text:
Orland Park Public Library Settlement Agreement
Here's the Settlement Agreement and Release (link) between Megan Fox (link), Kevin DuJan, and the Orland Park Public Library (link), signed by the parties with library director Mary Weimar signing for the library. It is dated 19 March 2015. The settled cases involved "the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, et seq. ('FOIA') and the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120, et seq. ('OMA')."
Here's a video of the attorney for the library describing the above Settlement at the library's 16 March board meeting:
"Orland Park Library Pays $55,000 to Settle FOIA/Open Meetings Lawsuits," by John Kraft, Illinois Leaks (Edgar County Watchdogs), 21 March 2015.
Here is more media coverage:
"Orland Park Library to Pay $55K to Settle Lawsuits Related to Internet Porn," by Lauren Zumbach, Chicago Tribune, 19 March 2015.
"Orland Park Library to Pay Out $55K to Settle Lawsuits Over Library Porn; Megan Fox and Kevin DuJan Filed the Lawsuits Against the Library Last Fall," by Lauren Traut, Orland Park Patch, 20 March 2015.
"Public Library Pays Conservative Christian Activists $55,000 in Settlement Over Internet Censorship," by Hemant Mehta, Friendly Atheist, 20 March 2015.
"Pair Reach Settlement with Library Over Records Requests," by AP, The Associated Press, 21 March 2015.
I am directly involved in these cases, the settlement, and media reports, but not by name. I'll be writing more about this matter in the future.
On this page I'm excluding my commentary so people can see the OPPL Settlement (link) without anyone's added viewpoint. So feel free to spread around either URL below these headline graphics from the Chicago Tribune and the Orland Park Patch.
URL of this page: safelibraries.blogspot.com/2015/03/oppl-settlement.html
The Settlement itself: tinyurl.com/OPPLSettlement
On Twitter: +American Library Association @AP @CookCntyCourt +DuJan Media @ECWDogs #FOIA @HemantMehta +Illinois Library Association @ILAttyGeneral @IllLibraryAssoc @IntolerantFox @HillBuzz @JacksonLewisPC @LaurenZumbach @LoevyAndLoevy +Megan Fox @MVTopic +Orland Park Public Library @OIF #OMA @OrlandParkPatch @OrlandPkLibrary #SunshineWeek @VillageOrlandPk
Labels: 55K, FOIA, KevinDuJan, LibraryFinedForPorn, LibraryPorn, LibraryViolatesFOIA, MaryWeimar, MeganFox, OpenMeetingsAct, OrlandParkIL, OrlandParkPublicLibrary, PornViewing, Settlement
Location: Orland Park Public Library, 14921 South Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park, IL 60462, USA
Orland Park Public Library Still Covering Up Child Porn
The Orland Park Public Library (link) is the scene of the latest effort by a library to cover up its literally criminal ways, in this case award-winning criminal ways. It did so by having published a letter to the editor of the Orland Park Prairie (link). That prompted a response by the citizenry to expose the misinformation in the hope enough pressure is brought to bear to force the library board to change its anything-goes, law breaking policy.
Presented side by side are two letters to the editor, the first by elected library trustee Diane Jennings, pictured as right, and the second a response by library patron and child porn whistleblower Kevin DuJan. Both were printed in the Orland Park Prairie:
Library Staff Cares About
As an Orland Park resident, library trustee and avid library user, I respond to recent letters questioning the Orland Park Public Library's commitment to child safety.
Specifically, some writers worry about patrons using the OPPL's computers to access inappropriate material on the Internet. A review of current OPPL policies and procedures at www.orlandparklibrary.org should dispel such concerns. They are stricter than those recommended by local and national library associations, and stricter than those followed by many Chicago-area libraries, including several nearby suburban libraries.
Consider the following.
The OPPL's first-floor collection and the activities held there are for children only. Adults are not allowed here, unless accompanying a child. All Internet access in this area is filtered.
The OPPL's teen collection is in the southwest corner of the second floor. All computers provided for teen use are filtered.
Computers accessible to adults are in the northeast corner of the second floor, with the adult collection. These computers are not filtered, but staff constantly monitors the area. No one under 18 may enter this computer area for any reason, and all users must first surrender to staff a picture ID containing their name, address and proof of age. Non-residents without an OPPL library card are allowed just one hour of use per day, for which they pay a fee.
The OPPL's policies in no way promote the viewing of child pornography. Instead, they expressly state that viewing child pornography or any other illegal material is prohibited. Violations may be reported to the police and subject to criminal prosecution. The policies ban even legal material that offends others within viewing distance.
The OPPL meets the needs of all its patrons. Children are kept safe, while adults are able to exercise their constitutional right to access information on the Internet without the interference of filters that block legitimate searches and sites along with those deemed "undesirable."
The OPPL's award-winning balancing of these interests makes our library both a family- and a user-friendly place. We can continue to rely on the professionalism and common sense of OPPL employees, as they serve everyone. Judging from the steady increases in visits, circulation and program attendance that the OPPL has enjoyed for many years, it seems that the majority of Orland Park residents agree.
Diane I. Jennings
Trustee, Orland Park Public Library Board
- See more at: http://www.opprairie.com/letters-editor/letters-editor-feb-19-2015#sthash.W1xfJM7N.dpuf [Note: paywall]
More to the Story About
Adult Computers at OPPL
I write in response to a letter to the editor published Feb. 19 that was written by a trustee of the Orland Park Public Library. Entitled, "Library staff cares about child safety," I feel it was misleading in the way it described the teen and adult computer areas of the OPPL and the problems therein.
No walls separate the OPPL's second floor adult computer area from the teen area. Both are open spaces bordered only by bookshelves, with only about 60 steps diagonally between them. While it may be true that library staff don't allow teens to use the adult computers and adults to use the teen computers, the OPPL's local history, political science, and Illinois studies sections are all located on bookshelves that form one of the boundaries of the adult computer area.
Specifically, all of the Chicago history books and the books about Orland Park itself are on shelves that directly face the rows of adult computers.
This means that teens needing these books for school reports must stand in unobstructed view of the adult computer area, with nothing but air separating them from the rows of adult computers. Since the OPPL is adamant about keeping the adult computers unfiltered and pornography is accessible on unfiltered computers, adults who become sexually aroused while viewing pornography at the OPPL would be in close proximity to teens who come to this area to find their history and political science books.
This is like butterflies being drawn into spiders' webs, because the OPPL has chosen to locate books the teens need for school reports right by the adult computers.
Because the adult computer area is an open space without walls, teens must also pass right by the rows of adult computers on their walk to the second floor study rooms. This is something else that was not noted in the Feb. 19 letter from the OPPL trustee. Adults using unfiltered computers to view pornography would come in contact with teens in this area, and they would also be using the same restrooms as the teens on the second floor.
Pornography is not an intellectual stimulant. It is a sexual stimulant. Sexual arousal and its resultant behaviors are neither appropriate nor safe in a public library. It is bad policy for the OPPL to ignore the many interactions between teens and adults on the second floor.
- See more at: http://www.opprairie.com/letters-editor/letters-editor-march-5-2015#sthash.h5QEDNq5.dpuf [Note: paywall]
© Copyright 2015, 22nd Century Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reused under Fair Use provisions.
Can you see the issues there? Let me now provide my comments.
"questioning the Orland Park Public Library's commitment to child safety":
This is a library that serves up child pornography then covers it up—watch Diane Jennings admitting in public on 18 August 2014 that the library allowed and covered up child pornography (link). This is a library where the public relations employee Bridget Bittman, knowing it serves up child pornography and covers it up, declared the library to be a "safe library" (link). So now elected official Diane Jennings is worried about people "questioning the Orland Park Public Library's commitment to child safety." Funny, in a sad way. By the way, watch both Diane Jennings and Bridget Bittman attacking Kevin DuJan for being gay (link), and these are supposed to be the people telling us this public library is a safe library.
Let me add this. A year ago and a half ago, when the child porn whistleblowers Megan Fox and Kevin DuJan began to become the target of the library's "crisis management" efforts for simply asking questions, the library was much less safe for children, let alone adults. While the library refuses to use Internet filters that would be the best way to improve safety and become compliant with the law (link), it has quietly and without acknowledgement implemented nearly all of Fox's and DuJan's suggestions for improving safety. This list is too long to enumerate here. To the extent the library has effective child safety practices and procedures in place today, most have been thanks to Megan Fox and Kevin DuJan, no thanks to Diane Jennings and the rest of the library board. It has taken all this time and many Illinois Attorney General and expensive court decisions to force the library to get to the point where we are today. The only "commitment to child safety" the library has is to do as little as possible so as to placate the public while keeping the child porn flowing per American Library Association diktat.
"current OPPL policies ... are stricter than those recommended by local and national library associations":
A library that allows and covers up child pornography in no way has policies strict in any way. Instead it has an anything-goes policy. Further, the library allows unfiltered Internet access on the "adult" computers. The library associations of which she speaks recommend libraries allow unfiltered Internet access, so the library is not "stricter."
I really think she has gone unchallenged or protected by the media for so long (link) that she feels she can make statements that are simply not supported by reality. Think about it. She makes blatant, anti-gay statements anyone can see in that video linked above, admits to the police she made such gay slurs (link), and yet she remains on the library board instead of being kicked off as the hater she is. So naturally she feels there are no consequences for her statements because—there are no consequences for her statements.
"These computers are not filtered, but staff constantly monitors the area":
Wow. Staff monitors the area. And when they are sexually harassed by patrons who have been viewing porn, they are told by library director Mary Weimar that if they don't like it, they can leave. Strong statement? Well I'm just reporting. Listen for yourselves to library employee Linda Zec in that very library describing how she was sexually harassed and told to get out if she didn't like it (link). By the way, what happened to that employee and at least one other in that library is called "constructive discharge (link)," even if they don't realize it. Indeed it took almost a decade for Linda Zec to even speak publicly about the harassment. So much for "staff constantly monitor[ing] the area."
Besides, even if they "monitor[] the area," they are trained by the American Library Association to ignore criminality, so what Diane Jennings said is intentionally misleading:
Libraries and librarians are not in a position to make those decisions for library users or for citizens generally. Only courts have constitutional authority to determine, in accordance with due process, what materials are obscenity, child pornography, or "harmful to minors."
As for obscenity and child pornography, prosecutors and police have adequate tools to enforce criminal laws. Libraries are not a component of law enforcement efforts naturally directed toward the source, i.e., the publishers, of such material.
Source: "Guidelines and Considerations for Developing a Public Library Internet Use Policy (link)," by Office for Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association, 26 March 2013, emphasis in original.
And there's the main reason the library allows and covers up child pornography. Maybe ALA should be called the American Child Pornography Association.
Speaking of sexual harassment of librarians, I raised that issue in that community per the mission of SafeLibraries to provide balance for people to become fully informed before making up their own minds instead of being misled into a single choice—ALA's choice—no filters—unfettered access despite the law. I said, "She completely leaves out that libraries that do not filter really do face years of litigation and significant legal expenses for librarians who are sexually harassed as a result of unfettered porn viewing occasioned by library policy direct from the ALA (link)." Apparently I was effective because just eight days later ALA saw fit to appear before that community to retrain the minds of the public that sexual harassment never happened in that library, in any library in the past, and likely will never happen in the future (link).
As a result of this blatant and heartless fraud, I and Kevin DuJan created a new publication called, "Sexual Harassment of Librarians (link)." We are the only source for gathering information for librarians sexually harassed in libraries that place following ALA diktat above following the law. We know we have already helped librarians still being sexually harassed to this day. Others may be intimidated by ALA; we are not, not even if ALA is involved in a federal lawsuit to silence us, arising in part out of Diane Jennings homophobic behavior while representing the Orland Park Public Library, no less (link). Apparently, not only are "computers ... not filtered" in Orland Park, neither is Diane Jennings.
"all users must first surrender to staff a picture ID":
Hahahaha! This one is so funny that Saturday Night Live starring Lady Gaga made a joke about it (link)!
"Non-residents without an OPPL library card ... pay a fee":
Just like viewing porn at porn shops!
"The OPPL's policies in no way promote the viewing of child pornography":
What Diane Jennings leaves out is that it follows American Library Association diktat to allow and take no action when child pornography is showing because, get this, librarians are not judges and may not decide what is child porn; only judges may decide and only for each one of the millions of porn websites (link). So the library may not promote child porn viewing per se, but Diane Jennings leaves out that it is trained not to recognize what is child pornography. Remember, this is a library that has already admitted to allowing and covering it up. The very same people are still there to ensure a continued flow of unfettered child pornography since there were no consequences for the last incident of aiding and abetting child pornography or any other criminality.
"Instead, they expressly state that viewing child pornography or any other illegal material is prohibited":
Right, and I just discussed that librarians are trained by the American Library Association to overlook child pornography. Many libraries follow but some do not follow ALA advice and instead preserve evidence and report criminality to the police (link). Orland Park has the kind of library that follows ALA diktat to the letter, so much so that ALA uses the library's personnel to train other librarians and library trustees how to thwart child porn whistleblowers and cover up evidence, even allowing homophobic statements to be made during that training then rehiring that trainer for the next training (link).
"Children are kept safe, while adults are able to exercise their constitutional right to access information on the Internet without the interference of filters that block legitimate searches":
No. Children have seen porn on the adult computers and the adults have acted out as a result of the porn and the library has did nothing. But there is so much more wrong with this statement.
See that "interference of filters that block legitimate searches"? Diane Jennings leaves out that ALA itself admits library filters work (link) and that the Federal Communications Commission has more recently said library filters are very good and past opposition to them is no longer relevant (link). So if there's "interference," it's caused by the library itself to fool people into thinking filters don't work, a tried and true trick used in Illinois year after year to defeat library filtering legislation (link). This is a library that spends huge sums of money on legal fees to silence the child porn whistleblowers then raises taxes to obtain more funding for litigation (link), so certainly they have the wherewithal to get good filters like those the FCC mentioned.
And the claim that people may "exercise their constitutional right to access information on the Internet" as the reason to allow porn, now that's a good one. Diane Jennings intentionally misleads people on that because the US Supreme Court ruled, twelve years ago now, there is no First Amendment right to porn in public libraries (link). Porn may be "constitutionally protected material" that one can buy anywhere, but it simply is not protected in public libraries. Case closed. So why is Diane Jennings misleading on this? And since when is porn considered "information"? Librarians sound like "smut peddlers" when they say porn is "information." "If this is the hill librarians want to die on while they pretend they're protecting free speech, then so be it" (link).
"The OPPL's award-winning balancing of these interests makes our library both a family- and a user-friendly place":
This statement is really unbelievable, but I have to tell you first some background before you can see just how in your face is this statement.
Yes, the library won awards. The awards were for protecting "intellectual freedom" by maintaining a policy of allowing access to Internet pornography despite Illinois law (link) and despite the efforts of child porn whistleblowers Megan Fox and Kevin DuJan. The awards were granted on the recommendation of ALA itself; ALA got the awards granted to the library that it uses as a model library on how to thwart child porn whistleblowing. One of the awards was granted based on the passing of an anything-goes policy at a hastily arranged public meeting on Lincoln's Birthday: "After two customers voiced opposition to the policy, the Orland Park Library Board of Trustees voted in February 2014 to continue unfiltered Internet access for adults, an action which 'challenges censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment' as stated in the ALA Library Bill of Rights (link)." The meeting was hastily arranged in that the media and the public were never informed of the meeting in a timely manner. At the meeting, patient Megan Fox was not allowed to speak in violation of the law; she was rudely waved away and the meeting was adjourned while she was still speaking (link). The free speech to speak to a public board to oppose its illegal policies is not the kind of free speech the child porn enablers have in mind.
The matter of the multiple violations of the Open Meetings Act was brought before the Illinois Attorney General. In its defense the library director signed and the library attorney provided a falsified affidavit claiming the public was properly notified of the meeting (link). The Illinois Attorney General determined that the Orland Park Public Library meeting violated the law and the policy was declared void ab initio (link). The library board went on to break the law further in a literal crime spree but the Illinois AG ruled that illegal as well (link). So this "award-winning" library as Diane Jennings puts it got the awards, but consider:
ALA arranged for the library to win the awards to promote its own pro-child porn policy,
the February 2014 board meeting named in the award was ruled to have occurred illegally and the policy was void ab initio,
the library went on a crime spree to force this pro-child porn policy on the community in an illegal fashion and was caught again, although it eventually wore out the system and the policy was imposed and is in place today (link) showing crime does pay,
the public was not allowed to participate in violation of the law,
the public was not notified of the meeting in violation of the law, and
the library defended its actions by submitting a falsified affidavit.
So this "award-winning" library was literally awarded for acting illegally and unethically. I say again, this "award-winning" library was awarded for breaking the law repeatedly. That's why this statement of Diane Jennings about "OPPL's award-winning balancing of these interests" is really unbelievable. It's literally an award-winning, law-breaking library, winning those awards for breaking the law. Maybe I should give an award to the library too, only I'd call it USA's Most Homophobic and Law Breaking Public Library.
And Kevin DuJan attempted to attend a public meeting at the 2015 ALA Midwinter Conference lauding the library for its award-winning law breaking and silencing of Megan Fox and Kevin DuJan, only to be turned away at the door when the greeter found out it was Kevin DuJan trying to obtain access to a meeting certain to be in part about him. The Orland Park public paid for its library personnel to attend and speak at that celebratory occasion but the subject of that occasion and library patron Kevin DuJan was persona non grata. These are the "free speech" and "equal access" people.
"We can continue to rely on the professionalism and common sense":
There is no professionalism nor common sense in allowing and covering up child porn, elected officials calling people "asshole" (link), crowing about awards won for breaking the law, submitting falsified affidavits to the state attorney general in possible violation of attorney ethics, using homophobia to attack child porn whistleblowers, misleading people about library law, lying to the media (link), and constructively discharging sexually harassed employees. No professionalism nor common sense at all. None. Actions speak louder than words.
As to what Kevin DuJan said, it is 100% accurate to the extent I can see, for example I did not count the number of steps. And this is a real danger: "This is like butterflies being drawn into spiders' webs, because the OPPL has chosen to locate books the teens need for school reports right by the adult computers." Internet filters are the means to choke off this danger, but this library refuses to do so and, as Diane Jennings illustrates, freely uses flat out false and misleading information and criminality, even homophobia, to keep the public misinformed.
It's only a matter of time before the next criminal incident occurs.
I asked at the beginning of my comments, "Can you see the issues there?" How about now having read what I wrote and looked at the sources I linked. Can you see the issues now?
"Orland Park Library's Diane Jennings Lies to the Public," by John Kraft, Illinois Leaks "Edgar County Watchdogs," 24 August 2014.
NOTE ADDED 8 MARCH 2015:
Here is a substantially similar situation in Canada, where the library claims it's "very child-friendly" but actions speak louder than words:
"Internet Pornography Is Welcome At Our Local Public Library," by Lea Z Singh, Culture Witness, 5 March 2015.
I left a comment there saying the following:
Right! There's a library I just wrote about that touts its being a "safe library" and that it is very concerned for "child safety." Yet it allows and covers up child pornography and uses repeat criminality and homophobia to defend it, and is given awards by the state library association and a local library school for this criminality, only it's called "intellectual freedom." See:
"Orland Park Public Library Still Covering Up Child Porn"
http://safelibraries.blogspot.com/2015/03/OPPL-still-covering-up.html
While not connected directly to your situation, there is a hidden link to Canada. The link is this. In that post you can see how the American Library Association pushes child porn on communities by training librarians that they are in no position to determine what is child pornography. Only a court can do that, supposedly. And only on a one-off basis for each of the millions of porn sites. So that's a problem in America.
The hidden link to Canada? The very same people at ALA pushing the child porn into libraries that I wrote about in the above piece are now providing training to Canadian libraries on how to push child porn into Canada. Look:
Intellectual Freedom Training Workshops in Toronto
Barbara Jones, Director, OIF, and Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Deputy Director, OIF, traveled to Toronto, Canada in late February to conduct a series of intellectual freedom training workshops for the staff of the Toronto Public Library (TPL). Approximately 150 staff members turned out to consider and discuss how to manage challenges and the impact of intellectual freedom on collection development policies. Staff response was excellent, and the TPL administration said it is looking forward to inviting OIF staff back to Toronto to conduct further training sessions.
"The OPPL's policies in no way promote the viewing of child pornography. Instead, they expressly state that viewing child pornography or any other illegal material is prohibited. Violations may be reported to the police and subject to criminal prosecution":
Megan Fox alerted me to this. She says:
Do you see the problems with this? She says they MAY report child pornography and other illegal activities to the police. They MAY do that. Not that they will do that. They MAY do that.
That's very important. It's also sick and wrong. They SHOULD ALWAYS REPORT THIS TO THE POLICE. Not that maybe they will do it and maybe they will not. That's a big problem here. There should be no question of whether they are going to report the child porn and illegal activity to the police or not. There should never again be Mary Weimar choosing not to call the police.
URL of this page: safelibraries.blogspot.com/2015/03/OPPL-still-covering-up.html
On Twitter: @ECWDogs @HillBuzz; @IlAttyGeneral; +Megan Fox @IntolerantFox; @OIF; @OPPrairie; @OrlandPkLibrary; @VillageOrlandPk
Posted by SafeLibraries® at 12:17 PM No comments:
Labels: Award, BridgetBittman, DianeJennings, Homophobia, IllinoisLibraryLaw, KevinDuJan, MaryWeimar, Media, MeganFox, OrlandParkIL, OrlandParkPrairie, OrlandParkPublicLibrary, PossibleIllegalActivity, Propaganda
Orland Park Public Library Still Covering Up Child...


Trees are an intricate part of our landscape. In the West Country, trees were removed to make room for the homesteads while on the prairie they were planted to provide shelter from the cold winter winds and shade in the summer. Unfortunately all trees are not always as strong as the wind and they loose branches or the main trunk is broken during storms.
Sep. 9, 2009 8:33 p.m.
When this is the case, start by examining the tree closely. If the tree is diseased it should be removed. Poplars that ooze sap have black knot fungus and are not worth the effort of rejuvenation. Likewise birch trees with major dead areas should be cut down and burnt.
In healthy trees determine what branches are damaged and start by removing them. It is best to make the first cut above the damaged area which will take the weight off the tree and prevent further damage.
It will then be easy to make a clean final cut that is flush with another branch or the trunk of the tree. Stubs that are left in place will not heal, allowing moisture, insects and diseases to enter the tree.
If over a third of the tree has been removed expect to see a massive amount of new growth the next season. This sounds great but in reality the new growth will consist of numerous small branches sprouting from each cut called water sprouts.
Being vigilant and removing excess sprouts as they appear can insure that the tree has an acceptable shape. If they are not thinned as they grow the tree will have a pollarded shape.
Large trees with major damage to the main trunk can rarely be salvaged. It is best to cut the tree down and replant.
Small trees with a damaged trunk can often be rejuvenated.
Start by removing all damaged wood. As with all pruning the final cuts should be flush with another branch or trunk. If less than a quarter of the tree has been removed, remove other parts of the tree to make a symmetrical shape.
Otherwise, wait a season or two to allow new growth to become established then prune the tree into a pleasing shape. It may take a number of years before the tree recovers its natural shape.
When tops of evergreen trees are lost they can be trained back to one leader as long as the diameter at the top of the existing tree is small.
There are two methods to accomplish this. When the top of the tree is easily assessable bend a top branch upwards and secure it in an upright position by tying the tip of the branch to one end of the dowel and the trunk of the tree to the other end. Keep the branch tied for a couple of years until it is trained to stay in position.
The second method is to allow the tree to put up a number of different leaders and remove all but one. Choose the largest straightest branch.
The location of the damaged tree also plays a large part in decision of whether to keep or remove it. A misshapen tree might be a minor annoyance in a shelterbelt but an eyesore on the front lawn.
Trees are a very important part of our landscape and environment. Take time to tend to damaged trees and they will insure shade and shelter for future years.


Information in these first three posts may change frequently. Check back periodically for more info.
Dory36 enabled guest posting again. If you are displaced from your cookies and email you can now check in here to let us know how things are. We know unclemick2 lives in the area and haven't heard from him since before Katrina hit NOLA. DOG51 was in the area and survived and is back here. I don't know offhand who else is in the area, but we'd love to hear from you.
Update Sept 15: Guest posting has been disabled again. As far as I saw unclemick and DOG51 were the only two board members reported to be affected.
Yes, guest posting works now. Stickied this for hurricane survivor members to see.
I'll edit this post occasionally to link to posts where survivors have checked in in other threads.
Other mods are invited to edit these messages to add relevant information.
http://www.katrinahousing.net/ - This site is a list of other housing and aid sites and offeres meta-searches of the sites. I am copying from it to generate the first draft of this list.
There are many board members who are computer and internet wizards here. If you need help finding a resource ask here, and I'm sure somebody will find the answer for you. I wouldn't know where to look for aid if my dwelling was wiped out, so don't be afraid to ask.
Mods, please add phone numbers for banks and other financial institutions and other services that might be handy to know if displaced.
MCI has introduced a simple, toll-free phone service to help people impacted by Hurricane Katrina communicate their conditions and whereabouts to family and friends by simply using their 10-digit home phone number as an identifier. The service also allows displaced people and those attempting to locate the missing to connect through a toll-free phone number.
Locate someone who is missing by calling (866) 601-FIND or (866) 601-3463.
People impacted and/or displaced will be prompted for their home phone number; month, day, and year of birth (for individual identification); and a callback number where they can be reached. The service will notify the caller if he or she is the first to register the number or if someone else has already done so. If others have registered the number, the earlier registrant's month, day, and year of birth as well as callback number will be replayed, giving the caller the option to connect automatically to that person.
Registrants will also be told if someone has previously searched for their number and will give them that caller's birth month, day, and year in addition to callback information with an option to connect.
Even if displaced people currently do not have a callback number, they should still call and register so family members and friends will know they are alive. Registration information can be updated later with callback numbers when they become available.
For any 10-digit primary home phone number, up to nine callback numbers and birth month, day, and year can be registered to accommodate alternate contact numbers and multiple family members.
Caller will be prompted for home phone number of person he or she is trying to locate.
The callback number and birth month, day, and year of the displaced person will be played back.
The caller can connect automatically to the displaced person's callback number.
The service will also notify the caller if the number searched has not yet been registered, and it will allow the caller to enter his or her birth month, day, and year and callback number to be replayed when and if the missing person's phone number is registered.
This service is available to everyone, not just MCI customers, and supports English, French, and Spanish. The service is limited to U.S. geographic users only.


When a person is arrested in the city of Irvine they will usually be taken to the Irvine Police Department or Irvine Jail for booking.
It is common for the Irvine Jail to transfer people immediately to the Orange County Jail. If you want to post a bail bond at Irvine Jail you need to act quickly. We have an agent that lives in Irvine and can be there within minutes. If an inmate has a medical condition or warrants from another area of Orange County or another county they will most likely be transferred to OCJ regardless of how close you are to the jail. For bail bonds in Irvine call us 24 hours 7 days a week and we will be there in minutes.
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If you have a loved one arrested in Irvine you will want to move quickly to get them out before being transferred to Orange County's Main Jail, as that jail is very small. We have been doing business in California for over 20 years and our experience and relationships with all the jails speak for themselves. Call us now to start the bail process 800-662-0056, we have Agent's standing by.


text:
Category Archives: Kent
Custom survived: Some Kentish Curfew bells
Posted on February 28, 2022 by pixyledpublications
'Solemnly, mournfully,
Dealing its dole,
The curfew Bell,
Is beginning to toll,
Cover the embers,
And put out the light,
Toil comes with the morning,
And rest with the night.'
The ringing the curfew bell was once a commonly heard sound across the English countryside, calling workers to down tools or all villagers and citizens to damp down fires. Although the first law regarding curfews was passed in Oxford by Alfred the Great in A.D. 972, ( requiring all fires to be covered at night when the bell was rung ), it was only extended to the whole of England, after the Norman conquest. It was then that it gained the name curfew, deriving from the name for a metal cover which ensured that the embers did not ignite. This was called a 'Couvre feu'. This, thus can be translated as to cover ( couvre ) and fire ( feu ).
Although, the order to ring curfew bells was abolished in 1100, many churches still continued the custom, at least to the Second World War. Indeed there are a number of recorded examples of curfew bells or curfew ringing in Kent, which have never been collated together and are worth discussing, particularly because close examination reveals some interesting reasons for their foundation or rather continuation.
One of the most interesting reasons is recorded at St. Margaret at Cliffe, Dover. Where the ringing was endowed by a shepherd. An account relates this endowment or possibly re-endowment ( it is not exactly clear which ), in the minutes of the vestry book of September 1696. It states:
"Whereas there has been, and is at this time, a parcel of land in this parish, called by the name of curfew land ( corfeu ), consisting of five rods more or less, which for some time hath been given by a shepherd, who one night fell over the cliff, yet lived so long as to make the said bequest for the ringing of the curfew bell every night for the winter half year…, and now finding the great neglect for some years past in the due ringing of the same, and to prevent for the future any danger which may ensue to travellers and other being so near the cliff for the want and due of constant ringing, if possible the like sad Providence may not befall any other, we, the minister, churchwardens and others, the parishioners whose names are underwritten, in reference to the donors good intent, herein do hereby order and decree that the said curfew bell be hereafter rung every night in the week, all the aforesaid winter half year, for the full time of quarter of an hour at least without any exception of a Sunday or Holy Day Nights; and he that rings is to have and receive the benefit and profit of the said curfew land, provided also that he whosoever he is or shall be clerk of the parish shall have the refusal of it before any other…And in case it shall not be constantly rung it shall be lawful for the said minister and churchwardens to receive the rent from him who occupies the said land, and to deduct from it every night it shall not be rung twopence ( and any commission ), which shall be given to the poor that come constantly to the church.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands Wm. Barney, S. Marg. Vicar, John Chittey, Churchwarden'
The bells at St Margaret at Cliffe were recast into a small set of eight bells in 1977 and now the curfew has subsequently been programmed into the electronic bell system, being chimed by electronic solenoids attached to an electronic keyboard.
A similar piece of folklore is believed to be the origin of Cowden's curfew. The historian, J. C. L. Stahlschmidtt ( 1887 ) in his 'The Church Bells of Kent; their inscriptions, Founders, Uses and Traditions', notes that:
'..that the donor had lost his way in the Forest and was guided home by the Cowden bells.'
Beneath the bells at Cowden is a board which reads that a Richard Still bequest 20 shillings a year from Waystrode Farm for the ringing of the 'Great Bell' at five in the morning and eight at night from Michaelmas to Lady Day for ever.'
It is possible that this was a survival of the morning and evening 'Ave' bells. Records suggest that Richard Still gave the rent as remuneration for a duty which the clerk or sexton has been performing for centuries. Certainly he did not originate the payment; for a William Jackson was paid £1 'for Ringing ye eight a clock bell' in 1671.
The five o'clock bell ceased in 1875, as 'the amount not being considered sufficient pay for the double work'. Presumably, the evening bell, was not kept up after the First and Second World Wars, when by law, such activities were curtailed.
Sandwich's curfew bell does not appear to have any traditions, but it still continues to be tolled. Sandwich's Curfew bell appears to be alluded to in historian Boys' 'History of Sandwich':
"The sexton is appointed by the parishioners and he has a salary from the parish of 40/- for the tolling the tenor, whenever the service requires, the likewise rings the tenor bell very night at eight o' clock, unless there to be a burial at the church and again in the morning at four o' clock from a fortnight after Michaelmas to a fortnight before old lady day, except on Sundays and in the twelve days of Christmas, for which he has from the corporation annually £3 and an allowance of 6s 8d for candles and oil."
The sexton had around an annual allowance of four shillings from the Corporation for ringing at the church 'Bromelyese bell at one and the curfu at eight o' clock'. The bell is still rung every evening at eight by the Sandwich Curfew Ringers. Apparently, they each take it in turn to ring the bell, with one date per month!
Another surviving curfew bell ringing is that rung at Canterbury Cathedral every night between five to nine and nine o'clock in the evening when the gates of the precincts are closed. The bell, called Bell Harry, was named after Prior Henry of Eastry, and was cast in 1635 by a Kentish Bellfounder, Joseph Hatch of Ulcombe. This is now electronically chimed after being rehung in 1981 as part of the overhaul of all the cathedral bells.
Curfew bells and their establishment are an interesting but neglected topic for folklorists. Hopefully, this article will produce more interest in the subject and bring forth more examples.
Filed under Church, dole, Kent and tagged Calendar custom blog, calendar customs, calendar customs blog, customs and traditions, customs blog, folklore, folklore blog, Kent, Local history, traditions, traditions blog | Leave a comment
Custom contrived: Broomfield Well dressing, Kent
Posted on July 31, 2021 by pixyledpublications
There are hundreds of wells across the country and a large number of holy wells in the county of Kent – however very few have been as specially treated as the village well of Broomfield in the shadow of Leeds Castle. Locally the well is called St Margaret's based on an old record which states
'…to the reparation of St. Margaret's well, 12d Agnes, Widow of Ricd Caring of Leeds 1507.'
Developing well
It appears that local people believed this to be the specific well and repaired it in 1990. Once repaired a discussion occurred to how to make the well more celebrated. It would appear that the idea of well dressing was decided. It is said that this colourful custom was transported down from Derbyshire by a local man Revd. Bill Withers who was the vicar coming down from a Derbyshire living.
Previous effort have had a religious topic; but since the early 1990s the ideas have diversified. Like those in the Peak District themes have been 2019 First Man of the Moon; 2018 100 Years of the RAF; 2014 WWI and 2000 Battle of Britain. However, uniquely in 2015 the church got a new treble bell and that was celebrated. In a curious twist of irony 1999 celebrated the EU 30 years before we left it! Although to all impressions the style is identical to that of the Peak District; the technique differs utilising plant oasis rather than puddled clay which sounds easier but perhaps more challenging to maintain.
When I attended in 1996 it was the year of the Olympics and as such this was the theme. A large group of people had attended to see the vicar lead the service after starting in the church. The children attending had baskets of flowers which after the prayers are said at the well placed them around the well head. A small ceremony which despite being out of place has developed and so far survived the impact of Covid-19. Indeed if I have read correctly the skills were even transferred north.
"Kent Messenger Maidstone reported
A well dressed congregation – South Yorkshire 14 Aug 2009 Parishioners enjoyed a service with a difference when the ancient custom of well dressing came to Kent. Well dressing – blessing the water supply – is a feature of the Peak District, South Yorkshire and Staffordshire, and includes decorating the village well. The custom almost died out in the 1950s but has since been revived. Broomfield vicar the Rev Robin Gill led the service there."
Filed under Church, Kent, Procession, well dressing and tagged Calendar custom blog, calendar customs, calendar customs blog, church, customs, customs and traditions, customs blog, folklore blog, Traditional Custom, traditions blog | Leave a comment
Custom survived: Harvest festivals
Posted on October 31, 2020 by pixyledpublications
As the autumn draws in, it is difficult to avoid piles of produce piling up at churches, community halls and schools, all of these being collected for annual harvest festivals which bring colour and poignancy to the drawing days.
Shine on harvest moon
For the medieval period the harvest was a major event. Every village would celebrate bringing in the harvest usually in some harvest home event and quite often a large harvest supper – with much feeding, drinking and associated activities. It was these associated activities which caused many within the church to look at supressing these events. However, others realising the need for a moment of reflection at this time looked for other alternatives.
Thus unlike other customs the origins of the custom is well recorded. It was in 1843 that the Reverend Robert Hawker established a special thanksgiving service at his church at Morwenstow in Cornwall. The custom was firmly established as Christian event adopting Victorian hymns such as We plough the fields and scatter, come ye thankful people come and all things bright and beautiful. The church was decorated with home-grown produce for the Harvest Festival service a tradition which continues today. The service remained a local event until 1854 when the Revd Dr William Beal, Rector of Brooke Norfolk was the first to hold a Harvest Festival. He noted his aim was to:
"to put a stop to the disgraceful scenes which too often characterise the close of harvest, and to the system of largess, which gives rise to cases of the grossest description." The Times at the time stated more politely that: "The attempt to put an end to the system of public-house harvest feasts, in which neither wives nor children can join, appears in this instance to have been eminently successful."
Another early adopter of the custom was Rev Piers Claugton at Elton Huntingdonshire in or about 1854. By 1875 the Lincolnshire Chronicle recorded St Mary's Church at Stamford indicating in 20 years how far it could spread.
An earlier account is recorded at Plumtree in 1880 in The Nottinghamshire Guardian where a new organ had been installed and attracted considerable interest:
"The service commenced with the harvest hymn, "Come, ye thankful people, come", sung as a processional. Tallis' Festal Responses were used in the service, the first part of which was intoned by the Rev. A. Marshall rector of Heythrop, Oxon, and formerly curate of Plumtree; the latter part being taken by the Rector. The first lesson was read by the Rev. F. Sutton, rector of Brant Broughton, Lincolnshire; and the second lesson by the Rev. H. Seymour, rector of Holme Pierrepont. The Proper Psalms, 144 and 147, and the Canticles were sung to Single Anglican Chants. The anthem was "Ye shall dwell in the land" (Stainer), the bass solo in which was sung by the Rev. A. Marshall, and the treble solo by Archibald White, of S. Werburgh's Church, Derby."
It continued with:
"A very eloquent and able sermon, which was listened to with marked attention by an appreciative congregation, was preached by the Rev. the Hon. Wm. Byron from the text "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace," – Ephesians 4:3 – from which, connecting it with the events of the day, he delivered a most admirable and practical discourse on the beauty and necessity of harmony and concord in the parochial and domestic life."
It was recorded that:
"The church was very tastefully decorated with the usual flowers, and fruits, and corn, and produce, which are so general at our Church Harvest Festivals. Plumtree is now amongst the most beautiful of our Notts. churches, and is well worthy of a visit by all who value a hearty service, and appreciate beauty of colouring and artistic design in ecclesiastical decoration."
By the 1900s it had spread considerably both geographically and ecumenically being described in Horsham Sussex's Congregation church:
"which was very tastefully decorated for the occasion with flowers, fruit and vegetables"
In the Sheffield it is recorded in Daily Telegraph Sheffield that it was already being described as the:
"The harvest festival season in Sheffield is now in full swing. In churches and chapels all over the city preachers are drawing the old familiar themes."
The Berwickshire News and General Advertiser recorded that Etal church:
"was beautifully decorated with fruit, flowers, corn, and vegetables, by Rev. R. and Mrs Simpson."
Throughout the 20th century it had become firmly established as part of the church's calendar across the various denominations. Today the focus may have moved from celebrating directly the village harvest to a general celebration of thanksgiving for 'our daily bread' to recognising the need of others beyond. So nowadays the displays of food with inedible gourds and sheaths of wheat is far more about 'arrangements' than providing food.
Filed under Agricultural, Church, Civic, Cornwall, Food, Huntingdonshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Memorial, Norfolk and tagged Calendar custom | Leave a comment
Custom survived: St Bartholomew's Founder's Day and Bun Race, Sandwich Kent
Sandwich is a town where you would expect there to be many traditions. One of the Cinque ports, many traditions have arisen from its long association with sea. In a small chapel and its associated almshouse community is one of the most enjoyable.
Legend has it that on the 24th August 1217 the town received a considerable amount of money from a sea battle held off the coast. This they used to build St Bartholomew's Chapel and a hospital for sixteen men and women to inhabit. It would probably have been envisioned as a place of refuge for pilgrims latterly as it is today becoming an almshouse for the elderly.
Sandwich did not forget this great sea battle's bounty and it appears that St Bartholomew's Day became a day of importance in the town with the Mayor and civic dignitaries processing to the chapel for a special patronal founder's day service – a founder's day with a difference.
A prickly decision
One of the roles of the service is the selection of a new Master for the coming year. This is called pricking out. During this process a list of all those living in the almshouse – called brothers and sisters – is laid out and a silver bodkin is used to run over the names and selects the person who will be in charge for the next twelve months. However the role of the Master is fairly mundane being a sort of care taker!
Typically you might say for August, the weather was wet and horrible. I arrived to watch a rather soggy civic procession arrive at the chapel to meet the brothers and sisters within. I slipped into the chapel, just about finding some room, to see the pricking out ceremony and hear the oath which went:
"I – (insert name) will me as I ought to be true and faithful unto the hospital and all things shall do, to my best of my power, for the most weal, proper and commodate of the same hospital and at the end of the year, a true and just account shall make all of things, wherewith I shall have to do belonging to the hospital for this year following."
Not a bun fight!
After the ceremony as Charles Kightly records in his 1986 Ceremonies and customs of Britain:
"The ceremonies then conclude in livelier fashion, with local children racing around the chapel for a reward of a currant bun a piece."
Outside there were a fair number of parents and young children waiting the race – the chapel could never have accommodated all of them and I wondered how the race had arisen. Did it arise as a way to encourage a well behaved congregation or to encourage more attendees? Both struck me as odd as it was clear that the service had a rather private feel about it and large numbers of children may have equally ruined the atmosphere I would imagine!
The dampness and drizzle did not put the participants. They lived up in the designated place beside the chapel. As it began to rain, the Mayor blew a whistle and the kids were off
The mayor protected by an umbrella gave out the buns to an out of breadth congregation of grateful children of many sizes. Many covered in mud and soggy! The adults who attended were given a hard paste biscuit with the hospital's seal and the date 1190 – it did not look as nice as the bun! It was over as soon as it started and the crowd dispersed for another year.
How did the Bun race originate? The bun race is an interesting custom. A bit like those no winners or losers sports day everyone gets a prize! Everyone gets a bun! Why a race? Perhaps the custom arose as a dole for wayfarers and as these slowly disappeared some one came up with the idea of a race. The race symbolising the race to Canterbury's St Thomas's shrine. When it arose is not clear either and I have been unable to find it out. Kightly suggests it can only be less than a hundred years old – but that was in 1986 – with 34 years elapsed I imagine it qualifies now!
Filed under Church, Civic, Food, Games, Kent, Mayor, Memorial, Procession, Surviving, Unusual dates and tagged Calendar custom blog, calendar customs, calendar customs blog, church, customs, customs and traditions, customs blog, folklore, folklore blog, Kent, Mayor, Traditional Custom, traditions blog | Leave a comment
Custom contrived: Broadstairs' Dicken's festival, Kent
Posted on June 30, 2020 by pixyledpublications
Broadstairs is one of those old fashioned genteel seaside towns, with picturesque views across the beach one can just imagine genteel Victorian ladies and gentlemen promenading along the road overlooking the bay. Well one does not have to imagine it come June time and one can see them!
Charles Dickens one great Victorian writer stayed in 1837 when he was 21 after the fame of Pickwick Papers, lodging at 12 High Street. After writing this he purchased a house, now part of the Royal Albion Hotel, where he finished Nicholas Nickleby. Dickens clearly loved the place he stayed at Lawn House where he wrote part of Barnaby Rudge and then finally Fort House. Here he wrote three works 'David Copperfield', 'The Haunted Man' and 'American notes'. He visited Broadstairs for many holidays finally writing 'Our English Watering Place' his homage to the town in August 1852.
With such an affection shown for the town it was not surprising that there was a great proud and love for the writer such that in 1937 a Broadstairs Dicken's Fellowship was formed. Gladys Waterer, the resident of Dicken's House then had the idea of celebrating the 100th anniversary of his first arrival in the town. This consisted on putting an production of David Copperfield which was advertised via people dressed in Victorian dress. Such was the Dicken's festival born. It has continued with the exception of the World Wars and the Coronavirus ever since with some Victorian themes added to it. The fun includes readings, a Dickensian cricket match, a Victorian bathing party, and vaudeville acts.
Christopher Trent in his 1966 Festivals and events in Britain records:
"The centre piece of the week's celebration is the performance of a play adapted from one of the novelist's works. In Miss Waterer's own words: 'The festival is unique that it is the only Dicken's festival in Europe. It is a completely local effort. The whole town joins in. In 1936 we put on the first Dickens play. After the war I wrote Christmas Carol and that was really the start' It was a very good start."
Of course other Dicken's festivals have developed over the years such as Rochester, doubtlessly based on Broadstairs' success
Trent continues:
"For many years a different play was staged each year. In 1964 the wheel turned full circle and a Christmas carol was staged again. In 1965 Our Mutual friend. The players are members of the Broadstairs Dickens Players' society."
The plays take up a considerable amount of dedication as he continues:
"the adaptation and rehearsals take on average nearly eight months. The result is the modest Festival Theatre is always satisfying, throwing a new and original light on the novelist, who is still one of the favourite writers of hundreds of thousands of people, young and old."
What begun as a play developed into fringe entertainments doubtlessly in some cases there to advertise the play, became more and more and more and more imaginative. Trent noted that:
"Gradually the scope of the festival has been extended, though the play remains the most important part. Bleak House and Dickens House are open to the public throughout the week. There is Dickensian garden party in the grounds of Bleak House, with prizes offered for the best costumes. There are concerts of Victorian music, talks on Dickens and his work and a Victorian exhibition. A festival dance s organized in the grand ballroom, and the proof of Miss Waterer's assertion that the whole town joins in is well illustrated by the number of shops and the number of people, especially shopkeepers, who wear Dickensian costume in spite the difficulty in modern times of moving about in crinolines! A stage coach on he front is a sign that the festival is in progress. It is a replica of a coach in which many of Dickens' characters travelled, and in which he must have made many of his journeys to Broadstairs."
Dolby and son and son and daughter and grand children!
In 2017 it celebrated its 80th anniversary and the press said locally:
"Expect top hats, bonnets and billowing dresses as the community gathers for events including the grand parade, Dickensian picnic and beach party. Other activities includes a traditional Victorian country fair and theatre production of Dombey and Son – the author's novel follows the fortunes of a shipping firm, whose owner is frustrated at not having a son to follow him in the job, and initially rejects his daughter's love, eventually becoming reconciled with her before his death."
Over the 82 years the theatre productions were still a focus on the event. However, back in 1994 I arrived to see two of its more custom like events – the Victorian bathing and the Grand parade.
The former was bizarre as if I had been sent back in time only the camera and the boats on the horizon reminded me I was back in the 20th century as there on the beach ready to dive in a collection of people dressed head to toe in Victorian bathers. Although this was June the water did not look that inviting and warm and a head to toe ensemble might not be too bad an idea. They all rushed to the water to have a paddle and the obligatory photo and some slipped away. Other rushed headlong and dived in.
The parade was a much more spectacular affair and it was clear that a lot of effort had been put in by those involved. Fronted by Oliver Twist and Mr Bumble with his 'comforting' arms around him with a pipers band. Behind them every character Dicken's fertile imagination had concocted appeared to be there for David Copperfield to Pickwick. A great entertainment could be had trying to name the characters and some had really gone to town even affecting their characteristics. There were a few non-dressed entrants like the Brownies as well which rather broke the illusion. Each carried banners and shields. One of the most impressive was the stilt walking ghost from Christmas carol! But of course the most were in Victorian day wear and one could even hear the sound of crinoline!
Filed under Civic, Costumed, Customs contrived, Kent, Memorial, Procession, Unusual dates and tagged Calendar custom blog, calendar customs, calendar customs blog, customs, customs blog, folklore, folklore blog, Local history, Traditional Custom, traditions, traditions blog | Leave a comment
Custom demised: Hanging St John's wort above the door
It's a very familiar plant, although the one generally grown in our gardens, is not strictly speaking the St John's Wort of British tradition, its bright gold flowers beam out like the sun at midsummer. Across Britain its virtues were many but one seasonal application was that it once widespread was the placing of it across doorways. William Bingley in his 1800 Tour Bound North Wales records that:
"On the Eve of St. John the Baptist they fix sprigs of the plant called St. John's-wort over their doors, and sometimes over their window's, in order to purify their houses, and by that means drive away all fiends and evil spirits."
In the 1972 Folklore of the Ulster People Sheila St Clair notes that there it protected against the evil eye. Tony Deane and Tony Shaw in their 1975 Folklore of Cornwall state that wreaths were placed at St. Cleer 'to banish witches.'Maureen Sutton (1996) A Lincolnshire calendar a correspondent from Chapel Hill suggests that the custom was still remembered in the 1920s and 30s there:
"if you hang it up on St John's Day it will keep away the Devil'.
Christine Hole in her 1977 Witchcraft in England writes of St. John's Day:
" the saint's own golden flower, St. John's wort-which is quite clearly a sun-symbol-was brought indoors to promote good fortune and protect the house from fires."
However, the earliest reference shows how this was not just a country custom. In John Stow's 1603 book on London he noted:
"On the vigil of St. John the Baptist, and on St. Peter and Paul the apostles, every man's door being shadowed with ….. St. John's wort."
It was not alone and other plants were also stuck there creating 'a goodly show, namely in New Fish street, Thames street'. Whilst it is not clear why they were doing so it would seem that there was some reason for it. It would appear to related to Ella Mary Leather records in her 1912 The Folklore of Herefordshire:
"Antiquatis records that the practise of making midsummer garlands was common in Herefordshire in the old days, ballads were sung while weaving the garlands and the foliage used in their construction were for divination. Those in request were the rose, St. John's Wort"
In this case it is clear it was for divination rather than protection but one would thing one arose from the other. Fran and Geoff. Doel and Tony Deane 1995 Spring and Summer customs in Sussex, Kent and Surrey note that it was worn to warn away witches.
Why Midsummer? Midsummer was thought to be when the evil spirits were abouts. But why St John's Wort It is probably likely that this was related to its medicinal properties of the plant which may have scientific background as it has been proven that it has positive effects on nervous disorders such as depression which was often linked to devilish activity. I have not read of anyone who still hangs St John up at Midsummer so I imagine it is not long extinct.
Filed under Cornwall, Divining, Herefordshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Wales and tagged Calendar custom blog, calendar customs, calendar customs blog, customs, customs and traditions, customs blog, folklore blog, St John's wort | 1 Comment
Custom demised: Leap Year Agricultural and garden lore
Today is the 29th of February – a date which as you know only comes around every 4 years- intercalary year or bissextile year. Readers may be familiar with the belief regarding "Ladies Day" or "Ladies' Privilege," but there were other beliefs and customs associated with the day due to its rarity.
With a day made up of .25 of a day, there would be bound to be issues and the most wary of this change as always was country folk. Weather governs agriculture and it according in a year leap the weather always changes on the friday and considering the awful windy and rainy weather of 2020 so far, I did notice that it did change accordingly…but lets see how that changes over the year.
Leaping lambs
Often the presence of an extra day appeared to knock the whole calendar both literally and folklorically out of kilter. One Scottish countryside view was regarding sheep and it was said that:
Leap year was ne'er a good sheep year"
This is reported in an 1816 edition of the Farmer's Magazine:
"It has long been proverbial here that 'leap year never was a good sheep year,' an observation which this winter has been fully realized."
Interesting in 1816 there was a considerable drop in temperature which meant that the snow quickly turned to ice and many lambs died. Whether it happened on a Friday though is unknown!
Not bean a good year
Planting crops were particular affected by Leap Day and the whole year. New plant fruits should not have been planted on the day as they only bore fruit once every four years. But the most reported was that broad beans and peas grew the wrong way in that their seed would be set in the pods in a different way to other years i.e back to frint. The reason for this appears to be that as this was the Ladies Privilege year when the idea of proposing was upside down the bean would lie the wrong way but why broad beans (and often peas) should be associated with this is unclear.
The custom even got to the ears of the great scientist Charles Darwin who in his autobiography stated who discussion of his scepticism:
"In illustration, I will give the oddest case which I have known. A gentleman (who, as I afterwards heard, is a good local botanist) wrote to me from the Eastern counties that the seed or beans of the common field-bean had this year everywhere grown on the wrong side of the pod. I wrote back, asking for further information, as I did not understand what was meant; but I did not receive any answer for a very long time. I then saw in two newspapers, one published in Kent and the other in Yorkshire, paragraphs stating that it was a most remarkable fact that "the beans this year had all grown on the wrong side." So I thought there must be some foundation for so general a statement. Accordingly, I went to my gardener, an old Kentish man, and asked him whether he had heard anything about it, and he answered, "Oh, no, sir, it must be a mistake, for the beans grow on the wrong side only on leap-year, and this is not leap-year." I then asked him how they grew in common years and how on leap-years, but soon found that he knew absolutely nothing of how they grew at any time, but he stuck to his belief.
After a time I heard from my first informant, who, with many apologies, said that he should not have written to me had he not heard the statement from several intelligent farmers; but that he had since spoken again to every one of them, and not one knew in the least what he had himself meant. So that here a belief—if indeed a statement with no definite idea attached to it can be called a belief—had spread over almost the whole of England without any vestige of evidence."
With all this in mind I thought I might go ahead and plant some beans and see what happens! I'll report back in 2024 – hopefully – at the latest.
A.C. Smith in their 1875 article from Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine on Wiltshire Weather Proverbs and Weather Fallacies they note:
"I must also call attention to the remarkable prejudice against Leap-year, a prejudice as common and as widely spread as it misunfounded. It is popularly supposed that neither children nor domestic animals born in that year will thrive and that neither " Leap year never was a good sheep year."
Perhaps the last word though should be for A.C Smith's who states:
"I need scarcely say that these are all popular delusions, founded on no reliable basis, though doubtless they do occasionally, however unfrequently, by accident, come true ; and then they attract unmerited attention, and are held up to admiring disciples as infallible weather-guides.
One thing however seems quite certain, and that is that if our observations are recorded through a long period of time, there will be found to be a balance of averages, both as regards heat and cold, and wet and dry weather: and in short the general average through the whole period will be found to be maintained."
And with such cynicism and logic the custom must have died out!
Filed under Agricultural, Food, Kent, Leap year, Lost, Occasional, Overview, Private, Weather, Wiltshire, Yorkshire and tagged Beans; Leap Year; Charles Darwin; weather, Calendar custom blog, calendar customs, calendar customs blog, customs, customs and traditions, folklore, folklore blog, Kent, Traditional Custom, traditions, traditions blog, Yorkshire | 1 Comment
Custom demised: Medway St Catherine's Day procession
Posted on November 30, 2018 by pixyledpublications
According to N, & Q. (2nd S. vol V. p. 47) they record that:
"On Wednesday (the 25th) night last the towns of Chatham, Rochester, and Brompton exhibited considerable excitement in consequence of a torchlight procession appearing in the streets, headed by a band of fifes and drums."
This was to celebrate the association of Chatham with the making of ropes and its founder Queen Catherine and as it notes:
"Notwithstanding the late hour (eleven o'clock) & large number of persons of both sexes, accompanied the party. The demonstration was got up by the rope-makers of the dockyard, to celebrate the anniversary of the founder of the ropery (Queen Catherine). The female representing her Majesty (who was borne in a chair of state by six ropemakers) was dressed in white muslin, wore a gilt crown, and carried in her hand a Roman banner."
It is evident that there was so confusion her between Queen and Saint and surely it was the saint who was being commemorated. When the custom disappeared is unclear and it is perhaps surprising that the Chatham Historic dockyard have not thought to revive this custom.
Filed under Effigy, Kent, Lost, Memorial, Procession, Trade and tagged Calendar custom blog, calendar customs, calendar customs blog, Catherine, Chatham, customs, customs and traditions, folklore blog, Kent, Procession, Rope | Leave a comment
Custom demised: Relic Sunday
"Worshipfull frendis, on Sunday next commyng shall be the holy fest of all relykis (called Relike Sonday), which that be left here in erth to the grete magnificence, honour and worship of god and profite to man bothe bodily and gostily, for in as much as we be in sufficient to worship and reuerence singulerly all reuerent Relikis of all seyntis left here in erth, for it passith mannis power. Wherefore holy Chirch in especiall the Chirch of Yngelonde hathe ordeynd this holy Fest to be worshipped the next Sonday aftir the translacion of seint Thomas of Cauntirbery yerely to be hallowed and had in reuerence."
So is written in a late 15th century sermon called In festo Reliquarum. Relic Sunday was a Catholic feast which was celebrated in either on the 1st Sunday in July or the third Sunday after Midsummer. The feast was designed to celebrate the relics of Christian saints and was perhaps cynically set up to focus pilgrimage to shrines in which either the saint's feast day was unknown or else to encourage further devotion, certainly it was recognised by more offerings being given. By undertaking pilgrimage on Relic Sunday an indulgence could be gained. One did not have to go far, for example even when John Baylis's wife went to her parish church in Rolvenden (Kent) on Relic Sunday in 1511 she stated that she was going on
'pilgrimage at the relics'.
Similarly avoiding Relic Sunday would result in penalty. At the quarter sessions in Wigan (Lancashire) in 1592 it was noted that:
"Richard and William Buckley, of Charnock Richard, Laboureres and Richard Sharrock of Heath Charnock butcher on the day called Relic Sunday 1592 in time of divine service at Chorley played at bowls"
Of course the Reformation would have its final say and as the 1846 The Church of England as by law established being very doctrine and express words of homilies against popery noted:
"Concerning Popish Relics But in this they pass the folly and wickedness of the that they honour and worship the relics and of our saints which prove that they be mortal and dead and therefore no gods to be worshipped the Gentiles would never confess of their Gods very shame But the relics we must kiss and offer specially on relic Sunday And while we offer that we should not be weary or repent us of our the music and minstrelsy goeth merrily all the time with praising and calling upon those whose relics be then in presence Yea and water also wherein those relics have been must with great reverence be reserved as ve and effectual Is this agreeable to St Chrysostom writeth thus of relics Do not regard the ashes"
Relic Sunday then disappeared as the shrines became dismantled and the church moved away from Catholicism. It survived longest in Northamptonshire where Thistleton Dyer's Popular Customs
"In some parts of this county the Sunday after St. Thomas a Becket's Day goes by the name of Relic Sunday."
But even here it was forgotten probably only remembered because of fairs associated with the day. The relics are forgotten and as far as I am aware it was never revived!
Filed under Church, Kent, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Private and tagged Calendar custom blog, calendar customs, calendar customs blog, church, customs, customs and traditions, Kent, Lancashire, Local history, Northamptonshire, Relic Sunday, Saints, Shrines, Thomas Becket, Traditional Custom, traditions, traditions blog | Leave a comment
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
<?php
    include('class.uploader.php');
	include ('OfxParser/Ofx.php');
	include ('OfxParser/Parser.php');

    $uploader = new Uploader();
    $data = $uploader->upload($_FILES['files'], array(
        'limit' => 1, //Maximum Limit of files. {null, Number}
        'maxSize' => 1, //Maximum Size of files {null, Number(in MB's)}
        'extensions' => array('ofx'), //Whitelist for file extension. {null, Array(ex: array('jpg', 'png'))}
        'required' => true, //Minimum one file is required for upload {Boolean}
        'uploadDir' => 'uploads/', //Upload directory {String}
        'title' => array(md5(uniqid(rand(), true))), //New file name {null, String, Array} *please read documentation in README.md
        'removeFiles' => true, //Enable file exclusion {Boolean(extra for jQuery.filer), String($_POST field name containing json data with file names)}
        'replace' => true, //Replace the file if it already exists  {Boolean}
        'perms' => null, //Uploaded file permisions {null, Number}
        'onCheck' => null, //A callback function name to be called by checking a file for errors (must return an array) | ($file) | Callback
        'onError' => null, //A callback function name to be called if an error occured (must return an array) | ($errors, $file) | Callback
        'onSuccess' => null, //A callback function name to be called if all files were successfully uploaded | ($files, $metas) | Callback
        'onUpload' => null, //A callback function name to be called if all files were successfully uploaded (must return an array) | ($file) | Callback
        'onComplete' => null, //A callback function name to be called when upload is complete | ($file) | Callback
        'onRemove' => null //A callback function name to be called by removing files (must return an array) | ($removed_files) | Callback
    ));

    if($data['isComplete']){
        $info = $data['data'];

		$ofxParser = new OfxParser\Parser();
        $ofx = $ofxParser->loadFromFile($info['files'][0]);

        $account = reset($ofx->bankAccounts);

		echo json_encode($account);

		unlink($info['files'][0]);
    }

    if($data['hasErrors']){
        $errors = $data['errors'];
        print_r($errors);
    }
?>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
#include <config.h>
#undef NDEBUG
#include <assert.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include "ovs-lldp.h"
#include "ovstest.h"

#define ETH_TYPE_LLDP   0x88cc

/* Dummy MAC addresses */
static uint8_t chassis_mac[ETH_ADDR_LEN] = { 0x5e, 0x10, 0x8e, 0xe7, 0x84, 0xad };
static uint8_t eth_src[ETH_ADDR_LEN] = { 0x5e, 0x10, 0x8e, 0xe7, 0x84, 0xad };

/* LLDP multicast address */
static const uint8_t eth_addr_lldp[6] = {0x01, 0x80, 0xC2, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0e};

/* Count of tests run */
static int num_tests = 0;

/*
 * Helper function to validate port info
 */
static void
check_received_port(struct lldpd_port *sport,
                    struct lldpd_port *rport)
{
    assert(rport->p_id_subtype == sport->p_id_subtype);
    assert(rport->p_id_len == sport->p_id_len);
    assert(strncmp(rport->p_id, sport->p_id, sport->p_id_len) == 0);
    assert(strcmp(rport->p_descr, sport->p_descr) == 0);

    return;
}

/*
 * Helper function to validate chassis info
 */
static void
check_received_chassis(struct lldpd_chassis *schassis,
                       struct lldpd_chassis *rchassis)
{
    assert(rchassis->c_id_subtype == schassis->c_id_subtype);
    assert(rchassis->c_id_len == schassis->c_id_len);
    assert(memcmp(rchassis->c_id, schassis->c_id, schassis->c_id_len) == 0);
    assert(strcmp(rchassis->c_name, schassis->c_name) == 0);
    assert(strcmp(rchassis->c_descr, schassis->c_descr) == 0);
    assert(rchassis->c_cap_available == schassis->c_cap_available);
    assert(rchassis->c_cap_enabled == schassis->c_cap_enabled);

    return;
}

/*
 * Helper function to validate auto-attach info
 */
static void
check_received_aa(struct lldpd_port *sport,
                  struct lldpd_port *rport,
                  struct lldpd_aa_isid_vlan_maps_tlv *smap)
{
    struct lldpd_aa_isid_vlan_maps_tlv *received_map;
    int i = 0;

    assert(rport->p_element.type == sport->p_element.type);
    assert(rport->p_element.mgmt_vlan == sport->p_element.mgmt_vlan);
    assert(rport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[0] ==
           sport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[0]);
    assert(rport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[1] ==
           sport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[1]);
    assert(rport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[2] ==
           sport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[2]);
    assert(rport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[3] ==
           sport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[3]);
    assert(rport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[4] ==
           sport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[4]);
    assert(rport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[5] ==
           sport->p_element.system_id.system_mac[5]);
    assert(rport->p_element.system_id.conn_type ==
           sport->p_element.system_id.conn_type);
    assert(rport->p_element.system_id.rsvd ==
           sport->p_element.system_id.rsvd);
    assert(rport->p_element.system_id.rsvd2[0] ==
           sport->p_element.system_id.rsvd2[0]);
    assert(rport->p_element.system_id.rsvd2[1] ==
           sport->p_element.system_id.rsvd2[1]);

    /* Should receive 2 mappings */
    assert(!list_is_empty(&rport->p_isid_vlan_maps));

    /* For each received isid/vlan mapping */
    LIST_FOR_EACH (received_map, m_entries, &rport->p_isid_vlan_maps) {

        /* Validate against mapping sent */
        assert(smap[i].isid_vlan_data.status ==
               received_map->isid_vlan_data.status);
        assert(smap[i].isid_vlan_data.vlan ==
               received_map->isid_vlan_data.vlan);
        assert(smap[i].isid_vlan_data.isid ==
               received_map->isid_vlan_data.isid);

        /* Next mapping sent */
        i++;
    }
    assert(i == 2);

    return;
}

/*
 * Validate basic send/receive processing
 */
static int
test_aa_send(void)
{
    struct lldp           *lldp;
    struct lldpd_hardware hardware;
    struct lldpd_chassis  chassis;

    struct lldpd_chassis *nchassis = NULL;
    struct lldpd_port    *nport = NULL;

    struct lldpd_hardware *hw = NULL;
    struct lldpd_chassis  *ch = NULL;

    struct lldpd_aa_isid_vlan_maps_tlv map_init[2];
    struct lldpd_aa_isid_vlan_maps_tlv map[2];

    uint32_t      stub[512 / 4];
    struct dp_packet packet;

    int n;

    /* Prepare data used to construct and validate LLDPPDU */
    hardware.h_lport.p_id_subtype = LLDP_PORTID_SUBTYPE_IFNAME;
    hardware.h_lport.p_id = "FastEthernet 1/5";
    hardware.h_lport.p_id_len = strlen(hardware.h_lport.p_id);
    hardware.h_lport.p_descr = "Fake port description";
    hardware.h_lport.p_mfs = 1516;

    /* Auto attach element discovery info */
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.type =
        LLDP_TLV_AA_ELEM_TYPE_CLIENT_VIRTUAL_SWITCH;
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.mgmt_vlan = 0xCDC;
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[0] = 0x1;
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[1] = 0x2;
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[2] = 0x3;
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[3] = 0x4;
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[4] = 0x5;
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[5] = 0x6;

    hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.conn_type = 0x5;
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.rsvd = 0x3CC;
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.rsvd2[0] = 0xB;
    hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.rsvd2[1] = 0xE;

    /* Local chassis info */
    chassis.c_id_subtype = LLDP_CHASSISID_SUBTYPE_LLADDR;
    chassis.c_id = chassis_mac;
    chassis.c_id_len = ETH_ADDR_LEN;
    chassis.c_name = "Dummy chassis";
    chassis.c_descr = "Long dummy chassis description";
    chassis.c_cap_available = LLDP_CAP_BRIDGE;
    chassis.c_cap_enabled = LLDP_CAP_BRIDGE;

    /* ISID/VLAN mappings */
    map_init[0].isid_vlan_data.status  = 0xC;
    map_init[0].isid_vlan_data.vlan    = 0x64;
    map_init[0].isid_vlan_data.isid    = 0x010203;

    map_init[1].isid_vlan_data.status  = 0xD;
    map_init[1].isid_vlan_data.vlan    = 0xF;
    map_init[1].isid_vlan_data.isid    = 0x040506;

    /* Prepare an empty packet buffer */
    dp_packet_use_stub(&packet, stub, sizeof stub);
    dp_packet_clear(&packet);

    /* Create a dummy lldp instance */
    lldp = lldp_create_dummy();
    if ((lldp == NULL) ||
        (lldp->lldpd == NULL) ||
        list_is_empty(&lldp->lldpd->g_hardware)) {
        printf("Error: unable to create dummy lldp instance");
        return 1;
    }

    /* Populate instance with local chassis info */
    hw = lldpd_first_hardware(lldp->lldpd);
    ch = hw->h_lport.p_chassis;
    ch->c_id_subtype = chassis.c_id_subtype;
    ch->c_id = chassis.c_id;
    ch->c_id_len = chassis.c_id_len;
    ch->c_name = chassis.c_name;
    ch->c_descr = chassis.c_descr;
    ch->c_cap_available = chassis.c_cap_available;
    ch->c_cap_enabled = chassis.c_cap_enabled;

    /* Populate instance with local port info */
    hw->h_lport.p_id_subtype = hardware.h_lport.p_id_subtype;
    hw->h_lport.p_id = hardware.h_lport.p_id;
    hw->h_lport.p_id_len = strlen(hw->h_lport.p_id);
    hw->h_lport.p_descr = hardware.h_lport.p_descr;
    hw->h_lport.p_mfs = hardware.h_lport.p_mfs;

    /* Populate instance with auto attach element discovery info */

    hw->h_lport.p_element.type = hardware.h_lport.p_element.type;
    hw->h_lport.p_element.mgmt_vlan = hardware.h_lport.p_element.mgmt_vlan;
    hw->h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[0] =
        hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[0];
    hw->h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[1] =
        hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[1];
    hw->h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[2] =
        hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[2];
    hw->h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[3] =
        hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[3];
    hw->h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[4] =
        hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[4];
    hw->h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[5] =
        hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.system_mac[5];

    hw->h_lport.p_element.system_id.conn_type =
        hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.conn_type;
    hw->h_lport.p_element.system_id.rsvd =
        hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.rsvd;
    hw->h_lport.p_element.system_id.rsvd2[0] =
        hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.rsvd2[0];
    hw->h_lport.p_element.system_id.rsvd2[1] =
        hardware.h_lport.p_element.system_id.rsvd2[1];

    /* Populate instance with two auto attach isid/vlan mappings */
    map[0].isid_vlan_data.status  = map_init[0].isid_vlan_data.status;
    map[0].isid_vlan_data.vlan    = map_init[0].isid_vlan_data.vlan;
    map[0].isid_vlan_data.isid    = map_init[0].isid_vlan_data.isid;

    map[1].isid_vlan_data.status  = map_init[1].isid_vlan_data.status;
    map[1].isid_vlan_data.vlan    = map_init[1].isid_vlan_data.vlan;
    map[1].isid_vlan_data.isid    = map_init[1].isid_vlan_data.isid;

    list_init(&hw->h_lport.p_isid_vlan_maps);
    list_push_back(&hw->h_lport.p_isid_vlan_maps, &map[0].m_entries);
    list_push_back(&hw->h_lport.p_isid_vlan_maps, &map[1].m_entries);

    /* Construct LLDPPDU (including Ethernet header) */
    eth_compose(&packet, eth_addr_lldp, eth_src, ETH_TYPE_LLDP, 0);
    n = lldp_send(lldp->lldpd, hw, &packet);

    if (n == 0) {
        printf("Error: unable to build packet\n");
        return 1;
    }

    /* Decode the constructed LLDPPDU */
    assert(lldp_decode(NULL, dp_packet_data(&packet), dp_packet_size(&packet), hw,
                       &nchassis, &nport) != -1);

    /* Expecting returned pointers to allocated structures */
    if (!nchassis || !nport) {
        printf("Error: unable to decode packet");
        return 1;
    }

    /* Verify chassis values */
    check_received_chassis(&chassis, nchassis);

    /* Verify port values */
    check_received_port(&hardware.h_lport, nport);

    /* Verify auto attach values */
    check_received_aa(&hardware.h_lport, nport, map_init);

    return 0;
}

static void
test_aa_main(int argc OVS_UNUSED, char *argv[] OVS_UNUSED)
{
    int num_errors = 0;

    /* Make sure we emit valid auto-attach LLDPPDUs */
    num_tests++;
    num_errors += test_aa_send();

    /* Add more tests here */

    printf("executed %d tests, %d errors\n", num_tests, num_errors);

    exit(num_errors != 0);
}

OVSTEST_REGISTER("test-aa", test_aa_main);


text:
By Jennelle McGrath in February, 2020 | 5 minute read
We've Just Launched the #50x52 Project, and Here's Why
"Marketing it Forward" has always been a core tenet of our company code. Now, with the #50x52 Project, we're taking the promise of making a difference to a whole new level. Founder and CEO Jennelle McGrath shares the personal journey that led her—and Market Veep—into this exciting new project.
So, What is the 50x52 Project?
It's simple really. $50 a week, for all 52 weeks of the year, can create endless opportunities to positively impact a life.
That's the core concept behind #50x52, and it all started with the question: "How can we brighten a complete stranger's day?"
Some weeks will involve our team spending $50 on food for a local shelter while other weeks could mean we "pay it forward" at a coffee shop and treat the other people in line with their daily caffeine fix. Acts of kindness can create a chain reaction of positivity, and that's what we're hoping to do here.
We're in a fast-paced industry, which means it's more important than ever to slow ourselves down and find time to make a meaningful presence in the world. With this project, I wanted us to reflect on how our work affects the world and then commit some of our time to making sure that our change makes a difference.
It will be a challenge — but we're committed to sticking with it. Our goal is to never repeat the same "act of kindness," which means we've had to work as a team to come up with 52 unique, creative, and charitable ideas. We hope that, in the end, #50x52 touches the lives of as many people as possible.
But that's really just the tip of the iceberg. We also hope the #50x52 Project will inspire others to take some time out of their week to help someone who needs it. Whether it's $50, $10, or an hour of their time, there are countless ways to spread positivity in the world, and part of the goal for this project is to spread the word about as much as we can.
Standing for Something Positive In the World
The driving idea first came to me during the holiday season — a time when plenty of people focus on which organizations they can give back to. As I reflected on this cultural trend, I started to wonder: "What about the rest of the year?" And, in full transparency, we found ourselves falling into an all-too-familiar trend; a flourish of holiday giving then back to business as usual.
Grand gestures are great, but they're really difficult to replicate on a regular basis (especially for smaller businesses). Not every business can give at the volume they do during the holidays throughout the entire year. But with Market Veep, I wanted to facilitate a culture where kindness was woven into the fabric of our identity and the role our business served in the world. There had to be a way to make it work; to keep our business sustainable but also put philanthropy at the center of our business ideology.
So what did I do? I turned to three businesses I really admire for ideas. These organizations — and all companies that make giving back a cornerstone value of their business — have always inspired me.
The Lesson of TOMS Shoes, Bombas Socks, and Warby Parker
Many years ago, I was browsing in the back of a used book store when I discovered the book, "Start Something that Matters," which chronicles the story of how TOMS Shoes came to be a giving organization. The giving principle was one-to-one — one pair of shoes purchased to one pair of shoes given. Every day, every customer, every little thing was a chance to give back. It didn't take much to leave a big impression in individual lives.
Since then, I've seen many organizations that have focused their business on giving to others in need. In the case of Bombas socks, one pair of socks purchased and one pair given to a homeless shelter. Or in the case of Warby Parker, for every pair of glasses purchased a pair is donated. I was captivated.
For many years I've reflected on our marketing agency with this question: "How can we find a continuous and consistent way to give back that is rooted in helping people?" The answer was right in front of me all along: the little things matter. Small acts of kindness, all year round, when, where, and for whom they would matter most.
So We Launched 50x52!
When I initially brought my idea to team members, family, and friends, I got plenty of skeptical questions and comments:
"How will that be sustainable?"
"That seems like a lot of work."
"Why don't you guys do it once a month instead?"
"That seems like a big commitment..."
"What if you can't think of enough ways to fill each week?"
Basically, many of them shared the same response:
But gradually, the questions passed. We listened to each other, and began to think long and hard.
For me, a monthly plan felt doable, but finding ways to give back weekly sounded challenging. And that's what drew me to it. I wanted us to feel a continued focus on giving and find new ways to reach out and make a difference, even if it meant changing our daily routines. Giving helps us be more human and remind ourselves that we can make an impact no matter how small or grand the gesture.
Making a Difference, Inside and Out
What happened next was unexpected. Since we kicked off discussions around this project, I've already seen a great evolution in our team (and in myself) in just a few short weeks. I've started finding myself questioning my purchases and being more mindful of the things I take for granted—things that could transform another person's day. And it's caused me to reflect and be more mindful of how lucky we are on a daily basis.
We don't usually think of $50 as a life-altering amount of money. But for some folks it is. At least for a day. Maybe much longer! Some of the items for which we've received requests include basic day-to-day needs — razors, toothbrushes, food — things many of us don't think twice about when we go to make a purchase. Just knowing that these small gestures can lend a helping hand is all the motivation we need.
As far as our team, I couldn't feel more proud (and lucky to know them!). Their positive energy, ideas, and excitement for the project has given me great respect for them as humans, as teammates, and as leaders. In just a few weeks, we've all noticed an increase in camaraderie and a new fire to spark joy in others. I hope other business owners can find the same excitement in their team, because as much as we plan to give, we've been just as inspired by others' stories of hope.
So, I ask you the one question I asked our team in December 2019:
While we launch this project, I can't help but think, "What if one day we would be able to give $50 every day instead of every week?" It's definitely something to aim for as we start the journey!
If you would like to send us any ideas about how we can put our weekly $50 to good use, or if you want to learn more about how you and yours can help, then please get in touch with us. We would love to hear from you!
We're excited to share our April 50x52 organizations and thank them for their ongoing dedication to...
3 Lessons HubSpot Integration Partners Have Learned From Their Customers Exploring the Best HubSpot Features, According to Their Partners


You'd think there would be shelves upon Magma bookshelves filled with 'How to run a design studio', but until recently it was a topic without a single printed sheet devoted to our most humble of spaces.
When you start out as a graphic designer you immediately hope and believe that one day, just maybe if you get the right experience and luck you'll have your own studio. But when that time comes around, how do you run it? What makes it successful? What would motivate your team to stay inspired?
It's a bizarre omission as the studio is a designers natural habitat. Without a studio we'd all be bedroom based and lacking inspiration from others.
To answer these questions and fill that gap on the shelf Tony Brook, founder of consultancy Spin, and Adrian Shaughnessy, co-founder of design group Intro have independently set up Unit Edition, a publishing venture set up 'by designers for designers'. Their first book launch is to be Studio Culture: The Secret Life of the Graphic Design Studio.
The poster produced by the hugely talented Michael C. Place/Build for the latest documentary project by Gary Hustwit is now available in limited quantities as a letterpress print in metallic black and silver. It looks amazing, buy it here.
I'm proud to announce my new submission series!
Send me your interpretations of 'One Plain, One Fancy' and it will published on the site along with your personal website details. See below for details.
Some great work from the Brooklyn-based designer for Zune, New Era and Nike amongst others.
Most designers have a special relationship with music packaging and design. Many of us entered the creative industry as a direct result of our first encounters with 7" and 12" sleeves, hand drawn TDK mixtape covers, CD inlays and club flyers.


text:
Grateful Ostomate
Rolf's Story
Join the GO Family
Sam's Story
BLESSED is the one word I would use to describe my ostomy journey.
The theme song for my journey would be "I'm Still Standing"
Briefly share  your  illness journey, what was the diagnosis, how long were you ill, and was the decision to have ostomy surgery yours or was there an emergency operation.
I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 17 and struggled with colitis for 14 years in and out of remissions. I had a hemorrhage while driving to work on December 21, 1979 and came close to bleeding out.
What was your biggest fear?
That I would die and not be there for my kids.
Was there something you  were  worried  you would not be able to do after your  ostomy  surgery?
I feared I would not be able to go back to work and continue to develop a career. I was on a development pathway and the company was not supportive of people who had handicaps.
Did those fears become a reality or were you surprised you could actually do what you were worried you couldn't?
Actually, it was a day-by-day journey that took a couple of years. I was promoted five years after my surgery and finally regained my status as a top sales leader.
How has your ostomy changed you?
For years I felt isolated and unable to communicate my fears and any aspect of my story. It made me a closed off loner. Every time I shared my story, it led to an unfortunate outcome.
Now, through counseling and learning to accept my life experiences, I am able to tell the story and be proud of accomplishments and struggles.
What helped you most during your recovery?
My surgeon challenged me to become a runner. He encouraged me to run in a 10-mile race five months after surgery. I got hooked on working out. Now, 40 years later the gym provides me with steady feedback that I can do it.
Did something help prepare you for your operation?  If so, what was it?
No, I was terrified before my surgery and was afraid a prediction made by a callous GI physician that I would never reach the age of 40 was going to come true.
What do you wish someone had told you before your ostomy  operation?
That I would make it.
Was there a specific WOC  Nurse  or a doctor who helped you that you'd like to thank?  (Name/hospital, city, state)
Dr. Rene Menguy my surgeon. He saved my life and then challenged me physically to rebuild myself and stop feeling sorry for myself. He gave my first jump rope and running shoes. He died on 4/7/19 at 93 years of age.
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