From the Z-file: Sindisuentha
Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 6:10 PM
The Aluvasein people sprawl across the lower half of the Talad region, across a wide variety of terrain, and with them are a wide scattering of customs which are long forgotten or much changed by their neighbors or their far more prominent ethnic relatives in Leandr. Half hidden by some broken marshes and treacherous barrow-mound riddled land, the province known as Blackshield spent generations apart, originally a settlement built around a keep for a war that ended ages past. But the people of Blackshield maintained their martial traditions for quite some time afterwards, being the sons and daughters of soldiers, and still having the hot Leandrite blood in them.
In more recent generations, many of the old customs have drifted away, and the once-strong regard for the landed families has grown sour. New, safe roads from the Aluvasein merchant lords opened Blackshield up, bringing with them new ideals and new prejudices against the “antiquated and often vicious” older customs.
Sindisuentha, born Lady Sindisuentha 'shtoyan Kazothmar, grew up in a society that barely recognized her nobility and had grown to regard her family with great suspicion and loathing. In past ages, the Kazothmar family had been the hereditary keeper of the shield for which the province was named, and had the once-vaunted and much dreaded honor to be the commanders of a large force of undead soldiers. These soldiers were originally regarded as the last of the last resorts to defend Blackshield. Over the years, the Army of the Broken Shield was used less as a defense and more to resolve border disputes or blood debts in symbolic combat; two members of the Kazothmar family would split the force, representing the two sides in a conflict, and send the already-dead troops to battle against each other. This ritual warfare also became an annual event, in a battle recreating the glory of past days when Blackshield province was still a place of war. The Kazothmar family became historians and morticians, antiquarians whose duty was to keep the burial grounds safe and occasionally assist in disputes of heredity or heraldry. But within the family, the old Kazothmar obligations were always taken seriously, and heirs of the line all the way to Sindisuentha were taught to be generals and warriors. Those who showed the proper sign, the unusually cold presence that was indicative of power over the dead, would be given the arcane training so that they could raise the Army of the Broken Shield.
Unfortunately, prejudice against any form of necromancy began to strangle the Kazothmar reputation three generations before Sindisuentha. By the time she was a young woman, the house was all but broken. Rumors of foul practices in the family made her a pariah, and though no one would call it anything but an accident, she was certain that the arrow that killed her father had been intended for him. Though she endured the continuing slanders, wearing her bloodline like armor, this only infuriated the people of Blackshield. They called her a proud monster, among other things, and eventually, they brought an ultimatum to her and the remains of her family: be banished and forfeit all lands and wealth, or be burned as a corpse-eater.
Sindisuentha's mother and uncle both died in the ensuing siege on the modest Kazothmar manor. She and her three siblings escaped, running off into the marshes to hide, and it was there that she raised the remainder of the Army of the Broken Shield, bringing it back to wage a guerrilla war against the rest of Blackshield, which was now bolstered by Aluvasein caravaner guards and mercenaries. Acquitting herself very well for her age and experience, particularly in her knowledge of local terrain and use of ambushes, things would not have gone well for her except that Tirilan and some of his allies arrived on a back road into Blackshield. He'd come looking for the lore of the Kazothmar family, and with his assistance, Sindisuentha salvaged what was left of her family inheritance. Sacrificing most of her undead soldiers to make the people of Blackshield content that she was defeated and gone, she and her siblings went with Tirilan, heading southward. She is the head of the Kazothmar family, now, and she intends to eventually return to Blackshield and take back what is hers... eventually.
Still a young woman, Sindisuentha had to grow up very fast. She's killed, and she will likely kill again; at this point, she regards it as a natural part of being a Kazothmar. Her pride in her family line is considerable, and she adheres to the family codes of honor fastidiously, which is one reason Tirilan is happy to have her as an ally. Likewise, she admires and idolizes Tirilan, and she's been caught up in his vision of the Black Sun. This is particularly true after her discovery of references to the Black Sun as part of her own heraldry (the Kazothmar's very first coat of arms, from nearly a thousand years ago, was a black sun on a purple field, which is why Tirilan originally went to Blackshield).
Sindisuentha has grand ambitions. She has been released from a very dusty corner in her life, and through this liberation has decided that all dreams are possible. She is a voracious learner, highly competitive and firmly believes that the harder she tries, the more she will achieve. Also believing that being in Tirilan's army fulfills the destiny of her family line, she is firmly set in her loyalties. This is combined with her need to behave with honor and aplomb. She strives to always act with restraint, decorum and dignity.
Though a hard-eyed general on the battlefield, Sindisuentha loves indulging her refined tastes. She sees no reason why a woman of her standing should not enjoy creature comforts if not actively on campaign... and sometimes, why not on campaign? Likewise, her undead soldiers are clean, wearing well-polished armor and even have dress uniforms. She very much enjoys Tirilan's penchant for holding courtly events, and makes a great effort to look as good as she possibly can when meeting others.
Sindisuentha's view of the world is through a rather romantic lens, where she is becoming a legend, and subconsciously, she expects things to progress as a story would. Her honor and her family line are matters of foremost importance, and she thinks the age of the Black Sun will bring the Kazothmar heritage into the glory it deserves. Her vision is that the Kazothmar will become rulers of a kingdom as well as protectors, and she believes that Tirilan is lighting the way.
She is not so naïve as to think that this sort of dream can be achieved cleanly.
Despite her shades of gray philosophy, Sindisuentha is troubled by some of Tirilan's other allies. She knows some of them follow Tirilan only for personal power, not for some greater purpose and certainly not through any real loyalty to him. She is confident in Tirilan's judgment, however, and believes implicitly in his decisions.
Of course, that his allies deal with undead doesn't bother her at all. What does bother her is the lack of people who could be close friends.
As written, Sindisuentha represents a very aggressive, eager part of Tirilan's following. Though she is a necromancer of sorts, she is not evil, and offers a very fresh, very alive sort of contrast to some of his others. Her competitive nature and honorable behavior are also a fine foundation for some wonderful interactions with heroes opposing Tirilan. She will, after all, accept an honorable surrender.


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1872 must be treated as a landmark in the annals of Higher Education not only in Bengal but also in India. The first private college run by the Indians, taught by the Indians and even financed by the Indians viz., the Metropolitan Institution got affiliated to the University of Calcutta, for the First Arts (F.A.). Aided by the zeal, aspiration and sacrifice, of Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, the College received affiliation of the University for Imparting Education up to Graduation level in 1879 and for B.L. course in 1882. The myth of the European monopoly of Higher Education was shattered and replaced by the academic system devised, by an Oriental Pundit, completely Indic in nature, characteristics and purposes. After demise of the illustrious Founder (born on 26th September, 1820) on 29th July, 1891, the College was renamed Vidyasagar College in the year 1917.
Being closely associated with the Calcutta Training School which came into being in the year 1859, succeeding the establishment of the University of Calcutta in 1857, the year marked for great upheaval and turmoil, caused by the Sepoy Mutiny, spreading mostly in the northern parts of lndia rapidly, and indentified as taking the shape of first freedom movement against the British regime.
Pundit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, the renowned educationist and social reformer and who had been the Secretary (from 5th January, to 31st January; 1851) and Principal ( 1851 to 1858) of Sanskrit College, was busy to give a new shape and dimension to the school, the management of which was by this time solely assumed by thunder-spirited Vidyasagar, that took a rebirth in the year 1864 as Metropolitan Institution, a unique creation of Vidyasagar himself.
The History of genesis of Vidyasagar College i.e., the year of establishment could have been counted from an earlier period, if the application made by Vidyasagar, for affiliation to F.A. course by the University; had not been turned down by the Syndicate, C. U. in its meeting dated 03.05.1864. It is mentioned in the article written by Sri Sureshprasad Nyogi in the Vidyasagar College Centenary Commemoration Volume that it was learnt afterwards that Mr. J. Sutcliffe, (Esq., M.A.-C. U. Documents), the then Principal, Presidency College ( 1864- 1875-C. U. Documents) objected to this application for affiliation on the ground that if a competitive college run by the Indians got affiliated, the dignity and importance of Presidency College could have been on the wane. But the brilliant performance of the students of his school in the year 1871, in the Entrance Examination, conducted by the University of Calcutta, inspired Vidyasagar to venture for exerting renewed efforts for getting affiliation of the University. The D.P.I. Atkinson promised that he would not create any barrier in getting affiliation; however, he had got some reservation against courses proposed to be conducted by the College. J. Sutcliffe, this time also did not commit anything. Rather he raised various questions regarding the quality of the teachers to be appointed, their eligibilry and pay-scales.
But this time the Vice-Chancellor, Edward Clive Bail), who was one the previous acquaintances and of even age of Vidyasagar, was approached by the Founder and requested to act in favour of his prayer. Baily favoured this time despite some opposition, the application of Vidyasagar. On 27th January, 1871 the Syndicate in its meeting recommended after sanctioning the prayer for affiliation, to the Government and on 19th February, 1871 the Government of India sanctified affiliation of Vidyasagar College up to the standard of the First Examination in Arts (F.A.) "with effect from 1st ultimo."
The C. U. documents narrate that since "the death of Pundit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, (the management of the College had changed hands more than once and on the 1st September, 1896, it was under an agreement with the Vidyasagar Institute vested in a Committee called the College Council, composed mainly of Professors of the College. The College Council was in charge of the College till Governing body was formed and took over-the charge on 8th August, 1921." In the year 1917 Metropolitan Institution 'was rechristened as Vidyasagar College by the "Board of Trustees" of the College, after the demise of the founder. All the University documents state, "It (Vidyasagar College) was the first attempt to impart higher education to middle class Hindu at small cost through a purely indigenous agency."


The nation's first commercial classical radio station began in 1936 when W2XR owner and founder John Hogan joined with advertising executive Elliott Sanger to create the Interstate Broadcasting Company. The company's chief asset was W2XR. In December 1936, W2XR's call letters were changed to WQXR. The FM station signed on in 1939 and both were sold to The New York Times Company in 1944. The Times Company completed the sale of the AM station to Radio Disney in 2007. The sale of WQXR-FM to WNYC was approved by the FCC on September 8, 2009 in a multipart deal including Univision, which closed on October 8, 2009. On July 29, 2013 WQXR completed purchase of a repeater station located in Ossining, NY. The new station with call letters WQXW broadcasts WQXR to Westchester Country. To learn more about WQXR through the ages, see our Visual History Slideshow.


Explore Istanbul according to your own interests on a tailor-made sightseeing tour. A licensed guide will meet you in your hotel or port and take you to the sights that you want to see.
Marvel at the iconic tiles and minarets of the Blue Mosque, built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmet I.
Feast your eyes on the mosaics of the Hagia Sophia, and discover a stunning and seemless blend of Christian and Islamic influences.
Amble through the world’s largest (and oldest) covered market on a tour of the Grand Bazaar. See Basilica Cistern,underground water storage below ground.
Go to Topkapı Palace to see the last Imperial residence of the Ottoman sultans, and the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for 400 years.
Travel back further to the Byzantine Empire, when the city was known as “Constantinople” at the Hippodrome and its 4 monuments; the Fountain Of Wilhelm II, the Obelisk Of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, and the Column Of Constantine.
Your guide will work with you to create an itinerary that suits, leaving you satisfied that you have seen all of Istanbul in a day.
What to Expect
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Explore the highlights of Istanbul on this private full-day walking tour that covers the major attractions, such as the Hagia Sophia Museum, the iconic Blue Mosque, the bustling maze of the Grand Bazaar, and the obelisk of the Hippodrome of Constantinople.
The 8-hour excursion starts with a pickup from your Istanbul hotel and a walk through the lively streets of Turkey’s largest city to visit the dramatic former basilica of the Hagia Sophia, a great architectural beauty and an important monument during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. For many centuries, this was the largest church in the world, and it still boasts the 4th largest dome after St. Paul’s in London, St. Peter’s in Rome, and the Duomo in Florence. Dedicated to the Hagia Sophia or ‘divine wisdom’, it is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture.
Move on to the Blue Mosque, more officially known as the “Sultanahmet” Mosque. The mosque’s striking blue tiles give it its more common name and make it one of Istanbul’s most iconic attractions. Located close to Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque was considered the Supreme Imperial Mosque in Istanbul.
Continue to Topkapi Palace, a relic of the glory days of the great Ottoman Empire. The former palace boasted a population of about 4,000 people at its peak and was home to 25 sultans over a period of 400 years. Located on a promontory overlooking the Golden Horn, it sits in tranquil gardens that provide shade from the blazing heat of the summer. Pop in to the museum to see the gorgeous Iznik tiles and the ornate stateroom of the harem, among other attractions.
You will also visit the Hippodrome, the former circus built in 203 AD by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. Three monuments from the original building remain, including the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Constantine Column. You will also pause to look at the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, made from 8 marble columns.
Your day won’t be complete, however, without a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With hundreds of small handcraft shops selling everything from handmade carpets to Turkish coffee, the atmosphere is electric, and it’s a great place to try out your bargaining skills.
The spice bazaar is located in Fatih. It’s known as the Egyptian Market because during the Ottoman period, Egyptian exports were sold there. The Bosphorus is a narrow, navigable strait between Europe and Asia that connects the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. Rumeli and Anadolu Fortresses are located at the narrowest point of Bosphorus. There are also magnificent Ottoman palaces and mosques along the Bosphorus. Keep an eye out for them.
Built in the 19th century, Dolmabahce Palace was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire and housed some of the last Ottoman Sultans. The palace site was created by filling in the small bay on the Bosphorus. This gave rise to its name — in Turkish, Dolma means ‘filled’ or ‘stuffed,’ and bahce means ‘garden’.
Istiklal Street is brimming with life. There, you’ll find a plethora of shops, restaurants, and bars. From there, it is then a 2-kilometer walk down to the Tunel Galata Tower area.
Register now! We will send you best offers for your trip.


This resolution is a repentence of the Methodist Church's historical involvement in the support of Eugenics in the early part of the 20th century. Within the resolution, the connection between Darwinian evolution and the Nazi program is considered. The full resolution is here: An Apology for Support of Eugenics
This is a quote from the resolution, explaining the history of the connection between Charles Darwin and the theory of Eugenics as it would come to be considered applicable to humans:
"Eugenics, the belief that certain “genetic” traits are good and others bad, is associated in the public mind mostly with the extreme eugenics policies of Adolf Hitler, which ultimately led to the Holocaust. The study of eugenics did not begin with Hitler or his German scientists, but rather was first promoted by Sir Francis Galton, in England. Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin, who expanded on Darwin’s theories and applied them to the human population. In an article entitled "Hereditary Character and Talent" (published in two parts in MacMillan's Magazine, vol. 11, November 1864 and April 1865, pp. 157-166, 318-327), Galton expressed his frustration that no one was breeding a better human: “If a twentieth part of the cost and pains were spent in measures for the improvement of the human race that is spent on the improvement of the breed of horses and cattle, what a galaxy of genius might we not create! We might introduce prophets and high priests of civilization into the world, as surely as we can propagate idiots by mating cretins. Men and women of the present day are, to those we might hope to bring into existence, what the pariah dogs of the streets of an Eastern town are to our own highly-bred varieties.” Galton in the same article described Africans and Native Americans in derogatory terms making it clear which racial group he thought was superior. Francis Galton, the founder of the Eugenics Society, spoke hopefully about persuading people with desirable genes to marry and have large families. Galton's successor at the helm of the Eugenics Society was Major Leonard Darwin (1850-1943), a son of Charles Darwin. Leonard Darwin, who ran the Eugenics Society until 1928, made the transition from positive to negative eugenics, and promoted plans for lowering the birthrate of the unfit."
"Methodist bishops endorsed one of the first books circulated to the US churches promoting eugenics. Unlike the battles over evolution and creationism, both conservative and progressive church leaders endorsed eugenics. The liberal Rev. Harry F. Ward, professor of Christian ethics and a founder of the Methodist Federation for Social Service, writing in Eugenics, the magazine of the American Eugenic Society, said that Christianity and Eugenics were compatible because both pursued the “challenge of removing the causes that produce the weak. Conservative Rev. Clarence True Wilson, the General Secretary of the Methodist Episcopal Board of Temperance, Prohibition and Public Morals, and the man chosen to debate Clarence Darrow after William Jennings Bryan’s death, believed that only the white Aryan race was the descendent of the lost tribes of Israel. Methodists were active on the planning committees of the Race Betterment Conferences held in 1914, and 1915. In the 1910s, Methodist Churches hosted forums in their churches to discuss eugenics. In the 1920s, many Methodist preachers submitted their eugenics sermons to contests hosted by the American Eugenics Society. By 1927, when the American Eugenics Society formed its Committee on the Cooperation with Clergymen, Bishop Francis McConnell, President of the Methodist Federation for Social Service served on the committee. In 1936, he would chair the roundtable discussion on Religion and Eugenics at the American Eugenics Society Meeting. The laity of the church also took up the cause of eugenics. In 1929, the Methodist Review published the sermon “Eugenics: A Lay Sermon” by George Huntington Donaldson. In the sermon, Donaldson argues, “the strongest and the best are selected for the task of propagating the likeness of God and carrying on his work of improving the race.”
"In 1933, Hitler’s Nazi government used Laughlin’s Model Law as the basis for their sterilization law that led to the sterilization of some 350,000 people. State sponsored Eugenics reached an abhorrent extreme in the Nazi extermination programs of the 1930s and 1940s. Initially directed at people with similar health or social problems as were targeted by the U.S. sterilization laws, these were eventually expanded to cover entire populations—Jews, Gypsies, Poles—judged by the Nazi regime to represent “worthless lives” (lebensunwerte Leben)."
In particular, the Nazis used Harry Laughlin's model, which "provided for the sterilization of 'feeble minded, insane, criminalistic, epileptic, diseased, blind, deaf, deformed, and dependent” including “orphans, ne’er do wells, tramps, homeless, and paupers.'” You can read all about Harry at the Pickler Memorial Library's online page at Truman State University.
"The United Methodist General Conference formally apologizes for Methodist leaders and Methodist bodies who in the past supported eugenics as sound science and sound theology. We lament the ways eugenics was used to justify the sterilization of persons deemed less worthy. We lament that Methodist support of eugenics policies was used to keep persons of different races from marrying and forming legally recognized families. We are especially grieved that the politics of eugenics led to the extermination of millions of people by the Nazi government and continues today as “ethnic cleansing” around the world."


Paris - Persepolis - Paris 2011
A successful repeat run of the legendary Citroen raid of 1971 organised by J.Wolgensinger.
The original raid was a thirty day endurance rally with approximately 400 raid prepared cars including 2CV's, Mehari's and Dyane's. They also had other press vehicles which mainly consisted of the Citroen DS. Of course in 1971 the roads were mainly dirt and in very poor condition. This raid was a real test for the 2CV and the competitors. Stories of serious accidents and unwelcome locals are very common. However a vast amount of the starters finished the raid and were welcomed enthusiastically in Iran by the ruins of Persepolis, to celebrate not only one of the first truly amazing endurance rally's across swathes of inhospitable terrain, but also the strength and capabilities of the 2CV.
So, on the 31st July 2011, exactly 40 years after the original start date, myself and James Whyte set off from the 2CV World Meeting in Salbris (not Paris but close enough!). We drove a 1982 Citroen 2CV6 Special bought for the princely sum of £500.
Amazingly in the searing heat and awesome mountainous passes we managed to complete the raid following the exact route of the original. The roads were easier due to being sealed with tarmac but this just hammered home how tough it would have been for the original drivers.
As far as we are aware no one has completed this raid since the original (of course I would love to hear from anyone who has). We were very lucky to be able to cross into Eastern Turkey and Iran at a time when some of the local political situations on the ground were a little tense. We managed to negotiate civil war, earthquakes, political sanctions, exiled diplomats, ramadan and overbearing heat.
Please look through the gallery below. I have also included a google map of the route and some kind of musical montage video will be finished soon..
View Paris Persepolis Paris 2011 in a larger map


On Tuesday 21st of September the German School London celebrated its 50th Birthday, having first opened its doors on the 21st of September 1971.
Es geht los! Erste Probe für das Musikprogramm zum Jubiläumsjahr.
Off to a great start! First rehearsal for the Anniversary year!
Learn about 50 Amazing Anglo Germans with this infographic created by pupils, parents and staff as part of the Deutsche Schule London's 50th Anniversary Celebrations.


Whangārei Terenga Parāoa was a well established and thriving Māori settlement by the time Captain Cook arrived in 1769. Many prominent hill and land features around the harbour and river valleys show some sign of having been part of a pā (fortified village), garden or food storage pit.
Whangārei Harbour was a waypoint for Māori tribes from the north travelling south by waka (canoe). Early missionary records show as many as 3000 Māori would camp on the shores of this bountiful harbour and organise their journeys. Legend has it that these great assemblies gave the harbour its true name – Whangārei Terenga Parāoa, meaning ‘the swimming place of the whales’, as whales gathered there to feed during summer. Parāoa are sperm whale, and are highly regarded by Māori. Symbolically the Parāoa represented persons of chiefly status. Often the chiefs of Ngāpuhi met in Whangārei to mobilise their war parties.
Parihaka was sculpted by early Māori inhabitants into a pā, or great fortress, and it was reputedly the largest in all New Zealand. More than 100 household terraces and 322 storage pits have been recorded. Battles were fought at Parihaka and after the people of the pā were overwhelmed by attacking forces in the battle of Ōparakau in 1827, a large section of the mountain was declared tapu (sacred). Parihaka takes its name from the haka, or war dance, of defiance performed from the steep slopes and cliffs, or pari, of the pā. A special carved kōhatu (rock) at the lookout summit represents the mauri (life essence) of the mountain, inspiring a sense of gravity and significance to the lookout.
As part of the Hātea Loop - Huarahi o te Whai, read the heritage panels telling the stories of both Māori (Te Tangata Whenua – the people of the land) and European settlement.
Kiwi North - Museum & Heritage Park
The Fraser Collection of Māori taonga at Kiwi North include important treasures to the Ngāti Awa and Ngāpuhi , the first peoples of Te Tai Tokerau/Northland. The Museum has a 200 year-old waka, a fine collection of korowai (cloaks) and beautiful bone, stone and wooden artefacts representative of early Māori technology. Also enjoy photographic collections chronicling early Māori life in Northland.
The Sculpture Trail
The Sculpture Trail, part of the Hātea Loop - Huarahi o te Whai, includes many contemporary and traditional works by local artists that tell the stories of, and reflect on the unique culture of Whangārei.
Whangārei Falls - Otuihau
Otuihau is a picturesque 26 metre high waterfall and picnic spot. Traditionally this area was a good fishing spot for local Māori. The pools at the base of the falls were an area of healing and used for washing the wounded.
Ten Carved Pou
Ten carved pou (carved poles) representing many of the cultures that enrich Whangārei can be seen at the entrance to the Whangārei Library. Five of the poles were carved by, and represent, Māori. In what is believed to be a world first, the rest have been carved or decorated by other cultural groups and one, the Generic Pou, represents all cultures.
Te Matau ā Pohe
The name, Te Matau ā Pohe, of this rolling bascule bridge means ‘The Fish Hook of Pohe’ and reflects the early history of the people of this area. The design is inspired by the shape of Māori fish hooks and the prows of waka (canoe). Pohe was the Māori chief who welcomed the first English settlers to Whangārei. He was skilled in manufacturing traditional fish hooks that settlers used in preference to the standard English hooks made of steel. Pohe also built bridges between the two cultures during the first years of English settlement amongst Māori, and used his ranking to protect many of the first settlers from being killed. See and walk across the bridge as part of the Hātea Loop - Huarahi o te Whai.


Posts Tagged london motor show
Posted by in Jaguar on June 23, 2011
The Jaguar XK120 was first revealed to the public at the London Motor Show in 1948, and it reinvented the world of sports cars by providing a car with elegant curves, a fantastic chassis, and a remarkable price. It became the fastest production car at the time of launch, and was rivalled only by the V12 Ferrari which was 4 times the price.
This proved to be an unbeatable combination, and became a milestone for Jaguar whilst reviving the motor industry with much fanfare after the war. Interestingly, the XK120 was only really designed as test bed with which to show off the XK engine, but with orders flooding in Jaguar wasted no time and put the car into full production. Several versions were eventually released, with the Roadster version being a hit amongst Hollywood stars like Clark Gable. It is still a design classic today, and in 1999 the car featured in the box office hit Cruel Intentions, driven by Ryan Phillippe & Reese Witherspoon.
The XK120 was the creation of Sir William Lyons, aka “Mr. Jaguar”, and was powered by the 3442cc power plant dubbed the XK engine, generating 160bhp, and the XK120 is so named as its top speed tipped 120mph. As expected it was a success on the track and was driven by some of motor sports biggest legends such as Stirling Moss and Ian Appleyard, and helped Jaguar win the Le Mans title on several occasions.
There are still a large number in circulation today, looking as they did when they first rolled off the production lines thanks to being a favourite amongst classic car enthusiasts and being lovingly restored. If you are interested in purchasing one, expect to pay in excess of £70000 for a prime example. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by in Bentley on June 23, 2011
Bentley Motors, Limited is a British automobile manufacturer. It was established on January 18, 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley (better known as W.O. or simply as “O”). He became well known during World War I for his rotary aero engines used in the Sopwith Camel in later versions and it was called the Bentley BR I.
The Volkswagen Group of Germany has owned the company since 1998. They are based in Crewe, England and their central production facility is there.
Before the beginning of World War I, “O” Bentley ad been partnered with H.M. Bentley, his brother to sell French DFP automobiles. He had a burning desire to create and build his own line of cars under his own name.
So, in August, 1919, Bentley Motors was actually registered and they exhibited their first attempt at the London Motor Show that was held in October, 1919. It was only a chassis without a real engine. By December, 1919, they had an engine up and running.
Following the London Motor Show, they began taking orders for their cars, promising delivery by June, 1920. Actual development took longer than anticipated and actual delivery did not take place until September, 1921.
An aluminum paperweight caught “O’s” eye on a visit to the DFP plant which gave him the idea for using instead of the typical cast iron, a light weight metal for aero engine pistons. He used this idea to make his rotary aero engines that were used during World War I in the Sopwith Camel airplane.
Constantly without funds, “O” Bentley asked for help from Woolf Barnato in 1925. Barnato became chairman and effectively owned the company after the negotiations.
The Bentley Boys (Woolf Barnato, Steeplechase racer, George Duller, Sir Henry Birkin, automotive journalist, S.C.H. Sammy Davis, aviator Glen Kidson and Dr. Dudley Benjafieldl kept the reputation for performance alive. Due to the serious dedication of this group, The Bentley Boys, the company won four LeMans races in a row from 1927-1930. Bugatti was their greatest competition at the time with their lightweight, fragile autos that were in great contrast to the Bentley which was durable and reliable. Read the rest of this entry »


Federal estate taxes have been a source of funding for the federal government almost since the U.S. was founded.
In 1797, Congress instituted a system of federal stamps that were required on all wills offered for probate when property (land, homes) was transferred from one generation to the next. The revenue from these stamps was used to build the navy for an undeclared war with France, which had begun in 1794. When the crisis ended in 1802, the tax was repealed.
Estate taxes returned in the build up to the Civil War. The Revenue Act of 1862 included an inheritance tax, which applied to transfers of personal assets. In 1864, Congress amended the Revenue Act, added a tax on transfers of real estate, and increased the rates for inheritance taxes. As before, once the war ended the Act was repealed.²
In 1898, a federal legacy tax was proposed to raise revenue for the Spanish-American War. This served as a precursor to modern estate taxes. It instituted tax rates that were graduated by the size of the estate. The end of the war came in 1902, and the legacy tax was repealed later that same year.³
Until 1916. The 16th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1913 — the one that gives Congress the right to “lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived.” The Revenue Act of 1916 established an estate tax, and in one way or another, it’s been part of U.S. history since then.
In 2010, the estate tax expired — briefly. But in December 2010, Congress passed the Tax Relief Act of 2010 and the new law retroactively imposed tax legislation on all estates settled in 2010.
In 2012, the American Tax Relief Act made the estate tax a permanent part of the tax code. Still, it’s possible the estate tax law may be adjusted at least once during the next few years. The fiscal year 2014 budget called for lowering the estate tax exclusion, the generation-skipping transfer tax and the gift-tax exemption back to levels of 2009 as of the year 2018. However, it remains to be seen what will happen with estate taxes moving forward.
If you’re uncertain about your estate strategy, it may be a good time to review the approach you currently have in place. I’m happy to connect with you about this and help you get your estate in order!
Cetera Financial Specialists LLC does provide tax or legal advice.


By ALAN SMASON
For the third year in a row the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbeine (NYTF) is presenting a major theatrical production in Yiddish at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City. This time out, it is “Amerike – The Golden Land,” a piece that was first performed 35 years ago as an homage to Yiddish theatre.
Yiddish musicals had their heyday in the years between the two World Wars, but once the flood of immigrants was turned into a trickle by the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Johnson-Reed Act three years later, fewer Jews arriving on American shores meant less Yiddish was spoken.
It is estimated that at its most popular time, Yiddish theaters had between 20 and 30 performances of musicals, plays, operetta and vaudeville weekly with tens of thousands in attendance.
Those Jews who arrived after the Holocaust largely chose to speak English as a primary language and Yiddish, with its rich history of being the language spoken by European Jews in disparate lands (especially in the theatre), was relegated to a doomed status. Most Yiddish theaters located in New York were shut down or converted into movie houses or other uses by the time America entered World War II.
Over the course of the previous two years, NYTF presented a remounting of “Di Goldene Kale,” one of the most successful of Yiddish musicals first presented in 1927. The work was painstakingly reconstructed by music director Zalman Mlotek, who conducted a 14-piece orchestra and worked with top vocalists to restore it to the stage and critical acclaim.
Following this success, Mlotek and his collaborator, book writer, Moishe Rosenfeld, returned to their earlier collaboration of “Amerike – The Golden Land,” a pastiche of popular Yiddish songs that retold the stories of the Jewish immigrants from far off lands in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Byelorussia and Germany. After its initial run in New York in 1982, the piece enjoyed a concert version in Toronto, Detroit and Cleveland and returned triumphantly to the Central Synagogue auditorium. It had seen success on stages in Philadelphia and as part of an international tour that went to Italy.
Mlotek took up the baton and tickles the ivories as he directsa scaled-down orchestra of seven other players in more than 40 pieces of music, some of which slam into each other while English supertitles are projected above the stage and the performers.
Directed by Bryna Wasserman, the 95-minute work which runs without intermission is divided into 11 sections, the first half of which revolve about the arrival of the immigrants, their incorporation into New York City and society, their observance and work opportunities (or lack thereof) and their commitment to American citizenship.
The latter half concerns itself with an examination of several of the gems from early Yiddish theatre, songs heard over the radio or in film and songs made popular during the Depression era, the most noted of which was Jay Gorney and E. Y. “Yip” Harburg’s “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”
The ensemble of cast members include Glenn Seven Allen (Oppenheimer) and Alexandra Frohlinger (Sadie), both with noted Broadway credits. Both Allen and Frohlinger’s primary roles are supported by cast members Dani Marcus (Fannie), Daniel Cahn (Joe), David Perlman (Izzie), Stpehanie Lynne Mason (Gussie), Jessica Rose Futran and Christopher Tefft. Chorus members included Maya Jacobson, Isabel Nesti, Raquel Nobile, Bobby Underwood, Grant Richards and Alexander Kosmowski.
The powerful musical pieces are quite splendidly rendered with hauntingly beautiful harmonies. However, by covering more than half a century of history in one extended act, bookwriters Rosenfeld and Mlotek give the impression they may be overreaching in trying to tell everything.
Merete Muenter is credited with movement rather than choreography since most of the players in actuality make appearances on stage or move from one position to another.
The work ends with the recitation of the 1883 Emma Lazarus poem “The New Colossus.” This work, which was affixed to the side of the Statue of Liberty two decades after its arrival in America, a gift from France. It was set to music in 1959 by Irving Berlin (“Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor”), a reference to the hope America offered to those that found freedom within its shores.
“Amerike – The Golden Land” finishes its run at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City (36 Battery Place) now through Sunday, August 20, 2017.


The campus includes a blond brick building spread across more than 40 acres near White Oak Landing with courtyards, meditation gardens, and many athletic fields. The original facilities consist of the main academic wing that houses administrative offices and classrooms. A gymnasium, chapel and cafetorium were added in the early 90's. A two-story fine arts building was completed at the start of the 2000 school year. The new Pope John Paul II Field House and Physical Education Center was dedicated by Bishop Robert Muench in April of 2006.


Liverpool Shopping Park is on and close to areas of significant importance in the history of Liverpool and indeed, the world.
Liverpool Shopping Park stands on land that is steeped in history as the former home of Meccano and Hornby Railway from 1914 to 1979. Although the Liverpool factory closed in 1979, Meccano continues to be produced today. To commemorate the link between the land and one of the most iconic children’s toy brands, a 30ft Meccano Liver Bird statue stands proudly in the centre of the park.
The site of Liverpool Shopping Park is also close to the railway line for the world’s first steam passenger service which opened in 1830 between Liverpool and Manchester. The line proved the viability of rail transport and large sale railway construction and it marked the start of the Railway Age around the world.
Now, the site is home to Liverpool Shopping Park which is expected to be one of the UK’s largest when complete, at more than 700,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space.


Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day of battle during the Civil War. The battle raged on September 17, 1862. The battle took place in three different phases. Phase 1 consisted of fighting in the morning at Miller's (Bloody) Cornfield, Dunker Church and the West and East Woods. Phase 2 consisted of fighting at the Sunken Road that is now known as Bloody Lane. The third phase of battle consisted of a Federal advance at Burnside's Bridge and beyond, and the saving from capitulation of the Confederate army by A.P. Hill. The approximate number of casualties is between 22,000 and 23,000 for just the one day of bloody fighting at Antietam.


Julekha Gama, fondly known as Julie-Bhen or Aunty Julie by family, friends and the community. Aunty Julie was born in India and came to South Africa at the age of four. Her parents settled in Cape Town in District Six where she was raised by her uncle, Yusuf Vallie Omar, also known as “Duiweltjie”, and his two wives, Julekha Maasie and Dija Nanie.
Aunty Julie recalls her first memories of learning how to cook as she helped her two dear aunts. In those years Aunty Julie used to fill around nine hundred samoosas a day! She also learned the art of making Suterfeni, an Indian sweetmeat, and made rolls upon rolls thereof.
Growing up in Cape Town Aunty Julie has an interesting background and fond memories recalled with humour and love. One of Aunty Julies fondest childhood memories.
Aunty Julie has been living in Roshnee, a small town south of Johannesburg for almost 50 years. She was one of the first residents to move from Vereeniging to Roshnee. At that time, Roshnee had no gravel roads or telephones. They used the party lines to communicate with each other, whoever lived on the same street was connected to


Nutanix, a provider of hybrid multicloud computing, has assisted the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in digitizing its Indigenous Australian cultural artifacts and archive collection.
The implementation of Nutanix AHV and the Nutanix Kubernetes Engine helped extend the performance of the institute’s core data center to remote locations. This allowed for the faster analysis of large data sets, as well as remote management of the IT infrastructure supporting the digitization project.
Partner company Qirx played a role in deploying the IT architecture, which led to increased efficiency and the ability to allocate more resources towards innovative technology. The digitization of the collection will make the unique cultural artifacts accessible to communities across Australia and preserve Indigenous history for future generations.


Personhood and American History from Walter Hoye’s “Freedom Suit” Series: “Mum Bett”
Pastor Walter Hoye is the African-American pro-life hero who spent 28 days in Santa Rita jail for the “crime” of passing out literature and speaking to people—a conviction which was later overturned. The Life Legal Defense Fund has filed an amicus brief on behalf of Pastor Hoye in McCullen v. Coakley, challenging the constitutionality of such laws. In June, the Supreme Court announced it will hear the case.
On his Issues4Life website, Pastor Hoye has posted a series of essays on the historical fight for personhood among African-Americans. The essays demonstrate why the issue of “personhood” resonates so deeply in that community, and why they are among the leaders in the push for a “Personhood Amendment” for the unborn.
This week’s issue is about Elizabeth Freeman, better known as “Mum Bett.”
To summarize Pastor Hoye’s essay: “Elizabeth was born to enslaved parents (native Africans) around 1742 at the farm of Pieter Hogeboom in Claverack, New York. When Hannah (Hogeboom’s daughter) married Colonel John Ashley of Sheffield, Massachusetts, she was sold as a young teenager, along with her sister, to the newlyweds. On the Sheffield plantation Elizabeth was married, given the name “Bett” and her daughter was given the name Little Bett…”
Colonel Ashley was a Yale University educated lawyer and a community leader. At the time of the revolution, his house was the site of political discussions and is considered the probable location of the signing of the “Sheffield Resolves,” which predates the Declaration of Independence and which includes the line “Mankind in a state of nature are equal, free, and independent of each other, and have a right to the undisturbed enjoyment of their lives, their liberty and property.” Mum Bett must have heard the Resolves read at the house, and probably the Massachusetts Constitution and the Declaration as well, because when she “…asked for the counsel of a young abolition-minded lawyer named Theodore Sedgwick to help her use the law to sue for freedom” she told Sedgewick “I heard that paper read yesterday, that says, all men are created equal, and that every man has a right to freedom. I’m not a dumb critter; won’t the law give me my freedom?”
Sedgwick accepted her case and that of Brom, another of Colonel Ashley’s slaves, and asked the help of Tapping Reeve, the founder of one of America’s first law schools. “When the case of Brom and Bett vs. Ashley was heard before the County Court of Common Pleas in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Sedgwick and Reeve argued that the constitutional provision that ‘all men are born free and equal’ nullified the slave system in the state.” In August of 1871, the jury ruled in Bett and Brom’s favor. They were awarded compensation, and Bett became the first Black American woman to be recognized as a legal person and set free under the Massachusetts State Constitution.
Pastor Hoye closes the essay with An Open Letter to the Church: “The fight for personhood is found everywhere in Black American history. Personhood strikes a chord that runs deep in the experiences of Black Americans. The wholly heartfelt desire for Personhood strikes a chord that rings so true and runs so deep in my people that it can even be found in the souls of those who have been violently subjected to slavery since the American Colony of Virginia’s “Hereditary Slave Law” of 1661. The reality is Personhood resonates in the heart, registers in the mind, generates soul searching conversation and has the power to reconcile the very strained relationship between the Pro-Life movement and communities of color. In Black America, Personhood speaks to the need to have the words ‘we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’ apply to all human life and not just some human life.”
“Today, Alveda King, daughter of A.D. King and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. says: ‘The cause of personhood is the final chapter of the civil rights movement. And each person who’s spared because of it will receive a priceless gift — the chance to write the chapters of his or her own life story.’ Certainly, Bett received this gift from her freedom suit and wrote the last chapters of her life as a free woman. While Bett’s real age is not known, her tombstone estimates that she died at the age of eight-five (85). As such, in December of 1829 Elizabeth Freeman (Mum Bett) was buried in the Sedgwick family plot in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Her tombstone inscription reads as follows:
‘ELIZABETH FREEMAN, known by the name of MUMBET died Dec. 28th 1829. Her supposed age was 85 Years. She was born a slave and remained a slave for nearly thirty years; She could neither read nor write, yet in her own sphere she had no superior or equal. She neither wasted time nor property. She never violated a trust, nor failed to perform a duty. In every situation of domestic trial, she was the most efficient helper and the tenderest friend. Good mother, farewell.’”
The “Freedom Suit” essays can be read at http://www.issues4life.org/newsletters.html and by subscribing to Pastor Hoye’s email blast.


Today I have a really cool bit of news. Over the weekend I was going through some of my father’s things and found a beautiful leather holster. I hadn’t seen it before and was naturally curious about the contents. I wouldn’t call my dad a gun nut, and he hadn’t hunted in my lifetime, but I know when he was younger he spent summers in the woods building forts and stalking deer, so it wasn’t a complete surprise that he might have a few firearms. What I didn’t expect to find is a WWII pistol in pretty good shape.
The picture above is of a 1944 Nambu Pistol. These were used extensively by Japanese forces from 1925 to 1945. I can’t claim to be an expert on WWII-era guns, so I took a few photos and asked our product specialists if they could tell me a bit more about it.
First, the various markings on the gun tell an interesting tale. On the left hand side are some Japanese characters. They let you know this is a Type 14 model pistol. On the other side some numbers are stamped that let you know the month and year the gun was manufactured. I didn’t know this about Japanese guns, but the dates are from the last emperor change, so in the picture below when you can see ‘19.3’ it means the gun was manufactured 19 years from the last emperor change, which was in 1925. Add 19 to 1925 and you get 1944, the year the gun was made. The ‘3’ is the month, so this particular gun was manufactured in March of 1944. Pretty cool.
Another cool thing with the gun is that I have the original holster. It’s actually in really good shape. It’s all leather with a leather strap, and though you can tell it’s not brand new, the markings on the inside of the pouch are still clearly visible. I’ve done a bit of research online for Nambu Type 14 Pistols and their holsters, and most of them are so worn you can’t read them, but as you can see mine is really easy to read. Fortunately, someone in the office can read Japanese, and he says those two symbols are for a town or neighborhood near Tokyo. It’s either West Kasai or West Katsushika. This is most likely where it was manufactured, but it might also be where the soldier who owned this gun is from. Inside the pouch are some old cotton clothes that appear to be the original cleaning clothes. There’s no gun oil or cleaning solution, so I’m going to look into a mild cleaner so that I don’t risk ruining the pistol.
I also have the capture papers for the pistol, which show my Great Uncle Bernard officially received these guns on November 28, 1945. I never met my Uncle Bernard, but it appears he was a Corporal in the war and either fought or was stationed in the Pacific. I know he never had kids and was close to my dad, but I’d never heard the story of this gun.
My dad passed away 4 weeks ago Friday, and I’ve been going through his things a lot since then to help my mom. My dad loved to tell stories and I swear I’d heard every single one of his about a million times, but friends of his came to the wake and told me all sorts of stories that I’d never heard before. It’s strange to think I might be able to learn a lot more about him now that he’s gone. I think a good place to start is with a bit of family history. I’m going to find out everything I can about my Great Uncle Bernard and how this Nambu pistol came into his position and how it came to be passed down to my dad. Stay tuned to GearExpert and follow along in my journey!
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The December 1910 General Election
December General Elections are not unusual; there were three in the last century. But the closest parallel to today was in 1910 - the second in that year, when we were also in somewhat uncertain and divided times (less so perhaps).
Then as now, the Tories were the villains, using the House of Lords to block Liberal Lloyd George's People's Budget, the midwife of the Welfare State. The Tories held Hastings but lost the overall election.
Arthur Du Cros (photo: Vanity Fair, British Newspaper Archive) held the seat that he had effectively inherited from his father in a 1908 by-election until 1918. He took 4,397 votes to Liberal Arthur Johnson's 3,515, on an 87.6% turnout - a turnout to aim for.
Du Cros is probably best remembered locally for the incident in 1913 when suffragettes set fire to his house, Levetleigh, on the corner of Brittany Road and Dane Road in St. Leonards. Du Cros was an opponent of votes for women.
Du Cros was less successful in his business career, his fortune never recovered from his investment with Clarence Hatry, whose fraudulent collapse has been cited as amongst the causes of the 1929 Wall Street Crash. Hatry served 9 years of a 14-year prison sentence, two with hard labour. It's a great shame that the perpetrators of Gordon Brown's recession of 2008 didn't enjoy the same.
In Rye, which had its own MP in 1910, Tory George Courthope also held the seat, which he represented from 1906-1945, with 6,673 votes. St John Hutchinson, the Liberal, (photo: Hastings & St Leonards Observer,1909, photographer unknown)
and son of the former Liberal MP for Rye, Charles Frederick Hutchinson, took 4,601 votes on an 81% poll. He would later be elected as a Progressive for the Poplar division of the London County Council and served under the judicial appointment of Recorder for Hastings from 1930 until his death in 1942. His wife, Mary, was a novelist and was associated with the Bloomsbury Group.
The December 1910 General Election gave Asquith's Liberals and their allies the mandate to assert the sovereignty of the House of Commons over the House of Lords, removing the Lords' veto of financial Bills. Significantly this led to the National Insurance Act of 1911 with introduced medical and unemployment benefits, heralding the Welfare State.
2019 sees us in another constitutional crisis, and the General Election on 12th December gives us the opportunity to stop fiddling with Brexit while the planet burns, and get on with the serious business of fighting Climate Change and the ills that go with it. Nick Perry is just the firefighter we need in Parliament.
Published & promoted by Paul Hunt on behalf of Nick Perry (Liberal Democrats) both at Flat 3, 49 West Hill Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 0NA.


Remembrance poppy sales figures are expected to break records again. More people than ever, it seems, are buying them this year. The charge that poppies are becoming something of a fashion item is not without foundation. I find the ‘bling’ poppies somewhat distasteful but if that’s what it takes to raise cash for wounded soldiers in a celeb-obsessed age then so be it.
The wearing of poppies has seen something of a revival since the 1990s. There was a time when many people wondered whether and for how long the tradition of remembrance would survive. Conventional wisdom held that, once the Second World War veterans got too old to march, that would be it.
When I started work in the mid-1980s, our chief executive was a veteran of the Second World War. He had only caught the last few months of the war and he was working well past retirement age but, even then, there were still a few wartime soldiers in public life. Thanks to the conscription of the 1950s, most of those in the upper echelons of society had seen military service. Company directors, senior civil servants, hospital consultants and judges tended to be in their 50s; just the right age to have done national service.
In the decade that followed, they all began to retire it was probably no coincidence that, at the same time, the poppy boxes began to disappear from offices, shops and public buildings. I couldn’t find any figures to confirm this but it seemed to me that fewer people were wearing poppies each year as the nineties wore on.
It all changed in 1998 with the anniversary of the end of the First World War and the re-discovery of veterans like Henry Allingham and Harry Patch. The BBC, with its TV series and news reports, played a large part in making these men famous and telling their stories to the world. In 1998 the long-abandoned tradition of keeping the two minutes’ silence on the 11 November, as well as on Remembrance Sunday, was revived.
This renewed interest in Remembrance Day was, sadly, fuelled by the regular flow of dead and wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan over the next decade. The suggestion that the work of the British Legion would one day be over now seemed absurd as a new generation of servicemen clearly needed its help.
Now, the poppy and Armistice Day probably have more publicity than ever. Football teams, as far as I know, never wore poppies in the past and they were never as prominent on TV as they are today.
So, while this might look like an old tradition, quite a lot of it is relatively new or, as in the case of today’s silence, a recent revival. I’m not knocking it. Anything that raises money for people who have sacrificed so much is a good thing, even if those sparkling poppies make a few old gits like me wince.
I will carry on wearing my paper one as usual. Though it began to go out of fashion, I always wore my poppy. Even when I was a punk I wore one. It was usually wound through the skull and crossed bones on my leather jacket. Appropriate in a funny sort of way, although perhaps as distasteful to some at the time as the sparkling poppies appear to me.
I’m glad poppies and Remembrance Day have had a new lease of life, although some of the reasons behind it are no cause for celebration. It will, though, clearly go on for many years yet. Even when the last Second World War serviceman has died, and the war passes beyond living memory, we shall still be wearing poppies and keeping the silence. And, however sparkly the poppies are, that has to be a good thing.


I acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation as the Traditional Owners of the lands where I live and work in Naarm. I pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Owners and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
I believe that the acknowledgement of the traditional owners is at it’s most basic a mark of respect. Beyond the basic it plays an important role in keeping alive the history and culture of First Nations people. At the time of writing this there is no treaty between the Australian government and the First Nations people of this land, sovereignty is unceded.
Like many people who were born and raised in Australia there is a lot that I don’t know, I am continuously learning, and open to change. I’m not an expert, but I do hope that sharing what I learn that it will contribute to increasing awareness.
Home and work: I live and work on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation in Naarm.
Born and raised: I was born and raised in Noongar country. In my youth knew it as Noongar country and now now it to be Whadjuk Noongar land.
Heritage: I am a Tjupan Pinhi woman. My mob are Wongi descended of First Nations people of the North Eastern Goldfields, of Lake Darlot and Darlot Station. Stolen and sent to Moore River Settlement and separated at Sister Kates.
As I learn and I will continue to update this page to improve it’s accuracy.
I encourage you to learn about the traditional owners of the lands where you live, work, and where you grew up. Here are some great places to start.
Featured art work is based on work created by Danielle Ashwin for Rebecca Jackson and Subspace Consulting. © Ashwin Aboriginal Art


I've been reading Up From Slavery, an autobiography of the life of Booker T. Washington and his journey from slave to student to university founder to sought-after national speaker.
In the late 1800s, Washington was asked to join a committee to appear before congress to procure government support for the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition. In the planning stages of the exposition, it was "decided that it would be a fitting recognition of the coloured race to erect a large and attractive building which should be devoted wholly to showing the progress of the Negro since freedom. It was further decided to have the building designed and erected wholly by Negro mechanics. This plan was carried out. In design, beauty, and general finish the Negro Building was equal to the others on the grounds."
Washington was asked to head up the project, but he declined in order to better devote time to his work at Tuskegee Institute. Then, after years of struggle and dedication to changing the plight of Black Americans a mere 30 years after the Civil War, Washington was asked to be an opening speaker at the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition, at Atlanta, Georgia, on September 18, 1895. He accepted. The whole speech, one of his most renowned, is worth the read. This one excerpt is a jewel in the crown.
"...... in your effort to work out the great and intricate problem which God has laid at the doors of the South.....let this be constantly in mind, that, while from representation in these buildings of the product of field, of forest, of mine, of factory, letters, and art, much good will come, yet far above and beyond material benefits will be that higher good, that, let us pray God, will come, in a blotting out of sectional differences and racial animosities and suspicions, in a determination to administer absolute justice, in a willing obedience among all classes to the mandates of law. This, this, coupled with our material prosperity, will bring into our beloved South a new heaven and a new earth." - Booker T. Washington, from The Atlanta Compromise Speech, his address at the opening of The Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition, September 18, 1895.
One hundred and twenty-two years later, we have yet to see this hope fully realized. It is a dream no less worthy than that of Martin Luther King Jr. , and a goal still worth striving for, not just for the South, but our nation as a whole.
Mr. Washington, from your mouth, to God's ears.
Susan Parlato Revels
links to other sites


The B-52 Stratofortress was designed in the years after World War II to serve as a heavy bomber for the Cold War and took its maiden flight in 1952. The Cold War came and went, but the B-52 is still in active military service 94 of the 102 H-model B-52 aircraft built in the 1960′s remain on duty.
This year marks the sixtieth year of B-52 operation that is a laudable goal for any piece of technology, but even more so considering the demanding reliability and performance requirements for military hardware. The plan is for the aircraft to remain in service through 2044. This 2002
article has some relevant quotes:
- In an era when a 9-month-old laptop already feels retro, when people who keep their cars for six years are considered quaint, the fact that the most powerful military in the world relies on a fleet of 40-year-old bombers [now 50] is pretty astonishing.
- And the B-52 is not some creaky relic that the military keeps around for air shows. The planes have seen more combat in this decade than in the previous three decades combined.
- If the B-52 does remain in service for 80 years, it will be like using a weapon from the Civil War to win World War II.
- “Right now, there are three generations of pilots who have flown that plane — grandfather, father, and son — in the same family. If it lasts until 2040 [now 2044], five generations will have flown the same plane.”
So, how does the B-52 relate to Postgres? Ignoring the B-52′s destructive purpose, there are some similarities:
- Both were developed by the U.S. Defense Department (Postgres was initially funded by DARPA)
- Both were developed decades ago and have remained in use far longer than expected
- Both are easily enhanced with new technology, which has increased their longevity
- Both operate in demanding environments where reliability and performance are critical
- Both are inexpensive, compared to the alternatives
- Both are covered on Slashdot


our Market Fair participants who stay at the
Holiday Inn in Clear Spring, MD, use the link
calling the hotel directly, indicate that you are
Market Fair participant, or advise them when checking
Please Help us with our
Fort Frederick has a new
cannon to use for artillery demonstrations, through the
efforts of Friends of Fort Frederick and several very
generous donors. However, we have still not
covered the full cost and still need your support.
We have a "GoFundMe account. Please support our effort
with your donation. Every bit helps.
Visit our GoFundMe site!
The 25th Annual
18th CENTURY MARKET FAIR
APRIL 25 - 28, 2019
Mark your Calendars!!
The staff of Fort Frederick State Park
and the Friends of Fort Frederick are
pleased to announce that we will host the 25th annual
18th Century Market Fair April 25 - 28, 2019.
Come to historic Fort Frederick, an
original stone fort built in 1756 during the French
and Indian War and travel back in time to an authentic
18th century market fair. A whiff of campfires
fills the air. Colorful entertainers are found
strolling about the fair. See sutlers (period vendors)
selling 18th century wares: pottery, tin and copper
ware, clothing, material and patterns, books,
fireplace and cooking hardware, muskets and
accoutrements, paintings and prints, lanterns and
other camp gear, etc. See hundreds of fair-goers
of all ages dressed in colonial clothing: artisans,
soldiers, ladies & gentlemen, Native Americans,
longhunters, traders, servants, etc. Free
entertainment for all. The Fair is open to
sutlers, traders, street vendors and entertainers as
well as individuals, groups, military units and
American Indians portraying the appropriate time
period and geographic area, representing eastern North
America from 1730 through 1790.
The Fair is a Juried Event for
camper and sutlers, but open daily to all
Public hours are:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Thursday through
9:00 am - 3:00 pm on Sunday
Attending Market Fair is a wonderful way
to increase ones knowledge of the period, particularly
the French and Indian War period, and the role that
historic Fort Frederick played in that conflict and in
protecting the Maryland frontier in general.
(About 14 miles west of
Take Exit 12 off
I-70 MD 56 (Big Pool Road) Big Pool,
Indian Springs. Follow signs about 1 mile to
Don't miss the charity auction
TO ALL NEW
MARKET FAIR VOLUNTEERS:
If you received a pre-registration packet,
please note the information in the accompanying cover
letter regarding volunteering and check the relevant
boxes on the pre-registration form.
All those who wish to volunteer please do
so either via our website at firstname.lastname@example.org
or via an email to our
new Volunteer Coordinator:
or leave a telephone message for Market
Fair Committee Secretary Jenifer Scarisbrick at
301-824-6512. Responses will then be directed
to the Chairpersons of the duties that you volunteer
for. The categories include: event setup/tear
down, road watch, registration, the auction, the
headquarters tent, shuttle driver or combinations
Full details Coming Soon on the Volunteer Page or this document:
There are hundreds of campers all in 18th
century clothing, and over 140 Sutlers (vendors) selling
their 18th century wares!
Are you a member of the Friends of Fort Frederick State Park?
We encourage you to join us. You do
not have to attend meetings to be a member. There is
a great monthly newsletter, a member discount in the
store, and your membership supports events such as the
market fair and many other historical events.


Yorkshire stone has been used for centuries as a natural building material for homes, castles, churches and other structures. This unique stone, found in the hills of Yorkshire, is famous for its beauty, durability and strength. Yorkshire stone is a sedimentary limestone that was formed over millions of years and is among the oldest natural stones still used as a building material.
As such, it has an incredible history and has been used in a variety of different ways throughout its existence. In this blog post, we’ll look at the origins and uses, as well as modern issues surrounding the use of Yorkshire stone.
History and Properties of Yorkshire Stone
As mentioned above, Yorkshire stone is a natural sedimentary rock, one that dates back to the Jurassic period. The stone was originally quarried from local hillsides, with its fine grain and durable nature making it ideal for use in construction.
In the late 18th century, the stone gained popularity as an attractive building material and was used to create bridges, churches, and homes. It became especially popular in the industrial towns of West Yorkshire, where it was used to construct factories and warehouses during the Industrial Revolution.
Yorkshire stone’s unique natural beauty and durability have made it a popular choice for many modern structures, including museums, office buildings, and even residential homes. Its distinctive yellow-brown colour gives it a timeless look that blends in with any environment, not just its local area.
It is also extremely versatile as it can be cut and ground into many different shapes and sizes to suit any building project.
Quarrying and Preparation
Yorkshire stone was first it was mined by hand from shallow quarries that were often dangerous and difficult to access. Miners used picks, shovels and chisels to remove the stone from the bedrock. It would then be transported on horse-drawn carts or sleds down the hills and back to the quarry site.
As technology progressed, the quarrying of Yorkshire stone changed dramatically. By the late 1800s, large scale mechanized operations became commonplace with miners using steam shovels, dynamite and rock crushers to extract the stone from deep pits. This industrialisation allowed them to access larger, higher quality stones more efficiently than before.
The process of preparing Yorkshire stone for use also required a great deal of skill. It was necessary for the stones to be cut into rectangular shapes and then shaped into blocks that could be used for construction. This was done using saws, chisels, hammers and other tools. Once the stones were ready, they were transported to their destination and used in the building process.
Yorkshire stone is prized for its durability and beauty, but it requires a great deal of skill and expertise to extract and prepare it for use. Miners, quarry operators and stonemasons have been honing their craft in Yorkshire for centuries, ensuring that this iconic building material remains as beautiful and popular today as it was when it was first quarried.
Yorkshire Stone in 2023
The use of Yorkshire stone has changed drastically in the last few decades. As of 2023, it is a hard to come by and expensive building material, used mainly for its aesthetic qualities. As the availability of Yorkshire stone has become more limited, so too have its uses.
Yorkshire stone is used mainly in building restoration projects, additions to homes and outdoor features such as patios and paths. It remains a sought-after material due to its high quality and stunning natural beauty. The unique characteristics of the stone also make it resistant to weathering, meaning it will last for many years without needing any maintenance or upkeep.
However, due to the rarity of the material and resultant short supply, it can be very expensive to use Yorkshire stone in 2023. Because of this, it is not always an option for those looking for affordable building materials. Although the stone still looks beautiful and remains popular, its cost can be prohibitive for most people.
Despite its limited availability, Yorkshire stone still holds a special place in the hearts of those who appreciate its natural beauty and enduring quality. As demand continually outstrips supply, it will become even more precious and expensive over time.
Yorkshire Stone Alternatives
When it comes to replacing or restoring traditional Yorkshire stone, a range of modern alternatives are available that provide the same beautiful look, texture and durability. Companies like Truestone specialise in providing homeowners with high-quality, traditional stone roofing that is crafted to last.
Truestone offers a range of natural stone roofing options that possess the look of Yorkshire stone without the need for costly maintenance. Our natural stone roofing shades include Aged and Dyed Yorkstone, Country Aged, Traditional and Yorkshire Buff, and even bespoke shades. Each shade has its own unique characteristics, making it easy to find the perfect option to suit your needs.
For homeowners who want the rustic charm of Yorkshire stone but don’t want to deal with the upkeep and cost, modern alternatives are available that can still bring life to a traditional building. Truestone has a wide selection of roofing options that can offer the same timeless beauty of Yorkshire stone but without the expense.


We are happy to announce the conference Moster, 1024: Crossroads of religion and law in the conversion of Norway, which will take place at the University Aula in Bergen, 17th-18th of April 2024, followed by an excursion to Moster on the 19th of April. The conference will celebrate the 1000-year-jubilee of the first Christian Law of Norway and aims to present new trends in research relevant to conversion and Christian legislation in Norway and elsewhere.
The conference has an interdisciplinary approach, and it aims to attract scholars from various disciplines relevant to the theme, such as archaeology, legal history (indigenous law as well as Canon law), history, history of ideas, manuscript studies, philology, and theology. Although the focus of the conference is on Norway and Norwegian law, presentations with a comparative perspective drawing on areas outside Norway are also highly welcome. The chronological focus of the conference is on c. 900 – c. 1200.
We are pleased to announce the following plenary speakers for the Congress:
- Professor emerita Lesley Abrams (Oxford University, UK)
- Associate Professor Torgeir Landro (NLA University College, Norway)
The Committee welcomes proposals on any topic touching on the following themes:
1. Strategies of conversion
Papers on this theme may touch upon theological and church-organizational strategies and political perspectives, such as the emergence of the Norwegian kingdom.
2. Status 1024
Papers on this theme may include various aspects of societal changes, how a shift from a Norse to a Christian religion influenced family structures and issues related to gender, and how changes in Canon law influenced various aspects of the Indigenous Christian law.
3. Conversion from above and below
Papers related to this theme may focus on how ordinary people implemented the conversion, how the conversion influenced the lives of women and men, and what can change in burial customs and other material remains indicated change.
4. Why Moster?
Papers on this theme will focus on the location of Moster or have a comparative approach with other similar sites. For example, the papers may explore wooden and earliest stone churches. Why were they built at specific places, and what role did they play in the early phase of the church organisation?
5. Oral and written law
Papers on this theme may explore the gradual transition from a predominantly oral legal culture towards a culture where laws were written on parchment, what was written down and why, when did this happen, how can ‘early’ and ‘new’ legal rules be distinguished in one and the same manuscript, and how and why did the Christian laws change over time?
6. Creating law from Moster towards the 13th century
Papers related to this theme may explore the role of assemblies and individuals in creating laws, to what extent practice created a law, and how law and the process of codifying new laws change over time from Moster 1024 towards the Norwegian National Law of 1274.
For more information click here!


History of Downton Baptist Church
Downton Baptist Church in South Lane sits within a beautiful ancient village as a thriving place of worship for its members, reaching beyond its walls into the heart of the community. It is difficult to imagine the Church as anything other than a unified hub of Christian worshippers. So why were there once three congregations of Baptists in Downton?
Baptists have worshipped in Downton from almost the beginning of the Baptist movement in England. Originally meeting secretly on Wick Downs above Downton from 1662, at a time when non-conformists were driven into hiding. The second Act of Uniformity passed in 1552 meant every Church needed to conform to Thomas Cranmer’s Anglican liturgy in the form of the Book of Common Prayer. Failure to comply with this law would result in possible imprisonment. Unfortunately for Downton, this meant the Pastor, John Sanger and his assistant Mr Cole, were fined and jailed in Fisherton Street in Salisbury.
The passing of the Act of Toleration in 1688, by King William and Queen Mary, allowed the first purpose-built meeting place for Baptists to be established in Downton. The building of a new Chapel reflected the growth of the Baptist movement, with an estimated fifty-nine thousand across England and Wales.
The congregation established in Gravel Close were referred to as the General Baptists. They continued to meet here for a decade or so, when in the early 1730s there seems to have been a difference on doctrines and beliefs. The records show that there had been a dispute over suspicion of “Arian tendencies”. This doctrine is the belief that Jesus Christ was subordinate to God as he was made human by God. This seemingly subtle difference questions the structure of the Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit as being one God. The suspicion, which was circulating in many non-conformist Churches during this period of the Enlightenment, was clearly enough to split the congregation, who left to maintain orthodox teaching.
This resulted in a group of worshippers leaving the Church and meeting in a house in South Lane. However, neither group appears to have then held this Arian view as part of their continued doctrines.
The group in South Lane became known as Particular Baptists and the Gravel Close congregation remained as the General Baptists. The South Lane Baptists rented a warehouse at the Headlands on the Borough, for forty years, until a plot of land called the “Rhodes” meaning a clearing in the woods, was given to them by Mr Barling, a wealthy and supportive local landowner, to build a Chapel.
1794, saw the opening celebration of the completed South Lane Particular Baptist Church, marking the end of a devastating winter of failed crops and floods in Downton. The Church records show the original certificate of authorisation from the Bishop of Salisbury. This confirmed a licence to conduct worship on this site, necessary as the act of Uniformity was still valid, restricting worship by non-conformists. Permission was granted as Downton was more than five miles from Salisbury Cathedral. In 1857, this same building would be remodelled to provide for a larger congregation but built around the original baptistery of 1794.
Coincidentally, prominent English Baptist, William Carey, started his first missionary trip to India, as part of Baptist Mission Overseas in the same year that Downton Baptist Church was commissioned. William Carey represented the commonly held Baptist call to mission and striving for social justice.
In November 1793, South Lane Baptist Church established its first constituted Covenant. The Covenant was agreed by every member and included eight pledges. These promises formerly united the Church for the first time. These included the support of one another in faith and bearing with other weaknesses. It included an internal governance to watch over and rebuke each other when lacking in attendance or in adherence to the scriptures in the name of Jesus Christ.
The Manse was built in 1813 to house the minister for the flourishing South Lane Baptists as part of their Covenant commitment to the Minister. This suggests that this Church was now deeply rooted in this community. Although the two Baptist Churches were separated by doctrine it appears that fellowship was shared between them, especially given they were only 300 yards apart!
In 1842, however, there appears to be another split in doctrine with the General Baptists, when a Strict Particular Rehoboth Chapel was built in Lode Hill. Records don’t specifically show where this congregation sprung from or why, but coincidentally the membership at Gravel Close went down by a similar number. Now there were three Baptist Churches in Downton!
A healing occurred in 1891 when the Baptist Union was formed. The union had drawn on a doctrine that all should praise and worship God and do their duty whether they were predestined for salvation or not. In Downton this caused the General Baptists to move to South Lane and become united as one. The Strict Baptists remained at their Lode Hill Chapel until the congregation dwindled and eventually closed.
The 1793 covenant of the Particular Baptists at Downton was agreed by the joining General Baptists in this wonderful act of unison. Differences laid aside to become one body in the name of God. This united Church has grown and remained true to its Covenant. As the second promise of the 1793 Covenant reminds us “We promise to walk in all holiness, humility and brotherly love”. This historical promise reminds us that we should aim to work together in the name of God, humbled and always shoulder to shoulder with others.


This site is dedicated to Hugh McIver (McKeever) and his wife, Mary Quinn, who with their 6 children , left Ireland in 1839 to cross the Atlantic Ocean for the third time to settle on Prince Edward Island in the area now known as Newton. They previously had left Ireland in the early 1820's and settled in Philadelphia where some of their children had been born. They were in Ireland in 1837 where the baptismal record of their son, Michael, was found.
Picture of Hugh McIver and Mary Quinn
Also need to include his will and land transactions.
Farmer, Newton, PEI
Last Will and Testament of Hugh McKeever
In the name of God Amen the twenty-first day of February, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-seven.
I, Hugh McKeever of South West being very sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, therefore calling unto mind the mortality of the body knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament; that is to say:
Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty power of God and touching such---------- property whereas that it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise and dispose of same in the following manner and form:
First I give and bequeath to Mary, my dearly beloved wife, my farm No. one on Lot Twenty six together with all my household goods and moveable effects and stock together with all debts of book accounts and notes of hands as long as she lives and at her death the said farm and stock to be fairly divided between my dearly beloved sons Michael McKeever and Peter McKeever. Also I give to my well beloved son, John McKeever, the farm joining to No. one in Lot Twenty six with ten pounds and no more. Also, I give to my well beloved daughter, Catherine McKeever, the sum of thirty pounds currency to be paid by the aforesaid John McKeever when she is twenty-one. Also I give to my well beloved son, Owen McKeever , the farm namely No. three in Lot Twenty six with forty pounds currency to be paid by aforesaid John McKeever in the following manner - that is to say the first twenty pounds to be paid January Eighteen hundred and fifty-nine and the remainder twenty pounds to be paid January Eighteen hundred and sixty.
Also I give to my well beloved son, Hugh McKeever, the sum of one hundred pounds currency to be raised and levied out of my property and paid to him by my Executors hereafter named an the first day of January, Eighteen hundred fifty eight.
Also I give to my well beloved daughter, Mary McKeever, the sum of eighteen pounds currency with interest when she is twenty one.
Also I give to my well beloved daughter, Susan McKeever, the sum of seventeen pounds currency with interest when she is twenty one.
Also I give to my well beloved daughter, Margaret McKeever, the sum of fifteen pounds currency with interest when she is twenty one.
In Witness whereof I have herewith to set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
and Pronounced and Declared
by the said Hugh McKeever as
his will and testament in the
presence of us the subscribers.
(Signed) Bernard McCort
DOCUMENT FOUND IN COURT ARCHIVES
To Honorable Charles Young, Judge of Probate:
I -hereby- the widow of the late Hugh McIver renounce my rights to administer to his estate in favor of my eldest son, John McIver.
Dated at Charlottetown April 21, 1857.
Witnessed: A S DesBrisay
Probated April 21, 1857
A photocopy of the original document, courtesy of the Public Archives, Charlottetown, PEI, can be found in the back of this book.
MARY QUINN MCIVER DEATH NOTICE
On the 19th May last, at the residence of her son, Mr. Michael McIver, of Crapaud, Mary, relict of the late Hugh McIver, aged 70 years much and deservedly regretted by a large number of friends and acquaintances. Her many admirable qualities, her edifying and exemplary conduct, her amiable disposition and gentle manners endeared her to a large circle of friends who will deeply regret her absence from amongst them. She leaves behind her nine children and a number of grandchildren to mourn the loss of a good and wise mother. May her soul rest in peace.
The death notice which appears above was copied from a clipping sent to me by Joe Kelly, Saint John, N.B. ( Sister Winnifred McIver, Charlottetown, also sent one). The original was found inside an old prayerbook owned by Margaret (1849-1931), daughter of the deceased. Inside the prayerbook was her name:
Miss Maggie McIver
This book eventually became the property of her son, Emmett Kelly (1882-1983), Joe Kelly’s uncle.
1985 RONALD MCIVER


Small class sizes allow for more individualized attention.
Catholic education is an important part of every day and children attend mass weekly.
Excellent academics feature advanced curriculum in math, reading, language arts, science and social.
Technology, art, music, phy ed, and Spanish are also included.
Current technology is implemented in the classroom with iPads and Smartboards. Students also attend computer class 2 days per week.
Many years Catholic Education has been the prime concern of the parents of St. John’s in Meire Grove and it still is today.
St. John’s Parish began in 1855 when the Schafer brothers came from Germany and in 1858 when the Meyer's came from Germany. The first Mass was celebrated in the Schaefer cabin in 1858. Five years later Father Bruno celebrated Mass in the Meyer home. The log church was then built just north of the present church in 1864. After seven years another church was built just north of the cemetery. A larger church was built in 1858 and lasted until fire destroyed it in 1923. The next year the present church was built on the same site. All of this proves the importance and determination that the early families felt for a community of Catholic educated people.
Catholic Education began in a deserted log church where Mr. William Heine taught 20 children. Because the number of students was too big for the school, a new school with 2 rooms was built in 1874, right across the street from the present church, and this building remained until 1954. One of the early teachers was Incas Gertken. The following were some of the members of the early class: Henry Meyer, Hilda Meyer, Mrs. Leo Caspers, Alma Meyer, Dora Marthaler, Carrie (Meyer) Inderriedent, Ella Meyer, Mrs. John Imdieke, and Mrs. Mike Weller.
In 1915 the school in Meire Grove was built at the cost of $13,000.00. It was built while Father Marin Schmitt was Pastor. Although it was operated as a district school, the administration was under the direction of the Sisters of St. Benedict from St. Joseph Minnesota. In 1951, at the request of Reverend Joseph Krueter, the parish decided to make it a parochial school. The enrollment at the time was 74 students. In 1965 the third floor auditorium was taken down and the school was remodeled. Steady improvements in the school building have continued. In the fall of 1967 the 7th and 8th graders began to attend the Melrose Junior High and in the fall of 1969 St. John’s, Meire Grove and St. Andrew’s, Greenwald consolidated, with St. Andrew’s having Grades 1, 2, and 3, and St. John’s having grades 4, 5, and 6. The school board members at this time were Mrs., Kathy Illies, Mr. Dick Imdieke, Mrs. Cyril Meyer, Mrs. Ann Nietfeld, Mr. Dennis Schneider, and Mrs. Gloris Schneider.
After 1969 the histories came together. The Sisters of St. Benedict, along with lay teachers, taught at St. John’s – St. Andrew’s School until 1978 when the sisters felt they would no longer be able to staff the school. With steadfast belief in parochial education on the part of the school board, and with the help of Father Rieder, the BVM Sisters whose mother house was in Dubuque, Iowa came to be the Religious Community staffing the school along with some lay teachers.


Jon has OCD.
Thus, Jon likes wikifying things.
Jon lives in Western, NY, is 25 years old, and enjoys long walks on the beach.
Jon was introduced to King Crimson in the ninth grade by a friend. He found that Crimson was hard to understand without understanding its history, and that its history was a lot to absorb. Sites like Elephant Talk helped him gain a clearer picture of the King Crimson community. He is excited to help further polish the content of an amazing resource for King Crimson fans both new and not-so-new.
Jon is currently in the process of packing his life into little boxes and moving. Until he is settled in his new place, his contributions may be sparse.


Aberford Street (next to Commonwealth Bank)
PO Box 249 Coonamble NSW 2829
P: (02) 6822 2873
Why not step back in time and visit the Coonamble Museum, which outlines the history of Coonamble and its community. Browse the old photos, wares and stables reading tales of an era gone by in the Coonamble district. The Museum is the former police barracks which was built in 1886. The original brick horse stables have been retained in original form with stalls and feed boxes and are one of only two left in NSW. In 2006-2007 the Museum underwent significant refurbishment. Tour groups, Schools and functions are also welcome by appointment. To see some photos click here
Mon - Wed - Fri (10am-12pm)
ADMISSION: Gold Coin
Access from Skillmans lane off Castlereagh Street.
Contact (02) 6822 2873 on Mon-Wed-Fri from 10am-12pm. See photo (opposite) for an idea of what is needed.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDEED! Click here for details


1904 – The birhtplace of the original SMS was 34 Center Street, on November 6, 1904. The original officers were John Salotti (President), Oreste Roffo (Vice-President), and Charles Fornesi (Treasurer). Charter members who helped establish the SMS were Armando Salotti, Renauldo Rossi, Nicasio Barbi, Natale Barbi, Olinto Barbi and Angelo Salotti.
1906 – Incorporated under the name SMS, the group stated that it’s function was to “promote the mutual welfare of the members, encourage the moral and material progress of those of Italian decent, and respect all religious, philosophic and political opinions.
1913 – SMS Band formed. A group of amateurs who played at festive social occassions as well as solemn funeral processions.
1921 – SMS purchased property at 95 Ovid Street and construction of the hall began. The hall was financed totally by it’s members who each contributed a $25.00 bond which was later repaid. The members were also required to physically help construct the hall from digging ditches to painting the building. The first building cost $5,000.
1923 – The SMS Hall was completed and the bonds were returned to the members.
1931 – SMS Auxiliary was founded on June 11th. It’s function was to promote mutual aid for members, the men’s society and the community.
1946 – Plans were formulated to remodel the hall. The remodeling, done by Bellardino Construction Company cost $20,000. The new hall was dedicated to the two servicemen who lost their lives in WWII, John Sandroni and Fernandino Rossetti.
1954 – The mortgage was paid off and a small ceremony was held in which the 1946 mortgage papers were burned.
1957 – The SMS Band, under the direction of Peter Bestini, won first prize in the senior band competition at the NYS Fair.
2003 – The downstairs bar area was remodeled and dedicated to Angelo Suffredini and Sam Scibona.
2006 – The SMS launched a new website at www.smslodge.com.
Throughout the last century, with it’s growing membership, social and support programs, the SMS became an active organization reaching out unto the community and state. SMS members have found their way in every walk of life – merchants, manufacturers, farmers, laborers, politicians and professional men and women.
The SMS initiated a Columbus Day celebration, Christmas programs, and an annual Communion Breakfast, a Founder Banquet, a state trophy winning band, bocce, bowling and baseball teams. Through awards, the SMS recognize acheivements of local middle and high school students.
In Civic Affairs, SMS has always been active. In addition to the large public events, there has been quiet support of one another on many occassions. During times of bereavement, the members stayed with the family all night, served as pallbearers and honor guards. The Auxiliary prepared food for the family and friends. During times of hospitalization or illness, the SMS members looked after the needs of the family.
Today, perhaps the most public event is St. Anthony’s Italian Festival sponsored in conjunction with the Rumseyville Sportsmen’s Club held on Labor Day Weekend each year. The festival honors a person of Italian heritage who best exemplifies the credo of Italian heritage in church, community and civic affairs.
With the accomplishments of the last 100 years and a growing membership base, we believe that the SMS will continue well into the next century.


The Story of SEMPA
In the fall of 1989, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recognized the need for and began developing, “Guidelines on the Utilization of Physician Assistants in the Emergency Department.” In seeking a source of data and input from physician assistants working in emergency medicine for the guidelines, ACEP contacted the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California (LAC-USC) Postgraduate Residency for Physician Assistants in Emergency Medicine.
Recognizing that there was no national organization that represented physician assistants in emergency medicine and that there was a need for one, the LAC-USC EMPA Residency Director Arnold Zigman, PA-C, initiated efforts to organize a specialty group to give a voice to all emergency medicine PAs across the country, regardless of setting, training, utilization or affiliation.
Founder Arnold Zigman, PA-C, Addresses SEMPA Members
Arnold Zigman, PA-C, founded SEMPA in 1990 and served as the president of the organization until 1993. At SEMPA's 30th anniversary, Mr. Zigman, addresses the membership through a letter to the members.
Former SEMPA Leaders Video
Founder and First SEMPA President Arnold Zigman, PA-C, on the formation of SEMPA, what he is most proud of and the future of SEMPA.
Jeff Callard, PA-C, talks about SEMPA's relationship with ACEP, the start of SEMPA's annual conference and serving on the board.
Terry Mize, PA-C, gives some insight on the early years of the EMPA profession; working with Arnold Zigman, PA-C; the formation of SEMPA and its early years; and what SEMPA means to him personally.
Cary Stratford, PA-C, discusses pivotal moments in SEMPA's history; the first national conference goals and speakers; how he feels about SEMPA 360 now; and how SEMPA changed the professional life for EMPAs.