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Cars » Auto News
Toyota Pushes Zero-emission Goals by Converting Old Models
by Yuri Kageyama
Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Executive Akio Toyoda delivers a speech on the stage at the Tokyo Auto Salon, an industry event similar to the world's auto shows Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, in Chiba near Tokyo (Source:AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
To accelerate the global move toward sustainable vehicles, Toyota is suggesting simply replacing the inner workings of vehicles already on the roads with cleaner technology like fuel cells and electric motors.
"I don't want to leave any car lover behind," Chief Executive Akio Toyoda said Friday, appearing on the stage at the Tokyo Auto Salon, an industry event similar to the world's auto shows.
The message was clear: Toyota Motor Corp. wants the world to know it hasn't fallen behind in electric vehicles, as some detractors have implied.
Japan's top automaker, behind the Lexus luxury brands and the Prius hybrid, is highlighting its clout: It has all the technology, engineering, financial reserves and industry experience needed to remain a powerful competitor in green vehicles.
Toyoda told reporters it would take a long time for all the cars to become zero emission, as they only make up a fraction of the vehicles being sold. Changing old cars to go green, or "conversion," was a better option, he said.
Toyoda, the grandson of the company founder and an avid racer himself, was also hoping to debunk the stereotype that clean cars aren't as fun as regular cars.
At Toyota's Gazoo Racing booth, the maker of the Lexus luxury models and Camry sedan showed video of its triumph at world rallies, as well as the battery-electric and hydrogen-powered versions of the Toyota AE86 series including the Toyota Corolla Levin, to underline what Toyoda called its "conversion" strategy.
The auto industry is undergoing a transformation because of growing concerns about climate change. Automakers are often blamed as the culprits.
Toyoda said ecological efforts in the auto industry were starting to be appreciated in many nations, but he felt less appreciated in Japan.
Toyota has dominated the industry with its hybrid technology, exemplified in the Prius, which has both an electric motor and gasoline engine, switching back and forth to deliver the most efficient ride. That has often been seen as reflecting its reluctance to go totally electric.
Battery electric vehicles make up about 20% of the auto market, despite the hullabaloo about relative newcomers like Tesla and even Dyson. Europe remains ahead of the U.S. and Japan in the move toward electric.
And so is it unfair to categorize the Japanese automakers as green laggards?
For one, the scarcity of certain components like lithium could drive up the prices of EVs, and consumers may stick with hybrids, says Matthias Schmidt, chief auto analyst at Schmidt Automotive Research.
"If this was 2025, and you asked that same question, I would say the Japanese OEMs have missed the boat. But seeing it's 2023, and the likes of Toyota are beginning their BEV roll-out, their timing is likely bang on schedule," he said.
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» Singapore partners Microsoft to explore "Conversations as a Platform"
Singapore is partnering with Microsoft on its "Conversations as a Platform" to explore opportunities in co-creating next-generation digital government services for a Smart Nation.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister-In-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative said, "I believe there are more intuitive ways for government services to be delivered to our citizens. Everybody expects responsive and personalised interactions in real time. The recent quantum improvement of natural language processing means that 'conversations' will be the new medium," he said at this year's World Cities Summit "Innovative Solutions for a Smart City" conference track.
The Government, Dr Balakrishnan said, will explore the use of intelligent software programs known as chatbots for selected public services where appropriate. These chatbots will function as digital representatives, simulating human behaviour in order to make interactions simpler, more efficient, and more consistent.
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) will explore with Microsoft on a new computing proof-of-concept (POC) that builds conversational intelligence into public services to make them more anticipatory, accessible, engaging and inclusive for citizens and constituents.
According to IDA, essentially, computing systems, their apps and services, are infused with intelligence and context that shows up in the form of a bot to enable productive human to machine interaction within a single conversation, whether spoken or text, rather than needing individuals to navigate through a sea of icons to find and use multiple applications or look through pages and pages of websites to accomplish tasks.
The POC, which will be implemented in three phases, will involve intelligent chatbots, where users are able to converse with and call upon any applications within a single website to complete tasks, IDA said. It will also explore potential future scenarios, including services that cater to a multi-lingual and multi-generational population.
IDA said Phase One will see chatbots drawing from a vast database to answer simple factual questions from users of selected public services.
In Phase Two, chatbots will expand their capability to help users complete simple tasks and transactions within government websites. Following this, Phase Three will see chatbots responding to personalised queries from users, further enhancing user engagement by providing an interactive conversational experience, according to IDA.
"As everything around us becomes more digitised, Conversations as a Platform is a new shift that applies the understanding of human language to computers and computing, which can transform every industry," said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft.


Chicken Dog's Friend – Darren!
Six-time Ironman, Darren Peterson received a BS in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin after interrupting his college studies for two years to join the Royal Lichtenstein Circus where he was the main juggler and unicyclist. After graduation, Darren taught High School math for three years and worked as an editor of math text books for four years. While editing math books, Chicken Dog began winning Disc Dog competitions and Darren combined her tricks with his circus skills and became so popular that he no longer had time to edit math books. Chicken Dog is very happy about this as now Darren has more time to play with her.


Hi PR&P readers, I´m María from la Inglesita all the way from Spain.
I had the pleasure to be on Season 6 and though it was challenging, I would go for it again a million times (or maybe just one more time, ehem). There was a before and a after PR&P, and for the better!!.
When I was invited to Flashback May I picked one of my favourite themes: DETAILS. I like taking my time pressing and finishing seams and I love hand stitching. Unfortunately I usually don´t have the time to do it, and certainly I didn´t during PR&P, but today I have something to which I dedicated extra care and time to. It´s an outfit for a special baby to celebrate that she was born, because we didn´t think she would make it. She did in the end.
She will continue to be special, as she sees the world through her hands mostly. What this baby touches is extra important for her, so I chose the softest of fabrics, Liberty lawn, enclosed all seams that could be in touch with her delicate skin and hand stitch hems. As I was sewing I was thinking that she would be feeling each stitch or knot in the thread.
She´s been born to a family of talented ladies that can knit, sew, embroider and all the arts, so I´m giving them the softest cotton yarn to keep grandmum busy knitting her a special, very special cardigan.
What a special and beautiful outfit.
Maria es una maravilla, que delicadeza! I knew your blog because of the run and play project, i follow your sewing since that momento. Un gran beso desde Andalucia.
That is such a beautiful outfit for such a special girl. The yarn is the cherry on the cake.
Such a lovely outfit and such a lovely story, María! Lots of love from Barcelona.


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Anna Pappas Gallery
Justin Cooper - Virtual Voyager
Twice finalist in the Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Justin Cooper is a unique emerging artist whose first solo exhibition at Anna Pappas Gallery features a suite of multi-layered drawings with a twist; the artist created each drawing, after playing a different video game for 42 hours straight.
Art Exhibition previously on at Anna Pappas Gallery in Prahran precinct, Victoria, Australia.
From Thursday 17 November 2011 to Thursday 22 December 2011
Launch Wednesday 16 November 2011, 6pm
Published by anonymous on Tuesday 08 November 2011.
Without sleep, with barely any food, only stopping briefly to urinate in a milk bottle, the artist forced himself into a hyper-intense situation before responding to the individual experience through making an artwork. Tellingly, the drawings are painstakingly detailed, frenetic and techno-coloured, reflecting the particulars of each gaming session but also the artist's self-induced hallucinatory state. As written by the artist: "The games began to overshadow my thoughts of the real world, mental images and dreams. Playing for such a prolonged amount of time, I found myself thinking about ways different shapes in the real world can fit together to create an imagined world." Part endurance performance, part science experiment, Virtual Voyager is a conceptually rich and exquisitely executed investigation into the parameters of reality. A game by nature offers pleasure but has proven ironically to have the potential to cause pain, such as seen in the case of the 28 year old South Korean man who died after playing online computer games for 50 hours. In his works we are also reminded that although the dream world presents us with beauty that we may be deprived of in reality, it is still only a product of the mind where darker things also reside.
About Justin Cooper
Justin Cooper is a Sydney based artist who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours, First Class Awarded) from the National Art School. He was recently awarded the Waverley Art Prize (World of Tomorrow Prize) and was a finalist in the Doug Moran Portrait Prize in 2011 as well as runner up in 2010. In the same year he was a finalist in the Mosman Art Prize, the Jacaranda Drawing Prize, and Calleen Acquisition Award. In 2009 he was awarded Winner of the Waverly Art Prize (Best Drawing) and R&M McGivern Prize (Best Watercolour). Recent solo exhibitions include The Avid Spectator- Amused, at Iain Dawson Gallery, Sydney and Acts of Science-Part 2 at Firstdraft Gallery, Sydney, 2010. Cooper has completed residencies at the International Cite Des Arts, Paris and Jam Projects, Los Angeles. Virtual Voyager is his first solo exhibition at Anna Pappas Gallery.
Opening night RSVP – 10 November info@annapappasgallery.com
http://www.annapappasgallery.com
Justin Cooper Anna Pappas Gallery

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Doherty caps illustrious career, retires as NRN group publisher
Paul Frumkin | Feb 02, 2009
NEW YORK —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Doherty, who in 1988 joined the business-to-business communications company as publisher of NRN, helped guide the weekly news magazine to become the leading publication in the foodservice industry. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
J. Roger Friedman, president of the New York-based firm, said Doherty's "contributions to the leading journal in foodservice are many." —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"He revitalized our annual MUFSO meeting, developed a strong marketing department and expanded the Nation's Restaurant News brand into new areas, including seminars, meetings and, most importantly, online," Friedman said. "Jim put Nation's Restaurant News on the map. His industry contacts are legendary. His contributions and involvement with the Culinary Institute of America, DiRoNA and the American Academy of Chefs were many. His friends are involved in every segment of the foodservice industry." —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Doherty subsequently was named executive vice president and group publisher at Lebhar-Friedman. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Prior to joining NRN, Doherty amassed a wide range of experience in the foodservice and hospitality businesses. He held several executive positions, including president and chief executive of Acapulco Restaurants from 1979 to 1986. Prior to that he was president and chief executive of A&W International and vice president of marketing and development for Red Lobster Inns. He launched his career in 1962 at General Mills Inc., where he was marketing manager and corporate ventures manager, and where he assisted in the 1969 acquisition of the then-seven-unit Red Lobster chain. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Doherty also is the co-owner of The Original Pantry Café, a Los Angeles landmark. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Ted Fowler, president and chief executive of Golden Corral Corp., the family-dining chain based in Raleigh, N.C., said Doherty was particularly suited to lead Nation's Restaurant News. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"He has a great bandwidth of knowledge," Fowler said. "He was educated in management and held positions as an operator, a marketer and an owner. He's well-traveled, keeps up with the trends and knows all the players. He loves this industry. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"When you think of Jim, the word that comes to mind is unique. Over the years we have become very good friends, and it will be hard for me to go meetings and not see Jim there." —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Doherty graduated from the University of Denver, which he attended on an American Hotel and Motel Association four-year scholarship. In 2002 a group of the school's alumni and friends established the James C. Doherty Scholarship Endowment at the university. The endowment is expected to provide at least $5,000 per year to a junior or senior enrolled in the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management in the Daniels College of Business. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
While at school in Denver he met and befriended John Farquharson, the retired president of Aramark Food Service and current president of the International Food Safety Council, a division of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"Jim Doherty is a great guy and a wonderful asset to our foodservice industry," Farquharson said. "He's a hunter, a fisherman, a writer of novels and, most important to me, my friend. We talk several times a week and upon occasion have a drink together. We have a lot in common…and this has culminated in a unique and great friendship." —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Ted Balestreri, president and chief executive of The Sardine Factory in Monterey, Calif., called Doherty "a great supporter of the foodservice industry and one of my good friends." —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"He has a love for the hospitality industry and a passion for it," Balestreri said. "Nation's Restaurant News will miss him. The hospitality industry will miss him. But I know he won't be a stranger." —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
While at NRN and Lebhar-Friedman, Doherty lent his support to many outside organizations and causes. He is past chairman of the board of Children's Institute International and is a member of the National Restaurant Association's International Relations Taskforce. He also sits on the board of trustees of The Culinary Institute of America and is on the board of directors of The American Academy of Chefs/American Culinary Federation and Citymeals-on-Wheels USA. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"I met Jim Doherty several decades ago, and I've had the great fortune to spend time with him in all kinds of settings," said Dr. Timothy Ryan, CIA president. "In recent years I have worked with him closely in his capacity as a trustee of The Culinary Institute of America. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"Jim is impressive on many levels. He's smart, funny and genuine. He's been a tremendously influential innovator, power broker and sage. He is a legendary industry figure and a star in his own right, but the thing that has always impressed me the most about Jim is that no matter how stressed, busy or tired he might be, he treats everyone with the kind of courtesy, kindness and charm that is becoming increasingly rare these sharp-elbowed days." —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Doherty has been inducted into the Les Amis d'Escoffier Society and Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. DiRoNA named him to its Hall of Fame in 1994. He is a recipient of the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association 1995 Sparkplug Award. In 2003 the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation named him a Diplomate. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
While at NRN, Doherty, who served for a year as editor-in-chief and publisher, also helped shape the publication's editorial direction. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"When Jim Doherty came to NRN, he already was an experienced businessman, restaurateur and entrepreneur," said NRN editor Ellen Koteff. "Not content to simply fall back on that experience, he set about to immerse himself in the publishing business, eventually becoming a great publisher and savvy media executive. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"The many years that Jim spent here helped cement his already strong affinity for great journalism. His appreciation and inspiration continues to help our team of editors to never be satisfied with anything but our best effort." —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Tom Larranaga, the publisher of Nation's Restaurant News, agreed, saying: "I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to work with Jim for the past three years—my only regret is that it wasn't for longer. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"Jim speaks often of honesty and integrity in business. These aren't hollow words, but guiding principles for Jim. He is a terrific leader who set high standards and demanded results, but never lost his compassion for people or his sense of humor." —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
While Doherty will no longer be involved in the daily operations of Lebhar-Friedman, he will serve as chairman of MUFSO 2009, which is marking its 50th anniversary this year. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
"Jim is a unique individual who combines an understanding of human nature with the realistic approach to business," Friedman said. "I will miss the day-to-day contact with him, but am pleased he will be working as a consultant for Lebhar-Friedman." —After spending more than 20 years at Nation's Restaurant News' parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
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It doesn't matter who you choose to express your love to on Valentine's Day, whether it's your significant other, kids, parents, or even yourself, CTBest has found that Stamford, Norwalk and Branford are all packed with activities to help celebrate the holiday. With Valentine's Day just a few short days away, time is running out to make reservations for that special event you had in mind. If you're looking to stay close to home, here are a few ideas within the areas of our complexes.
Valentine's Day is right around the corner and what better way to treat your loved one than by indulging in Stamford's finest restaurants? Stamford, Connecticut is a city that offers a wide range of enjoyable sites and attractions, including a number of delicious dining options.
1. Café Silvium: With only a few decimal points short of a perfect 5-star rating on Trip Advisor, this restaurant offers authentic and affordable Italian food right in the heart of Stamford. Reservations for all parties are taken Monday through Thursday and reservations for parties of five or more are taken Friday and Saturday.
2. Olio: This Spanish-inspired restaurant offers a casual atmosphere and delectable cuisine options for brunch, lunch and dinner options.
Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and securing restaurant reservations far in advance of this holiday saves the stress of waiting in endless lines at your favorite eateries, but conjuring up unique date ideas can sometimes get tricky. What if there was a way to avoid leaving your house and still keep the spark of love and creativity alive in your relationship? Treating yourself and your significant other to a fancy dinner and a movie is a classic rite of passage, but the culture of simplicity is transforming the coveted night out into a night in.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner and love is in the air! You can set the mood for your special someone by lighting candles and wearing your best outfit, but you can't have the total package without decking out your home to match the atmosphere. Decorating apartments is often a difficult task because of restrictions put in place about how you may or may not be able to customize the area, but you can still bring the joy of the season of love into your apartment without compromising your lease.
This one is simple and anyone is sure to love it, both young and old. It's a different take on the traditional picture exchange gift, but rather than printing out a picture and placing it in a frame, use a framed mirror to create this piece and watch the faces of your loved ones light up as they look at themselves and appreciate the unique keepsake. You can even include a positive message on the mirror as a loving gesture.


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7 Castles Fit For a King
Castles conjure up a time steeped in historical significance and atmosphere, an age of impenetrable moats and stone walls, fearless knights and beautiful princesses, battles fought and won. It's hard not imagine what it must have been like to be King of one of these incredible fortresses, surveying your domain from the top of those high walls. We've put together a list of castles in the UK and Ireland, from the scenic to the extraordinary, that truly are the stuff of fairytales.
The Tower of London
Construction began on this spooky fortress in 1078. Perching eerily on the North bank of the River Thames, the world-renowned tower has had many guises over the years - royal residence, armoury, treasury, menagerie, public records office and, most notoriously, prison. Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury, Anne Boyeln, William Wallace, Thomas More, Lady Jane Grey, Guy Fawkes and Rudolph Hess were all held captive here. The prison was actually still in use as recently as 1952 when it housed infamous gangster twins the Krays. The Tower is also home to the Crown Jewels of London. Last year award-winning theatre designer Tom Piper's incredible poppy display at the Tower, designed to commemorate the centenary of World War 1, made headlines around the world.
Jurys Inn London, Croydon offers cheap hotel rooms in an ideal location only 40 minutes by train from the Tower of London.
Tower of London by Bob Collowan/Creative Commons (Image and image size have been modified)
It's not difficult to understand why tourists flock to Edinburgh's crowning glory, which looms imposingly atop the city skyline. Sitting on an extinct volcano, it has had a tumultuous history, besieged and captured over the years by Edward I, Robert the Bruce and Oliver Cromwell. Highlights of a visit include the 881-year-old St Margaret's Chapel (Edinburgh oldest building), the 16th-century Great Hall, the Scottish crown jewels, and Mons Meg, a giant medieval siege weapon. The castle has sheltered many Scottish monarchs within its walls including Queen Margaret, who died there in 1093, and Mary Queen of Scots, who gave birth to James VI in the Royal Palace in 1566. Every August the castle esplanade plays host to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International military bands. Performers from over 46 countries have taken part, and around 30% of the 220,000-strong audience each year are tourists.
Jurys Inn Edinburgh is a short 11 minute stroll from the castle.
Edinburgh Castle by Kim Traynor/Creative Commons (image and image size have been modified)
Alnwick is the UK's second-largest inhabited castle after Windsor Castle, home to the Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since the 14th century and has a fascinating history. It was famously held by Lancastrian forces during the Wars of the Roses, and is a place of pilgrimage for Harry Potter fans, having cropped up many times in the popular film series. Hosting a medieval crafts and dress-up event, Broomstick training, Jesting, Minstrel and Medieval Alchemy displays and performances makes it a great choice for a family day-out. The castle recently featured in the Downton Abbey Christmas special, as well as in Becket, Black Adder, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. It often ranks highly in Top 10 landmark lists and currently welcomes 800,000 visitors a year.
Alnwick Castle is a 45 minute drive from Jurys Inn Newcastle.
Alnwick Castle by Phil Thomas Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0 (image and image size have been modified)
Craigievar Castle
Nestled in the foothills of the Grampian Mountains, visiting this picturesque Scottish castle, complete with dusty pink turrets and gargoyles, is like taking a step back in time. Completed in 1626, Graigievar Castle is a highly-regarded example of Scottish Baronial architecture and is home to a treasure-trove of priceless artwork and furniture carefully preserved by the Forbes family who resided here for 350 years. The 200 acre surrounding woodlands and countryside make it the perfect antidote to busy city life, and a nice option for a day-trip or ramble around at the weekend.
Craigievar Castle is a 1 hour drive from Jurys Inn Aberdeen.
Craigievar Castle by Ikiwaner/Creative Commons (image and image size have been modified)
The Rock of Cashel
Just on the outskirts of the town of Cashel, Co Tipperary, Ireland lies the towering Rock of Cashel. According to local mythology the castle actually originated 20 miles away in the Devil's Bit Mountain where St Patrick banished Satan from a cave. St Patrick later converted the king of Munster to Christianity here, who then donated the fortress to the church. It was the former seat of the king of Munster prior to the Norman invasion and houses a stunning collection of Celtic art and medieval architecture. Must-see features include Scully's High Cross, built in 1867, and a beautifully preserved round-tower with an entrance 12 feet from the ground.
The Rock of Cashel is a 1 hour drive from Jurys Inn Cork.
Rock of Cashel by RX-Guru/Creative Commons (image and image size have been modified)
This 18th century city-centre castle has played a central role in the Irish capital's history. Up until 1922 it was the seat of British rule in Ireland before being handed back to the state. First built as a defensive fort, the castle assumed the role of the Four Courts for a period of time due to damage inflicted on the building during the Irish Civil War. The Castle has been the site of choice for the every presidential inauguration since Douglas Hyde was sworn-in in 1938. Its appeared in numerous films including Barry Lyndon, Michael Collins, Becoming Jane and The Medallion, as well as the pilot episode of The Tudors, where it doubles as the Vatican. A mere 3 minute walk from Jurys Inn Christchurch, the castle is also a cultural institution. Sample some Persian cuisine from the Silk Road Café, take in an art exhibition or performance, leaf through an old book in the Chester Beatty Library or simply throw a Frisbee around the grounds on a nice day. Dubliners can often be found enjoying lunch al fresco here during the summer months (weather permitting).
Dublin Castle is a 3 minute walk from Jurys Inn Dublin, Christchurch.
Dublin Castle by J.-H. Janßen/Creative Commons (image and image size have been modified)
Built in the 13th century Doune Castle acted as both a royal retreat for the Duke of Albany and a prison and garrison. Due to Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Glencairn's rising in the mid-17th century, and the Jacobite Risings of the late 17th century and 18th century, by 1800 the castle was in ruins, but has since been restored to its former glory. Monty Python and the Holy Grail was filmed on location here in 1974 and is perhaps its most long-standing legacy. The many castles featured throughout the film were either Doune Castle shot from different angles or hanging miniatures. The Castle has also portrayed Winterfell in the television Game of Thrones.
Doune Castle is a 45 minute drive from Jurys Inn Glasgow.
Doune Castle by Wikifan75 / Creative Commons(image and image size have been modified)
For more Must See Castles in Great Britain check out our previous blog post!
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The Onset of Disability (Part Two) | Operation Bridgewater
"If good does not accumulate, it is not enough to make a name for a man.
If evil does not accumulate, it is not enough to destroy a man.
Therefore the inferior man thinks,
"Goodness in small things has no value," and so neglects it.
He thinks, "Small sins do no harm," and so does not give them up.
Thus his sins accumulate until they can no longer be covered up,
and his guilt becomes so great, that it can no longer be wiped out."
"We're gonna dig up all of your dirt until we're at the bottom of you." - Mister Al
"According to the Social Security Administration, the onset of my disability came on April 15, 2004." - Alfred Wiggins Jr., a.k.a. Al Wiggins Jr., a.k.a. Mister Al.
The following dialogue is from:
The Deposition of Alfred Wiggins Jr.*,
transcribed by
Copley Court Reporting, Inc.
This interview features:
Q: Mr. Jim Cox, Esq., Attorney for the defendants.
A: Mister Al: The Plaintiff.
The Onset of Disability
A: There was nobody outside. I said, okay, okay. And he had me put my briefcase on the squad car. Now, at the time I did this, my angina started kicking in, and I remember getting scared here because I remember angina, and it's not good stuff. So I asked him if I could get a drink of water. I didn't tell him I was having angina, but I did ask for a drink of water. He said okay. And I told him the water was in my briefcase. He looked at me kind of strange. I said, "Look in it yourself, there's nothing in there but my homework and a bottle of water." He said, "Go ahead and open it up." I did, got the water, drained it. I put the empty back in my briefcase, then said, "Okay, go ahead."
So they put the cuffs on me, or they put whatever on me to restrain my hands, wrists and they began to search me. So the chief went in this pocket here in the jacket --
Q: Just so the record will be clear, you're showing us the interior pocket of your leather coat?
A: Yes, top left.
Q: With the zipper?
A: Got the wallet out, counted the money in front of me, which was very important. There was a little over a thousand dollars, child support money, all of it. And he put it back in front of me, no tricks. And he sniffed me. He said, "You been smoking something?" I said "I've been smoking [cigarettes]," and I had been [smoking against the advice of my primary care physician]. He said, "Are you sure?" I said "My car is in the parking lot, [and I gave him my license plate number for], Rhode Island. My keys are in my right jacket pocket, feel free to search." He said, "Okay, never mind."
And I'm not sure what happened after that, except that I got put in the car. And, oh yes, I was still having angina, but the chief was talking to [one of his men]. The sergeant was driving. And the sergeant, I had this belief, I have this belief from the Army, that usually the lowest ranking individual of the group is usually the stand-up guy.
So I said, "Look, can you tell me, where are you guys taking me?" He said, "Look, as far as I know, we're just taking you to the hospital, that's it. I said, "Okay, that's fine."
Q: Can I stop you there? I'm going to ask you more questions about the day, but let me back up a bit.
A: Sure.
Q: You said you had called the chief in the past?
A: Oh, yes.
Q: What had you called him about?
A: I called him about some very disturbing things I had seen on campus.
Q: What were they?
A: I had seen women walking around [in] broad daylight with black eyes. It's just the way I grew up...I was taught that if you see elderly people, children, or women, or any combination of those three, walking around in fear in broad daylight, there's something wrong in your community.
Q: How many women had you seen walking around with black eyes?
A: At least two, in one instance, consecutively.
Q: Had there been anything else that prompted you to call Chief Tillinghast?
Q: How many times had you called the chief?
A: Never before that. Oh, I called him once and left a message.
Q: And then you said as you walked downstairs from the third floor of the library, you talked to him about a number of things.
A: Um-hmm.
Q: What were the things about which you spoke to the chief?
A: I told him I believed he had a problem on his hands, that he had a problem -- where I come from, we call it a problem with manhood. If you have males who believe they can circumvent the rights of a woman, or of women, by just slapping them around, beating them up to make themselves feel better, law enforcement has a problem. It's not about a psychiatrist or social worker; that's after the fact. Those are crimes. The first person you go to is a police officer.
A: What else did you talk to the chief about as you left the library and went out to the cruiser?
Q: Besides asking him if I was being charged with a crime, nothing.
End of Part Two
*Edited by Alfred Wiggins Jr.
Alfred Wiggins Jr v. Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA | Original Complaint.pdf
Music to code by.
at Friday, October 30, 2020
Labels: Alfred Wiggins Jr, Bridgewater State College, campus crime, deposition, false imprisonment, medical fraud, medical kidnap, Mister Al, Operation Bridgewater, religious bigotry
Location: Bridgewater, MA 02324, USA
The Onset of Disability (Part Two) | Operation Bri...


Corinne Mariaud, 50, is a French photographer based in Singapore. She has an exhibition, I Try So Hard, that runs till June 25 at Alliance Francaise de Singapour's Societe Generale Gallery.
It features images from her photographic series, I Try So Hard, Trophies And Climax, and reflects the image of women in society and the stereotypes of femininity and masculinity. Admission is free.
I just finished reading Memoire de Fille by Annie Ernaux. I love this author because of her sharp and uncompromising writing and she writes mostly about herself.
Memoire de Fille tells of her first sexual experience when she was 18, in the summer of 1958, and its consequences on her life. It is the first time, at 76 years old and after so many books, that she confronts this event.
After reading this book, I mentally visited some of the places from my childhood, my house, room after room, trying to recall the smells and visual details. As a child, I often imagined myself as an adult and talked to my future self.
Reading her book, I realised that we put aside some events to avoid a confrontation with ourselves. Ernaux is so hard on herself - she does not want to let any part of her live in the shadows. I admire her for that.
I also recently finished reading Le Muscle du Silence, Rouja Lazarova's latest book. She narrates the stories of two survivors - a young female survivor of Bulgarian communism and an old psychoanalyst survivor of the death camps - whose lives intersect. I find it audacious and clever.
King Kong Theory by Virginie Despentes. I often reread it and I am amazed by the strength of this book. When reading her books, I wanted my work to involve the position of women in society. I agree with her views regarding women and can relate to her.
Another book is Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Her writing overwhelmed me - the text is very touching, very poetic.
The last is Martin Eden by Jack London. It is a story inspired by the author's life and narrates the formation and development of an artist and also the isolation he suffered.
These books question things that matter to me: creation, feminine identity, anger and difficulties in keeping things balanced.
The books have affected me deeply as they are mostly about the difficulties of being an artist or the challenges women face.
• Memoire de Fille by Annie Ernaux (2016, Gallimard, $30.37), Le Muscle du Silence by Rouja Lazarova (2016, Intervalles, $27.76), King Kong Theory by Virginie Despentes, translated by Stephanie Benson (2010, Feminist Press, $25.38), Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (2013, Harpercollins Publishers, $5.92), Martin Eden by Jack London (2015, Createspace Independent Pub, $11.92), are available at Books Kinokuniya.


text:
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