text:
Lancaster to get co-adjutor
Fr Paul Harrison has just posted the news of an announcement from Bishop O'Donoghue of Lancaster Diocese: "Given the enormous emphasis in the Diocese on mission and planning for the future I thought it important that my successor be in place as early as possible. It was for this reason, and after much advice, I wrote to Pope Benedict asking for a co-adjutor bishop. Much to my delight he accepted the request and the search for successor has already begun." As Fr Paul hints, this is a thoughtful and pastoral decision. Bishop O'Donoghue reaches the canonical age in 2009. Nowadays it can take a considerable time to find a new diocesan Bishop and a long interregnum can be difficult for a diocese. His provision for his diocese is to be welcomed - we had a similar arrangement in Southwark when Archbishop Bowen offered his resignation " nunc pro tunc " - now, but to come into effect as soon as a successor was appointed.
Elizabeth I and Islam?
There is something of a flutter on the conservative political blogs about a lecture given by Dr Jerry Brotton published on the website of the Campaign for Racial Equality: Why Muslims make Britain a better place . Brotton argues that the Muslims were responsible for the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Somewhat gauchely, he says "it was Turkish naval manoeuvres, rather than Drake's swashbuckling, which delivered the fatal blow to the Spanish invasion plans." Of course, Tim on Conservative Party Reptile: "Eh?" points out, this should be the "Ottoman Empire" since Turkey was not created for another 350 years. General conservative reaction to this is that it is wacky political correctness and so indeed it seems if the claim is taken at face value. The Spanish Armada was much larger than the English navy but was outgunned and outclassed in seamanship. Any ships detained to defend Spain against the Ottomans would have made little difference to the outcome.
New papal MC to be announced?
Vaticanista Andrea Tornielli has the following piece on his blog: Habemus Praefectum cerimoniarum Summi Pontificis . The nomination of Mgr Guido Marini, of the clergy of Genoa, as head of the Offices of liturgical celebrations of the Pope, replacing Mgr Piero Marini (who will be nominated as head of the Pontifical Commission for Eucharistic Congresses) will be announced at the beginning of the coming week (probably Monday). Guido Marini will take possession of the responsibility after 21 October, that is, after the visit of the Pope to Naples. But he will already be present on that occasion together with his predecessor. As the former Archbishop of Southwark, Most Rev Michael Bowen, once said in response to a rumour, "For all I know, it may very well be true."
Don't drink "Miller Lite"
One of the less welcome imports from the USA is the bland lager "Miller Lite" which features in many trendy restaurants and bars. In England there is generally no good reason to drink this stuff anyway, given that you can usually buy some proper ale. Even if you like watery pale yellow lager, you can get much cheaper "Novus Ordo Eurofizz" out of various pumps. But now there is a special reason to eschew the Miller Lite option. The sponsored last weekend's homosexual "Leather" street fair in San Francisco. At the last minute they got cold feet and asked that their logo be withdrawn from the poster showing Our Lord and his disciples as half naked sado-masochists. Not enough! I agree with the sentiments of Dad29 who warns that if anyone brings the ghastly brew into his house, the 12-packs will be emptied by a single blast from his .410 shotgun. Let me hasten to add - for any MI5, Special Branch or anti-terrorsit monitors - that I do not possess any fi
"Whaddya call this Mass?" runoff poll
Fr Z has had a poll running on the preferred name for the Mass celebrated according to the Liturgical books of 1962 (about which there have been such diverse sensibilities among bishops). After an initial poll with a number of choices, there is now a shortlist of three: Extraordinary form/use Traditional Latin Mass or TLM Tridentine Mass Vote for your choice here . Of those, I'd vote for TLM. But I'm sticking obstinately to "Classical Roman Rite". The word "classical" does not have to refer to the Greek and Roman classics: we speak of "classical music" after all. I'm going with definition 3 of the COD: "3 a in or following the restrained style of classical antiquity. (cf. ROMANTIC). b. in or relating to a long-established style."
"Diverse Sensibilities"
Dr Peter Wright has drawn attention in the combox to the masterful phrase of Bishop Giuseppe Bertori, secretary-general of the Italian bishops' conference. Sua Eccelenza denied that some bishops had called for a more restrictive interpretation of "Summorum Pontificum" but allowed that, ci sono state sensibilità diverse, cioè più attente all'una o all'altra dimensione pastorale dell'applicazione del testo... there were diverse sensibilities, that is to say, more attentive to one or other pastoral dimension of the application of the text The English-speaking world is familiar with the classic examples of how politicians have avoided calling each other liars by using saying that there the other party was "economical with the truth" of guilty of a "terminological inexactitude". (Apparently, Churchill's first use of this phrase was quite innocent.) Henceforth on this blog let us avoid ever saying that prelates have disagreed flatly with each other or
Visit to Good Counsel
I spent this morning at Amigo Hall, next to St George's Cathedral, Southwark. As Dean of Bexley, I was attending the meeting of the Archdiocese of Southwark's Council of Priests. There was mention today of the observations regarding the Community of the Divine Innocence by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. (Link to these observations and the Archbishop's statement at the Diocesan website.) Summorum Pontificum was on the agenda but only as an item for a brief announcement from the Archbishop. He welcomed the motu proprio and said that it needed the be implemented with common sense and pastoral sensitivity. Can't see how anyone could disagree with that. After the meeting, I made my way across London to the Good Counsel Network which offers counselling to women in crisis pregnancies and offers practical solutions to the problems that have led to them seeking an abortion. The work is based very firmly on adoration and prayer. In the chapel in the basement,
SSJC audio files of Mass texts
St John Cantius in Chicago have a fine collection of resources to help priests who wish to learn the older form of the Roman Rite. Their latest offering is to give the texts of the Mass with mp3 audio recordings .
CEI secretary responds to reports
Sandro Magister today has a follow-up to Monday's story about the Italian Bishops' Conference ( CEI ). Here is a quick translation: Betori restores order in the house. And regarding ambrosian rite ... At the press conference at the close of the permanent council of the Italian Bishops' Conference, the general secretary of CEI , Guiseppe Betori , has surprisingly denied that some bishops requested a specific regulation – that is to say more restrictive – for Italy, of the papal motu Proprio " Summorum Pontificum " which liberalised mass in the old roman rite (see previous post) Betori admitted that "there were diverse sensibilities, that is to say, more attentive to one or other pastoral dimension of the application of the text, also to ensure that tensions internal to the community should not be generated". But he remarked that the conclusions were to support the decision of Benedict XVI as is shown by this passage of the final communiqué : "Regarding the appl
CEI battle lines on SP
From the ever informative Sandro Magister comes a most interesting article on the battle lines drawn up within the Italian Bishops' Conference regarding Summorum Pontificum . Here is my translation of the main part of the article: Quarrel in the CEI over the Mass. De Marco explains why From the discussion between the thirty bishops of the permanent council of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), held behind closed doors, the opposition of some to the motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum" of Benedict XVI which has liberalised the old rite of the Mass, has leaked out. The barrage of the critics dominated the discussion from Monday 17th, immediately after the introduction of the president of CEI, Angelo Bagnasco, until Wednesday 19 September. Notable among the opponents are Carlo Ghidelli, bishop of Lanciano-Ortona; Bruno Forte, archbishop of Chieti-Vasto; Benvenuto Italo Castellani, archbishop of Lucca; Paolo Romeo, archbishop of Palermo; and Felice Di Molfetta, bishop of Cerignol
Dominican simple professions
Brother Robert Verrill OP and Brother Daniel Mary Jeffries OP made their simple profession at Cambridge on Saturday. Congratulations to them and to the English Dominicans. For a report with more pictures, see Godzdogz: Simple Profession 2007
16 year old on traditional liturgy and youth masses
Roman Catholic by Choice has a transcript of a letter by 16 year old Ethan Milukas of Peachtree City, Georgia, USA, in the Georgia Bulletin. He is replying to a previous correspondent who said that younger people would not be attracted to the Latin Mass. The letter is an intelligent and succinct analysis of the attempt to draw young people to the Church by trying to make the liturgy more relevant. He pertinently draws attention to this as a lack of faith in the power of the liturgy itself to change people's lives. Full text at Roman Catholic by Choice: 16-yr-old writes about the TLM
Richard Rex in the Times
There was a very good letter by Richard Rex in the Sunday Times yesterday in response to an article by Simon Jenkins. A quotation: Of course, the English came, in time, to be profoundly Protestant, and the emotional and political bedrock of their Protestantism was, until the 19th century, a profound hatred of Catholicism, nurtured on endless invocations of Mary Tudor's cruelty. Curiously enough, Elizabeth I once had more Englishmen hanged in a month than Mary had burnt in her entire reign – but perhaps she had better PR consultants.
NAC to offer training for usus antiquior
Fr Z is back in England today after a few days in Rome. He has a most interesting piece of news from his short stay: the Pontifical North American College will be training seminarians to celebrate Mass according to the missal of 1962. The NAC benefited hugely from the rectorship of Mgr Tim Dolan whose book "Priests for the Third Millennium" is an excellent series of reflections for seminarians. As Fr Z comments, this new initiative will help rebuild the Church's identity by ensuring continuity with the Church's past and traditions. To use an appropriate expression, the NAC is really blazing a trail here!
Credo - new pocket catechism
Frs Andrew Pinsent and Marcus Holden, authors of Evangelium , have written a new pocket catechism called " Credo: The Catholic Faith Explained ", published by the CTS. It is cross-referenced to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium. A6 sized booklet with 112 pages, it sells at £2.95
Dawn Eden at Farm Street
Dawn Eden will be giving a lecture at the parish hall of Farm Street Church (Mount Street, London W1) on Monday 8 october from 7-9pm on the theme "Cutting to the chaste - finding fulfilment while keeping your clothes on."
Henry Benedict Stuart requiem photos
Here is a link to a shedload of great photos of the Pontifical Requiem Mass that took place last Saturday.
BBC hybrid embryo poll
The BBC website currently has a piece on hybrid embryos with a poll . The question is "Should hybrid embryos be used for research?" which, of course misses the point of whether they should be created in the first place. Nevertheless, worth a few moments to cast your "No" vote. Currently 48.25% yes, 44.57% no and 7.17% don't know. 18232 votes cast so, if my maths are correct, if 700 readers vote "no", we will tip the balance... Vote here .
Requiem for Cardinal Duke of York
Today was the occasion for the Requiem Mass on the bicentenary of the death of the Cardinal Duke of York - otherwise Henry Benedict Stuart Prince and Duke of York Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia and Velletri Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church Head of the Royal House of Stuart also grandson of James II and brother of 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'. A Solemn Requiem was celebrated this afternoon by Bishop Bernard Longley at the Conventual Church of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, at the hospital of St John and St Elizabeth. Details of the Mass are at Roman Christendom: Bicentenary Pontifical Requiem for the Cardinal Duke of York . The Mass was organised on behalf of the Royal Stuart Society . Fr Nicholas Schofield is the honorary chaplain of this society and was subdeacon for the Mass. He has a report and photos at his blog. ( Roman Miscellany: Requiem for the Cardinal Duke of York )
Congratulations Sr Andrea
Sr Andrea Fraile of the Sisters of the Gospel of Life has just been awarded her BA (Divinity) from the Maryvale Institute with first class honours. Warmest congratulations. The sisters run the Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative which is worthy of your spiritual and material support.
Bishop Budd on Summorum Pontificum
Fr Z has text and comments on the statement issued by Bishop Christopher Budd of the Plymouth Diocese. I agree with Fr Z's comments and would add that Bishop Budd is a fair-minded man. I liked the last part of his statement: May I urge you to celebrate the present liturgy (the ordinary rite) of all the sacraments of the Church 'attente et devote'. The quality of the parish celebration of the renewed liturgy is an important context for the permitted use of the rite now designated `Extraordinary'. The use of the older form of the rite should help and encourage priests in the proper celebration of the newer form. In fact, as Dr Hemming pointed out at the Merton Conference, the older form provides a necessary anchor for the newer form.
A fitting vestment
Fr Thomas Regan OSB of Our Ladye & St.Michael's, Abergavenny, sent me the above picture of the Missa Cantata there last Friday. Fr Regan came with three other priests from that part of Wales to the LMS conference at Oxford. The vestment worn for the Mass was from the parish's medieval collection. It was donated by Henry VII, having been embroidered in 1498 by Robynett his court embroiderer. It was already 150 years old when worn by the Abergavenny martyrs St David Lewis (parish priest there for 31 years) and St Philip Evans (curate for 5 years) until his martyrdom in 1679. The above photo was sent in high resolution so I have cut and enhanced as best I can the section showing the vestment:
Inwood article spiked
It seems that Paul Inwood's article on Summorum Pontificum has been spiked and will not now be published in the Diocesan Newspaper. Thanks to commenters for confirming this. Fr Z has had a letter too and includes it in the post: Bp. of Portsmouth deep sixes Q&A piece . The correspondent says that Bishop Hollis ... was genuinely unaware of the contents of the Q&A until the whole thing blew up in his face. When I first saw this rumour yesterday, I emailed the Portsmouth Diocesan Press Officer asking for clarification. I'll pass on any response I receive. I'll also pass on Fr Z's recommendation: if you wrote to Bishop Hollis complaining about this, it is a good idea to write again to thank him.
Changing the liturgical mindset
Looking again at Paul Inwood's article on Summorum Pontificum (text at Angelqueen forum - fisk at WDTPRS ), it strikes me that there are one or two themes that might become part of a more general response to Summorum Pontificum in England and Wales and therefore worth looking at. The misreading of " continenter " needs to be kicked firmly into touch. The Holy Father speaks of young people who have discovered this liturgical form and felt its attraction etc. He also says that the norms are "meant to free Bishops from constantly having to evaluate anew how they are to respond to various situations" It cannot be in accord with the mind of the legislator to say that people cannot now ask for the older form of the Mass if they have not asked for it before. That is not what " continenter " means in the context. It is not a strengthening of " stabiliter " which has a precise canonical meaning, but a weakening of it, probably to prevent a restric
Portsmouth response to Summorum Pontificum
Last night, at the Latin Mass Society Reception at the Travellers Club, one piece of news buzzing round was the article by Paul Inwood on Summorum Pontificum that has been circulating in various online forums and email lists. It is alleged that the article is to be published in the Portsmouth Diocesan Newspaper. Fr Z has written on many statements from US dioceses, adding comments and emphasis, taking issue here, congratulating there. Introducing his fisk of Inwood's article, he describes it as "one of the worst things I have seen to date on the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum ". See WDTPRS: Statement from D. of Portsmouth on the Motu Proprio
News from Lourdes
The Lourdes Magazine arrived the other day. As ever, there are a number of interesting pieces of information as well as the good articles and most useful up-to-date map of Lourdes with details of all the hotels. (Lourdes is the second largest town in France if measured by hotel capacity.) The editorial notes the Holy Father's letter to the Chinese Catholics and announces that the Message of Lourdes has been translated into Chinese by NDL Editions. The magazine has a short article referring to the visit of the Holy Father next year. This concludes: "As we go to press the date of the visit has not yet been announced. It will not doubt coincide with an important Marian Feast..." The article is illustrated with a picture of Pope Benedict at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican gardens, noting that the Pope makes a pilgrimage there every year on 31 May for the Feast of the Visitation. This rather hints that the hoteliers might have been right last year in speculating that the d
CIEL in Rome
The CIEL Conference this year is to be held in Rome from 14-17 November. For full details, see Un voyage inoubliable au coeur de la liturgie romaine .
Li'l Jack
Say hello to my new great-nephew, Jack, born on 10 September. Here he is on his birthday: And here he is with his big sister, Lucy: Photo credit: Dad (James Godden) UPDATE : I have just received a link to Jack's dad's site: James Godden Photography . He does weddings, portraits, editorial and architectural photography and is available for commission. (Based in the south of England but will consider further afield.)
Reading the signs of the times
Il Foglio recently interviewed Archbishop Ranjith, Secretary of the congregation for Divine Worship, on Summorum Pontificum . A reader of New Liturgical Movement has kindly translated the article. The Archbishop's comments are relevant to some of the statements from curial offices that have been fisked by Fr Zuhlsdorf : "I am certain that above all the bishops, who at the moment of assuming their episcopal ministry have professed their complete loyalty and obedience to the Supreme Pontiff, will accept this decision with sentiments of generous collaboration and will safeguard the faithful implementation of the instructions of the Motu Proprio in the manner in which it is assigned to them, respecting the specific identities of the two manners of celebrating. "I see that generally, the Motu Proprio has been well received. In any case, to speak of this as a move against the II Vatican Council would not only be a complete misapprehension, but also an attempt to create divi
Liturgy - "looking to God"
Sandro Magister, as ever, has a most helpful analysis of the Holy Father's recent trip to Austria. From Vienna, a Lesson on How to Sing the Mass . He examines the Holy Father's response to the celebrity musical entertainment (go to the chapel and pray) and the arrangements for Mass in Vienna on Sunday 9 September. Haydn's Mariazeller Messe was chosen. Magister points out that the last time a polyphonic setting was used for the papal Mass was in 1985 (Mozart's Krönungsmesse); The one before that was 1963 (Palestrina). In the afternoon, the Holy Father spoke to the Cistercian community of Heiligenkreutz: "In the beauty of the liturgy, [...] wherever we join in singing, praising, exalting and worshipping God, a little bit of heaven will become present on earth. Truly it would not be presumptuous to say that, in a liturgy completely centred on God, we can see, in its rituals and chant, an image of eternity. [...] In all our efforts on behalf of the liturgy, the det
LMS Ordo online
Thanks to the Latin Mass Society, there is now, online, a copy of the Ordo for England and Wales (281Kb pdf) according to the liturgical books of 1962. This is the list, by date, of the feast day, vestment colour, whether you say the Gloria and/or Credo etc. Very useful to have a spare copy in the sacristy.
Baronius Press
I'm happy to give a plug for the excellent Baronius Press who have a very good edition of the Little Office of Our Lady. They also have a new edition of the Daily Roman Missal which includes the text of Summorum Pontificum ready for delivery in October. I have found books published by Baronius Press to produced to very high standards - traditional books with traditional binding.
Reporting in
Fr Z left this afternoon for a couple of days in Lewes after lunch with Fr Charles Briggs at the Chislehurst golf club and a tour of the Church and graveyard. We said a prayer at the grave of the late Michael Davies RIP. I have to go round to Wonersh after the evening Mass so there is only time for a quick post now. Fr Z's blog reports on some interesting developments over the weekend. On the home front, Fr Nicholas Schofield ( Roman Miscellany: Bloggers ) and Mac McLernon ( Mulier Fortis: Bloggers at Blackfen ) have posted the photo of the group of bloggers who were at Friday's High Mass. See the website traditionalcatholic.org.uk for all the photos of the Masses here and at the London Oratory.
CDF statement on ANH
Good to have a fellow blogger at home. Fr Z yesterday handed me a print off of the statement by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith "Responses to certain questions of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops concerning artificial nutrition and hydration." Fr Z has the text in Latin and English in parallel columns. The key texts: The administration of food and water even by artificial means is, in principle, an ordinary and proportionate means of preserving life. It is therefore obligatory to the extent to which, and for as long as, it is shown to accomplish its proper finality, which is the hydration and nourishment of the patient. In this way suffering and death by starvation and dehydration are prevented. and A patient in a "permanent vegetative state" is a person with fundamental human dignity and must, therefore, receive ordinary and proportionate care which includes, in principle, the administration of water and food even by artificial mean
High Masses galore
Sorry to have been silent for a couple of days. Fr Z came across a post called "Bloggers in Blackfen" which, he said, sounded like a murder mystery. Well, I have not been murdered even a little bit. Fr Z has been staying with me for a couple of days. He preached an excellent sermon at the High Mass in Blackfen yesterday. (You can read a copy of the sermon on his blog: Sermon for 14 September at Blackfen . There are photos over at traditionalcatholic.org.uk . (Direct link to the Blackfen High Mass page ). The above is just one example from over 100 photos. After toasting the Holy Father in some very good company, we made our way across London in the rush hour to attend in choir at the High Mass at the London Oratory. There are photos of that too at traditionalcatholic.org.uk . Fr Z has some gizmo that enables him to connect to his DVD recorder at the Sabine Farm and order it to record the High Mass on EWTN so we also got to view some of that too. Normal posting will be resumed
If... but not "only if"
Reflecting on the various responses to Summorum Pontificum gathered by Fr John Zuhlsdorf , it occurs to me that there is one misreading that might become popular and is worth negating. This is the misreading that sees Summorum Pontificum as imposing conditions of the kind "if and only if". So it might be said that the priest can say the Mass in the parish if and only if a group which exists more than temporararily ( coetus ... continenter exsistit - not "a stable group") asks for it. It seems to me that this misreads an essentially permissive enactment. The first principle of Summorum Pontificum is that the older form of the Roman Rite was never abrogated and was therefore, in principle, always legitimate. As Article 1 states: "It is, therefore, permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church.
Good food, good company
Food for reflection and prayer, that is. Opus Dei hold a Day of Recollection for secular priests once a month at Wickenden Manor. Another early Mass today at 7am (which also gives working people a chance to get to weekday Mass) a short drive over to Chislehurst to pick up Fr Briggs and an hour or so to get to the heart of the Sussex countryside in time for the first conference. The priests of Opus Dei are always sure to give some excellent and challenging advice to us. One particular point that stayed with me today was Fr Calduch's stress on the importance of a suitable rule of life. I do try to observe this but it is easy to allow unnecessary activities to intervene and waste time. There is always good company on these days. Today there was an unusually large gathering because a group of priests of the Society of the Holy Cross were in the middle of a week's conference. We were together for lunch and for the Holy Hour in the afternoon. Oh and the food was good too. Wholesom
Bedspreads and chasubles
The teaching term started yesterday at Wonersh. The domestic staff had made up my bed during the summer vacation with a bright and cheerful duvet cover: It seems that this kind of fabric is not only popular as an inexpensive bed covering. With a cut here and a hem there, it can be made up into chasubles for a Papal Mass... (Photo credit: Gerald Augustinus )
Usual BBC stuff on Mariazell
We are quite used to this sort of stuff but it is good to have support from fellow Catholics from elsewhere in the world who become aware of BBC bias in reporting on Catholic events. Here is an extract from a report by an eyewitness: BBC said there weren't throngs along the streets. Of course there hadn't been any plans or possibilities for such throngs and the streets were blocked by police, even the highway was lined by police. Every venue had a set number of tickets to give out, and all the venues were packed, despite the truly horrible weather. One could barely pass through the masses. BBC also wrote that only a few came to Mariazell on their own and somewhat snidely remarked that Church buses had brought in people. Yeah BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSED TO PRIVATE TRAFFIC ! One could only get in by train or bus. So yeah, the BBC is full of crap - and you can add all kinds of other news outlets. Either they don't do their homework or they are deliberately lying. People stood in rai
Malta Day celebrations
Fiorella has sent me some photos of the Malta Day celebrations last Saturday. They were celebrating Our Lady of Victories, and the ending of the Great Siege and the wartime Siege of Malta. Here is the statue of Our Lady which was carried in procession. In such celebrations, it is important to have a good band: and fireworks - even in daylight: During the day, there was a presentation of Fiorella's latest novel "Fr William's Daughter" by His Excellency Michael Refalo the High Commissioner.
Getting to Blackfen
I know that many people are going to try to make the journey out to the suburbs for Friday's High Mass. Blackfen is not the easiest place to get to but there are directions on my parish website . No black cabs out here (the cabbies live here but don't work here!) There is a minicab office at Sidcup Station. Alternatively, one firm I have often used is Avanti Cabs: 020 8850 1100.
Pontifical High Mass in Sydney
Cardinal George Pell will celebrate a Solemn Pontifical Mass in the older form of the Roman Rite at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney at 10am on Saturday 3 November. This will be the first time that a Cardinal has celebrated the old Latin Mass at St Mary's Cathedral in over 40 years. You lucky Australians!
Fr Lang and Martin Mosebach in the States
On Friday evening, Fr Michael Lang and Martin Mosebach were speaking at an event in New Haven, Connecticut, hosted by the St Gregory Society and the Society of St Hugh of Cluny . The event was repeated in New Canaan last night and will be on in Park Avenue, Manhattan tonight. Stephen, an undergraduate of Yale University attended Friday night's event and has posted about it (with photos) on his blog For God, For Country and For Yale . See: Liturgy Discussion: Father Lang Liturgy Discussion: Martin Mosebach Liturgy Discussion: Q and A
Further thoughts on television
As ever, posting on the advisability or otherwise of having a television at home generated quite a discussion. (See the comboxes of Another MSM-free family and Chuck the Telly . I thought it might be worth adding some further thoughts to clarify. I don't think that every family that has a television is necessarily doing harm to their children. Many such as Jackie Parkes , or Francis (cf. combox) use the TV responsibly and with vigilance. But I do want to assert that it is perfectly all right for a family to choose not to have a TV. This is called into question by those who want to say that the television is an essential part of our culture and that a family, or an individual, is missing something important by not having the TV at home. Nor am I saying that the electronic item itself is an evil. It is possible to view EWTN or good films without falling into the trap of channel-hopping and leaving the set on all the time. However, there are other ways of obtaining such content: via
KSC Seminar and Gillian Craig
The Knights of St Columba invited me to speak today on the question of secularisation in Britain today. I focussed particularly on the effects of discrimination legislation but also examined briefly how the "conflicting rights" question can be applied to other pro-life matters. (Sorry that I can't publish the lecture as yet - it still needs some tidying up.) The other speaker was Dr Gillian Craig, a retired Geriatrician who has written extensively on the question of hydration and palliative sedation of the elderly. I found her lecture most informative. It was a worrying confirmation of many concerns that have arisen in the debate over the Mental Capacity Act. Britain has a problem with its ageing population and decreasing provision for the elderly. The closure of long stay wards in hospitals means that there is a need to reduce the numbers of elderly being admitted to hospital and a need to discharge patients wherever possible. Managerial pressure to increase the bed occu
Commemoration of Abbe Edgeworth
A commenter passes on this interesting snippet from the Latin Mass Society of Ireland. Bishop O'Reilly of Ardagh & Clonmacnois will the Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) on Sunday, 23 September 2007 at St Mary's Church, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford as part of a commemoration of the Bicentenary of the death of Monsignor Henry Essex Edgeworth de Firmont. Bishop O'Reilly of Ardagh & Clonmacnois to offer Latin Mass at Monsignor Edgeworth commemoration Although born in Co. Longford, Mgr Edgeworth was the confessor of Louis XVI and Vicar General of Paris at the height of the French Revolution. There is an article summarising his extraordinarily eventful life in the Catholic Encyclopaedia: Henry Essex Edgeworth .
Wake up and smell the incense!
Mgr Joseph F Schaedel, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis has replied to a recent article on the CNS concerning Summorum Pontificum. His letter is excellent and can be read at Fr Z's blog: Monsignor stands up to the bullies: Wake up and smell the incense . The last expression was the punch line with which he ended his letter. Fr Z now has a competition to design a graphic to illustrate that phrase: GRAPHICS: Wake Up And Smell The Incense! . There is a nice subhead, "Usus antiquior: Back to the people." The post is well worth a look. Here is my favourite graphic among those posted so far:
"Future telling" and fear of the future
An Irish reader has drawn my attention to an excellent sermon by Archbishop Seán Brady, given recently at Knock as part of the 2007 National Novena. Brady is Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. In his sermon, he made the following points: Those who confidently tell us that the Catholic Church in Ireland is an anachronism, a superstition of bygone days which has been rejected by intelligent Irish people, have greatly over stated their case. God is still active in people's hearts. The land of saints and scholars has become better known as the land of stocks and shares, of financial success and security. Tragically it has also become a land of increasing stress and substance abuse. People are seeking to control their future rather than entrust their future to God's promise and plan. The result is an increasing culture of insecurity and fear. Underlying this trend of 'future telling', is a fear of the future … It is evidence of the failure of a life without God to address the
"The Bread of Life" book launch
Yesterday evening, "The Bread of Life", a new book for first Holy Communion by Fr Martin Edwards (pictured above with Fr Andrew Wadsworth) was launched at the St Wilfrid's Hall at the London Oratory. The book as introduced by Fr Ignatius Harrison, the Provost of the Oratory. Fr Martin Edwards then spoke about the book, emphasising the doctrinal content of the book as well as the pedagogical features which are designed to help teachers convey Catholic teaching to young children. "The Bread of Life" is published by Gracewing and can be ordered from their website ("new titles"). The photographs which illustrate the book feature Fr Ronald Creighton-Jobe of the London Oratory, at the (eastward-facing) altar of Fr Edwards' Church of St Mary Magdalen in Wandsworth. As Fr Edwards said, the book is "MP-ready" and the photographs will be suitable for parishes that use the older or newer form of the Roman rite (or both). Fr Ronald was also pres
Something Fishy!
This letter was sent to the Tablet but not published. (I'm always happy to publish good letters that somehow do not get to be published in that forum.) Something Fishy! It was most interesting to read Michael Northcott's exhortation that "Pro-life should mean saying no to pollutants." (Clouds of Witness 1/9/07) He argues that ecological issues have been neglected by recent papal teaching on the basis that 'John Paul II believed the greatest moral challenge was...threats to pre-natal human life and efforts to restrain population growth.' But I find this does not stand up to scrutiny when scientific evidence [which many environmentalists choose to ignore] points precisely to the threat to the environment by the chemical pollutants caused by the synthetic hormones in contraceptive pills and devices. One recalls the shocking evidence of the scientists from the University of Denver Colorado in 2005 and which again was highlighted in July this year;who studied m
The therapeutic mentality and liturgy
James Hitchcock wrote The Recovery of the Sacred in 1974 and, dusting off my copy of the first edition, I see that I read it in 1977. A year later, I read his earlier (1972) book "The Decline and Fall of Radical Catholicism". Hitchcock has a flair for bringing sociological and anthropological analysis to bear on matters of liturgy with devastating effectiveness. In the latest issue of Adoremus , which arrived here yesterday, he has an article discussing "how the therapeutic mentality affects the culture and Catholic worship." He draws from the work of the Jewish sociologist Philip Rieff whom Hitchcock describes as "not friendly to the Catholic Church overall" although he likes such things as the poetry of Gerald Manley Hopkins and Bach's B Minor Mass. Hitchcock applies Rieff's description of cultural change to the Liturgy, and specifically to the change that took place in the Liturgy in many places after the Second Vatican Council. Thus, before the
Pope wears green vestments "intentionally"
Thanks to Teresa Benedetta at the Papa Ratzinger forum, there are full translation of several of the Holy Father's addresses during his recent visit to Loreto. He began his homily to young people, concluding the Agorà 2007 as follows: "Do not follow the path of pride, rather, follow the path of humility" Go against the trend: do not listen to that chorus of bias and persuasive voices which today put forward a model of life that is drenched in arrogance and violence, in dominance and success at all costs, where appearance and possession to the detriment of others is openly promoted. All of these messages carried by the mass media are aimed at you! Be vigilant! Be critical! Do not follow the trend produced by this powerfully persuasive media. "Do not be afraid, my dear friends, to prefer the 'alternative' route indicated by true love: a sober style of life, a life of solidarity; an honest commitment to your studies and work; a cultivated interest in the common good. Do not be a
Usus antiquior at St Mary Major's
From the Cattolici Romani Forum : On Saturday 15 September, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, at 3.30pm, there will be a Mass at St Mary Majors [...] in thanksgiving to the Supreme Pontiff for the gift of the Motu Proprio, according to the old Roman Missal, in the wonderful and precious Capella Paolina where for centuries the image of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani has been venerated. The notice says that all forumisti and their friends are warmly invited! H/T to Orbis Catholicus: Huge Tridentine Rite Mass to be sung in Rome...
Boredom and accidia
Following my recent thoughts on the lack of boredom in the life of the priest, I was recently told of the September letter of the Parish Priest of the London Oratory on the subject of boredom. Well worth reading.
Fiorella's books
For supper time, I have been reading Fiorella De Maria's excellent first novel "The Cassandra Curse". She is known as Fiorella Nash to many of you but has a website Fiorella de Maria where you can buy this and her second novel "Father William's Daughter" which was recently published. Both books have a strong Maltese connection (the first is set largely in Malta). "Fr William's Daughter" is being launched in the Westminster Cathedral Hall this Saturday (8 September) as a part of the Malta Day celebrations. I am finding "The Cassandra Curse" a very good read. The Sunday Times of Malta describes it as "A passionate love story, breathlessly racy". This should not be understood as the comment might be were it written in an English newspaper! The pace of the novel is indeed very taut and the characters are fleshed out realistically. The passion for survival is as much a theme of the story as the passion of romance and betrayal.
Discrimination law review
As the summer holidays come to an end, the next turn of the screw is heralded by the Government: the Discrimination Law Review. The website of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship does not seem to have their briefing up as yet so here is a chunk from the main part of it as received by email: Although there are many positive proposals, there also elements of considerable concern to Christians who want to be able to speak freely about the Bible's teaching. The main concerns are: 1. The Government are proposing to make it illegal to harass someone on the grounds of their religion or belief. However, the definition of harassment is extremely broad, and substantially depends on the perception of the person who makes an allegation of harassment and not the intention of the person accused of harassment. So, a Christian that went to a largely Muslim area to hand out tracts which said that Islam was a false religion, could be sued if a particular Muslim felt that the tract had either 'viola
14 September celebrations
I mentioned a while back that I will be celebrating a High Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite at Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen at 12noon on Friday 14 September, in thanksgiving for the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum . Fr John Zuhlsdorf of What Does the Prayer Really Say? has kindly agreed to preach at the Mass. Originally, I intended to put on a formal lunch for clergy. However, a number of lay people will be travelling specially for the Mass so I have decided, after some thought, to invite everyone for a buffet lunch in the Parish Hall. Many thanks to the Union of Catholic Mothers for kindly taking on responsibility for preparing the lunch. I will arrange another occasion in the near future especially for the clergy. Any of you who can come will be most welcome. Clergy are invited to attend in Choir - please bring your cassock and cotta and a biretta if you have one. It will help to have some idea of who is coming (clergy and laity) so please leave a comment here i
Beta bloglines
If you use Bloglines, I recommend having a look at the new beta version . I have found the new "three pane" view very helpful.
Another MSM-free family
Matt Doyle and family have decided not to pay the TV licence and therefore not to watch TV any more. ( Lacrimarum Valle: Down with Tele! ) Congratulations to another family liberated from the evil black box. I posted on this a while back ( Chuck the Telly! ). Matt also gives a link to CUT - Catholics Unplug your Televisions .
Never a boring day
When young people ask me about the priestly life, one of my stock responses is to say that in 23 years of priesthood I have had many joys and sorrows but that I do not remember ever having had a boring day. Today is a good example. Tired from the Oxford LMS Conference, I got up a little later than usual but still with time for a meditation and a some spiritual reading; and then went down to prepare for Mass which on Saturday is in the usus antiquior . After exposition, confessions and Benediction, I gave a brief refresher on the Latin responses to my young server who needed to brush up after the summer holidays. His companion has broken his foot while on holiday so I have to catch him and tell him that he can still serve. Then on to a family to talk about a loved one who had died, and reassure them that he would always be remembered in the prayers of the parish. The funeral is to be a simple Liturgy of the Word at the Crematorium, followed by the Committal - this is common in England


Children from urban primary schools spend a week re-imagining their local neighbourhood.
Presentation of design schemes to a review panel made up of representatives from the city council, the community and the built environment sector.
The Summer School is a part of the national Generation Place project, which aims to nurture the future citizens and professionals who will make the kinds of places where people thrive. Through learning initiatives in both formal and informal settings that respond to local contexts, the practitioners in the network engage the next generation of creative placemakers.


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LONDON CALLING?
Meghan Markle's mum Doria Ragland 'flies back to UK to see daughter and Prince Harry' amid London move rumours
Her latest visit comes amid reports she plans to move to the capital city so she can be close to her daughter who is busy with Royal duties
Patrick Knox
Updated: 18 Sep 2018, 15:55
MEGHAN Markle's mum has sparked speculation she was flying to Britain to set up a home near her daughter after being spotted at Los Angeles International Airport.
Looking discrete in a casual white T-shirt and cargo pants, Doria Ragland was seen in the terminal with reports suggesting she was heading to the United Kingdom's capital as she prepared to move there.
Doria Ragland flying out of Los Angeles International Airport on SaturdayCredit: The Mega Agency
This would be the second time in as many weeks Doria, who turns 62 this month, was visiting her daughter and Prince Harry.
Her latest trip over comes amid reports she plans to move to London so she can be close to her daughter who is busy with Royal engagements.
The yoga teacher is reportedly "beside herself with excitement" at the prospect of living near Meghan within weeks, reports the Daily Express.
Last time she visited the country it was reported she stayed with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their private Oxfordshire cottage.
It is speculated she was headed to London where she will set up a homeCredit: The Mega Agency
It's been claimed Doria has already quit her job in preparation for the move
A close friend of Doria told the newspaper: "She is getting ready to move to London. I think she will be going as soon as possible.
"I know that she was eager to live closer to her daughter.
"She hasn't been staying at her house for a while now. She has only visited the house very occasionally and when she is there she has had a security guard with her."
When contacted by Sun Online about the reports of a potential move, Kensington Palace declined to comment.
Meghan's mum Doria Ragland lines up with the Royals as Markles are welcomed into the family
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle royal wedding

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Short version: Well crafted, excellent performances, but not exactly entertaining.
For me, this is one of those rough reviews to write... where I really have to think about what my criteria is for deciding whether a movie is "great", "good", or "bad". I'll admit my reviews can be subjective - I don't just rate films based on technical quality, but on how they make me feel. They don't have to be "entertaining" (see my 5 star review of Enemies of Happiness as an example), but I like some sort of sense of positive "take-away" or satisfaction when I'm done.
Technically, is The Good Life a great film? Based on the script and the performances I would have to say yes. Overall, for the average viewer, is it great? I'd have to say no. At most I would call it a good movie.
The Good Life (very sarcastically titled) is about a 25 year guy named Jason who really just doesn't fit in with the Nebraska football-crazed town in which he lives. Yes, I know it sounds like a high school "outsider" movie and for the longest time I thought it was - because Mark Webber (who plays Jason) looked like a teenage kid to me. It wasn't until I did the math after a few lines of dialog that I figured out his age.
The film opens with our protagonist walking towards a celebratory crowd of people with a gun in his hand, the narrative describing the physical effects of shooting oneself in the mouth. Right there you can be assured that this isn't going to be the "Feel Good Movie of the Year." We are informed that we are watching the end of the film, and it immediately cuts away.
Jason (our protagonist) is a good guy with a big heart who is a victim of circumstance. Raised by a father with a sadistic streak who left the family some time back, a somewhat clueless mother (seemingly irresponsible, but not in a malicious way) who doesn't seem to have a job and is depending on Jason working two jobs to keep them afloat. Unfortunately Jason's jobs are minimum wage at best and are not enough to meet the monthly bills, including the electricity bill in the middle of winter. His father has just committed suicide, and he leaves Jason a gift which goes unopened for most of the film. We learn that at age three the family learned that his sister had a sever peanut allergy, and that for her 10th birthday (if I recall correctly) dear old dad gave her an intricately wrapped package for her birthday that contained... a jar of peanut butter. That was dads idea of a joke. Therefore Jason's trepidation at opening a parting gift from his father is quite understandable.
Jason also suffers from alopecia, a disease that causes his body to reject it's own hair which has caused him to be ostracized for many years both by others and within his own mind. Seemingly trapped in his town and nowhere life, we know that Jason did have a plan to escape at some point due to reference to his "moving fund" which he has exhausted trying to meet the monthly bills at home.
Jason also tries to take care of Gus (played by Harry Dean Stanton), who owns a local old-time movie theater. Gus lost his wife years ago but is starting to descend into Alzheimers. Jason does his best to befriend Gus, who he's known for five years by helping him to run the theater, which shows old classics. It's here that Jason meets Francis (played by Zooey Deschanel from Elf) Bill Paxton in a minor and somewhat creepy role.
Francine is somewhat mysterious and very intriguing, and through their relationship throws Jason a lifleline and brings him some brief joy. She gives him a feeling of self-worth and validates what a good person he is. Unfortunately she has her own issues that make her damaged goods, and his happiness is short-lived.
Writer/Director Stephen Berra does an admirable job of capturing the feeling of desolation that is Jason's life. The fact that he gives so much of himself and sacrifices for others, while they seemingly don't appreciate it and manage to do better than him (although not much better). I might say that Berra does too good a job of it, because after a while I almost started to feel it myself, a black hole with no way out that went on and on and on. Although it was about two hours long, it felt to me like the extended edition of Lord of the Rings.
I always believe that it is much more difficult to write real-world dialog than it is to pen what is said in an action flick, so Berra gets points for that. It was very real, and for lack of a better description, quiet or muted, fitting in with the beaten down emotions of the characters.
The acting was excellent, from everyone involved. Webber definitely captured the pathos of a beaten down person, accepting everything bad that happens up until a breaking point that must come. As in her performance in Elf, Zooey Deschanel here has an almost ethereal quality... almost as if she's not of this world. She is very compelling when she is onscreen. Bill Paxton, who usually plays a lovable guy was cheerful in a positively creepy way. Harry Dean Stanton, another outstanding performance, straddling the line between lucidity and dementia. And then there's Chris Klein (from American Pie) in a supporting role that made me somehow laugh and angry at the same time.
One scene I could have done without (and to me really seemed like non-sequiter) took place in a gay bar, with a quick shot of two guys trying to swallow each other's tounges. I really didn't need to see that and when thinking about the movie as a whole, I don't really see what the point of that scene was. Really the only reason it seemed to be in there was because it was an indie film and one must show solidarity.
Out of respect for the performances and the screenwriting, I'll give this one .
Overall this isn't for everyone, but if you're into angst-ridden movies this is probably for you.


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Book reviews: A special birthday and animal magic with Macmillan
Dear Zoo
Pam Norfolk
Published: 13:38 Wednesday 15 February 2017
One of the best-loved and most ingenious picture books celebrates its 35th birthday as Macmillan roll out a new season of reading for early years children and their parents.
Enjoy discovering a menagerie of animals in a sumptuous edition of Rod Campbell's timeless Dear Zoo, watch two charismatic crocs at play, count down for ten terrific dinosaurs or head off on a madcap teddy bear adventure.
Age one plus:
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Rod Campbell's irresistible animal lift-the-flap book, Dear Zoo, has been delighting pre-school children for 35 years now and to celebrate this timeless classic, Macmillan have produced a beautiful gift edition.
Campbell is a master of interactive storytelling and this ingeniously simple but effective tale finds a truly original way to unite discovery and fun. The book is an essential part of every first library and features a child who writes to the zoo asking them to send a pet.
Each new generation has thrilled to the story, enjoying the wonder and variety of wild animals, and lifting the flaps to discover which the animals the zoo has sent… a monkey, a lion and even an elephant! But will the zoo ever manage to send the perfect pet?
A firm favourite with toddlers and parents, this sumptuous new hardback edition has a jacket with shiny gold foil and slots neatly into a specially designed, sturdy gift slipcase. The extra thick, glossy card pages, durable flaps and stylish finish make it perfect for small hands and with Campbell's bright, bold artwork, a catchy refrain full of gentle humour and a whole host of favourite animals, Dear Zoo is a must for every child's bookshelf… and the perfect gift to treasure forever.
(Macmillan, hardback, £12.99)
Age 3 plus:
Solomon and Mortimer by Catherine Rayner
Solomon Crocodile captured readers' hearts when he first appeared in 2011 and now the charismatic little croc is back to snap up some new followers!
Award-winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner captures the playful nature of two unlikely heroes in a gorgeously illustrated and lively picture book using her distinctive bold style and clever use of colour.
What's On Listings 18-24 April
Solomon Crocodile and his croc friend Mortimer are bored. They want to find some fun but what can they do? Tree-climbing is tricky, chasing lizards doesn't end well and flying turns out to be a lot harder than it looks. But then they spot the biggest hippo in the river. Just imagine the splash he would make if two naughty crocodiles were to surprise him! But Solomon and Mortimer are about to get a whole lot more than they bargained for...
Funny, uplifting and with eye-catching illustrations on every page, Solomon's new adventure will have youngsters crying crocodile tears of laughter!
(Macmillan, paperback, £6.99)
Age two plus:
Another popular book making a welcome comeback is Ten Terrible Dinosaurs, a fun, rhyming, colourful counting book from Paul Stickland, the illustrator and creator of Dinosaur Roar!
Since it was first published in 1994, Dinosaur Roar! has become every child's favourite dinosaur book, serving as the ideal introduction to dinosaurs and exploring the concept of opposites in a fun and entertaining way.
And now Stickland's lively counting extravaganza, a picture book first published in 1997 and based on the characters from Dinosaur Roar!, has been republished with a special endorsement by the Natural History Museum.
Stickland's rip-roaring rhyme, the addictive countdown and the cast of multi-coloured dinosaurs make this an entertaining and interactive method for little children to learn about numbers… and dinosaurs.
The rhyming text encourages children to join in, helping them to learn their numbers as they count down from ten to one, and ending with a wonderful loud ROAR as all the dinosaurs assemble!
Clever use of colour, an exuberant story and the crazy antics of the dinosaurs ensure this enchanting book will go on entertaining little ones for many years to come.
The Everywhere Bear by Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb
Ready, teddy, go! Successful picture book duo Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb are on terrific form in a charming new rhyming picture book story brimming with fun and adventure.
Little ones will fall in love with Everywhere Bear, the school teddy who embarks on a crazy adventure that takes him far away from his home on the classroom shelf and way out to sea where the seagulls glide and the fishermen work.
Each day holds a new adventure for Class One's Everywhere Bear. His home is on a shelf in the classroom but he doesn't spend much time by himself because every boy and girl in the class is a friend. And he goes home with one of them every weekend. But one day he gets more than he bargained for when he falls unnoticed from a backpack and embarks on his own big adventure. He's washed down a drain and whooshed out to sea, rescued by a fishing boat, loaded on to a lorry, taken to the tip and carried off by a seagull... how will he ever make it back to Class One?
Donaldson's wonderfully engaging, empowering and warm-hearted story is guaranteed to appeal to curious young minds and inspire children to seek out their own adventures.
Youngsters will enjoy getting to know all Everywhere Bear's classmates, sharing their antics when they take the teddy home and then joining the intrepid traveller on his own lost-and-found odyssey. The rhyming text brings extra pace to the action and Cobb's busy, colourful illustrations add life and vitality to the bear's escapades.
A 'class' act from a top team…
When Grandad Was a Penguin by Morag Hood
Grandads do the strangest things, but acting like a penguin? That's exceedingly strange!
Scottish illustrator and author Morag Hood is developing her own unique voice and style in the world of children's books and this quirky, wryly funny and captivating picture book ensures there will be smiles all round at story time.
So what DO you do when your Grandad starts acting very much like a penguin? He likes sitting in the fridge, diving into the goldfish bowl and swimming in the sink. It's all a bit fishy. Perhaps he's just getting older, or was there a mix-up when he visited the zoo?
Familiar, everyday settings get a surreal makeover in this eloquently and beautifully envisioned fish-out-of-water story. The lino cut artwork is bold and eye-catching, and Hood's quirky use of colour and keen eye for design, which won her a place as runner up in The Macmillan Prize for Illustration, comes gloriously alive.
A celebration of the love between older and younger generations, Hood's witty, moving and clever swapping places story has something in it for all the family… a cool mystery, a puzzling penguin, a gregarious grandad and an ingenious twist in the tail!
(Two Hoots, hardback, £11.99)
A Perfect Day by Lane Smith
It is a perfect day for Bear… but not for anybody else!
Inspired by much-loved US author and illustrator Lane Smith's real-life encounter with a marauding bear in the woods near his home in rural Connecticut, this playful, witty and chaotic tale imagines how one creature's idea of a perfect day might not be quite like another's.
The animals in Bert's garden are having a perfect day. Whether basking in the warmth of the sun, nibbling on a fresh yellow corn-on-the-cob, or cooling off in a clear pool of water, it is a truly beautiful afternoon for all of them. Well, it was! Someone else is here and he's not a welcome visitor… a big, bad bear is also hoping for a perfect day. Is he going to spoil it for everyone else?
Lane's fresh and fun-filled story about a group of appealing animal characters and their (not so) perfect day offers little ones an exciting and important lesson about contrast, difference and diversity.
Bold, action-packed illustrations provide a visual foil to the earlier serenity of the morning garden, creating a gentle sense of suspense and surprise as the story progresses.
A walk on the wild side for all the family...


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How can we make ancient history relevant to our students today and their learning in the future? How can museums be an agent for innovation while supporting the learning goals of a K-12 school audience?
Finding relevance and building connections for museum visitors are age-old issues for museum professionals. This this end, the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago offers the new STEAM-based Teacher Cohort Academy, a year-long educator professional development initiative. The Academy provides local K-12 teachers a platform to explore tools and instructional approaches that balance the needs for students' academic learning and 21 st century skill building through archaeological inquiry.
The overarching goal of the Teacher Cohort Academy is to enhance teachers' self-efficacy in utilizing museum resources for teaching various subjects and increase their competencies in curriculum development that aligns with the national standards. The program primarily targets educators at middle- and high-school levels. It engages teachers to get inspiration from ancient history so that they can effectively guide their students in imaging and addressing future problems while learning science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM).
A STEAM-based approach in the training program opens up multiple perspectives among the educators in uncovering the challenges and opportunities a community or nation in the past might have faced. With our museum collections of archaeological artifacts excavated by the University of Chicago's faculty, a group of sixteen teachers from eight different schools pair up with a colleague to use the collections as a jumping-off point to develop a cross-interdisciplinary unit. Through a series of five monthly sessions, educators visit the Oriental Institute museum galleries alongside an archaeologist and an Egyptologist at the University to interrogate daily problems that ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians encountered and the solutions they tried. Thus, educators ask questions of common threads and connections to other cultures. Those problems include, but are not limited to, how did people measure and use time? How did people engage in fair trade? How did people ensure they were remembered of after death?
"Museums as labs that can inspire the next generation of artists, scientists, engineers and their teachers" (A City-Level Approach to Remake Learning). A university museum of archaeological collections like the Oriental Institute offers students and their teachers a unique opportunity to consider life in ancient times from artistic, scientific, and technological standpoints.
For session one on "Inquiry and Discovery: Teaching through Primary Sources and Archaeology": How can we engage students in making inquiry and discovery through primary sources and archaeology?
For session two on "Science and Technology in Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt": How can we engage students in making inquiry and discovery through experimentation and revision?
For session three on "Engineering and Mathematics in Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt": How can we engage students in making inquiry and discovery through collaboration?
For session four on "Art in Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt": How can we engage students in making inquiry and discovery through observation, visualization, spatial thinking, and creative problem-solving?
In session five which is the curriculum showcase, teachers practice peer leadership through demonstrating and leading a breakout session at the Educator Mini-Conference at the Oriental Institute. The event is open to all educators.
Throughout the training sessions, teachers study selected artifacts in the Oriental Institute's collections through guided gallery tour according to the theme of the day. They have time to sketch curriculum ideas based on what they observe and learn in the tour, as these are layered with content knowledge about the role of archaeology. Additionally, teachers participate in hands-on projects associated with the theme in the respective training session.
MAKERSPACE AT WORK–TECHNOLOGY UNDER OUR FEET ACTIVITY–TEACHERS COLLABORATIVELY MAKING A SANDAL BASED ON THE INSPIRATION AND RESEARCH FROM THE ORIENTAL INSTITUTE MUSEUM COLLECTIONS.
One of the hands-on projects teachers explore is called Technology Under Our Feet, in association with the "Engineering and Technology in Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Beyond" training session. Through investigating footwear technology and design in ancient Egypt and Nubia, the objective of the project is to demonstrate that humans continue to invent and innovate to improve their quality of living through the application and experiments in science, technology, and art. To encourage creative problem solving and evidence-based research practice, participants are challenged to make a model of a sandal or shoe that meets the needs of a person, with consideration of the age/occupation/gender/social status of that person as well as the time period and region in which that person lived. In a group of four, participants need to research the cultural characteristics for the user. The research culminates with hands-on shoe making using recycled materials such as cardboard, scrap tissue paper, toilet paper rolls, etc. At the end of the projects, participants report and make an argument for how the choices of the recycled materials represent the actual resources that should be used.
The project challenges the participants in making sound decisions, effective collaboration and interpersonal communications, and quality task performance. An activity extension to integrate digital literacy and technology, participants can use data visualization such as infographics to summarize their collaborative work process and/or explain their design.
A City-Level Approach to Remake Learning, by Gregg Behr. Building the Future of Education: Museums and the Learning Ecosystem. Center for the Future of Museums.
Supporting Learning in Museum: Makerspaces: A National Framework. Museum (September/October 2016). American Alliance of Museums. P. 19–24.
Carol Ng-He is the School & Community Program Manager at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. She serves on the Education Committee of American Alliance of Museums, the Editorial Review Panel of the Journal of Museum Education, and the Museums & Exhibitions Committee of the Archaeological Institute of America. She is the recipient of 2012 Promising Leadership Award by the Association of Midwest Museums and 2012 Illinois Museum Art Educator of the Year Award by the Illinois Art Education Association.


This is a cool game. In the game, you can place bids on storage auctions and equally buy items like a real pawn shop. And there are over 200 items that you can buy. You are expected to outbid your rivals and sell your acquisitions to make a profit.
So, do you love to run your own business? Do you think you have entrepreneurship skills and abilities? If your answer is yes then this is the game that you need in order to test your abilities.
● You can place bids and even try to outbid your opponents or rivals.
● There are over 200 items that you can buy.
● You can run your own pawn shop.
● The game has wonderful graphics.
The game is exciting, and it has no age restrictions. That is, it is recommendable for all ages. It is free to download, install and play.


Younger employees, the so-called Millennials, are more likely to reject working for one organisation and instead freelance with multiple organisations, research by Elance-oDesk has found.
Elance-oDesk surveyed more than 1,000 Millennials and 200 hiring managers. It found 57% of Millennials consider the concept of long-term corporate loyalty to be dead. Instead, it estimates 5.6 million young workers are choosing to freelance with multiple organisations.
Commenting on the findings, Alice Weightman, founder and MD of consultancy firm Hanson Search, told HR magazine she had noticed a "new generation" leaving university with the aim of becoming "mini entrepreneurs".
The research also found 70% of Millennials believe they have skills previous generations didn't have, and 73% think they are more adaptable to change than their older colleagues.
Elance-oDesk country manager, UK&I Hayley Conick said that while a lack of traditional employment opportunities may have "catalysed" the increase in independent working, it is now becoming more of a choice for many people.
She predicted an emergence of "hybrid workforces", where hiring managers oversee a core permanent employee base working alongside independent freelancers. "Hiring managers that fail to embrace and plan for this will face a talent black hole in the next five to 10 years," she warned.
Weightman agreed that the recession was a "driving factor" in the rise of the freelancer, but said many younger people are now embracing the lifestyle for its own merits.
This article is spot on - more and more independent professionals are turning to freelancing as a stable and secure method of earning a living. I saw that IPSE - https://www.ipse.co.uk/ announced that there has been an increase in self-employment figures over the last year but also added that start up costs is blocking more and more freelancers from starting up their own business.


VDI (Virtual Desktop) is a hot topic with many projects underway or planned. But how many people have considered the impact of PSTs (Outlook Archives) on the project. With something like 30-40% of all PSTs resident on desktop computers or laptops, there is a real challenge of finding and relocating the PSTs without impacting the user. Users are actively discouraged from storing word and excel documents on their personal computers, but even if they do, it usually equates to just a few megabytes of data. A one gigabyte PST file is common place and moving that to a central location can be devastating, let alone a number for a single employee or thousands in an organization. VDI projects require elimination of all data stored at the desktop.
Net App recently stated that 23-50% of data center costs are associated with storage, and yet with a VDI project the problem of finding, assigning ownership of PSTs and moving them to a central location without blowing the budget can be a mighty task. Project leaders of VDI projects need to be able to identify PST files, analyze the content, eliminate old or redundant data before migrating them.
This solution is targeted for corporate Exchange users on any version of Exchange and regardless of any email archiving solution you may have in place.


I stayed way, way too long in a northern university because it was so convenient. Within walking distance of home, the job came with a large sunny office with three desks, a sofa and armchairs and a dozen stacking chairs for holding tutorials. My timetable was light with one day free of teaching, there was a swimming pool on site, excellent colleagues, super students, and the lady who 'did' my office agreed to 'do' for me at home too. Why would I move? So I didn't.
But it wasn't good for me. After a year or so I could do the teaching with no preparation, just walk in and perform. I tired of this, and got the students to video my lectures in the micro-teaching suite so future students didn't even come to lectures, they watched the videos in the library instead and I did extra tutorials. I took on extra responsibilities, always the first to volunteer because I was bored, coasting along.
I prepared submissions for new degree courses, visited students on placements abroad, did voluntary classes in Academic English for foreign exchange students, and did the timetable for 57 staff. I was appointed to various Faculty Committees, then to the university Monitoring and Evaluation Group, a sort of internal inspection, and became the external member of a fruit salad of degree courses from Information Science to Architecture via Nursing Studies. I became Governor of three local schools and in my spare time I did a PhD in Languages and a RSA Diploma in Computing.
This got me interested in the university's new mainframe computer, and I did voluntary computing classes for final-year undergraduates. I also dabbled in it myself, but before I finally left I did go to see the Director of Computing and showed him how I had hacked into the Permission Files of all users, including his. He was grateful for the opportunity to improve security procedures.
These were ways to fill my time and my mind and were not part of a career plan. In fact the range of activities probably played against me as I was seen as the eternal volunteer rather than someone likely to get up and go to another, more challenging, post. When I applied, unsuccessfully, for a promotion, someone on the appointments board reported back to me that the verdict had been: "We'll keep her anyway; as a married woman she's captive". This was thirty years ago; nowadays they might think it but wouldn't dare say it.
Captive, was I? I sat and thought: "What do I like doing, what am I good at doing, what do I want to be doing in the future, and what do I need to do now to get there?".
I should have done this years earlier, instead of accumulating responsibilities in a haphazard way. I liked strategic thinking, I was good at generating ideas for doing things better, I wanted to lead like-minded colleagues to provide the best possible educational experience for students. By prioritising tasks and responsibilities that emphasised these aspects I took the first steps to achieving my dream post: Head of a school in south-west London where I worked with a team of outstanding teachers to help 1,250 pupils towards achieving their dreams too.
Jennifer Longhurst was, until December 2007, the head of Surbiton High School, an independent school that is part of the United ChurchSchools Trust Group of 10 independent schools and 15 Academies.


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Q: Export coordinates from KML I need export line coordinates from KML. I use some KML2CSV export tools. but this programs cant read my kml. Error: Read Error.
WHY i need coordinates:
I`v kml which there pipelines of regions. i must show this coordinates on google map without KML..
I hope that I can explain to yours.

A: One solution: Google Fusion Tables
One way to extract coordinates from your KML is to upload your KML to Google's Fusion Tables.
If Google Earth parses your data then most likely you'll be able to import into a Fusion Table.
Short-cut to create a "Fusion Table" is simply clicking "Create a Fusion Table" from here and pick your KML file. The direct way to create Fusion Table is login to Google Drive (aka Google Docs) then click "Create" and under "More" pick "Fusion Table" and import your KML file.
After it's imported you have lots of visualization options to try online.
You can also select "Download" under File menu and export the data back as a CSV or KML file.
http://support.google.com/fusiontables/answer/2548807/
However, CSV export of KML import in Fusion Tables exports a KML geometry (not a separated latitude/longitude field) so you can further edit the resulting file in a text editor and strip off the KML markup.
1,"<Point><coordinates>-122.536226,37.86047,0.0</coordinates></Point>"

Google Fusion Tables also allows programmatic access through a RESTful API with SQL-like queries to insert, update or delete rows of data.
UPDATE: Google Fusion tables will be retired in Dec 3, 2019 after which will no longer work.
Validating KML
If you're unable to use other KML2CSV converters then your KML probably has some invalid elements preventing it. Google Earth can still render badly formed KML so when you need to use that KML elsewhere you need to validate the KML data.
You can use the Galdos KML Validator. Also suggest some tips to validate your KML.

A: This should help here, you have to made a small change to your kml file: save it as a xml file, and then use excel to get what you want.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


On TVC-Mall, they both wholesale and also retail. Without the need of minimal order amount, you could constantly begin with one device at a lower-than-market cost, though also much deeper price cuts are supplied to our wholesale clients.
Releases up my hands when I'm consuming lunch and also seeing video clips or analysis. Has an excellent little display cleaner constructed in.
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Here is new and impressive Angry SMS collection for you. Now you can express your feelings and emotions with nice words. Just pick one and send to anyone you want.
You never have to say sorry, if you learn to control your temper.
Angry man cannot build anything, he can only destroy.
An angry man delivers words unconsciously and when he come to conscious, he realize what he has lost.
Few minutes of loss of temper destroy all moments of love.
No one trust a lose temper man or an angry man because of his uncontrolled tongue.
Anger eats up all love and trust among relations. So avoid talking while you are angry. You will have a better life.
To keep your relation strong, never get angry when your partner is angry.


INDX Intimate Apparel is the only show of its kind in the UK, designed exclusively for independent retailers and taking place in February and August at Cranmore Park Exhibition Centre in Solihull.
Organised by a team of buyers with over 20 years' experience in the Independent sector, INDX Intimate Apparel is dedicated to showcasing the leading lingerie, swimwear, hosiery and nightwear labels and each show is supported by an impressive list of exhibitors and over 150 brands.
A visit to INDX Intimate Apparel is uncomplicated and stress-free and buyers can expect a warm welcome and a friendly, relaxed environment. In addition, all visitors enjoy free onsite parking, free admission and free exhibition guides plus free refreshments and complimentary lunch.
Discover INDX Intimate Apparel for yourself.
Admission is reserved for independent retailers and buyers only.


AudioFormz was born in 1999 with a vision to create innovative, fiberglass products for the mobile audio industry. Our mission was simple then and still burns deep within us today and that is to make fiberglass products that look great and sound even better! So how do we achieve this?? That is not so simple. We start by painstakingly designing all of our fiberglass products in house at our 25,000 sq. ft. facility located in Wills Point, TX. We then build all of the necessary tooling and molds in order to bring our products to market! We proudly build all of our fiberglass products right here in Texas! Why? Because we strongly believe in the fundamental principle that to do it right, you must do it yourself! We are not perfect, yet we strive for perfection! We are the designer and manufacturer, not just a company that stamps their name on a product and resells it! We not only manufacture fiberglass products for the mobile audio industry, we have been manufacturing products for many other industries for well over a decade and during this time have gone through millions of pounds of composites! We know fiberglass inside and out and apply this craft to our other passion of music and recreational vehicles. Today, our two core product lines are audio and lighting products for both the marine and powersport markets. We started AudioFormz selling direct to consumers, and now sell to OEM's, distributors, and dealers. No matter where you buy our products, you are always welcome to call or email us with any questions or concerns. We strongly believe that the relationship doesn't end when you buy one of our products, it begins! While we look forward to expanding into even more areas in the future, our philosophy will always remain the same...Make products that look great and sound even better!


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Timelapse in Google Earth
Google Earth recently updated its service to include both 2D and 3D time-lapse images of Earth. With the new feature, users can go back to 1984 and see the changes our planet has endured over the last 37 years. There's also a selection of curated videos that highlight the impact of urban expansion, deforestation, and mining.
Call Of Duty Warzone / Season 3
Season three of Call of Duty's battle-royale Warzone is almost here, with the biggest slew of updates since it launched. A limited-time event, "Hunt for Adler", along with 100 tiers of content like skins, weapons, and cosmetics are all included. Season three of Warzone is out now as a free update.
Dinosaur Jr. / Take It Back
One of the most prolific runs in modern music, Dinosaur Jr. is gearing up to release their 12th studio album, Sweep It Into Space. The fourth release from the upcoming record is "Take it Back" which takes the clay figure from the album cover and gives it a claymation life of its own. Dinosaur Jr. also announced a nation-wide tour in support of the album, kicking off in May 2021.
The Nue Co. Barrier Culture Cleanser
The barrier is the skin's natural immune system and defends it against pollution, UV light, and infection. Harsh foaming cleansers can cause it damage and strip the skin of its natural oils. The Nue Co. Barrier Culture Cleanser works to reverse these effects and rebuild and protect the barrier. Its gentle soap-free, sulfate-free formula deep cleans the skin to remove dirt and pollutions, while a proprietary blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics replenish the topical microbiome for improved moisture, texture, and tone. For the best results, follow up with The Nue. Co Barrier Culture Moisturizer.
Vuori Sunday Performance Jogger
Whether you're working hard or hardly working, Vuori Sunday Performance Jogger is the perfect companion. The everyday essential is built from a moisture-wicking stretch fabric that's can perform at the gym but is comfortable enough for lounging. No matter what your session involves, the jogger's modern relaxed fit, cuffed ankle, and EDC-friendly pockets give them the versatility to go for a post-sweat coffee or weekend brunch.
Presented by Vuori.
Buy From Vuori
The 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead is being adapted into a limited series. Directed by Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins, it will star Thuso Mbedu as Cora Randall, Chase W. Dillon as Homer, and Aaron Pierre as Caesar, with Joel Edgerton as Ridgeway. The Underground Railroad is slated for release on Prime Video on May 14, 2021.
Caterpillar, Walking
Stop-motion master PES has garnered over three million YouTube subscribers and an Oscar nomination with his whimsical animations. Now, the artist is releasing his very first NFT. Titled Caterpillar, Walking, the stop-motion film reimagines Eadweard Muybridge's pioneering locomotion studies with a charming insect in the 12 positions. Each caterpillar is 3D-printed, hand-painted, and animated in stop-motion to create the illusion of elasticity. A part of the FITC Reflections 2021 collection, buyers will get the chance to own a 4000 x 3560-pixel infinite video loop and a piece of digital film history. The sale will take place on KnownOrigin today at 12:00 PT.
Oliver Cabell Low 1 Sneakers
Sneakers don't have to sport garish colors to make a statement. Made by hand in Marche, Italy, Oliver Cabell's Low 1 takes an unassuming silhouette and transforms it into a high-end affair. The uppers and counters are crafted using 3oz, locally-sourced full-grain calfskin leather, supported by lightweight Margom Italian rubber outsoles. Italian calf-skin is used to line both the interior and the footbed, the latter of which also has a removable molded insole. Finished with Italian cotton laces, they're a timeless statement for discerning sneaker fans.
Presented by Oliver Cabell.
Buy From Oliver Cabell
Anthony All Purpose Facial Moisturizer
This is the full-court press of skincare. Like any good moisturizer, Anthony's hydrates the skin and shields it from environmental toxins and wear, but it also does so much more: It uses sugarcane, sugar maple, plus orange and lemon extracts to gently dissolve dead cells and smooth skin, while wheat protein firms skin and softens fine lines. If you have just one moisturizer in your regimen, this one from Anthony is a great choice.
3oz / 90mL
The Black Keys / Crawling Kingsnake
Back to your roots — The Black Keys have come full circle with Delta Kream, a cover-filled, southern blues follow-up to 2019's Let's Rock. The first single from the new record is "Crawling Kingsnake", a cover of the song by legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker.
Dominic Toretto has always been big on family, and now he has one of his own. F9 catches up with the notorious street racer and his son living a seemingly simple life, but we all know it's just a matter of time before he's ramping over submarines and driving through skyscrapers. The Fast Saga is slated for release in theaters on June 25, 2021.


The Lyceum's current production of Twelfth Night feels neither safe nor repetitive. There have been Shakespeare plays set retrospectively in the Swinging Sixties before now, but this riot of colour, music and quite a lot of shouting certainly has the power to make you sit up and take notice.
Twelfth Night is a fairly typical Shakespearean comedy. Half of the play is taken up by waspish aristocrats trying to fall in love, a pair of twins, and some cross-dressing. In the other half, a coarse mix of serving folk, oafish knights, and fools sing songs, play tricks on each other and get most of the best lines. And in the end, everyone gets married.
So far, so Shakespeare. However, director Wils Wilson's use of the Sixties ambience does add some pep to the well-known story. The play features a lot of music, so suits being set in a decade so closely associated with it. A piano is used as often as a piece of scenery as a musical instrument, providing a neat metaphor for the integration of music into the play as a whole.
Most Shakespeare comedies are only a stage wig away from a spot of cross-dressing, and Twelfth Night is no exception. Wilson uses this as an opportunity to engage in discussions about gender fluidity, by having all of the lovers played by women.
The exception is Antonio, played by male actor Brian James O'Sullivan. His relationship with Sebastian (Joanne Thomson) is played definitively as a romantic, not platonic one. This creates a thought-provoking paradox, whereby the appearance of the actors as a heteronormative couple serves to draw attention to the queer interpretation of the relationship between the two male characters.
By queering the story in such a matter-of-fact way, Wilson shows us how accepting society can be towards non-binary, non-straight stories. However, the Sixties setting reminds us that such attitudes were not always the norm and that more regressive ways of thinking are not so far away today as we might like to think.
Unfortunately, this performance of Twelfth Night is undeniably too long, which does serve to distract from this thought-provoking take. Clocking in at a little over three hours with an interval, it inevitably has moments that lag. This was particularly apparent in the first half, with the drawn-out songs and extended stage-business leading to some very over-long scenes. The chaos of the stage-business itself was also at times an issue, with actors focussing so hard on careering around the space shouting that the subtle humour in the text was lost.
At the interval, it might look like this production is going to be a bold failure rather than an inspired success. However, from the moment the second act opens with a witty song and storming saxophone solo, the play never looks back. The revelation of Malvolio (Christopher Green) in an eye-wateringly tight, lemon yellow catsuit is a rousing, roof-raising moment, while Dylan's Read's Feste really comes to life. It's like watching a different play from the rather meandering, sleepy opening.
The character of Malvolio feels particularly relevant today. Social media and 24/7 news has made us all complicit in the hounding of celebrities, and online abuse and bullying are more prevalent than ever. The audience of Twelfth Night egg on Malvolio's tormentors, as we laugh riotously at his leather catsuit and awkward smile. We should (and do) feel guilty when he is brought to his lowest point and deserve his final, snarled 'I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you', directed most definitely at us, the audience.
Ultimately, this edition of Twelfth Night is three hours of baggy, chaotic fun. The first half does drag, and the pacing is often slow. However, Wilson definitely brings a fresh eye to a well-known plot, and it's an entertaining way to spend an evening. It might just make you think a bit too.


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China's Hebei to host 10th China-LatAm Business Summit
Source: Xinhua | September 11, 2016, Sunday | Online Edition
THE 10th China-Latin America Business Summit will take place on Oct. 14-15 in Tangshan, a city in northeast Hebei province, visiting Chinese officials announced this week in Costa Rica's capital San Jose.
At the presentation on Friday, China's Ambassador to Costa Rica Song Yanbin underscored the importance of business leaders from both countries actively participating in the event.
The summit is the first institutional mechanism designed by China expressly to promote economic and trade cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean, said Song.
John Fonseca, Costa Rica's deputy minister of foreign trade, said the day's presentation and upcoming summit aimed to allow the two's business sectors "to get to know each other better."
"Since we established diplomatic ties and our bilateral free-trade agreement, our trade flows have developed and diversified," said Fonseca, adding official figures show trade between Costa Rica and China amounted to 2.02 billion U.S. dollars in 2015.
Hebei, which covers some 188,000 square kilometers, is China's sixth-largest regional economy, officials highlighted during the presentation.
The province boasts solid industrial foundations and a thriving agricultural sector that produces vegetables, grains and meats. Hebei can move a billion tons of goods through its five airports and three ports.
Costa Rica's former ambassador to China and former minister of foreign trade Marco Vinicio Ruiz said the summit offers Costa Rican and other Central American business owners a significant opportunity to meet and network with their counterparts in China, especially Hebei.
"The province of Hebei is one of the leading zones for trade and development with China," said Ruiz.
"For Costa Rica, which already has a free-trade agreement with China and a reciprocal investment promotion accord, it is an enormous opportunity, because it allows us to offer the country as a center of operations for Chinese companies from the region (Hebei) that want to come and do business," Ruiz added.
Hebei has the infrastructure needed for logistics and storage, as well as for such activities as roasting and selling Costa Rican coffee, said Ruiz.
Hebei has seen significant growth in recent years, benefiting from a Chinese government strategy to boost development.
China and Latin America alternate host the summit, which is organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Costa Rica hosted the summit in 2013.


The Walt Disney Company has called a review of its EMEA media planning and buying account, currently held by Carat. The pitch is part of a strategic review of Disney's media agencies and is in its early stages.
Carat won the consolidated Disney account in 2010 after a closed pitch against ZenithOptimedia.
Disney Studios and Home Entertainment to Carat, while ZenithOptimedia was handed Disneyland Paris.
A Disney spokeswoman said: "The Walt Disney Company EMEA is conducting a strategic review of media agencies in the marketplace.
"This is not a reflection of the performance of Carat, with which we have a long-standing and successful relationship."


The "vegetarians help the environment" article talks about four key environmental benefits of eating less meat. Terra is quoted about how reducing our meat consumption helps to lessen animal-waste runoff and groundwater pollution, as well as generating fewer greenhouse gasses. While some livestock farms are better than others with animal waste storage and processing, there is the continual challenge of this waste leaching into groundwater and soils and also its runoff into the water system as pollution.
Other ways eating less meat can help the environment include preserving precious land resources and decreasing animal cruelty, both of which are discussed in the article.
While all agriculture and livestock industries can improve how they manage the land and their processes, including the use of water resources, one resounding fact is clear — eating less meat and more plants are nearly always better for the environment and our health. For more information on the facts of reducing our meat consumption, NRDC posted a great summary of the eat-less-meat issue in July 2016 which you can read here.


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Visit by Sea Alarm
Categories: News – External Relations
On 7 February, the Director, Gaute Sivertsen and the Claims Department were delighted to welcome to the IOPC Funds' offices the Sea Alarm Foundation's General Manager, Hugo Nijkamp, and his team for…
Director's visit to Thailand
The Director, Gaute Sivertsen, was invited to visit the Marine Department of Thailand in Bangkok on 3 February 2023. He spent the morning of his visit with the Deputy Director-General of the…
Visit to the North of England P&I Association
On 26 and 27 January, the Director, Gaute Sivertsen, and Claims Manager, Mark Homan, were invited to the head office of the North of England P&I Association, in Newcastle, United Kingdom. They…
Visit by ITOPF
The IOPC Funds were pleased to welcome a number of new staff members from ITOPF to the IOPC Funds' offices on 18 January 2023. Senior Claims Manager, Chiara DellaMea, together with Claims…
New publications – Financial Review 2021 now available
Categories: News – Policy
Following the approval by the governing bodies at their October 2022 sessions of the 2021 Financial Statements, the 1992 Fund Financial Review 2021 and the Supplementary Fund Financial Review 2021, are now…
Season's Greetings from the IOPC Funds and office opening hours
The IOPC Funds' offices will be closed from the close of business on Friday, 23 December 2022 and reopening on Tuesday, 3 January 2023. Should you need to report an oil pollution…
News – Incidents
News – Policy
News – External Relations
View a map of the events attended by the Secretariat in recent years
© 2023 International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds)


The Jerusalem Cross first appears in the 11th Century, and takes on its name in the 13th Century. The 5 crosses are said to represent the 5 wounds of Christ - just like the ring and dot on the early equal-armed Anglo Saxon crosses. After their conversion to Christianity, the Vikings did venture to the Holy land on crusade. The Earl of Orkney organised one such expedition in 1152. This is documented in the Orkneyinga Saga, and from some of the runic inscriptions inside Maes Howe.
We've cast this pendant in lead free pewter at our workshop in Scotland. It's supplied with a length of black, waxed cord.