trough and see what hatches. It takes A LOT of egg candling to know what you are looking at and still sometimes they will fool you!!
I just knew I had one non-viable egg in my 4. All I ever saw was a black blob with no air cell. Well, little "blob" hatched today. Never give up!!!!
I agree--you may not see the air cell unless you place the candle just right. If you on day 19 they should be blacked out mostly. But the aircell can be difficult to see unless you place the flashright RIGHT behind the air cell.
Fill the trough and get the humidity up!! Good Luck.


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Tag: line up
On Dec 13, 2022 Dec 13, 2022 By Allan GrantIn faith, life, travel5 Comments
Several of my blogs concern a role I once had which was commonly known as 'line up'. Briefly the job involved making all manner of preparations ('line up') required for the floating bookship MV Logos to visit ports. The vessel was crewed by a diverse group of 140 volunteers from 25 nations. It was owned and operated by an international Christian organisation. Click this tag 'line up' if wish to read other blogs which concern this role.
In the following story the main character is LUM ('line up man' ).
LUM had had some previous experience lining up for the ship in a number of ports in various countries. He had now been asked to get involved in another country and port. It would mean a new culture, foods and people. An enriching learning experience to which he was looking forward to. That the country was in a state of emergency due to recent happenings did not seem to figure much in his thinking. In retrospect perhaps this should have been considered more.
Once he arrived in the country LUM was partly based in the capital city trying to secure government permissions for the ship to come. This included getting access for the general public to come onboard. However he still had to make fairly regular trips to the coastal city where the ship was due to visit. This involved some hours bus ride through the desert. Endless sand dunes piled like waves in the sea. Sunglasses were essential. Sometimes needing pain killers to ease headaches from the bright light. Usually there was one stop in the middle of nowhere in particular. Most passengers then piled out to follow the call to prayer. It was a dramatic scene to watch. People bowing down on their prayer mats in the desert.
Just getting into the port authority area took half a day as various passes were required. Many dealings such as this seemed to take much time. As far as passes were concerned they also needed renewing every week. Slowly LUM awakened to the fact that most things could get done much quicker by 'greasing the palm' of whoever was in authority. This way of getting business done seemed to reach into every service required. There were also times when both officials and other contacts changed their minds. Sometimes people were very positive about the ship coming. On other occasions the same people were, at best, ambivalent. LUM was told that on a previous visit of the ship a number of officials were annoyed by not being 'rewarded' enough. Maybe this explained the fluid nature of some people's views. Asking for written permission for things was not always straightforward. LUM recalls offending one official by pressing for more than verbal assurances. Did not LUM see that he (the official) was an honourable man? That his word could be trusted.
This period in LUM'S life was in the days long before mobile phones. You could spend half a day or whole evening trying to make an international phone call. First of all you had to visit the telephone exchange. Then fill in a form to book the number and destination country with the operator. Then wait, and wait, much like you might in a doctor's surgery. Eventually the operator beckoned you to go into a booth. At last you would be put through.
As with port entry the process of phoning might be speeded up if extra money was involved. For LUM it presented a moral dilemma. It seemed that for large parts of the economy people in jobs were paid very poorly. In order to make a living there was an expectation that a job would also be an opportunity to get tips. When does a tip become a bribe?
LUM's time in the country coincided with the annual fasting period of the majority religion. He felt awkward not abstaining from food or drink during the day when most of the population was doing so. There is something about eating that is a communal and shared activity. He felt very antisocial eating out in public when others were not able to eat. Once he recalls eating in a restaurant in the early evening. Everyone else was sitting at table with untouched glasses of water. All patiently waiting for the signal when the day's fast would be over. For LUM it was not pleasant to have a roomful of hungry, perhaps resentful, eyes watching him eat. He concluded it would be better to avoid such embarrassments and eat at more suitable times.
Due to security issues the contact LUM had with colleagues living long-term in the country was very limited. LUM felt quite isolated. Any engagement with others often meant surreptitiously visiting houses. Usually one by one entering and leaving at widely separated times. Done ostensibly so as not to arouse suspicion. LUM was not sure such precautions meant much. On one occasion a colleague living in the country pointed to an apparently crippled beggar. He was sitting on the ground across the road from the house they were meeting in. LUM's colleague said the man was often there. At the end of the day he would leave and walk away. His lameness miraculously healed. LUM was told the 'beggar' was employed to watch their house and report on comings and goings. Probably any precautions taken pandered more to the need to feel careful.
Maybe LUM had led a sheltered life but one unpleasant experience was the awareness of being followed. One occasion whilst out walking comes to his mind. It was chilling to look over his shoulder and keep seeing the same person behind him. To confirm he was being followed he took random turns through the streets. Yes it was same person some distance behind. Whether LUM was slow or fast or whichever way he turned LUM appeared to be shadowed. Strangely once LUM accepted he was being followed he put it out of his mind.
After a number of weeks preparations the ship was due to come. Due to other commitments LUM had to leave the country some days before the actual arrival. However all preparations seemed to be in order. Other line up people had come and they would be around for the ship's visit.
The ship duly arrived in the port and the gangway lowered in anticipation of being open to locals. Within just a few hours the shipping agent gave a distressing message. He said the vessel had to leave port immediately and anchor in international waters. Apparently there was a threat. What really was going on LUM has never come to understand. The door to stay was firmly closed. What was clear was that the ship had nowhere to go for weeks with a crew of 140 sitting many miles offshore.
For LUM personally it was also disconcerting that several of the foreigners he had contact with were deported shortly after.
This crisis of a ship with nowhere to go opened an unforeseen opportunity. In a matter of days a colleague was able to get permission for the ship to visit another place. Somewhere that up till then had not been thought possible.
Many years later LUM reflects on this whole experience. He believes there is a bigger picture. Behind well intentioned plans that seem to come to nothing God is working out his purposes.
The Big Picture** by Elisabeth Grant
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28 NIVUK
Strangers and Pilgrims – Coming Home
On Jun 29, 2022 By Allan GrantIn faith, life, travel11 Comments
For some weeks in 1979 I visited what was then Western Samoa in the South Pacific. An independent state it became known in 1997 simply as Samoa. Not to be confused with the American territory of American Samoa which lay to the south east! W. Samoa consists mainly of two inhabited islands in the midst of a vast ocean. I first visited on my own and was doing the job of 'line up', preparing for the visit of the ship MV Logos. See 'line up' tag links if interested to know more. Before going I had been given the name of one man that would introduce me to people who could help me with accommodation and contacts. Problem was that I only had the name and no address or phone number. This was before the days of mobile phones and social media so it wasn't clear how I would find him. On arrival at the airport in the capital Apia I decided to take the airport bus which made a tour of the island's hotels dropping people off. Money was very tight so was a bit anxious about taking a hotel but couldn't think of any other plan. Anyhow got off at I think the last hotel on the route and went to reception to book a room for the night. While signing the visitors book whose name should I see but the one contact I was looking for. His room was next door to mine! What an answer to my prayers.
It was arranged for me to stay with an extended Samoan family. Their gracious hospitality was in accord with their culture and traditions. Three generations all slept on the floor in one room but I was given the privacy of my own room. At mealtimes I would eat first, watched by the father of the family. Then it was his turn to eat, followed by the boys. Then the mother and womenfolk. Finally, the poor girls ate whatever was left. I felt honoured but also the responsibility not to eat too much so as those following had enough to eat.
Western Samoa lies near the international date line. It is no mistake that this rather crooked line between north and south poles weaves its way through the most remote and sparsely populated areas of the earth. Mainly between remote islands and ocean. Imagine the chaos if the date line went through the heart of Greenwich, London instead. In 1979 W. Samoa was just to the east of the dateline** and was proud of its status of always having the last sunsets of any given day. Not to be outdone I noticed that the local newspaper in Tonga (west of dateline) had the strapline 'where time begins'.
Living and travelling near the dateline plays havoc with your diary. On one occasion I flew from Western Samoa to Tonga which was on the western side of the date line. Diary entry says I left Apia at 3:15pm on Sunday 28th October 1979 and arrived Tonga 4:50pm on Saturday the 27th. It was weird having 2 Sundays that week! About a month later I was on board the MV Logos. We set sail from Western Samoa on Sunday night at 11:10pm on the 25th November. Our destination was Fiji to the west of dateline. My diary has the words 'NO MONDAY' scribbled for the 26th November.
Such novel (to me, not to locals!) cultural and geographical experiences were of course exciting. However living for some months in such remote parts and often alone did leave me feeling vulnerable and lonely at times. One of W. Samoa's most celebrated visitors of a bygone age was Robert Louis Stevenson. He was a Scot and a famous writer who spent his last days on Samoa. He was the author of much loved and world renown classics including 'Treasure Island' and 'Kidnapped'. His writing never impressed me as a boy. It might have had something to do with his works being prescribed English reading for most Scottish school children at the time. My interest however was awakened during my stay in Samoa. Despite dying over 90 years previously I was intrigued that his memory was still revered by locals. Known in Samoan as 'Tusitala' ('teller of tales') he had been buried in Samoa.
So while there I resolved one day to visit his grave. It was reached by climbing Mt. Vaea. Stevenson had written an epitaph as a poem which was inscribed on his tomb. Reading the last few lines spoke to me profoundly. Poetry can give space to feelings in the journey of life you can't describe, awakening longings you are scarcely aware of.
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
and the hunter home from the hill.
RL Stevenson
About a year after my visit to Samoa I flew back from the Far East to the UK. After 30 countries and over 3 years away my thoughts were much on coming home. Although I'd had many separate travels during these 3 years there was also a sense of having completed one long journey. When leaving the UK in Sept 1977 I had no idea how long my time away would be. Here are my notes then of the return trip back to UK…
The journey to the U.K. was interesting: From Bangkok I flew via Delhi, Bombay and Rome to arrive somewhat weary in Frankfurt, West Germany to discover the airline had lost all my baggage. Truly forsaking all was becoming a reality – thoughts of returning home after over 3 years away with a Bible and a few notes as sole possessions filled my mind. I spent a night at the Int'1 HQ for both MV DOULOS and LOGOS in Mosbach, West Germany. The next day saw me travel luggageless on to London via Paris. In the air approaching London I was awakened from slumbers by my name being called on the plane's tannoy system — surprise luggage was on this plane: False alarm as it didn't materialise on the airport's conveyor belt. Eventually it came on another plane — it was all quite a test as in 3 years of travelling no such thing had happened. Nov' 1980
These experiences evoked a variety of contradictory emotions. The following is a short poem I wrote during that homebound journey. Like Stevenson's poem it helped give expression to my feelings at the time.
In Christ we are always coming home
As coming home is our hearts meeting the object of our treasure
For we who love Him what joy to know this daily experience
Of meeting the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever
At whose feet our hopes are never disappointed
However many 'homecomings' I have in this life the true calling is that 'here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come' (Hebrews 13 vs 14).
** At midnight on 29th Dec 2011 Samoa moved west of the dateline and missed out on 30 Dec in the process. It was said to help trade with Australia and New Zealand.
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
On Jun 21, 2022 Aug 14, 2022 By Allan GrantIn faith, life, travel8 Comments
Crowds visiting the on board book exhibition on MV Logos in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Jan 1987
In early 1987 Elisabeth and I were living on board the MV Logos. For both of us it had been our home previously before we got married. This latest period we had spent nearly 2 years travelling around the Caribbean, Central and North America and the north coast of South America. As I look at my diary of the time it was probably the most intensive time of our lives so far. Constant travelling and adjusting to many cultures it was also rewarding. My job involved coordinating onboard and onshore programmes as well as the advance preparations for future ports the ship would visit. It meant a mixture of being on board for some time and then travelling ahead of the ship to other countries and ports. Then return to the vessel, usually in another port from that I had left**. In the meantime Elisabeth's job involved personnel responsibility for the women on board.
Our cabin was tiny. Once when ship was in Puerto Rico we had a few days off shore in the home of an American couple. When asked how big our cabin was we said it was about the size of their walk in wardrobes. However it was our home. The 140+ crew of Logos were split up into different 'families' as a kind of smaller grouping to celebrate birthdays and other social occasions. They were led by a married couple and so we had a 'family' of about 10 singles of various nationalities. We would usually meet in our little cabin.
In our cabin with our ship 'family' on MV Logos (1985-87). Photo taken from cabin door.
My on board 'place of work' was also very small. Porthole-less, it had enough floor place for a swivel chair and a small desk. Entire office reachable from chair. I shared this space with the Chief Steward Mandy. The room was dominated and divided by the forward mast, almost like an unwanted guest. Mandy on the port side and I on the starboard. Being far forward on the ship the area was prone to pitching if there were rough seas. Elisabeth also had a little cupboard like space as an office underneath the main internal stairway.
Mandy and I, and mast, in our shared office
In January 1987 we were berthed in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. I had visited several times previously organising the ship to visit. On one occasion Elisabeth and I were able to do so together and stayed at the home of an American missionary couple. They had a beautiful, tropical garden. The husband was a real romantic. Every day he picked a fresh hibiscus to put on the breakfast table.
Anyhow back to life on board Logos. One evening in our cabin I stretched for something on a shelf and was literally floored by an intense chest pain. This was followed by difficulty breathing and moving. The ship medic didn't know what it was but gave me pain killers. After a few days I was still in pain and very breathless. It was decided to admit me to a local private hospital where they told me I had pneumonia. There they put me on a drip for 2 days. However no one could say what was the problem. After hospital I was back on board but was told to rest.
I was discouraged by my situation. All the more as no one seemed able to diagnose and thus treat me. Some were saying it was my heart, others my lungs. An X-ray seemed to show that I might have pleurisy or pneumonia. One time lying in bed my gaze fixed on the small poster on our cabin wall. It was the words of Jesus to his followers…
"Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me." John 14:1 KJV
My pain or my fatigue did not disappear but at that moment I felt Jesus had spoken to me. In context he was speaking to those who were fearful of their future without him. Yet for me his words of comfort to a troubled heart had both an emotional and literal meaning.
Over the subsequent weeks my pain slowly eased and gradually I got a bit stronger. I returned to my previous tasks and travel. However it was clear that to fully recover Elisabeth and I needed to take things at a slower pace onshore. Elisabeth was also experiencing frequent migraines.
And so it was that in March 1987 we said goodbye to shipmates in the lovely island of Aruba in the Netherlands Antilles. Friendships had been forged through living and working together. Leaving such a caring community was not easy.
As we flew back to an unknown and unplanned for future in the UK we received a double blessing. No extra charge for our 80kg of luggage as we shared our situation with the airline. These were possessions from our home of 2 years and not from some exotic 2 week Caribbean holiday. Then as we waited in the departure lounge our names were called to the flight desk. Thinking there was some problem we were asked…
"There had been a mistake and the plane was very fulł. Would we mind if we were put in first class?"
Think you know the answer to that.
Back in the UK my condition remained for some months. I was checked out by two doctors and a cardiologist. They gave assurances that whatever I had had it was not pleurisy or pneumonia and could not detect any problem with my heart. Maybe it was some kind of physical reaction to stress. Some things both then and later in life do not get explanations. It's at times like that I need reminding of Jesus' words on our cabin wall many years ago.
POSTSCRIPT Little did we know that March 1987 would be the last time we would see this vessel that had been our home on and off over a 10 year period. On the 4th of January 1988 the ship ran aground. She had struck a submerged Chilean rock in the Magellan Strait in the very south of South America. Miraculously no one was lost and all the crew were safely rescued by the Chilean navy***. Today she is a rusting hulk resting on the same rock, half in and half out of the water with our cabin home submerged. However I would rather remember Logos as a tool that was utilised. It took people to welcome and serve the 6.5 million who walked up the gangway in 108 countries over 17 years. God had used the simple faith of a bunch of largely young and inexperienced people to touch many lives. That story continues to this day with other ships.
MV Logos, as I remember her.
** In another post I recall a visit to Haiti ( Poignant, Hopeful, Maybe Even Joyful ) where I detail more of what this advance work involved in the region. Similar work in other parts of the world can be found by clicking the tag 'line up' on this site.
*** You can read an interesting article here by Kathy Knight who was on board when the ship ran aground
Poignant, Hopeful, Maybe Even Joyful
On Feb 8, 2022 Feb 8, 2022 By Allan GrantIn faith, life, travel8 Comments
Hibiscus, national flower of Haiti.
In February 1986 Jean Claude 'Baby Doc' Duvalier was deposed as President of Haiti and went to live in exile in France. Ordinary people were no doubt hoping that the near 30 year brutal rule of his and 'Papa Doc' (his father) would come to an end. However the general chaos remained with a military junta in control. Their will was enforced by the 'Tonton Macoutes', a sinister legacy of the Duvaliers which lived on. Their name was Creole for 'bogeymen'. The populace feared them and the main thing was to avoid their attention. They would race round the capital in open jeeps and armed with guns.
It was with this background that in the November of that same year (1986) I visited Haiti. My reason for going was to initiate preparations (known as 'line up') for the visit of MV Logos to the country. Make a brief survey of the situation for others to follow up later. Arriving at the airport in the capital Port au Prince I was immediately struck by a sense of chaos. Exiting the arrivals hall I was accosted by many wanting me to use their taxi services. In a more benign situation the scene would be reminiscent of some film star being mobbed by fans. Not so for me, it felt scary. Eventually I settled on one driver. Tip for using a taxi in a poor land. Always sit in the back with your luggage and just have the driver in front. Never allow a 'hanger on' person, either in the front or back.
As we left the airport it was unnerving that crowds were thronging around the car and banging on it. A big relief to get away. My destination was the compound of a Christian organisation in the capital. Upon arrival I began to understand the angry scenes at the airport. Greeted by my host he was shocked to see me. Did I not know there was a general strike on? How had I managed to travel in such circumstances? I had arrived on one of the worst days of demonstrations and riots since the deposing of 'Baby Doc'. The other greeting has also remained with me. It helped to cement my overall feeling of being in a place where law and order were in short supply… "welcome to the last kleptocratic country in the world".
The compound was a haven of safety where a number of mission families lived. The whole area was walled in. Outwith the gates were people who seemed to live in hope of some economic benefit from those inside the wall. In my imagination it felt like being in some medieval fort or Biblical walled city. My misplaced sense of identifying with people made me question why those who were there to serve others were so insulated. In fact a concern at the time for the compound community was for one family that had decided to live in a house in the city. However my appreciation grew for having the safety of a walled compound. I recall being wakened at night by the sound of machine gun fire.
Mission compound, Port au Prince, Haiti
My survey visit was only for a mere 6 days. The people I was with would not go downtown for the first 2 days of my stay because of the instability. Much of that time was spent sneaking around back roads to get from A to B. I had great respect for those who chose to live in these difficult, dangerous circumstances for years. I took seriously the counsel that when out and about to wear no watches, rings or jewellery. Another tip. Have small amounts of money in several places including in your socks or shoes.
One category of locals allowed into the compound were shoe shine people. I engaged someone to work cleaning my footwear. Definitely more of a salve to my conscience than any perceived need of clean shoes. Those I was 'helping' seemed desperately poor. Apparently the income the shoe shine people received enabled them to employ other people. Seemed there was a hierarchy of poverty.
I don't remember any tourist sights in the capital though am sure there were. My only 'sightseeing' memory was seeing the desecrated grave of 'Papa Doc' Duvalier. Given his and his son's legacy of terror it was understandable why there would be some pride in my being shown this.
The dilemma for me in this anarchic situation was where would I get 'permissions' etc for the MV Logos to visit the country? I had been given the name of a potential useful contact who agreed to meet with me. Linked by family with the leadership of the junta it seemed this person could be a help. The address for the meeting was on the outskirts of the capital. I made my way there to a well to do part of the capital. My contact managed one of the country's most luxurious hotels and I was to meet him there. It was all a bit surreal as most seemed to carry guns. Not your normal hotel environment. Turned out my contact had 24 bodyguards. If anything happened to his relative in power he was prepared to go into siege. Again my overactive imagination made it all feel like the set at the ending of many Bond films. 007 meeting his archenemy holed up in his lair. Ushered in to meet my 'contact' my bizarre musings were fuelled further. He was in a dimly lit room covered in piles of animal skins and surrounded by several men armed to the teeth. Not sure how dangerous I appeared to warrant such.
Now to the business of the meeting. It was obvious from the start that my presence was of little consequence. My contact was glued to a 'walkie talkie' radio most of the time. For short periods in between his intense radio communications he would address me. It was clear that what I was saying was of no interest. What was transpiring on the radio was where the real drama was. My reason for being there became irrelevant as I too was drawn in as he repeated everything he was hearing.
It turned out that a major riot was taking place in the city centre. My contact was following the event as it happened. It was clear he was speaking to some key informant in whatever was going on. It seemed the mob had now arrived at the offices of a world famous (now defunct) American airline. They had smashed their way in and were now trying to break into the safe where airline tickets were stored. In those days air tickets were often written by hand on blank triplicate (or quadruplicate?) forms. Blank tickets, it would appear, would be very valuable. I leave the reader to decide what kind of interest my contact had in this live account of looting.
For my part the intermittent, inconsequential conversation with my contact was becoming embarrassing. It was clear that all I was doing was interrupting more exciting things going on. I suggested I leave. At this point my contact became interested and engaged. He must have been listening to me after all! He could help me with anything and introduced me to his partner. Apparently all it needed was a $2,500 up front 'service fee'. I sensed the whole thing was opportunistic. Suddenly all that mattered to me was to get away. As politely and firmly as possible I got out of the place. It is at times like that that knowing the prayers of many for my protection became real.
It came time for me to leave the country and travel to the ship which was then in Puerto Rico. As if to cement my kleptocratic understanding a 'departure tax' was levied at the airport. I was told it was not destined for any government coffers but some individual.
Some weeks later it worked out to return on board the ship MV Logos. We had an encouraging 10 day stay in Port au Prince as well as 5 days in the town of Cap Haitien on the country's north coast where thousands visited. No space to relate the activities involved. If interested to know more you can click 'Logos' on the tags cloud.
Haiti's history is a blot on our shared humanity. A toxic legacy of gross injustices, African slavery, greedy colonialism, despotic leaders and extreme poverty. The suffering of its people being further compounded in recent years by natural disasters. The huge earthquake in 2010 killed an estimated 200,000. Add regular tropical storms, further earthquakes and ongoing political instability and it would seem there is no end to ordinary citizens suffering. Environmentally even in 1986 large swathes of the land had been denuded of its hardwood trees such as mahogany.
I appreciate relating my Haiti experience may not be uplifting to the reader. My desire though is that our common humanity would engender love and compassion for the plight of this country's hard pressed people. When words fail, sometimes nature and music can step in.
Haiti's national flower is the hibiscus. A thing of beauty yet delicate, like the Haitians whom God loves.
"So much of what music can do most beautifully is humanize things that have become dehumanized,"
Laurent Dubois, Duke University professor and historian on Haiti.
While wondering how to finish this blog I happened to go to a musical concert. To my surprise among the featured musicians was the Haitian-American singer Leyla McCalla. She sang a folk song in Haitian Creole. You can hear her sing Mèci Bon Dié on YouTube here. It's a song of hope, even joy, for a land of resilient people in sore need of healing. The translated lyrics are below.
Thank you, God,
Look at all that nature has brought us.
Look how misery has ended for us.
The rain has fallen,
The corn has grown,
All the children that were hungry are going to eat.
Let's dance the Congo,
Let's dance the Petro,
God said in Heaven
That misery has ended for us.
"Merci Bon Dieu (Mèci Bon Dié In Haitian Creole)" (Harry Belafonte Lyrics)