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After The Fall: Making Sense Out Of Sensenbrenner
by Gary Endelman
Now we know how Tom Paine felt at Valley Forge. It has been a cold December for those who think immigration is good for America. On December 16th, the House of Representatives approved the Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005(H.R.4437), perhaps the most draconian bill of recent memory, and, a mere three days later, the House approved an agreement with the Senate on a comprehensive budget reconciliation package stripped bare of any pro-immigration provisions. While there is some satisfaction in the fact that the House did not get the higher L fees that it sought, this is cold comfort. Truth be told, it was a tough week, the worst in a long time, and the shock among pro-immigration circles, both on Capitol Hill and beyond, is palpable.
For the first time in a long time, the Republican House defied the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and other corporate lobbying groups who sought to block adoption of a mandatory electronic employment eligibility verification system that would link Social Security Administration and Homeland Security databases. Such business opposition is not hard to figure out. Electronic verification would be on top of, not as a substitute for, the current I-9 compliance regime. Not only would new hires be subject to electronic verification, but all private sector employers would be compelled to reverify existing employees within six years; federal, state and local governments, not to mention non-governmental employers at critical infrastructure facilities, such as airports and nuclear power plants, would only have three years. All private sector employers must electronically check their entire workforce by 2012.
The political clout of their natural allies could not carry the day against the popular appeal of the proposal by House Judiciary Committee Chair James Sensenbrenner ( R-WI) who benefited from the absence of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, busy with his own legal troubles back in Texas. With DeLay not there to whip the GOP House Caucus into line, the Republican House Leadership removed Senate language that would have revolutionized employment-based immigration from the budget conference report as the price of pacifying anti-immigrant House members who had sent a letter to Speaker Hastert and Acting Majority Leader Roy Blunt(R-Mo) threatening to vote against the budget if the good stuff stayed in. Whether they would have acted on their threat will never be known, but the possibility of their doing so was enough to make House budget conferees beat a hasty retreat. While there was a deal to be made, one in which pro-immigration provisions were sold as a potent enhancement to House Republican leaders desperate for new sources of revenue, the need to pass a federal budget, particularly with no Democratic votes, trumped everything else. Hastert and Blunt simply did not have the margin within their own Caucus to call Tancredo's bluff. Originally in the draft Conference Report, Section 8001 was taken out before a final vote. Other pro-immigration lobbying efforts by the immigration bar and its traditional comrades in arms were too little, too late.. But, this is sadly no longer news.
Pro-immigration lobbyists were most effective in the good old days when immigration was an inside the Beltway game. You met with a few friendly legislators who depended on your technical expertise and usually something could be quietly and quickly worked out. Three things have made this impossible. First, the Immigration Reform and Control Act made all US employers junior immigration agents by mandating completion of the I-9 employment verification form as a condition of hire. No longer would it be acceptable for American companies to hire those illegal aliens who had made their way through the maze. Now, immigration became a daily fact of business life. As was predicted, IRCA did not solve the problem of illegal migration, so much as defer the day of reckoning for a future time. The marker for IRCA has now come due. Second, the Immigration Act of 1990 tripled the number of employment visas, but fatefully, at the last minute, chose not to reform the labor certification system that, even then, had broken down as the inevitable contradiction of mass migration and micromanagement became too heavy to bear. . Moreover, IRCA introduced the concept of amnesty as a way to cope with rising illegal migration without doing anything to restore the structural imbalance between family and employment-based options that had made it necessary to come in under the shadows in the first place. That was what IMMACT 90 was supposed to do- serve as the second act to IRCAs overture. Yet, the number of immigrant visas for the other worker category- a paltry 10,000 (originally only 5,000)- was, and always has been, wholly inadequate to the task and the demand, thus leaving both desperate aliens and equally anxious employers little incentive but to act in an extra-legal fashion. What the law did not make provision for , the economy did. Third, 9/11 changed the world and everything in it would never be the same. Immigration was now synonymous with terrorism and those who hated both immigration and the immigrants now had a powerful new club to swing. They set about wielding it with gusto. Lou Dobbs meet Mohammed Atta.
As bad as HR 4437 is, the real loss is the removal of the pro-immigration provisions that had been enshrined in section 8001 of the Senate budget package. It is impossible to overstate the stimulus that Senate Budget Bill section 8001 would have injected into an employment immigration system that is on life support. Even its authors do not realize what has been lost. Restoration of up to 90,000 unused immigrant visa numbers that had been gathering dust is only the least of it. Much more was at stake. The additional unused H-1B numbers that Section 8001 would have made available would have been a shot in the arm for desperate US employers with openings where these foreign nationals are sorely needed. Section 8001 would have tripled the number of employment-based immigrant visas simply by not counting family members against the 140,000 cap. Just by backing out dependents , the EB quotas would have been utterly transformed. Good bye backlogs! But wait, I rejoice too soon. Not counting family members would erase much of the current EB backlog, but does nothing to guard against its re-emergence, phoenix-like from the ashes. The day for immigration reform on the cheap is long since gone never to return. Section 8001 did not enlarge the EB quota nor give employment based migration priority over family migration, something that must happen if the same, or even longer, backlogs, are not to come back with a vengeance . There was one other fly in the ointment, namely that the architects of Section 8001 did not realize the need to amend the Child Status Protection Act so that, while Mom and Dad waited for their day of green card deliverance to arrive, their kids would have aged out. The CSPA only freezes a dependent's age if there is a current priority date. How many parents are going to wait patiently for final adjustment approval if their kids have to go home?
Removal of Section 8001 from the Budget Reconciliation Conference Report can be a temporary setback if we play our cards right. Congressman Sensenbrenner has long and loudly proclaimed that he is not against all immigration, just the illegal variety. Fine. Lets take him at his word. He is, after all, the architect of the new E-3 visa that enables 10,500 Australians to get around the H-1B cap. Congressman Sensenbrenner has his enforcement-only bill now so he should be prepared to support us when we seek to attach Section 8001 to broadly bipartisan legislation in the upcoming session of Congress. If Congressman Sensenbrenner means what he says, and he usually does, this might be a golden opportunity to bring Section 8001 back to life.
Having said that, in the long term, Section 8001 meant a lot more than HR 4437 does not mean that the number of poison pills in Sensenbrenner's bill do not make it exceedingly painful to swallow. Purely from a $ standpoint, the bill does not work, particularly at a time when the Administration wants to rein in federal spending, eliminate the estate tax, scrap the alternative minimum tax, rebuild the Gulf Coast, keep defense spending at record levels, pay for a new prescription drug benefit under Medicare and make the President's tax cuts permanent. Did I forget Iraq?. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that initial implementation will cost $1.9 billion with more in later years as additional restrictions come on stream. Just do the math. Providing DHS with secure access to a reliable database of Social Security numbers will not come cheap. When you factor in the need for the Social Security Agency to answer phone inquiries, handle personal visits and produce replacement SSN cards for people whose employers get a nonverified electronic response, you begin to get some idea of why the Social Security folks are less than wild about this new toy. Take off the price tag, and HR 4437 still does not look too good. Here are some holiday treats that you probably will not stuff into your stocking over the fireplace:
Jack Kemp, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate in 1996, has done just that:
H.R. 4437 is so overreaching that it would effectively transform any relative, employer, co-worker, co- congregant or friend of an undocumented immigrant into an alien smuggler and a criminal. The legislations far-reaching smuggling provisions go far beyond any common-sense definition of a smuggler and include average Americans going about their business. It also inappropriately conscripts the American business community into the U.S. governments immigration police force by requiring burdensome investigative and reporting activities where prospective employees are concerned: http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?print=yes&id=11112
So, this leaves us with a choice. We can become reconciled to more and deeper defeats, finding solace in resignation and healing our wounds in the balm of self-righteousness. We can denounce the 'Culture of No" at conferences and dinner parties, secure in the false belief that intellectual superiority is a fair exchange for political impotence. As each new law comes along, we can talk to our natural allies and confer with those who share our values. We can have another emergency campaign and put forward reasons to oppose the latest blow that are both legally justified and morally sound. And we can lose again.
There is another way, a better way. We can do something new, we can enter the arena, we can be more concerned with practical results than ideological purity. We can roll up our sleeves and make painful, dirty, slow progress by compromising with those whom we neither agree with nor respect on non-immigration matters. We can stop treating all opponents as if they were the same, as if their concerns, which are not ours, lack any legitimacy or are not honestly felt or strongly embraced. There are many in the Tancredo camp that we will never reach. They do not want any immigration, legal or illegal. There is no way to reach them nor should we try. They belong in the muck of privilege and prejudice into which we should never descend and from which we can never emerge. Yet, there are others who opposed Section 8001 and voted for HR 4437 who can be reached. Our task is to find out how, to speak to their hearts and to learn a common language whose most honest expression can unite us all . That is the way forward.
There is a price, however, to be paid for coming to terms with reality. Those who favor more immigration must cease and desist from their reflexive opposition to any enforcement measure. There is nothing wrong with enforcement if it is tied to a wider social purpose, if it seeks to facilitate, rather than prevent, immigration that is manifestly in the national interest. That is the true objection to HR 4437, not that it hurts, because enforcement often hurts and frequently should, if it has any teeth. The real problem with Sensenbrenner is that his vision consists of enforcement not to aid policy, but as a substitute for it, not to promote immigration, but to discourage it. More than the aliens themselves, America is the real loser. To change their approach on enforcement, pro-immigration supporters must change their view of immigration itself. If one believes, as most supporters of immigration have always believed, that immigration is international social work whose fundamental justification lies in helping the individual alien, then opposition to enforcement necessarily follows for the burden of such enforcement falls most harshly upon the object of their compassion. It must be so. Only when immigration advocates are primarily concerned with the deployment of immigration as a strategic tool to promote core national objectives will they be intellectually and emotionally capable of deciding what enforcement to embrace and what to resist. This must happen if an enlightened immigration policy can ever hope to regain control of the national debate and silence Lou Dobbs once and for all. Unless we adopt a more nuanced approach towards enforcement and recognize that new benefits must come with strings attached, ours will remain a minority position in the country at large. Does this make sense? Does it benefit our clients? Does it get us what we want?
The question is not whether enforcement will be front and center in the immigration conversation but, rather, how it will be used and towards what ends. If we who favor immigration do not embrace enforcement and seek to fashion it in our image, then we should not be surprised when our foes shape it in their own. That is precisely what has been happening, and that is one big reason why HR 4437 hurts as much as it does. There are some provisions that deserve our constant condemnation and unremitting hostility; yet, there are others that we should have supported or, at a minimum, sought to modify or moderate. Once you give the American public the distinct impression that only the other side wants to make them safe, even if they are wrong, even if they are only seeking to elicit favorable headlines, you are starting off from a posture of political weakness and playing catch-up is rarely enough to ward off disaster.
For a long time, our side just didnt get it. While they could read the calendar, their hearts and minds were still stuck on September 10, 2001, a time when Congress was poised to revive Section 245(i) forgiveness and abolish the I-9 employer sanctions regime. Finally, about one year ago, they got religion. President Bush put the issue of guest workers center stage and Senator McCain signed on to S.1003, The Secure and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005. Title IV of S. 1003 deals entirely with enforcement, most notably Section 402 that, precisely as HR 4437 does, mandates establishment of an Employment Eligibility Confirmation System to allow employers to verify an employees identity and employment authorization. Indeed, it would not be too much of an exaggeration to say that the inclusion of enforcement was the price that Sen. Kennedy and his allies paid for having Sen. McCain come on board. There was a hearing on S. 1003 before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 26, 2005 (I testified at one of the panels for that hearing), but no action after that. Since then, leading conservative pro-immigration advocates, like Tamar Jacoby, have called for a melding of McCain- Kennedys guest worker provisions with the enforcement mechanism of S. 1438, the so-called Cornyn-Kyl Bill , more formally known as the Comprehensive Enforcement and Immigration Reform Act of 2005 whose chief architects are Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ).
Had McCain-Kennedy been introduced sooner, had the Senate Republican stalemate over immigration been broken, perhaps Rep. Sensenbrenner would not have moved ahead with his own bill, being forced instead to respond to what the Senate had done. There being no Senate action, Rep. Sensenbrenner saw an opening to press his own enforcement agenda and he took it, brilliantly and decisively. His victory in the House may come back to haunt the Republican Party, much as the GOP enactment of national origins quotas in 1924 turned generations of immigrants towards the Democratic banner and as Proposition 187 ultimately derailed the presidential aspirations of California Governor Pete Wilson. Republican stalwart Jack Kemp plays the role of Cassandra:
The so-called Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R. 4437) is so overreaching that, in my opinion, it could become the Proposition 187 of the 21st century the effect was to drastically alienate Hispanic voters in California from the Republican Party Its true our borders are broken and the problem is huge, but Republicans have the opportunity today to take the lead on reforms and fix our immigration system. Sending this legislation to the President to be signed is sure to be perceived as anti-immigrant and, indeed, anti-growth: http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?print=yes&id=1112.
How many pro-immigration organizations have invited people like Jack Kemp to serve on their boards? How many Executive Directors of pro-immigration groups have served on the campaign committees of Republicans like Kemp, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) or Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah)? Why are there not more Tamar Jacobys out there? I ask these questions as a life-long Democrat whose political baptism came in volunteering for Bobby Kennedy when he ran for the United States Senate in 1964, went Clean for Gene in 1968, stayed up till 2Am to hear McGoverns acceptance speech, and who still regards Bush v. Gore as illegitimate. If we want immigration policy to be bipartisan, as it must be if it is to create a sustainable national consensus grounded on compassion and enlightened self-interest, then immigration advocates must become bipartisan, not a left-leaning interest group most concerned with advancing the election prospects of the Democratic Party. There is nothing wrong with caring about the Democratic Party first and immigration second if one is honest about their intentions and their purpose. Putting either immigration or the Democratic Party first are both equally moral positions. What is immoral is to pretend to be one when secretly being the other. Far too many immigration interest groups will suddenly fall mute if speaking out means that Republicans get the credit. We need honest priorities openly expressed if the national conversation on immigration is to achieve the kind of results we claim we want and which I believe we do want.
We live in a time when civility is a sign of weakness and sincerity is subject to proof. Now, now more than ever, the vital center must hold. It is in the wake of Sensenbrenner's bill that champions of immigration must seek to create a third way that has within its big tent ample room for those Sensenbrenner supporters who realize that America needs an outward looking immigration policy integrated with the global economy and responsive to the manifold challenges of the digital age. For those who prefer the security of ancient hatreds, this will not be a time of opportunity but remain one of bitterness and suspicion. Yet, it can be more than that if we but have the will to chart a new course towards those whose dreams have not been ours. We owe it to our clients and our country to try. Rather than abandoning our beliefs, we must marry our deepest convictions to an abiding concern for Americas future. When the German Army invaded Russia in June 1941, Prime Minister Winston Churchill immediately went to the well of the House of Commons to urge all out support for Marshall Josef Stalin. Asked how a lifelong foe of Bolshevism could take such a stand and reach out to those who had always been his most bitter foes, Churchill responded with words that we, who seek to make sense out of Sensenbrenner's bill, would do well to take to heart: " If the Nazis invaded hell, I would say a good word for the Devil in the House of Commons!" Amen, Winston. We are all right behind you.
About The Author


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2020 Seasonal Camping Rates
Season Dates: May 8, 2020 to Sept 9th, 2020
Site fee entitles one family (2 adults and their dependant children) with one vehicle to recreational use of one site with 15 amp electrical service.
Waterfront sites.............................................$3949.00
In land sites.................................................. $3199.00
2nd site..........................................................$1699.00
Second site entitles the site occupant to a free seasonal visitor pass and second vehicle.
Boat Lift offsite..............................................$100.00 – This fee includes the lift going in and coming out.
30 amp service..............................................$125.00 *
Second vehicle..............................................$100.00
Boat (non-motorized boats are exempt).…...$100.00 – This fee is included in a dock space
Offsite parking...............................................$100.00
Seasonal Visitor pass …...……………….….$299.00 - see limitations at bottom
12' x 8' dock space……………… …….....….$425.00 - Includes $100 boat fee
16' x 10'dock space .……………………..…..$499.00 Includes $100 boat fee
Winter Storage fee boat and trailer…………$125.00
All rates are subject to HST
- Boat lift fee will not apply to boat lifts stored on the occupants' site. Lifts left anywhere along the waterfront, in the beach area, or ANY area other than the owners' site will be subject to the fee.
- 30 amp service and A/C charges are MANDATORY fees for all A/C capable trailers.
- $100 tax levy for trailers with a beam wider than 8'6"
- $100 tax levy for permanent trailers (e.g. sunroom, and hard awning)
The above prices include a 4% Cash Discount. Payments other than cash, cheque or debit please add 4% to above rates. Payments may also be made via E-transfer.
Payment Schedule:
- $700 deposit due on October 1, 2019. $50 late fee for deposits not received by October 1, 2019
- $700 payment due on January 15, 2020.
- Balance due on April 1, 2020.
- Interest will be charged on all overdue accounts @ 3% per month on the 2nd of each month, starting April 1, 2020.
- 5% discount for full payment made by October 1, 2019.
Seasonal Visitor Pass will cover 1 family (2 adults, 1 vehicle, and their dependent children) at a time. Additional visitors on the same weekend will result in additional visitor fees.
|Seasonal License of Occupation

subset: commoncrawl


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I have a large spreadsheet with hundreds of cells. No formulas or special formatting, just names and dates and other text. There are certain words that I would like to be able to change the text format of. For instance, I would like to be able to change every occurrence of "dog" to "dog" but make it blue text. I haven't been able to figure out how to do this without changing the color of every word in the cell. I want the rest of the cell to remain unformatted, but change the format of only the text I control+F and Replace All. Is there a way to do this?
Using Excel 2003 with WinXP.
Find & Replace will not change the format of a cell, much less a sub-string within a cell.
The only way I can think of doing it is with a macro.
In its simplest form, something like this should work:
Assume the following values in A1:A4 -
It's a Dog's life
My dog is brown
Nice dog!
Dog Gone It
This code will turn each occurrence of "dog", regardless of case, blueSub Color_My_Dog() 'Start loop For rw = 1 To 4 'Search for string within each cell myStart = InStr(UCase(Range("A" & rw)), UCase("Dog")) 'If string is found, color it Blue If myStart > 0 Then Range("A" & rw).Characters(Start:=myStart, Length:=3).Font.ColorIndex = 5 End If Next End Sub
I used the term simplist because I have hardcoded "dog" (and its length, 3) in the code. We could get fancier and have the user input the word and let the code figure out the rest out on its own.
Let me know if this is something you are interested in.
Click Here Before Posting Data or VBA Code ---> How To Post Data or Code.
I suspected a macro would be able to do it, but I am not familiar with how to write them. I specifically wanted to change each instance of "DQ(NT)", which is a code we use in my lab, to be colored blue. I have modified the macro you posted to say
Sub Color_My_Dog() 'Start loop For rw = 1 To 132 'Search for string within each cell myStart = InStr(UCase(Range("A" & rw)), UCase("DQ(NT)")) 'If string is found, color it Blue If myStart > 0 Then Range("A" & rw).Characters(Start:=myStart, Length:=6).Font.ColorIndex = 5 End If Next End Sub
Basically I substituted the phrase I wanted for 'dog' and modified the number of letters in that phrase from 3 to 6.
I tested this and it works, however now I need to modify which columns it selects (specifically, I need it to change the information in columns F, G, and H). Is there a way to have it inspect multiple columns as well?
Thank you VERY much by the way. Everyone in my lab swore to me this was not possible. This one macro will be used for lots of projects I am sure.
Where ever you see "Range("A" & rw)" it means that the code is referring to Column A.
You could replicate the majority of the code 3 times to refer to Range("F" & rw)" then Range("G" & rw)" then Range("H" & rw)", or you could be a lot more elegant and use another syntax for referencing ranges.
Cells(rw, 1) will also reference Column A since Column A is Column 1.
Cells(rw, 6) would reference Column F, 7 would reference G, etc.
So, let's use that syntax and loop on both the Column and Row numbers:Sub Color_My_Dog() 'Start loops For col = 6 To 8 For rw = 1 To 132 'Search for string within each cell myStart = InStr(UCase(Cells(rw, col)), UCase("DQ(NT)")) 'If string is found, color it Blue If myStart > 0 Then Cells(rw, col).Characters(Start:=myStart, Length:=6).Font.ColorIndex = 5 End If Next Next End Sub
BTW: The UCase method is only used so that the code won't care about the case of the string it is looking for. The code forces whatever is in the cell it is looking at to be Upper Case - within it's own "memory" - and then compares it to the Upper Case version of the string so that it will always match.
In other words, UCase("Dq(NT)"), UCase("dQ(NT)"), Ucase("dq(nt)) all look like "DQ(NT) to VBA.
If your string really is DQ(NT) in every cell (i.e. all uppercase in every cell) then you don't need the UCase method.
Click Here Before Posting Data or VBA Code ---> How To Post Data or Code.
So helpful, thank you!
I would say that you have spoiled me, and now I will be coming here for help every week... but instead I think you might have just convinced me it is well worth my time to learn how to write macros.
Very kind of you to help, thanks again.


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Julie P. Barry Participating in MCLE's 18th Annual Environmental, Land Use & Energy Law Conference
February 2, 2017 @ 9:15 am - 5:00 pm
Event Navigation
Julie P. Barry, partner and chair of Prince Lobel's Environmental practice group, is participating in the MCLE's 18th Annual Environmental, Land Use & Energy Law Conference. The panelists will survey the critical new developments in each of the major fields of environmental law, energy law, land use, and related litigation. Julie's presentation will focus on the changing landscape of energy resources and facilities following important legislation and cases.
Click here for more information about the upcoming seminar.


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House-elves have their own brand of magic that only they have access to, as do many other magical creatures. The upper limits of Elf magic are not known, however it is incredibly versatile and allows them to perform very powerful magic.
They are often underestimated however because of their small stature. Their loyalty also prevents them from using magic against their masters until they are free. This amounts to their reputation as push overs and leading lives of abuse.
To test the security around the locket Horcrux in the 1970s, Lord Voldemort required a house-elf for the job, and Regulus Black nominated Kreacher. After using Kreacher for his purposes, Voldemort left him there to die. Bound by the laws of his kind, Kreacher was able to Disapparate out of the cave and return to Regulus because Regulus had told Kreacher to return after the task was finished.
In 1993, Dobby protected Harry Potter by using his magic to throw Lucius Malfoy across the floor, and in 1994, Winky used her magic to bind Barty Crouch Jr to her, to make sure he did not escape. Winky's magic broke when she was rendered unconscious.
In 1998, Dobby disarmed Narcissa Malfoy by snapping his fingers. Her wand flew into Harry Potter's hand.
It is implied that with a wand and the proper knowledge, house-elves may be able to do other magic, as Winky was accused of using the Morsmordre spell to conjure the Dark Mark in the sky, though it was in fact cast by Bartemius Crouch Jr Bartemius Crouch Snr. suggested that Amos Diggory was implying that "I routinely teach my servants to conjure the Dark Mark," suggesting that it would have been possible for Winky to use the spell if she had the knowledge.
Examples of house-elf magic
Harry Potter once remarked that House Elves were actually much more capable of wielding advanced magic than wizards, despite not having wands.[1]
House Elves have access to their very own brand of wandless Magic that only they can use. It should be noted that House Elves do not verbally cast spells, rather their magic is performed through their sheer force of will and intent. This makes a House Elf all the more dangerous, considering they can perform feats of magic in places that restricts even witches and wizards from doing so.[1][2] The upper limits of their magic is not known; however, it is incredibly versatile and on occasion has proved to be very powerful, despite having certain limitations due to the fact they don't use wands.
It has been demonstrated that even with wands, wizards have been unable to break spells by House Elves.[3]
- Apparition: House-elves could apparate even in places where Wizards and Witches could not. It is not thought possible to prevent a House Elf from doing so, given the various examples of this in heavily secured locations. This was proven when Kreacher apparated out of The Cave where Voldemort hid his locket horcrux to test the locket's security. The cave had an extremely powerful dark magical barrier to forbid such from happening, placed there by none other than the greatest Dark Lord of all time, Voldemort. However, despite this, Kreacher succeeded where even Dumbledore did not. This is a testament to the power of House Elf magic. House Elves could also apparate in groups, in order to transport others, such as when Dobby would apparate his friends Harry, Ron and Hermione together; this is called Side-Along Apparition. Another example of a House Elf apparating into a location that has been heavily protected from such things, was when Dobby apparated in and out of Malfoy Manor to save Harry and his friends. This was an impossible feat for Witches and Wizards alike who had to gain entry by the front gate.[1][4][2]
- Charms: House-elves were capable of casting charms. This is shown when Dobby notably performed the Hover Charm on a pudding in the Dursley house. This is also shown when Kreacher performed cleaning charms to assist in his errands for the House of Black. House Elves are renowned for using domestic charms around the homes of their masters.[5][6]
- Duelling: House-elves were capable fighters and could duel witches and wizards in magical combat. This was shown when the House Elves took part in the battle of Hogwarts, although most of the elves used knives and cleavers to attack the ankles of the wizards. Dobby also attacked Lucius Malfoy in order to protect Harry Potter with a powerful blasting or stunning spell. It isn't specified what the spell was.[1][5]
- Disarming Charm: House-elves could disarm witches and wizards with the snap of their fingers. This was shown when Dobby disarmed Narcissa Malfoy in combat.[1]
- Dark Magic: Once again proving their worth, House-elves could perform powerful feats of dark magic if they so wished. This is proven when Dobby hexed the barrier that leads to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, a very powerful magical barrier, so that Harry Potter and his friends could not enter. This is also shown when Dobby once again hexed a Bludger forcing it to chase Harry hoping that if it hurt him badly enough he'd be sent home. Naturally Dobby was not intending to kill Harry; in fact he was trying to save him from Lucius Malfoy's plan to open the Chamber of Secrets.[5]
Winky also performed a very powerful jinx to bind an individual to her proximity. This seems to be quite powerful, as when she used it on Barty Crouch Jr, he could not sever the bond even after acquiring a wand. However, once she had fallen unconscious, the spell broke.[3]
House Elves and Wands
Despite a House Elf not requiring a wand to perform any of the above mentioned feats of magic, it is known throughout the wizarding world that an Elf has the potential to wield a wand. Doing so would greatly increase their already formidable powers, however after the ban on wand use by magical creatures, Elves are forbidden to do so. Despite this, Elves are quite happy not using a wand as it doesn't greatly diminish their capabilities anyway.
Behind the scenes
- In the LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 level, Dobby's Plan, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley try and capture Dobby while he curses the rogue bludger. Whenever Dobby would be hit, he would Apparate to the next location. When playing as Dobby in levels, the only spell he had was the Levitation Charm inspired by the similar charm he used on Aunt Petunia's pudding.
- In the books and films, Elves have never verbally used incantations or wands, by with a snap of their fingers. Which suggests that Elf Magic is self taught, harnessed through sheer force of will and intent alone in order to achieve the desired effects they want. However when Dobby used Elf Magic to levitate a cake in the Chamber of Secrets Book, the Ministry recognised it as the Hover Charm through The Trace, so it is debatable. The Ministries recognition of the charm however was not included in the film.[5] Regardless of this, in the book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter remarks how House Elves are actually much more capable of wielding advanced magic than wizards, despite not having wands.[1]
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- Harry Potter: The Creature Vault(Mentioned only)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix


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Within every organization, there is noise: noise from mixed messages, confusing politics, broken processes, fractured strategy, competing priorities, and dysfunctional corporate behavior, all of which greatly limits productivity, profitability, and employee engagement.
Noise can be eliminated (not just reduced) by transforming behavior – by digging into the core of human nature, seeing personal behavior as the cause of most of our problems, and converting our frustration with others into respect for them as a means of solving our own problems.
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text:
Aniston, 43, plays a mascot-clad contestant vying for the affections of a "sensitive firefighter" played by Ken Marino ("Party Down"). When she doesn't receive his "hose" at the end of the episode she finally reveals herself in the exit interview.
"Maybe the bear suit wasn't such a good idea," she admitted to the camera on the limo ride home, before pleading with the driver to circle back.
Aniston isn't the only famous face Stiller recruited for the Yahoo show. Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell and Ken Jeong also star.
Jen is much more lucky in love in real life, new pictures of the superstar out on a date with boyfriend Justin Theroux are definitely knocking down tabloid reports they had split.


text:
WWW.SHROUDEATER.COM - The Vampire Hoax of Highgate Cemetery - UK
Vampires United Kingdom
Back to Main Menu
Anantis Castle
Tarrant Gunville
Back to Main Menu
Introduction :
Once upon a time, there was a Highgate Vampire... Or was there ?
Over the years, I have collected a ridiculous amount of material about the Highgate case. Well, supposing that it is a case... I have been in personal contact and correspondence with some of the people who are reported to be or present themselves as being the main witnesses to the supposed happenings in Highgate. I have collected lots of books and letters, newspaper articles, photos, videos, sound recordings, and the Good Lord only knows what else. I have come to the conclusion that it seems likely that there may have been some strange phenomena (perhaps I should say going-ons ?) at the time. But I personally find it very hard to believe that there has ever been a true undead vampire corpse in Highgate Cemetery. Or any place else for that matter. So why then do I run this site ? Because I am interested in the remarkable popular beliefs and delusions about the Undead. Fascinating as it may be, let us not forget that the most logical explanation for these vampires is all in the mind.
So how are we going to deal with this particular case ? I guess that it will be best to try and stick to our usual format. But in this case, I will refrain from giving you a synopsis as there exists such a plethora of material, much of which appears to be contradictory. For the moment I will be satisfied to indicate some of the material that is available on the case and - as always - it will be up to you what to make of it. Personally, I have never had any wish to become part of the "Highgate Vampire Circus", where people are rolling in the street trying to kill off each other's reputation. For I have better things to do. I only fell for it, because it seemed like something interesting at the time, especially since it was rather recent. At the time.
Again - as always - I want you to come to your own conclusions, rather than blindly follow the findings of someone else, and that includes myself. I do hope to add much further material to this page, if and when I am given the time to do so.
Obviously, our two main sources will be Sean Manchester and David Farrant. So - for the moment - I urge you to see what these two gentlemen have to say. For the time being, I will simply point you to their most relevant publications and leave it at that.
Sean Manchester's versions of the Case :
The story as told in Peter Underwood's "The Vampire's Bedside Companion", 1975 :
Make sure that you do not miss this one. It will be amusing and of serious interest comparing it to some of Mr. Manchester's later publications and statements.
The story as told in "The Haunting of Hell House", 1975 :
This magazine article will be pretty hard to find, no doubt, but it is also quite interesting in view of some of the later revisions.
The story as told in "The Highgate Vampire", 1985 :
Best of the lot, no doubt, with plenty of fascinating photographs. This is the most exciting version of the story. If you have not read this version, and compared it to the other ones, I would suggest: give it up and do not even consider any serious investigation or evaluation of this case.
The story as told in "The Highgate Vampire", 1991 :
What can I say ? At this stage Mr. Manchester had become a priest, a bishop even, and to me (being of a suspiscious nature) it might perhaps look as if he wanted to do a serious revision of the things that he had published before. Some of his previous writings were no longer in line with his newly found status. Anyway, whatever the reason, it is not my problem. As always, I am urging you all to do your own research. So get out of your chairs and do go read Mr. Manchester's books and other publications. ALL OF THEM !
David Farrant's versions of the Case :
"Beyond the Highgate Vampire" (1992) :
Interesting little book which, apart from offering further information, should well be worth its price for some of the photos that are in there. If you are going to read Manchester's books, you also need to read Farrant's ones, so you will get a more complete view.
"The Vampire Syndrome - the Truth behind the Highgate Vampire Legend" (2000) :
Another nice publication that should be of help to clear up some of the misinformation that we may have been handed by other sources. Not to be missed, if you want to figure out what this case is about.
"Dark Secrets - A True story of Satanism, Black Magic and Modern Day Witchcraft exhortations" (2001) :
And yet another book that has to be on your reading list if you do have a serious interest in the Highgate case. It covers David Farrant's life in an autobiographical manner, from the early days when he was first initiated into Wicca, through his trials and imprisonment, up to the present days.
"Man, Myth and Manchester" - 8 issues - (2000-2002)
Informative little publication. Not to be missed. Sometimes it may seem a little bit too personal.
But over the years, just like Mr. Farrant, I think that I have had to suffer my share of misinformation, propaganda, lies and other unpleasant stuff sent out by people trying to destroy my reputation. Hey, I can laugh about it, most of the time. And it does help to know that there must be at least a hundred people or more, some of them much better people than myself, who have received the same disgraceful treatment or worse from the people who are cowardly hiding behind a certain Highgate P.O.box. As far as I am concerned, no problem. But I can well imagine that there are others around who have suffered much worse than I have. Let's say like uh... Mr. Farrant ?
The Dates :
Let us not forget that according to Sean Manchester there are actually two vampire cases. There is the "King Wampyr" that he is supposed to have destroyed. And there is his ex-girlfriend "Lusia" who came back from the grave in the shape of a gigantic demonic spider. Or so we are told. There are lots of other dates as well, that are not without relevance. Hey, I am not here to make your life easier. I will keep those dates and other facts until the day when I hope to add some of my more personal comments to this page. In the meantime, you can easily find them elsewhere.
For what they are worth, Mr. Manchester does give us various dates. And so does Mr. Farrant. Well, at least you do have some things (I find it hard to always call them facts) to follow up upon. Go check them out !
The Places : HIGHGATE CEMETERY
Highgate Cemetery is situated in the North of London. Unsurprisingly, in Highgate. In the past it was easy to go to the cemetery and take pictures. But total control of the cemetery is now in the hands of "The Friends of Highgate Cemetery". In October 1985 I joined the friends for a year, so I could find out more about their activities, receive their newsletters and stay informed about and visit the "open days" that they organised. Sadly, these days, the friends have become less friendly than you might expect. There is no more walking around on your own, without a guide. Absurd restrictions have been introduced as far as photography or filming is concerned. Many of the beautiful trees that once gave the cemetery its special atmosphere have been chopped down and sold for firewood. I have been told that it is still possible to visit the old side of the cemetery on a guided (or should I say guarded) tour. But there also appear to be restrictions as to the number of people that can go on a tour, so you will be lucky if they will even let you in. From what I have last heard, video is out of the question, unless you first negociate ridiculous prices. And permission to take photos will also cost you extra money. Apart from that, there are all kinds of silly rules on what you can or can not take photos of. Sadly, from what I have heard, those "open days" now seem to be something of the faraway past.
Personal Comments: SEAN MANCHESTER
Ok... So let us start with the books by Sean Manchester. His picture above I took on a walk that we made through Highgate Wood way back in 1992. On to the books then. Despite the fact that I am a great fan of Chrissie Demant's amazing artwork, which is featured in the "revised edition", I much prefer the earlier "Highgate Vampire" edition that was published by the "British Occult Society" in 1985. The later shall we say "expurgated edition" was of course published at a time when Sean was seriously trying to present himself to the media and to the public as a proper priest rather than an "occult researcher", a "white magician", the "President of the Occult Society", "Lord Manchester", or even "Britain's Psychic Number One". Obviously, you ought to have both versions of the book, for it is entertaining and enlightening to read them side by side and note all the changes and differences. Be sure to put the earlier version from "The Vampire's Bedside Companion" next to them, and you may find it even more amusing.
Much of what I wanted to tell you has already been said when I made my comments on the different versions of Sean's story. So I am not going into that again. Hey, I want to inspire you to go do your own bit of research. That is all that this site is about. Having said that, it is definitely worth the trouble of checking all the original newspaper articles and such as well.
Personal Comments: DAVID FARRANT
And let us not forget David Farrant. His picture above I took on a visit to his home in 1995. Like so many others, he too has been suffering from the infamous Manchester Propaganda Factory and undoubtedly worse than anyone else in this world. It has not stopped him from publishing some rather interesting material about the happenings at Highgate. It is true. None of David's material that I have read seems quite as sensational and fantastic as Sean's wild inventions, but it is much more factual and much more realistic. If you are going to read Sean's stories, and of course you should, then you should definitely read David's books as well to get a more complete picture.
Personal Comments: KEV DEMANT
And - by all means - let us not forget THE WORLD'S GREATEST AND MOST SERIOUS HIGHGATE VAMPIRE INVESTIGATOR that I have ever met so far: Kev Demant, who appears to have put much more time and energy into the research of the Highgate Vampire than anyone else in this world. He has managed to unearth all of the old newspaper articles. He has stuck his neck out and has been in touch with most of the people who were involved in the case, as well as with those who were connected with the case. Together with his wife Chrissie, he has published the now legendary VAT zine. Despite the intimidations of a certain cleric and his band of not so merry men, they then went on and published the equally legendary "Suspended in Dusk", thus making available loads of hitherto unknown information about the Highgate affair and the people involved.
"Suspended in Dusk" - 6 issues - (1998-2000)
I bet that you will have a hell of a time trying to find copies of this brilliant and most informative fanzine. Having said that, hey, it should not be impossible. If you are indeed a serious and determined vampire researcher, little things like this should never stop you. Just use your brain, and you will find something somewhere no doubt.
Possible Follow-Up:
For what it's worth, let me give you my personal opinion. After spending more than two decades seriously looking into this case, it seems pretty clear to me that there is no factual basis for the vampire part of the story. It is completely based on the testimony of one single man who - again in my personal opinion - can hardly be considered to be a trustworthy witness. Sure, there is no doubt about it that certain well-documented things did happen at Highgate at the time. But the fantastic stories of "Lord Manchester" destroying the "King Vampire" and the "White Magician" destroying the "Demonic Spider" ? Come on guys, get real ! That is definitely not what this site is about.
So - to me - there does not seem to be an awful lot that we can do. However, if YOU are willing to take Sean's word for what is supposed to have happened, by all means, do go ahead and investigate. Be sure to compare all of Sean's different revisions of the story, and see how they have changed over the years. Fortunately for you, he has explanations for everything that you may find suspicious. Still not satisfied ? Then do get in touch with him and find out for yourself what kind of stuff he is made of. And if indeed you decide to do get in touch with him, all I can say is that I do wish you the best of luck. You may be going to need it.
Selected Reading List :
anon :
"Does a wampyr walk in Highgate?"
in: "Hampstead and Highgate Express"
London, UK, 27-February-1970
anon :
"Secret exorcism at Highgate tomb"
in: "Hornsey Journal"
London, UK, 28-August-1970
anon :
"Bail for Highgate 'vampire hunter'"
in: "Hornsey Journal"
London, UK, 28-August-1970
anon :
"Wife was 'terrified' by Black Magic threat on the phone"
in: "Daily Mirror"
London, UK, 5-November-1970
anon :
"Occultist's feud goes to court"
in: "Express & News"
London, UK, 16-April-1971
James Dickie (ed.) :
in: "The Undead"
Neville Spearman, London, UK, 1971
Basil Copper :
"Nights in Highgate Cemetery"
"The Vampire in Legend and Fact"
Robert Hale & Company, London, UK, 1973
anon :
"The graveyard ghoul awaits his fate"
in: "Hornsey Journal"
London, UK, 28-June-1974
Peter Underwood :
"Haunted London"
Fontana Books, London, UK, 1975
Peter Underwood :
"Vampires and Highgate Cemetery"
in: "The Vampire's Bedside Companion"
Leslie Frewin, London, UK, 1975
Sean Manchester :
"The Highgate Vampire"
in: "The Vampire's Bedside Companion"
Leslie Frewin, London, UK, 1975
Sean Manchester :
"The Haunting of Hell House"
in: "New Witchcraft", no.4
Edited by Brian Netscher, UK, 1975
Peter Haining :
"The Dracula Scrapbook"
New English Library, London, UK, 1976
Jean-Paul Bourre :
"Les nouveaux Vampires de Londres"
in: "Messes Rouges et Romantisme Noir"
Alain Lefeuvre, Nice, 1980
Jean-Paul Bourre :
"Autour d'un envoûtement"
in: "Messes Rouges et Romantisme Noir"
Alain Lefeuvre, Nice, 1980
Jean-Claude Asfour :
"L'affaire d'Highgate"
in: "Messes Rouges et Romantisme Noir"
Alain Lefeuvre, Nice, 1980
Nathalie Sarazin :
"Une ténébreuse affaire"
in: "Messes Rouges et Romantisme Noir"
Alain Lefeuvre, Nice, 1980
Jean-Paul Bourre :
"Le Vampire de Highgate"
in: "Dracula et les Vampires"
Éditions du Rocher, Monaco, 1981
Felix Barker :
"Highgate Cemetery - Victorian Valhalla"
John Murray, London, UK, 1984
Paul B. Thomson :
"The Highgate Vampire"
in: "Vampire Information Exchange Newsletter" issues 22 and 23
VIEN, New York, USA, 1984
Jeanne Youngson :
"Highgate - Fact or Fraud ?"
in: "Vampire Information Exchange Newsletter" issue 23
VIEN, New York, USA, 1984
Sean Manchester :
"The Highgate Vampire"
British Occult Society, London, UK, 1985
Jean-Paul Bourre :
"Highgate - Le Réveil du Vampire"
in: "Le Sang, la Mort et le Diable"
Henri Veyrier, Paris, 1985
Jean-Paul Bourre :
"Les Vampires de Londres"
in: "Les Vampires"
MA Editions, Paris, 1986
Vincent Hillyer :
"They Bite! - contemporary cases of vampirism"
in: "Vampires"
Loose Change Publications, Los Banos, USA, 1988
Sean Manchester :
"From Satan to Christ"
Holy Grail, London, UK, 1988
Rob Brautigam :
in: "De Dader ligt op het Kerkhof"
Vampire Control, Amsterdam, NL, 1989
John L. Vellutini :
"Was Robin Hood a Vampire?"
in: "For the Blood is Life"
Chipenham, UK, 1989
Michael Magenis :
"Curse of the Evil Dead"
in: "Midweek"
London, UK, 17-May-1990
Peter Underwood :
"Exorcism and Vampires"
in: "Exorcism!"
Robert Hale, London, UK, 1990
Phyllis Stein :
"Stalker of the Undead"
in: "Sunday Mail"
London, UK, 24-June-1990
Sean Manchester :
"The Highgate Vampire" (revised edition)
Gothic Press, London, UK, 1991
David Farrant :
"Beyond the Highgate Vampire"
B.P.O.S., London, UK, 1991
Rosemary Ellen Guiley :
"Stalking the Vampire"
in: "Vampires Among Us"
Pocket Books, New York, USA, 1991
Carol Page :
"Bloodlust - Conversations with Real Vampires"
HarperCollins, New York, USA, 1991
Beverley d'Silva :
"Late Starters"
in: "London"
Sunday Times, London, UK, 17 March 1991
Rob Brautigam :
"Highgate Cemetery"
in: "International Vampire" issue 5
InterVamp, Amsterdam, NL, 1991
Ramsey Campbell :
"From Christ to Satan - Sean Manchester's Books Reviewed"
in: "Shock Xpress I"
Titan Books, UK, 1991
David Farrant :
"Beyond the Highgate Vampire" (2nd revised edition)
B.P.O.S., London, UK, 1992
Sharon Jarvis :
"The Vampires of Highgate Cemetery"
in: "Dead Zones"
Warner Books, New York, USA, 1992
Sean Manchester :
"Highgate - A walk through vampire country"
in: "International Vampire" issues 7, 8 and 9
InterVamp, Amsterdam, NL, 1992
anon :
"The Kirklees Vampire"
in: "The Unexplained" issue 38
Orbis Publishing, London, UK, 1992
Jean Marigny :
"L'énigme satanique du caveau ouvert"
in: "Sang pour Sang - Le Réveil des Vampires"
Gallimard, Paris, France, 1993
Matthew Bunson :
"Highgate Vampire"
in: "The Vampire Encyclopedia"
Crown Trade Paperbacks, New York, USA, 1993
Miles Evans :
"We're brimming with psychic forces says Barnet's white witch"
in: "The Press"
J. Gordon Melton :
"The Highgate Vampire"
in: The Vampire Book - The Encyclopedia of the Undead"
Visible Ink Press, Detroit, USA, 1994
J. Gordon Melton :
"Vampire Research Society"
in: The Vampire Book - The Encyclopedia of the Undead"
Visible Ink Press, Detroit, USA, 1994
Kev Demant :
"The Complete Perverts Guide to The Highgate Vampire Bibliography"
in: "VAT" issue 5
VAT, London, UK, 1994
Massimo Introvigne :
"Indagine sul satanismo"
Mondadori, Milano, Italy, 1994
Brian McConnell :
"The Highgate Vampire Hunt"
in: "The Possessed"
Headline Book Publishing, London, UK, 1995
Sean Manchester :
"The Grail Church"
Holy Grail, London, UK, 1995
Len Markham :
"The Grave of Robin Hood"
in: "Ten Yorkshire Mysteries"
Kev Demant :
"Suspended in Dusk"
in : "Udolpho" no.29
The Gothic Society, Chislehurst, UK, 1997
Sean Manchester :
"The Vampire Hunters Handbook"
Gothic Press, London, UK, 1997
Craig Miller :
"The Vampire Prioress at Robin Hood's Grave"
in: "Fate"
UK, July-1997
David Farrant :
"Beyond the Highgate Vampire" (3rd revised edition)
B.P.O.S., London, UK, 1997
anon :
"Occult Investigator - David Farrant"
in: "The X-Factor" issue 7
Marshall Cavendish, UK, 1997
Massimo Introvigne :
"Enquête sur le Satanisme"
Editions Dervy, Paris, France, 1997
Paul van Loon & Jack Didden :
"Engelse Vampierjagers"
in: "Vampierhandboek"
Elzenga, Amsterdam, NL, 1997
Paul van Loon & Jack Didden :
"Vies, bruin Omhulsel"
in: "Vampierhandboek"
Elzenga, Amsterdam, NL, 1997
David Farrant :
"The Truth behind the Highgate Vampire Legend"
in: "Suspended in Dusk" issues 1 to 6
The Highgate Vampire Society, London, UK, 1998-2000
Kev Demant :
"Hammer Horror - The Genesis of the Highgate Vampire ?"
in: "Suspended in Dusk" issue 1
The Highgate Vampire Society, London, UK, 1998
Kev Demant :
"The House of Dracula"
in: "Suspended in Dusk" issue 2
The Highgate Vampire Society, London, UK, 1998
anon :
"The day I met a vampire"
in: "Camden New Journal"
London, UK, 10 September 1998
Kev Demant :
"My Death"
in: "Suspended in Dusk" issue 3
The Highgate Vampire Society, London, UK, 1998
Paul van Loon & Jack Didden :
"Englische Vampirjäger"
in: "Das Vampir Handuch"
Arena Verlag, Würtzburg, Germany, 1998
Paul van Loon & Jack Didden :
"Schmutzige braune Überreste"
in: "Das Vampir Handuch"
Arena Verlag, Würtzburg, Germany, 1998
Kev Demant :
"Kirklees: the Birth of a modern day 'Vampire epidemic' ?"
in: "Suspended in Dusk" issue 4
The Highgate Vampire Society, London, UK, 1999
David Farrant :
"The Vampire Syndrome - the Truth behind the Highgate Vampire Legend"
Mutiny! Press, London, UK, 2000
Jean-Paul Bourre :
"Highgate: le réveil du vampire"
in: "Satanisme"
Éditions Pardès, Puiseaux, France, 2000
Kev Demant :
"The From Satan to Christ Show"
in: "Suspended in Dusk" issue 6
The Highgate Vampire Society, London, UK, 2000
Kev Demant :
"Reasonable Cause for Scepticism ?"
in: "Suspended in Dusk" issue 6
The Highgate Vampire Society, London, UK, 2000
David Farrant :
"Fiend without a Face"
in: "Suspended in Dusk" issues 6
The Highgate Vampire Society, London, UK, 2000
Jean-Paul Bourre :
"Sorcellerie à Highgate"
in: "Envoûtement"
Éditions Pardès, Puiseaux, France, 2000
Jeni Connibeer :
"Interview with a vampire detective"
in: "Thisislocallondon"
David Farrant (ed.) :
"Man, Myth and Manchester" (8 issues)
Mutiny! Press, London, UK, 2000-2002
David Farrant :
"Dark Secrets"
British Psychic and Occult Society, London, UK, 2001
Barbara Green :
"Secrets of the Grave"
Palmyra Press, Brighouse, UK, 2001
Bob Campion :
"Highgate Vampire 'back from the grave'"
in: "Haringey Independent"
Lizzie Bush :
"Grave secrets rise from the...page"
in: "The Press"
Ramsey Campbell :
"The Strange Case of Sean Manchester"
in: "Ramsey Campbell, probably"
PS Publishing, Harrogate, UK, 2002
Miguel G. Aracil :
"El vampiro de Highgate: terror en Londres"
in: "Vampiros - Mito y Realidad de los No-Muertos"
Editorial EDAF, Madrid, Spain, 2002
Bridget Galton :
"Vampire hunter in a new web of intrigue"
in: "Hampstead and Highgate Express"
London, UK, 19-September-2003
Luke David :
"Things that go bump in the Spaniard's Inn"
in: "Hampstead and Highgate Express"
London, UK, 03-October-2003
Jordi Ardanuy :
"Retorn a Highgate"
in: "L'Upir" issue 6
Cercle V, Barcelona, Spain, 2005
Marc Mullen :
"Vampire active again, claims occult expert"
in: "Hampstead and Highgate Express"
London, UK, 02-September-2005
Massimo Introvigne :
"Il vampiro teologico colpisce ancora"
in : "La Stirpe di Dracula - Indagine sul Vampirismo dall'Antichità ai nostri Giorni"
Mondadori, Milano, Italy, 2005
Francisco Javier Arries :
"El Vampiro de Highgate"
in : "Vampiros - Bestiario de Ultratumba"
Ediciones Minotauro, Barcelona, Spain, 2007
Jordi Ardanuy :
"Supervivencia y exportación de las prácticas"
in : "Los Vampiros"
Editorial Laetoni, Pamplona, Spain, 2009
First of all I would like to express my gratitude to Sean Manchester and a few of his associates. Thank you, Bishop Sean. Thank you Lady Sarah. What else ? Very much obliged (a little more sincerely this time) for your hospitality : Diana Brewster and son. Thank you Brother Keith. Without your help I would never have solved one of the many mysteries surrounding Sean. And, of course, let's not forget : Thank you Phill. Thank you Barbara. And, being in a good mood today, I will even say thanks to Sean's imaginary lawyer whose name escapes me for the moment, but who - if I remember it correctly - has sent me a few messages (legal threats, were they ?) that were quite entertaining. Thanks all ! Without the help of you guys I bet I would still be at a loss of what to make of the famous Highgate Vampire case.
Thanks also to certain, shall we say, "transatlantic friends", who have done their utmost trying to prevent me from getting, being and staying in touch with Sean Manchester. Sorry guys and gals, it so happens that I am immune to any kind of pressure.
And now for something completely diferent. Sincere and well-meant thanks to David Farrant, who welcomed me into his house on a few occassions, and who was willing to discuss and share his information about the case (unlike some). I also very much appreciate the fact that David has a good sense of humor (again, unlike some). Thank you very much, David.
Of course, without a doubt, a very very very great, well-meant and most sincere thank you should go to my good friends Kev and Chrissie Demant. Kev has gone through the trouble of digging up all of the original newspaper articles and very much more. If there is anyone who has ever done serious historical research into the Highgate Vampire case, then without a doubt it must be Kev Demant. If we have to nominate one single expert in this world who seems to know absolutely EVERYTHING about the Highgate case, I will definitely put my money on Kev Demant. What can I say ? Kev, I owe you more than one. Cheers, mate.
Sincere thanks also to author Ramsey Campbell for answering one of my questions at the speed of lightening. Most respectful thanks to Bishop Vermeulen who most kindly shared some rather interesting bits of background information regarding Sean's "Episcopal Consecration" where he happened to be one of the attending bishops. A very great thank you also to Jennie Gray who - at the risk of excommunication - once sent me some fascinating material about the case. Thanks very much also to certain most friendly and rather informative people from a small but beautiful village in the North of Wales who for obvious reasons prefer to remain nameless, and I can not blame them. They too, have been of great help to me in solving yet another weird Sean related mystery. Just like two of my Dutch friends who accompanied me there, one of whom has most sadly died since our vist to Wales. And there are many more. Way too many to mention each and everyone of them. But I want to give a great big thank you to all of them.
© 2009 by Rob Brautigam - NL - Last changed 19 November 2009
Photo of Highgate Cemetery - © 1986 by Rob Brautigam - Photo of Sean Manchester - © 1992 by Rob Brautigam
Photo of David Farrant - © 1995 by Rob Brautigam


text:
More About LADYPHANTOM
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Recipes I've Shared:
Sweet Tea
Good ole Southern style sweet tea!!! Sweeter than some may like it, especially if you didn't grow up in the South, but we love it!!!
Lemon Pepper Chicken
My family loves this because it has a nice sauce that goes well over rice.


text:
Porsche is the maker of some of the world's most iconic sports cars so when they finally decided to lend a helping hand to the world of yachting it was bound to get some heads turning.
Teaming up with superyacht builder Dynamiq, design house F.A. Porsche have created the GTT 115 Hybrid which will allow owners to take to the seas in luxury and class with a hint of German exhilaration.
Compared to other superyachts out there, the GTT 115 Hybrid also isn't as expensive with a humble pricetag of (just) €11.9 million – or about AUD$18 million. What well-heeled punters are getting for that humble figure is twin 1213kW MAN engines paired with a hybrid power system boasting twin 45kW Fischer Panda variable-speed generators located in the bow.
RELATED: What It's Like To Work At Porsche
This should be enough to see the craft reach considerable speeds on the water but what most are keen to experience is the finer touches of Porsche design both inside and out. And they won't be disappointed. The deck cushions wear the same houndstooth design from the heralded 911 R whilst the rear end mimics the rear hatch of a modern 911 complete with the signature sweeping tail light.
Another design element worth noting is the windows which stand at a generous two-metres in height both above deck and in the lower cabins.
Those who want one to accompany their Stuttgart companion on four wheels will need to move quick. Only seven GTT 115 Hybrids will be produced. You can find out more on how the craft was created in the video below.


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Price: £15.00
Quantity: 1 available
Book Condition: Very Good
Paper covers with loosley inserted pages, some stains on covers (see picture) but otherwise in Very Good condition. First edition, pp 123-149, b&w frontispiece, bibliography. Featuring an article about the First Aberdeen Jesting Tournament of 1922.S31.
Title: Transactions of The Buchan Field Club Vol. XIV, Part V.
Categories: Scotland North-east, Scottish Mountaineering,
Edition: 1st Edition
Publisher: 1933: 1933
Book Condition: Very Good
Type: Book
Item: 1.00 Item
Seller ID: 2468
Keywords: Buchan Field Club, History, Jesting Tournament, Scotland, Humour Buchan Field Club Buchan Field Club,


text:
My three year old and I were playing outside last weekend catching leaves that were falling from the trees. His belly laughs broke through the silence of a quiet Saturday afternoon and we were both smiling from ear to ear. We hadn't shared … Continue reading
Category Archives: Happy Things
A teaching moment for him…but I sure did learn a lot!
Sometimes the small teaching moments with our kids can become "ah-ha" moments of our own. I stumbled upon one of these today. Cole was having a typical three year old tantrum before naptime. When I finally got him into his bed he wanted to talk about all the things that made him sad. He'd had plenty of time to feel what he felt and now I wanted to help him move on from it.
"Cole, instead of talking about the things that make you sad, let's talk about the things that make you happy."
As he started to share his happy list with me (his stuffed animal Piggy…ice pops…Caillou…etc.) a light bulb went off in my head.
I've always been pretty good at shining a happy face out to the world, but behind closed doors I'm not always all that happy. The truth is I've been pretty overwhelmed since finding out we are having twins. Most people have their fabulous times and challenging times and this is just one of those challenging times! I need to take the advice that I gave to my three year old. Instead of focusing on the things that make me sad and overwhelmed I need to make more of an effort to remind myself of the things that make me happy. Although my list definitely doesn't include Caillou, I certainly have a lot to be thankful for and long line of things that make me happy, starting with these two handsome guys!
Grateful for these teaching moments. I sure do learn a lot…and hope he does too 🙂
High Five Friday: 5 things I'm grateful for this week
I stumbled upon the High Five Friday concept while browsing the blogosphere and decided to join in on the fun! The purpose is to share five things that you are grateful for this week, so here we go.
1. Jack is back! Did you see the trailer that ran during the Superbowl for the return of 24? My husband and I are such huge fans…our cat is even named after the show. Meet our Jack Bauer:
2. This article on Huffington Post made me feel inspired: This Guy Stopped Charging Clients And He Has Zero Regrets. I've been considering a similar business model for my online marketing consulting business. My idea is in its infant stage, but reading the article gave me hope that my goals are achievable. So thanks for the gift economy inspiration Adrian Hoppel!
3. Making snow angels with Cole. We had a big snow storm this week and I captured a little video clip of some of the fun we had on Instagram: Cole's Snow Day Adventure
4. I did a headstand on a balance board! Inversions have been my most recent yoga obsession. I've been taking a Balance Board class at Windsoul Studio in Tyngsboro, MA. The balance board is meant to mimic the feeling of being on a paddle board in the water.
5. I highly recommend reading The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg. I finished it last night, and after reading some pretty heavy books over the last few months, this book was like a breath of fresh air. It's a wonderful, light-hearted mix of comedy, family and a bit of history.
There is my list for High Five Friday! What are you grateful for this week?
You're not a person, you're a mommy
Kids say the darndest things. Cole came out with this gem the other day after I finished explaining to him that I'm just one person and therefore can only do one thing at a time. He stared back at me as if I had just said the most hysterical joke he had heard all day and giggled, "You're not a person, you're a mommy!"
I wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time. It's an adorable observation because in truth our kids should only think of us as their moms and dads, and not as individuals, until later on down the road. On the other hand, Cole inadvertently hit a bit of a sore spot for me. It's easy to get lost in parenthood, or anything for that matter, and forget to keep in touch with the things that make us feel like a real person. Describing a person as real might seem a little weird. Like, aren't we all real? I don't mean real in the physical sense; I mean real in the spiritual sense.
Last month I challenged myself to start setting aside some time to reconnect with myself. My journey to rediscover the person outside of the mommy has led me to writing, running, a meditation group, and most importantly (for me) a yoga studio. I've always been able to count on yoga to bring me to a happy state of being, but I'd forgotten how important it was to me. Unrolling my mat was like reconnecting with a dear, old friend. Apparently being a human pretzel is all it takes to snap me back to life!
Maybe there is something you've lost touch with too. For a moment, think about all of the roles, responsibilities, lists, noise and clutter that we face throughout the day. Now think about doing that thing that lights a fire in your belly and makes you feel good and balanced. The thing that makes you feel like you're putting some sort of good energy out into the world. Did something come to mind? I bet if we all set a little time aside each week to do something that makes us happy, really happy, then our other roles and responsibilities would become more manageable and enjoyable.
Set a date with yourself and have a happy week!
Setting Positive Intentions for 2014
Welcome to Love Notes and Growth Spurts!
My two year old son, Cole, inspired this blog. Cole likes to leave little "love notes" around the house that make me smile when I least expect it. I'll find a sock hanging on a door knob, a hamper placed over a steaming humidifier, a car on my nightstand…things like that. I just adore our little boy and his big personality. On the other hand, if you are a mom or a dad I don't think I need to explain how things are when growth spurts are happening. Yikes! The yin and the yang of parenthood.
Life certainly has its ups and downs and a new year always brings a fresh start. Here we are standing at the starting line of 2014. Our hearts are full and our heads are spinning thinking of what might be in store for us this year. Have you set your new year's resolutions and intentions? Here are mine!
I hope the list of my intentions will also give you a good glimpse into what you can expect from reading my blog. Please visit my About page to learn a little bit more about me! Thank you for stopping by and come back soon!
When life gives you snow…
It is the same drill every year. As holiday season approaches I wish and wish for Jack Frost to wave his wand and transform the world into a winter wonderland. When the first sprinkles of white appeared this December, I fell asleep watching them fall from the sky, dancing in the spotlight of our front house lights. It feels like magic every year. But then, somewhere down the icy road, or amongst the news reports that 50% of the US population has contracted the flu, or during the sleepless nights listening to Cole cough himself awake, the magic wears off. So here I am, hugging a box of tissues, with a major case of the winter blues.
Today I decided to whip out the snow shovel and dig up some good times from my memory bank! Beyond the blistery weather, dry skin, and stubborn ailments, my family has been enjoying our first winter in New Hampshire.
Cole loves playing in the snow. From the moment I strapped on his boots and snow gear he set off into the fluffy white stuff to make some footprints and snow angels. I taught him how to roll snowballs, which of course turned into a snowball fight (courtesy of mom) so now we are working on aiming for below the neck.
On the really cold days we have to get creative and find things to do indoors. Moving Greg's electronic drum kit has been a major hit in our household. I get a request for "Dums, dums, dums!" about 8 or 20 times a day. Here is a preview of future rock legend, Cole Benson, on the drums.
And sometimes the mood strikes us to get our hands dirty and create a piece of art. Here is a snippit of my soft, gentle boy making handprints.
I suppose the point in all of this is that when life gives you snow…make snowballs. We have found a lot of ways to keep ourselves busy and active this season. In my next post I'll share all of the fun ways we've been trying to stay healthy! I'll share some homemade remedies, green drinks, and even a couple of cold weather recipes.
November: 30 Days of Thanks
All month long I've been reading and enjoying the spattering of social media updates that give thanks. Friends are taking a moment each day to reflect on what they are thankful for, whether it's something as small as a hot cup of joe, or as momentous as a healthy newborn. It never ceases to amaze me how a single positive (or negative) thought can cause a domino effect of feelings. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Deepak Chopra: You are not the drop in the ocean, but the ocean in the drop.
In every imaginable circumstance more is accomplished when we are working together as opposed to picking apart our differences. As a social media user, it's been fascinating to observe the voice contrast between October and November. October felt like one giant shouting match that didn't accomplish anything but spread havoc across our country. Fear and anger are contagious and spread like venom. On the other side, happy thoughts and reflections are contagious too! I'm not sure who started the "Give Thanks" trend this month, but whoever it was I want to thank you.
With that, I'll share what I'm thankful for this November as Thanksgiving approaches. I'm thankful to be a stay at home mom. The light that spills from my son's eyes is my own personal miracle. We all came from the same place and it's up to us to explore our potential and live every day with the curiosity and zestfulness of life that we started with. It's hard to access that inner spirit sometimes because we all get bogged down by daily routines and negative people.
I feel a positive shift in the air just by reading these simple, happy Facebook updates. Do you feel it too? Please keep sharing your happy thoughts, November and beyond!
Little hands
I love my baby and his little hands. I outline each finger, admiring how meticulously manicured his nails look. I draw circles in his palm, and he reacts by closing his fists. I observe that he mostly keeps his hands shut tightly, as if he isn't ready to receive all of the gifts that life has to offer. Time passes and those hands start to open up. They open enough to grasp my pinky finger. Even more time passes and he touches textures while we play, and he caresses my skin while we nurse. His little hands are growing and becoming more curious. And then one day he is no longer just curious about the feeling of carpet, toys, and skin. He furrows his brow and examines his right hand as if to say, "I see you, hand. Now let's see what you can do." His hands are wide open in the days that follow. He thrusts his arms and grabs the bright colored animals that hang from his chair. He swats the air and smacks the ground. Pulls (my) hair and scratches (his) skin. Pushes up on all fours, pulls himself up to stand. He does all of these things with those little hands. I watch as he picks up a piece of kiwi with his thumb and forefinger. He pinches it carefully. Purposefully brings the food to his mouth and chomps down. I think these little hands are starting to impress him.
He knows what these little hands can do on their own, but today he brought his little hands together. He claps for the first time. Such a small gesture, but such an exciting one! Tonight he fell asleep with hands clasped together in front of him, as if in prayer. Hands are used for acheiving things, but when brought together, they can also be used to help quiet the mind. My 9 month old teaches me a lot of lessons.
A letter to Cole – 7 months
Dear Cole,
Seven months have flown by and you are growing so fast right before our eyes. You were 5 pounds 5 ounces when you were born and at your 6 month check up you were up to 16 pounds 12 ounces! You went from being in the first percentile to the 30th percentile in just a half a year.
We have gotten to spend every day of your life together and I'm so thankful to your Dad for that. I've enjoyed being present for all of your milestones and firsts, and learning first hand what makes you happy, relaxed, and even sad. When you were a newborn you loved to sleep in two places. On Mama and in your swing. You loved your Fisher Price Zen swing, especially when we turned on the nature sounds. The swing is also where Mima introduced you to your Aiden and Anais security blankets. She would put it over your eyes and you would snuggle into it to help soothe you to sleep. You still sleep with one every night in your crib.
Some other places you've enjoyed spending time when we are at home are your blue chair, your exersaucer, and your jumper. You have always been such a fun baby and you want to play all the time! Now that you have started to crawl you are all over the place. The items that motivate you to move the fastest are Mama's phone, the green light-up frog, and books.
You want to play so much that it was a challenge to get you on a good nap schedule. But you have been doing so well the past couple of weeks. Right now you are napping for about 1 hour in the morning and 1 1/2 hours in the afternoon. I'm so proud of the good sleeper you have become! You sleep on your stomach every night with your little bum sticking up in the air and your hands tucked underneath your stomach. Dad and I love to watch you sleep.
You smile all the time when you are with people you know. When a stranger is around, or we are some place you aren't familiar with, you are more observant. Eventually you will warm up and the smile and dimples come back. Lately you've been smiling so hard that it makes you scrunch your nose and squint your eyes. You love to laugh. Especially when Daddy has you up in the air. Sometimes for no reason at all! People stop me on the street so they can comment on how beautiful your eyes are. And they are the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen.
Being on your back for too long makes you feel agitated, so you get plenty of tummy time. When you are tired or upset we give you your binky and take you on walks. You love to take long walks in the stroller. I think it's because you like to look at everything around you, and you love to be outside. You are much happier when we are out running errands or at the park than when we are stuck inside all day! I love you for that.
Your favorite book is The Very Lonely Firefly, but you seem to like to stick Goodnight Moon in your mouth when you are playing. Daddy gives you a bath every night before bed and you love it. Usually you kick your legs and splash water at him. I sing to you all the time. I'm excited for when you will sing with me! I also love to dance with you when a good song comes on. You are starting to become a chatter box like your mom! You love to say "Dada" "Hi" and "Yeah" in this deep, raspy voice.
Daddy and I are so proud of you. We love watching you reach every milestone and seeing your personality come to life! You are the light of our life and your bright energy is contagious to anyone who is around you. We love you, Cole 🙂
Love, Mama
The best part of waking up…
I'm not a morning person. I'm sure my mom is nodding her head in agreement as she is reading this post. The sound of an alarm clock makes me growl and nuzzle deeper into my pillow. I've always felt like a zombie going through the motions for the first hour after my feet hit the floor in the morning. Brush teeth. Shower. Dress. Sustenance. Coffee.
Now the only morning fogginess I feel occurs in the steps between my bed and Cole's crib. Seeing my baby's smile is all the caffeine I need. As soon as I open the nursery door I hear him start to kick his legs in excitement in anticipation of seeing mom or dad come around the corner. He can't quite pull himself up to standing position, so he strains his neck back while he is on all fours, rocking back and forth, to get a good view.
Waiting for me is an open mouth smile so big I can see his first two bottom teeth poking through. Dimples so deep and nose so scrunched it forces his eyes to squint. The epitome of happiness all rolled up in this moment and in this infant that I love so much. It's as if we haven't seen each other in days, when in reality it's only been 12 hours since I kissed him goodnight.
These moments with Cole bring meaning to my life. And although I never thought it was possible, Cole has made me a morning person. Well…more than before at least!


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The US Youth Soccer ODP Philosophy
To identify players of the highest caliber on a continuing and consistent basis, which will lead to increased success for the U.S. National Teams in the international arena.
The U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) is a national identification and development program for high-level players. The program identifies and develops youth players throughout the country, to represent their state association (ENYYSA), region (Region I) and the United States in soccer competitions.
ODP Teams are formed at the state association and regional level, made up of the best players in various age groups.
All players are eligible to attend tryouts. Any player who is not playing for a team affiliated with ENYYSA will pay a higher tryout and registration fee. Players may only participate in the state where they reside. If you play for a U.S. Soccer Development Academy you are not eligible, as per their guidelines.
How are Players Selected?
Selection of these players is not an easy task. The state association head coach or State Coach will, in most cases, be assisted in the selection process by several other qualified coaches from the club or league level. Players are evaluated on the four components that make up a soccer player:
1. Technique
2. Tactics
3. Fitness and Athletic Ability
4. Psychological Component (focus)
Upon selection an ODP player is expected to register in the ODP on-line registration system and participate in all activities with their team. The activities may include exhibition matches, invitational tournaments, etc... Furthermore, ODP is designed to supplement club training. However, there are times that conflicts arise. ENYYSA works closely with our affiliated clubs and follows these guidelines:
Benefits of Participation
Brian Riesenburger, ODP South Administrator
Wendy Beevers, ODP North Administrator
©2020 Eastern New York State Soccer Association


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Lyrics Depot is your source of lyrics to Happiness Is A Good Place To Visit But It Was So Sad In Fayetteville by Jerry Jeff Walker. Please check back for more Jerry Jeff Walker lyrics.
Happiness Is A Good Place To Visit But It Was So Sad In Fayetteville Lyrics
Artist: Jerry Jeff Walker
Album: Five Years Gone
Jerry Jeff Walker
If there's anything in this world you want
Better go for yourself
Learn to pick it up with your own two hands
Don't count on somebody else
If there's a dream that you are working on
Don't be surprised
If any old thing that you're counting on
Just suddenly dies
Got to plan in advance what you know you'll need
And carry it up on your back
Got to keep the things you need really close at hand
And tote them in your bag
When you're alone be ready for rain to fall
On a sunny day
If ends just meet be ready to go outside
And break a leg
You may as well get it straight before you start
You've got a general plan
To walk a road here to there but be prepared
To dig it where you land
If lady luck supposed to come across
She won't come through
If there'e the slightest doubt things could go wrong
It's bound to fall on you
Oh I know it's nice to think that things work out
And we'll all make our goal
But I think a man is wise to only count upon
What his own two hands can hold
If by some chance your world should turn on you
Come a tumblin down
You'll be at the place that I was at
When I wrote this song
Jerry Jeff Walker Lyrics
Jerry Jeff Walker Five Years Gone Lyrics
More Jerry Jeff Walker Music Lyrics:
Jerry Jeff Walker - Dear John Letter Lounge Lyrics
Jerry Jeff Walker - Life On The Road Lyrics
Jerry Jeff Walker - London Homesick Blues Lyrics
Jerry Jeff Walker - Lovin' Makes Livin' Worthwhile Lyrics
Jerry Jeff Walker - Quiet Faith Of Man Lyrics
Jerry Jeff Walker - Rodeo Wind Lyrics
Jerry Jeff Walker - Where Was I Lyrics
Jerry Jeff Walker - Will There Be Any Lyrics


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i wonder
Has he yet the measure of the forces arrayed against him and any such a sensible move? He's had time to get his head out of sports and into the real workings of Pakistan, but he better have an impregnable bunker to hunker in and an army of assassins outside to take out the vast population of psychopath-stooges that run his country or he won't make it to even get sworn in.
pipe up any time....
love, nines ||| murderers | psychopaths


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Title: Summer in Hawaii
Fandom: The Faculty AU with a mini-touch Hawaii Five-O
Character: Zeke & Casey
Rating: R
Word Count: 1482
Disclaimer: Of course, I don't own The Faculty nor the character :( - I'm just borrowing them for a while
The prompt:
It was early in the morning, the sun was already shining but it wasn't hot yet. A light breeze was blowing; some swimmer already enjoyed the rolling waves; some surfer made their boards ready in the hope of the ultimate kick.
Zeke jogged along the beach, like every morning, to get his head clear. He missed the long trips with his GTO, it always was a relief to leave everything behind; when he was on the road, he felt free of all dark thoughts. But it would still last about six weeks until he could go back to Massachusetts, back into his own life. Because he was a stupid dumbhead.
Why the heck had he felt sorry for his mom? The divorce was so not a big surprise; the marriage of his parents had been a show since he could remember. His mom was more interested in parties and spending money for expensive dresses, jewelry or cruises around the world while his dad spent the days in the office of his company and the nights with one of his much too young affairs.
None of them had ever cared much about him; he was grown up by nannies; later he had visited an expensive boarding school. He went through some wild times, was rebellious and not willing to accept any rules until he finally realized that he was on the best way to throw his future away.
Springfield was his new life, the Technical Community College, some good friends, no parties, no mindless one-night-stands anymore. For the summer break, he had planned a trip to the Yellowstone-Park together with some friends. The call of his mom had changed everything. Tearfully she had told him that his father had decided to file for divorce and though Zeke wasn't convinced of her deep-seated despair, he had finally agreed to accompany her on her summer trip to Hawaii.
What a big mistake. He should have known it better. The life of his mother was not his life anymore. She enjoyed Hawaii, the exclusivity of the hotel complex, the high society party events every night. Zeke soon felt bored from all this. One reason why he came here every morning instead of visiting the hotel's gym; the beach was off the beaten track. The other reason ...
Zeke smiled slightly when he noticed him. Like every day the boy was sitting on his bath sheet; wearing washed out, black swimming trunks and a plain white shirt; the headphones of his Discman in his ears, the nose in a book. He looked somehow out of place, obviously not interested in surfing, diving, beach volleyball, or just roasting in the sun and flirting with the girls around. Maybe it was that what had attracted his attention at first ... he was different than the other guys around.
Slightly out of breath, Zeke stopped near the grove of palm trees; after some last stretching, he dropped down onto the sand some steps away from the boy. The only reaction was a slight frowning when a shadow fell onto his book. Unimpressed Zeke put on his sunglasses and grabbed for the water bottle to take a sip.
"Sounds interesting," he then murmured, his eyes resting on the book.
"The Character of Physical Law. By Richard Feynman. Unusual read."
Finally, the boy looked up, beaming blue eyes met Zeke's, the mistrust in them couldn't be overlooked.
"What do you want?"
Zeke smiled slightly.
"I'm just trying to make conversation," he answered.
The boy pulled the face.
"Then you should go and find someone else. I'm not interested in wasting my time."
He turned back to his book and Zeke chuckled inwardly.
"Get it. Ambitious boy, learning for College even during summer break?"
"Pfft. No!"
"No, what? Not learning for College? Or you are not here for vacation?"
The reaction actually was not a surprise. The boy glanced at him annoyed, slammed the book shut and shoved it into his backpack together with the Discman. When he finally jumped up and grabbed his towel Zeke stopped him.
"Hey, the name is Zeke. Sorry, I didn't mean to chase you away. You like to be here, don't you? It's a nice place, not so crowded."
For a moment the boy eyed him silently, finally he shrugged.
"Casey," he answered.
"And it's okay, I guess, actually, this isn't my private beach."
Zeke laughed.
"So you don't mind to share it with me?"
Satisfied he noticed a slight smile sneaking on Casey's lips.
Casey's heart was up to his mouth. Hard to believe that this morning was not just a dream; that he was sitting at one of the most wonderful places of the world together with a beautiful, smart, funny guy. They had chatted and laughed and he finally he relaxed and opened up more than he usually would. He had learned to be careful around others; much too often he had already ended at the victim of teasing and bullying.
"So, what are you doing here," Zeke asked him.
"Vacation with your parents?"
"Summer Camp."
Casey shrugged.
"I wanted to go to the Science Camp in Boston, like every year, but my dad thought it might be a good idea to let myself go at least once. Just to have fun, you know, hang around with others of my age, surfing, diving, parties at the beach ... "
He paused and sighed.
"I'm afraid, he can't understand, that I just don't fit in there. It is as if we are living in two different worlds. He was the quarterback of the football team at high school, he dated a popular cheerleader ... and married her later. He is a successful architect; he always wanted me to take over his office one day.
I got a scholarship at MIT and he pretends to be proud of me. But I know, deep inside he is disappointed and he still hopes, that I will change my decision and go to Columbia like he did.
It's complicated."
"It's never easy when you don't follow the rules like expected. What are you going to do?"
Casey kept quiet for a moment, thinking about the answer.
"I don't want to disappoint him," he finally said.
"Probably I could go to New York but I would never be a good architect like he is because it's not what I'm dreaming about.
One day we will build space stations on the moon. Fly to Mars or even more far away. Explore our universe. This is our future. And I could be a part of it. How can I spend my days in a boring office instead?"
When he felt Zeke's eyes resting on him he paused, suddenly feeling embarrassed. Great. He had fucked it up, as ever. It wasn't a wonder that people used to call him a geek, wasn't it?
"Sounds like a great plan," Zeke said and chuckled slightly.
"More like a pipe dream," Casey murmured.
"I always was a hopeless case."
"Without the stuff dreams are made off we would still live at stone age. People like you change the world because they don't care when others called them geeky. And I show them more respect than people who always follow the rules."
Bewildered Casey kept quiet. It didn't happen often, that others seemed to understand what was going on in him. Especially not good looking, smart, charming guys.
The slightly annoyed voice tore him out of his thoughts. He glanced at his watch and cringed inwardly. Shit. Lunchtime. It was about time to go back to the camp. Suddenly feeling low he shrugged apologizing.
"Sorry, I guess I need to go."
Zeke smiled once again and Casey wished to be able to stop the time. This had been the best morning since he was in Hawaii and he didn't want it to come to an end. When Zeke left now he would probably never see him again.
"Do you know 'Kamekona's?"
Confused Casey blinked.
"Hm? The diner at the beach?"
Zeke laughed.
"It's not just a diner. Kamekona is an Original. He makes the best Shrimps Burger of Hawaii, he offers Helicopter flights for the tourists and it is said that he's working as an informant for the Hawaii Task Force. I guess you would like him.
Wanna find out? I've noticed an announcement this morning. It's Kamekona's Long Shrimp's Night again this evening. So, if you don't have anything better to do ... "
Casey looked into hazelnut-brown eyes, an open, promising smile and suddenly is mouth felt dry with excitement. This evening?! The gaming event at the Camp. But probably no one would miss him anyway. And even if: he would happily accept every punishment for leaving the Camp after curfew without permission. An evening together with Zeke was definitely worth it.
With a wide grin on his face he nodded.


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Monthly Archive for: 'October, 2017'
Honored that our film, Holy (un)Holy River,…
Honored that our film, Holy (un)Holy River, was awarded Best Cinematography at the 20th Annual United Nations Association Film Festival. It was a long process for @pedromcbride and I to tell the story of the Ganges, and very happy to see it resonate well with audiences around the world. Huge thanks to the jury, audience, and team at #UNAFF2017! #liveyouradventure #gangas2s #gangaactionRead More
The #Ganges River in India is a…
The #Ganges River in India is a flowing contradiction. On the one hand, the river is revered, viewed as a living incarnation of the divine in the form of the goddess Maa Ganga. Her physical embodiment as the flowing waters and fertile floodplains of this mighty river that sustains some 500 million people along its 1600 mile course is also revered, for without her the breadbasket of north India would have no lifeblood. Simultaneously, though, and counter-intuitively, the river is a blighted example of anti-respect and abject defilement. Maa Ganga's waters are recipients of billions of liters of untreated sewage, industrial chemicals, toxic runoff, and human remains on a daily basis; the ample prayers offered to her are no match for the incoming pollutants. It is a strange dichotomy, a river revered and reviled, a paradox of our time and one which threatens the very existence of the Ganges in all its majesty. I'm trilled that our film, Holy (un)Holy River, will screen this weekend at the 20th United Nations Association Film Festival at Stanford (see link in profile), and I'll be there to answer questions afterward. Hope to see you there! #UNAFF2017 #unaff #liveyouradventure #gangas2s #holyunholyriver @pedromcbrideRead More
As friends around the world gather to…
As friends around the world gather to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Light, I find myself thinking about how important the idea is in this day and age. If you're not familiar with it, Diwali (or Tihar in Nepal) is a grand festival of light – both visual and spiritual – and celebrates the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair, and light over darkness. As our world seems ever more consumed with hatred and violence, division and destruction, anger, vitriol, and spite, let's all bring some light into our corners, some hope into this world, and remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness, in a descending spiral of destruction. The chain reaction of evil must
be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation." #liveyouradventure #lettherebelight #diwali #lightoverdarkness #Tihar #martinlutherkingjr #goodoverevil