text:
St Albans
St Albans (/ˈɔːlbənz/) is a city in Hertfordshire,[2] England, and the major urban area in the City and District of St Albans. It lies east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, about 20 miles (32 km) north-northwest of central London, 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Welwyn Garden City and 11 miles (18 km) south-southeast of Luton. St Albans was the first major town on the old Roman road of Watling Street for travellers heading north, and it became the Roman city of Verulamium. It is a historic market town and is now a dormitory town within the London commuter belt and the Greater London Built-up Area.
|St Albans
View from the west in front of St Albans Cathedral
Coat of Arms
|6.99 sq mi (18.1 km2)
|57,795 (2011)[1]
|• Density
|8,268/sq mi (3,192/km2)
|OS grid reference
|• London
|19 mi (31 km) SSE
|Shire county
|Sovereign state
|United Kingdom
|Post town
|Postcode district
|Dialling code
|East of England
|EU Parliament
|East of England
|UK Parliament
St Albans takes its name from the first British saint, Alban.[2] The most elaborate version of his story, Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, relates that he lived in Verulamium, sometime during the 3rd or 4th century, when Christians were suffering persecution. Alban met a Christian priest fleeing from his persecutors and sheltered him in his house, where he became so impressed with the priest's piety that he converted to Christianity. When the authorities searched Alban's house, he put on the priest's cloak and presented himself in place of his guest. Consequently, he was sentenced to endure the punishments that were to be inflicted upon the priest, unless he renounced Christianity. Alban refused and was taken for execution. In later legends, his head rolled downhill after execution and a well sprang up where it stopped.[3]
There was an Iron Age settlement known as Verulamium,[4] Verlamion, or Verlamio, near the site of the present city, the centre of Tasciovanus' power and a major centre of the Catuvellauni from about 20 BC until shortly after the Roman invasion of AD 43.[5] The name "Verulamium" is Celtic, meaning "settlement over or by the marsh".[4] The town was on Prae Hill, 2 km to the west of modern St Albans, now covered by the village of St Michael's, Verulamium Park and the Gorhambury Estate.[4] It is believed that the tribal capital was moved to the site by Tasciovanus (around 25 to 5 BC). Cunobelinus may have constructed Beech Bottom Dyke, a defensive earthwork near the settlement whose significance is uncertain.
The Roman city of Verulamium, the second-largest town in Roman Britain after Londinium, developed from the Celtic settlement[4] and was granted[by whom?] the rank of municipium around AD 50, meaning that its citizens had what were known as "Latin Rights", a lesser citizenship status than a colonia possessed. It grew to a significant town, and as such received the attentions of Boudica of the Iceni in 61, when Verulamium was sacked and burnt on her orders:[6] archaeologists have recorded a black ash layer, thus confirming the Roman written record. It grew steadily; by the early 3rd century, it covered an area of about 125 acres (0.51 km2), behind a deep ditch and wall. Verulamium contained a forum, basilica and a theatre, much of which were damaged during two fires, one in 155 and the other in around 250. These were repaired and continued in use in the 4th century. The theatre was disused by the end of the 4th. One of the few extant Roman inscriptions in Britain is found on the remnants of the forum (see Verulamium Forum inscription). The town was rebuilt in stone rather than timber at least twice over the next 150 years. Occupation by the Romans ended between 400 and 450.
The body of St Alban was probably buried outside the city walls in a Roman cemetery near the present cathedral. His hillside grave became a place of pilgrimage. Recent investigation has uncovered a basilica there, indicating the oldest continuous site of Christian worship in Great Britain. In 429 Germanus of Auxerre visited the church and subsequently promoted the cult of St Alban.[7][8][9][10][11]
A few traces of the Roman city remain visible, such as parts of the city walls, a hypocaust - still in situ under a mosaic floor, and the theatre, which is on land belonging to the Earl of Verulam, as well as items in the museum. More remains under the nearby agricultural land have never been excavated and were for a while seriously threatened by deep ploughing.
After the Roman withdrawal the town became the centre of the territory or regio of the Anglo-Saxon Waeclingas tribe.[12]
St Albans Abbey and the associated Anglo-Saxon settlement were founded on the hill outside the Roman city where it was believed St Alban was buried. An archaeological excavation in 1978, directed by Martin Biddle, failed to find Roman remains on the site of the medieval chapter house.[13] As late as the eighth century the Saxon inhabitants of St Albans nearby were aware of their ancient neighbour, which they knew alternatively as Verulamacæstir or, under what H. R. Loyn terms "their own hybrid", Vaeclingscæstir, "the fortress of the followers of Wæcla", possibly a pocket of British-speakers remaining separate in an increasingly Saxonised area.[14]
The medieval town grew on the hill to the east of Wæclingacaester where the Benedictine Abbey of St Albans was founded by Ulsinus in 793.[15] There is some evidence that the original site was higher up the hill than the present building, which was begun in 1077. St Albans Abbey was the principal abbey medieval in England. The scribe Matthew Paris lived there and the first draft of Magna Carta was drawn up there. It became a parish church after the dissolution of the Benedictine abbey in 1539 and was made a cathedral in 1877.
St Albans School was founded in AD 948. Matthew Paris was educated there and it is the only school in the English-speaking world to have educated a Pope (Adrian IV). Now a public school it has, since 1871, occupied a site to the west of the Abbey and includes the 14th-century Abbey Gateway. One of its buildings was a hat factory, a link with the city's industrial past.
On Abbey Mill Lane, the road between the Abbey and the school, are the palaces of the Bishops of St Albans and Hertford and Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, claimed to be the oldest pub in England.[16]
Between 1403 and 1412 Thomas Wolvey was engaged to build a clock tower in the Market Place. It is the only extant medieval town belfry in England.[citation needed] The original bell, named for the Archangel Gabriel sounds F-natural and weighs one ton. Gabriel sounded at 4 am for the Angelus and at 8 or 9 pm for the curfew. The ground floor of the tower was a shop until the 20th century. The first- and second-floor rooms were designed as living chambers. The shop and the first floor were connected by a flight of spiral stairs. Another flight rises the whole height of the tower by 93 narrow steps and gave access to the living chamber, the clock and the bell without disturbing the tenant of the shop.
Two battles of the Wars of the Roses took place in or near the town. The First Battle of St Albans was fought on 22 May 1455 within the town, and the Second Battle of St Albans was fought on 17 February 1461, just to the north.[17]
A street market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, founded by Abbot Ulsinus, still flourishes.[15]
Before the 20th century St Albans was a rural market town, a Christian pilgrimage site, and the first coaching stop of the route to and from London, accounting for its numerous old inns. Victorian St Albans was small and had little industry. Its population grew more slowly than London, 8–9% per decade between 1801 and 1861, compared to the 31% per decade growth of London in the same period. The railway arrived relatively late, in 1858. In 1869 the extension of the city boundaries was opposed by the Earl of Verulam and many of the townsfolk, but there was rapid expansion and much building at the end of the century, and between 1891 and 1901 the population grew by 37%.[18]
In 1877, in response to a public petition, Queen Victoria issued the second royal charter, which granted city status to the borough and Cathedral status to the former Abbey Church. The new diocese was established in the same year, in the main from parts of the large Diocese of Rochester.
In the inter-war years it became a centre for the electronics industry. In the post-World War II years it expanded rapidly as part of the post-War redistribution of population out of Greater London. It is now a popular tourist destination.
Government and administrationEdit
Local governmentEdit
St Albans was an ancient borough created following the dissolution of the monastery in 1539.[19] It consisted of the ancient parish of St Albans (also known as the Abbey parish) and parts of St Michael and St Peter.[20] The municipal corporation was reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 and the boundary was adjusted to additionally include part of the parish of St Stephen. In 1887 the borough gained city status, following the elevation of St Albans Abbey to cathedral, and the boundary was adjusted to include part of the parish of Sandridge.
The Local Government Act 1894 divided parishes that were partly within municipal boroughs. The parts of St Michael, St Peter and Sandridge within the borough became the new parishes of St Michael Urban, St Peter Urban and Sandridge Urban. The part of St Stephen within the borough was absorbed by the parish of St Albans. The parishes that were formed outside the borough, that is St Michael Rural, St Peter Rural, Sandridge Rural and the reduced St Stephen, became part of St Albans Rural District in 1894.
In 1898 the parish of St Albans absorbed St Michael Urban, St Peter Urban and Sandridge Urban so the parish and borough occupied the same area. In 1901 the population of the borough was 16,019, growing to 18,133 in 1911. St Albans expanded in 1913 by gaining parts of Sandridge Rural (241 acres), St Michael Rural (138 acres), St Peter Rural (992 acres) and St Stephen (335 acres). In 1921 the population of the enlarged borough was 25,593, growing to 28,624 in 1931. It expanded again in 1935 as part of a county review order gaining more of St Michael Rural (890 acres), St Peter Rural (436 acres) and St Stephen (712 acres).[21] The population of the borough was 44,098 in 1951 and 50,293 in 1961.[22]
The borough was abolished on 1 April 1974 and St Albans became part of the new, larger City and District of St Albans. City status was transferred to the entire district by letters patent dated 9 July 1974.[23] Local government services are now provided by Hertfordshire County Council (strategic services), St Albans City and District Council and eight local parish councils (limited local services). Within the town, the Ashley, Batchwood, Clarence, Cunningham, Marshalswick South, St Peters, Sopwell and Verulam wards have no parish councils, but since June 2013 a City Neighbourhood Committee has had comparable responsibilities for small parks, playgrounds, open spaces, war memorials, allotments and public conveniences within those wards.[24][25]
Parliamentary representationEdit
St Albans is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Established in 1885, it is a county constituency in Hertfordshire, and elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
St Albans has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) similar to most of the United Kingdom.
|Climate data for St Albans Rothamsted No.2, elevation: 128m (1981–2010)
|Average high °C (°F)
|Daily mean °C (°F)
|Average low °C (°F)
|Average precipitation mm (inches)
|Average precipitation days
|Mean monthly sunshine hours
|Source: Met Office[26]
- Cottonmill
- Batchwood
- Bernards Heath
- Fleetville
- Highfield
- Hill End
- New Greens
- Sopwell
- Marshalswick (also extends into Sandridge parish)
- St Julians
- St Stephens (not to be confused with St Stephen)
- The Camp
- Townsend
- Jersey Farm
- Chiswell Green
Nearby towns and villagesEdit
- Other nearby towns: Borehamwood, Luton, Stevenage, Berkhamsted, Barnet (historically a separate town, a London borough since the 1960s)
- Nearby villages: Abbots Langley, Kings Langley, Bricket Wood, Colney Heath, Elstree, Frogmore, Lemsford, London Colney, Markyate, Park Street, Radlett, Redbourn, Sandridge, Wheathampstead, Shenley
- Nearby hamlets: Chiswell Green, Colney Street
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Two railway stations serve the city, St Albans City station, which is situated 0.5 miles (800 m) east of the city centre, and St Albans Abbey station, which is situated approximately 0.7 miles (1 km) south-west of the city station.[27]
St Albans City station is served by Thameslink on a frequent and fast rail link through central London. Suburban services stop at all stations on the route, while express services are non-stop to London St Pancras International (St Albans City station to St Pancras International – 18 minutes).[28] Trains run north to Harpenden, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and on to Bedford.
St Albans Abbey station is the terminus of a single-track line from Watford Junction station.[29]
Culture and mediaEdit
St Albans has a thriving cultural life, with regular concerts and theatre productions held at venues including Trestle Arts Base,[30] St Albans Abbey, Maltings Arts Theatre,[31] the Alban Arena, the Abbey Theatre,[32] St Peter's Church and St Saviour's Church, given by numerous organisations including St Albans Bach Choir,[33] St Albans Cathedral Choir, St Albans Abbey Girls' Choir, St Albans Symphony Orchestra,[34] St Albans Chamber Choir,[35] St Albans Chamber Opera,[36] The Company of Ten,[37] St Albans Choral Society,[38] and St Albans Organ Theatre.[39] St Albans is also home to Trestle Theatre Company,[40] who have been creating professional, innovative and inspirational physical storytelling theatre since 1981. Originally known for their work with masks, Trestle collaborates with UK and international artists to unify movement, music and text into a compelling theatrical experience. The Sandpit Theatre is a theatre attached to Sandringham School which hosts a wide variety of plays throughout the year, mainly performances put on by the pupils of Sandringham School. The school also hosts Best Theatre Arts,[41] a part-time theatre school for children aged 4 to 16.
The Odyssey Cinema (formerly the Odeon) on London Road is an independent, arthouse cinema that was restored and re-opened in 2014. Originally opened in 1931, it stands on the site of the Alpha Picture House, Hertfordshire's first cinema, which was opened in 1908 by film-making pioneer Arthur Melbourne-Cooper.[42][43]
The St Albans Museum service runs two museums: Verulamium Museum, which tells the story of everyday life in Roman Britain using objects from the excavations of the important Roman Town; and the Museum of St Albans, which focuses on the history of the town and of Saint Alban.[44] The Watercress nature reserve is by the River Ver and is run by the Watercress Wildlife Association.[45]
St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust, in partnership with St Albans Museums and the University of Hertfordshire, have launched a project, "Renaissance: St Albans", to convert the old town hall into a museum and art gallery, combining the university's Margaret Harvey Gallery and the Museum of St Albans, which have closed in anticipation of the move. The cost of the project is £7.75m, of which (at February 2016) £6.3m has been raised.[46]
The area is served by 92.6FM Radio Verulam, a community radio station.
The mixed character of St Albans and its proximity to London have made it a popular filming location. The Abbey and Fishpool Street areas were used for the pilot episode of the 1960s ecclesiastical TV comedy All Gas and Gaiters. The area of Romeland, directly north of the Abbey Gateway and the walls of the Abbey and school grounds, can be seen masquerading as part of an Oxford college in some episodes of Inspector Morse (and several local pubs also appear). Fishpool Street, running from Romeland to St Michael's village, stood in for Hastings in some episodes of Foyle's War. Life Begins was filmed largely in and around St Albans. The Lady Chapel in the Abbey itself was used as a location for at least one scene in Sean Connery's 1995 film First Knight, whilst the nave of the Abbey was used during a coronation scene as a substitute for Westminster Abbey in Johnny English starring Rowan Atkinson. The 19th-century gatehouse of the former prison near the mainline station appeared in the title sequence of the TV series Porridge, starring Ronnie Barker. The 2001 film Birthday Girl starring Ben Chaplin and Nicole Kidman was also partly filmed in St Albans.
More recently, several scenes from the film Incendiary, starring Michelle Williams, Ewan McGregor and Matthew Macfadyen, were filmed in St Albans, focusing in particular on the Abbey and the Abbey Gateway. It has also been used the setting for the fictional town Waltringham, in the TV show Humans.
In December 2007, Sport England published a survey which revealed that residents of St Albans were the 10th most active in England in sports and other fitness activities. 30.8% of the population participate at least 3 times a week for 90 minutes.[47]
Clarence Park also plays host to St Albans Cricket Club.[48] The club currently runs four Saturday sides, playing in the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League and also two Sunday sides in the Chess Valley Cricket League. In 2008 the club's 1st XI won the Hertfordshire League Title. In the previous two seasons, the first XI came 5th (2011) and 4th (2012) in division one.
The local football team is St Albans City F.C.: its stadium is on the edge of Clarence Park and the team won promotion from the Conference South League in 2005–06. It played in the Nationwide Conference Division of the Football Conference for the 2006–07 season, but finished at the bottom of the table and was relegated.[49]
St Albans Gymnastics Club, founded in 2005, provides the St Albans area with fun and effectively structured recreational classes as well as a professionally managed competitive squad.[50]
St Albans is also home to St Albans Hockey Club,[51] based in Oaklands, St Albans. The club is represented at National league level by both women's and men's teams, as well as other local league competitions. The club's nickname is The Tangerines.
Rugby LeagueEdit
St Albans Centurions Rugby league Club have their ground at Toulmin Drive, St Albans. They play in the London Premier League. In 2007 and again in 2010 'The Cents', as they are known, won 'the triple' – topping the league, and becoming the Regional and National Champions of the Rugby League Conference Premier Divisions.
Rugby UnionEdit
Old Albanian RFC is a rugby union club that plays at the Old Albanian sports complex. They play in National League 1 the third tier of the English rugby union system. Saracens A team and OA Saints Women's Rugby team also play here. This complex hosts the offices of the Aviva Premiership club Saracens (and have recently moved their home ground to Barnet). St Albans RFC play at Boggymead Spring in Smallford. Verulamians RFC (formerly Old Verulamians) play at Cotlandswick in London Colney.
St Albans is home to one of the country's oldest and finest indoor skateparks, the Pioneer Skatepark in Heathlands Drive, next to the former fire station. Its ramps are available to all skateboarders and inliners. A new outside mini ramp was built in March 2005. A second outdoor mini ramp was opened at Easter 2009.
Links with other sportsEdit
St Albans is additionally home to a community of traceurs from around Hertfordshire.[52]
St Albans was once home to the then most prestigious steeplechase in England. The Great St Albans chase attracted the best horses and riders from across Britain and Ireland in the 1830s and was held in such high esteem that when it clashed with the 1837 Grand National the top horses and riders chose to bypass Aintree. Without warning the race was discontinued in 1839 and was quickly forgotten.
St Albans was once home to Samuel Ryder, the founder of the Ryder cup. He ran a very successful packet seeds business in the 1890s which at one time he ran from a packing warehouse on Holywell Hill (now Café Rouge). His interest in golf and sponsorship led to his donation of the now famous Ryder Cup. He is buried in Hatfield Road Cemetery, where in July 2012 the Olympic Torch Relay passed by to honour him.
St Albans has many state primary and secondary schools, and a number of independent schools.
The law school of the University of Hertfordshire used to be based in Hatfield Road in St Albans until it moved to the university's De Havilland campus in Hatfield in 2011. Hertfordshire County Council purchased the site. The interior of the former law school building has since been refurbished and now forms part of Alban City School, a state-funded Free School for primary aged children, which started taking reception class children in September 2012.
A campus of Oaklands College, a further education college, is also located in Smallford in St Albans.
State SchoolsEdit
- Primary Schools
|Age Range
|Religious Affiliation
|School website
|The Abbey CE VA Primary School
|Church of England
|Aboyne Lodge Primary and Nursery School
|Does not apply
|Alban City School
|Does not apply
|Bernards Heath Infant School
|Does not apply
|Bernards Heath Junior School
|Does not apply
|Camp Primary and Nursery School
|Does not apply
|Cunningham Hill Infant School
|Does not apply
|Cunningham Hill Junior School
|Does not apply
|Fleetville Infant and Nursery School
|Does not apply
|Fleetville Junior School
|Does not apply
|Garden Fields JMI
|Does not apply
|Killigrew Primary and Nursery School
|Does not apply
|Mandeville Primary School
|Does not apply
|Maple School
|Does not apply
|Margaret Wix Primary
|Does not apply
|Oakwood Primary School
|Does not apply
|St Adrian Roman Catholic Primary School
|Roman Catholic
|St Alban and St Stephen RC Infant & Nursery School
|Roman Catholic
|St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Junior School
|Roman Catholic
|St Michael's C of E VA Primary School
|Church of England
|St John Fisher Primary School
|Roman Catholic
|St Peter's School
|Does not apply
|Wheatfields Infants' and Nursery School
|Does not apply
|Wheatfields Junior School
|Does not apply
|Windermere Primary School
|Does not apply
- Secondary Schools
|Age Range
|Religious Affiliation
|School website
|Beaumont School
|Does not apply
|Loreto College
|Roman Catholic
|Marlborough Science Academy
|Does not apply
|Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School
|Roman Catholic
|Sandringham School
|Does not apply
|St Albans Girls' School
|Does not apply
|Samuel Ryder Academy
|Does not apply
|Townsend School
|Church of England
|Verulam School
|Does not apply
Independent SchoolsEdit
|Age Range
|Religious Affiliation
|School website
|St Albans School
|St Albans High School for Girls
|St Columba's College
|Roman Catholic
Notable peopleEdit
- The St Albans printer, an anonymous printer who produced eight works, the first six in Latin, the last two in English between 1480 and 1486. The most important and last of these was the famous 'Boke of St Albans' [53]
- Olivia Allison (b. 1990), GB synchronised swimmer, attended St Albans Girls' School
- Rod Argent (b. 1945), musician and songwriter with the group The Zombies, formed while the members (Colin Blunstone, Chris White, Paul Atkinson, Hugh Grundy, and Paul Arnold) were at school in St Albans
- Francis Bacon (1561–1626), philosopher, scientist and statesman, lived at Old Gorhambury House. Bacon was made Viscount St Albans in 1618
- Nicholas Bacon (1509–1579), Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Queen Elizabeth I, built Old Gorhambury House
- John Ball (c. 1338–1381), Lollard priest, played prominent part in the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381
- Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe (1816–1905), lawyer, amateur horologist, and architect; best-known locally for rebuilding the west front of St Albans Cathedral in 1880–1885 at his own expense, but also designed the clock movement for Big Ben. Lived at Batchwood Hall
- William Henry Bell (1873–1946), musician, composer and first director of the South African College of Music
- Steve Blinkhorn (b. 1949), occupational psychologist, has lived in St Albans for many years
- Nicholas Breakspear (c.1100–1159), later Pope Adrian IV, born in Abbots Langley, attended school in St Albans
- Jez Butterworth, (b. 1969), writer, attended Verulam School.
- Cheryl Campbell (b. 1949), actor
- Paul Cattermole (b. 1977), former member of S Club 7, was born in St Albans
- Ralph Chubb (1892–1960), lithographer
- Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (1660–1744), wife of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and close friend of Queen Anne, was born in St Albans
- Chris Clark (b. 1979), electronic musician, attended school in St Albans
- Steve Collins (b. 1964), former boxer
- Sally Connolly (b. 1976), author and academic, attended St Albans School
- William Cowper, 1st Earl Cowper (c. 1665–1723), Lord Chancellor of England
- Dark Stares, rock band, all members born in St Albans
- Donovan, (b. 1946), Songwriter and folk singer lived in St Albans during the 1960s
- Stacey Dooley (b. 1987), television presenter, lives in St Albans
- Tom Dyckhoff (b. 1971), architecture critic and TV presenter, was born in St Albans
- Enter Shikari, post-hardcore band, all members born and raised in St Albans
- David Essex (b. 1947), singer, lives in St Albans
- Siobhan Fahey (b. 1957), singer from Bananarama and Shakespear's Sister, attended Loreto College
- Robert Fayrfax (1464–1521), composer and musician, worked in St Albans Abbey where he is buried
- Friendly Fires, indie pop band from St Albans
- Nigel Gibbs (b. 1965), former Watford footballer, was born in St Albans
- Russell Green (b. 1959), cricketer
- Willis Hall (1929–2005), playwright and TV scriptwriter, lived in St Albans for many years and was for a while president of St Albans City F.C.
- Tommy Hampson (1907–1965), athlete, Olympic gold medal winner and world record holder, taught at St Albans School
- Tim Hart (1948–2009), musician and former guitarist in Steeleye Span, lived in St Albans and attended St Albans School
- John Hartson (b. 1975), footballer, lived in St Albans
- Stephen Hawking (1942–2018), theoretical physicist, educated at St Albans School
- Nick Helm (b. 1980), Actor, comedian and musician, born in St Albans and attended Cunningham Hill School and Sandringham School.
- Christopher Herbert (b. 1944), 9th Bishop of St Albans 1995–2009
- Jimmy Hill (1928–2015), TV presenter and football personality, lived in St Albans
- Ian Holloway (b. 1963), Millwall F.C manager, lived in St Albans
- Matthew Holness, comedian, better known as Garth Marenghi, lives in St Albans
- Edward Robert Hughes (1851-1914), artist, lived and died in St Albans. He is buried in Hatfield Road cemetery
- Kurt Jackson, artist, lived in St Albans and attended Francis Bacon School as a teenager
- Jeffrey John (b. 1953), Dean of St Albans since 2004
- Minhyong Kim, mathematician, lives in St Albans
- Stanley Kubrick (1928–1999), film director, lived at Childwickbury Manor from 1978 until his death
- Source Direct, acclaimed drum and bass act. Both original members were born and schooled in St Albans.
- Adam Lallana (b. 1988), footballer, born in St Albans
- Stephen Lander (b. 1947), former head of MI5, has lived in St Albans for many years
- Mark Lawson (b. 1962), broadcaster and columnist for The Guardian, attended St Columba's College
- Christopher Lewis (b. 1944), Dean of St Albans 1994–2003
- John Mandeville (14th century), compiler of a singular book of supposed travels, reputedly born in St Albans
- Rosie Marcel (b. 1977), actor, Jac Naylor in BBC One's Holby City, lives in St Albans
- Nigel Marven, television wildlife presenter, was bought up in St Albans and attended Francis Bacon School
- Arthur Melbourne-Cooper (1874–1961), pioneering film-maker, born in St Albans
- Peter Mensah (b. 1959), actor, Oenomaus in the TV series Spartacus, grew up in St Albans
- Michael Morpurgo (b. 1943), author, born in St Albans
- Albert Moses (b. 1937), actor, Mind Your Language, producer and director, lives in St Albans
- John Motson (b. 1945), football commentator, lived in St Albans
- Herbert Mundin (1898–1939), character actor, lived in St Albans from a young age and was educated at St Albans School
- David Munrow,(1942–1976), a noted pioneer of Early music, lived in St Albans[54]
- Mike Newell (b. 1942), film director, lived in St Albans and attended St Albans School
- Ardal O'Hanlon (b. 1965), Father Ted star and stand-up comedian, lives in St Albans
- Eleanor Ormerod (1828–1901), entomologist, lived and died in St Albans
- William Page (1861–1934), historian and editor, lived here 1896–1904 and took part in archaeological excavations in the city
- Matthew Paris (c.1200–1259), Benedictine monk, chronicler of the history of St Albans Abbey
- Rupert Parkes (b. 1972) a.k.a. Photek, record producer and DJ, was born in St Albans
- Julian Perretta (b. 1989), singer-songwriter
- Allan Prior (1922–2006), TV scriptwriter, co-creator of Z-Cars, and father of Maddy Prior (b. 1947), lived in St Albans
- Chris Read (b. 1978), England cricketer, lives in St Albans
- Tim Rice (b. 1944), lyricist, attended St Albans School
- Ben Richards (b. 1972), actor, singer, Footballers' Wives, The Bill, lives in St Albans
- Luke Roberts, actor, Holby City, lives in St Albans
- Jim Rodford (1941–2018), musician, member of Argent, The Zombies and The Kinks and cousin of Rod Argent
- James Runcie, author and film maker, lives in St Albans
- Robert Runcie (1921–2000), Bishop of St Albans 1970–1980, later Archbishop of Canterbury 1980–1991. Now buried in the grounds of St Albans Cathedral
- John D. Rutherford (b. 1941), hispanist, born in St Albans
- Samuel Ryder (1858–1936), seed merchant, founder of the Ryder Cup
- George Gilbert Scott (1811–1878), architect, restored St Albans Abbey 1856–1877
- John Sessions (b. 1953), actor and comedian, attended St Albans Boys' Grammar School (now Verulam School), patron of St Albans Arts
- Brett Reylander, Actor and Television presenter
- Gilberto Silva (b. 1976), Brazilian footballer, played for Arsenal FC and lived in St Albans
- Clive Sinclair (author), (b.1948), lives in St Albans.
- Alan Smith, (b. 1957), Bishop of St Albans since 2009
- Justin Somper, author, born in St Albans
- Jonathan Stroud (b. 1970), author, lived in St Albans
- Nathan Byrne (b. 1992), footballer, born in St Albans
- John Turner (1864–1949), Australian naval officer
- Ulsinus (fl. 10th century), Abbot of St Albans Abbey, reputed founder in 948 of St Albans School, and St Michael's, St Peter's and St Stephen's churches
- Mike Walling (b. 1950), comedy actor and scriptwriter, lived in St Albans 1997–2010
- Richard of Wallingford (1292–1336), Abbot of St Albans Abbey, mathematician, horologist and astronomer
- Private Edward Warner VC (1883–1915), soldier in the Bedfordshire Regiment, awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions during the Battle of Hill 60[55]
- Thomas Spencer Wells (1818–1897), surgeon to Queen Victoria and president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, born and educated in St Albans
- Charles Williams (1886–1945), writer and publisher, lived in St Albans 1894–1917 and attended St Albans School
- Helen Wyman (b. 1981), cyclist, seven times British cyclo-cross champion, 2012 European cyclo-cross champion; born in St Albans[56]
- Graham Frederick Young (1947–1990), the infamous "Teacup Poisoner", tried at St Albans Crown Court in 1972
- Bruce Forsyth (1928–2017) lived in a house called Forsythier in Admirals Walk until 1958.[57]
In popular cultureEdit
- The 1957 April Fools' Day spoof edition of BBC documentary series Panorama, which dealt with the fictitious Swiss spaghetti harvest, was filmed partly at the (now closed) Pasta Foods factory on London Road, St Albans.
- The 2001 film Birthday Girl, featuring Nicole Kidman and Ben Chaplin, is set in St Albans.
- A number of places across the world are named after the City of St Albans, most notably in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
- St Albans was the name of a planet in the cult science-fiction television series Firefly.
- In September 2007, St Albans replaced Mayfair as the most expensive square on a special UK Here and Now Edition Monopoly board, having won an internet vote.
- Enter Shikari's song "All eyes on the Saint" (B-side of "Juggernauts" single) tells the story of St Alban.[58]
- The BBC used the Main Gate House of the former St Albans Prison in Victoria Street as the main gate of "Slade Prison" in the sitcom Porridge.[59]
- The fictional town of Waltringham, in the TV show Humans was filmed here.
Photo galleryEdit
Coat of arms of St Albans City Council
The Lake in Verulamium Park
See alsoEdit
- ^ Office for National Statistics, 2011 Census, Table PP04. Published 23 November 2012.
- ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 1012.
- ^ "Medieval St. Albans". Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d Rosalind Niblett, Roman Hertfordshire, Wimborne: Dovecote Press, 1995
- ^ John Wacher, 1976, The Towns of Roman Britain, p. 202, both for Tasciovanus and the Catuvellauni.
- ^ "BBC - History - Boudicca".
- ^ Garcia, Michael. "Saint Alban and the Cult of Saints in Late Antique Britain". www.academia.edu. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ Constantius of Lyon; Trans. Vermaat, Robert. "The text of the Vita sancti Germani". vortigernstudies.org.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ Martin Biddle, "Alban and the Anglo-Saxon Church", in Robert Runcie (ed), Cathedral and City: St Albans Ancient and Modern, Martyn Associates, 1977
- ^ "Story of St Alban", Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban.
- ^ Kenneth. S. Painter, "Recent discoveries in Britain", Publications de l'École française de Rome, 1989, Vol. 123, No. 1, pp. 2031–2071
- ^ Williamson, Tom (2000). The Origins of Hertfordshire. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 64. ISBN 071904491X. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
- ^ "Chapter House History – The Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban". Stalbanscathedral.org. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ Loyn, Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest, 2nd ed. 1991:11.
- ^ a b St Albans Millenary Pageant Souvenir Programme, n.p, 1948
- ^ Kitton, F.G. (1899–1900). "The Old Inns of St Albans". Transactions of the St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society: 260.
- ^ History of Verulam and St. Alban's S. G. Shaw, 1815 pages 64–66. Accessed April 2011
- ^ Asa Briggs, "The Victorian City", in ''Cathedral & City: St Albans Ancient and Modern'', ed. Robert Runcie, Martyn Associates, 1977
- ^ Kate Morris. "Other publications | Research papers | Places | St Peter's in the Borough | A lecture given by Kate Morris on 26 November 2010". St Albans History.
- ^ "St Albans Borough through time | Census tables with data for the Ancient District". Visionofbritain.org.uk.
- ^ "St Albans AP/CP through time | Census tables with data for the Parish-level Unit". Visionofbritain.org.uk.
- ^ "St Albans AP/CP through time | Population Statistics | Total Population". Visionofbritain.org.uk.
- ^ "No. 46352". The London Gazette. 24 September 1974. p. 7920.
- ^ "St Albans City & District Council – City Neighbourhood Committee takes on local agenda". Stalbans.gov.uk. 1 July 2013.
- ^ "St Albans City & District Council – Proposed City Neighbourhoods Committee under scrutiny". Stalbans.gov.uk. 1 March 2013.
- ^ "St. Albans 1981–2010 averages". Station, District and regional averages 1981–2010. Met Office. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
- ^ "Trainline".
- ^ "St Albans City [SAC] to London St Pancras International [STP]".
- ^ "Abbey Line Passenger Survey Final Report" (pdf). June 2006. Retrieved 2016-01-24.
- ^ "Trestle Theatre Company, St Albans". trestle.org.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "The Maltings Arts Theatre, St Albans". Stalbans.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "Abbey Theatre, Trestle Arts Base, St Albans". Abbeytheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "St Albans Bach Choir". St Albans Bach Choir. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "St Albans Symphony Orchestra". Saso.org.uk. 11 July 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "St Albans Chamber Choir". St Albans Chamber Choir. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "St Albans Chamber Opera". Hertsdirect.org. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "The Company of Ten, St Albans". Hertsdirect.org. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "St Albans Choral Society". Choralsociety.com. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "St Albans Organ Theatre". St Albans Organ Theatre. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "Trestle Theatre Company History". trestle.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "Best Theatre Arts". Best Theatre Arts. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "The Odyssey History". Odyssey Cinema St Albans. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- ^ "Restored art-deco cinema reopens". BBC News. 13 December 2014. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- ^ "St Albans Museums". St Albans Museums. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ "Watercress Wildlife Association, St Albans". Watercress Wildlife Association. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ "renaissance: St Albans your new museum and gallery".
- ^ "Sport England—Active People Survey". Sportengland.org. Archived from the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "St Albans Cricket Club". Stalbanscc.com. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "Football Conference - League Table - Nationwide Conference". 27 November 2005. Archived from the original on 27 November 2005.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- ^ "St Albans Gymnastics Club". stalbansgymclub.com. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
- ^ "St Albans Hockey Club". Stalbanshc.co.uk. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "Hertfordshire Parkour". Hertsparkour.co.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ William of Wallingford Berkshire History. Final paragraph. Accessed March 2013
- ^ "Papers of David Munrow". The National Archive. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ "Private 7602 Edward Warner, V.C." bedfordregiment.org.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
- ^ ""The muddiest, funnest sport of attrition": an interview with Helen Wyman on her life in Cyclo-Cross". 25 October 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
- ^ Whieldon, Fraser. "Did you know Sir Bruce Forsyth used to live in St Albans?". Herts Advertiser. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
- ^ "Enter Shikari – "All eyes on the Saint" lyrics". Songmeanings.net. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "The British Comedy Guide – Porridge – location details". Retrieved 22 July 2012.
External linksEdit
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Albans.
|Wikivoyage has a travel guide for St Albans.
|Wikisource has the text of The New Student's Reference Work article "St. Albans".
- St Albans in the Domesday Book
- St Albans council website
- Once Upon a Time in St Albans – a graphic journey to St Albans past
- enjoystalbans – visitor website for St Albans – what's on, where to go, what to see, accommodation, etc
- allaboutstalbans – events and leisure website for visitors to St Albans
- Herts Advertiser newspaper
- St Albans & Harpenden Review newspaper
- Radio Verulam – St Albans based community radio station, covering West Herts on 92.6FM
- St Albans Museums
- St Albans Remarkable Heritage
- . Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.


text:
Phil Spencer needs no introduction, he is the man behind Xbox, and is more them often in the news. Today, he is yet again being discussed online due to a certain comment of his that ignited a few fires.
He was asked about the games he is most excited to see and along with Gears 4 and The Division, he mentioned Uncharted 4. Naturally, some didn't like the mention of a rival brand's exclusive game.
@XboxP3 hey Phil what game are you most excited for this year?
— Darren mcgrath (@IRISHGAMER1461) March 1, 2016
@XboxP3 @The_CrapGamer 'Xbox Head' talking about how great UC4 will be, just wave the white flag already. This is embarrassing sad to say
— Wrath (@wrath93) March 1, 2016
Phil Spencer then shared his blunt opinion:
@wrath93 We should all applaud when a team does something special. Those who hope for team to fail due to platform aren't real gamers.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) March 1, 2016
What Spencer said is true and there is a fine line between a gamer and a toxic fanboy. It is a major issue for the gaming industry that seems to be getting worse. People freely abuse each other due to an argument over which plastic box is better to game on.
There is tough competition between Sony and Microsoft in the gaming space, it has always been that. However, appreciating your rival's moves or content isn't a sign of weakness but strength, confidence, and class.
I think we need a better and healthier environment but it may take a long time before people start to understand that gaming is about games, and no matter which platform you chose, you don't have to convince others that you own the superior platform while their purchase is inferior.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Clippers guard Chauncey Billups, who's as tough an NBA player as there is, said that while he respects what the cross-town rival Lakers have accomplished this offseason, people shouldn't count out his Clippers—or the other 29 teams—just yet. The former Finals MVP is currently rehabbing his left Achilles tendon, with hopes of being ready for L.A.'s regular-season opener. Via The Detroit Free Press: "'They are trying to stack the deck over there, but I tell you what—I'm very pleased with my team and what we've been able to do and I will just say this – don't nobody scare me, man,' said the former Piston with a chuckle. Billups, who was Finals MVP when leading the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title, spoke briefly with the Free Press over the phone Saturday afternoon and said his rehab is 'going well.' Billups, 35, suffered the injury in the February and some wondered if the 15-year veteran was facing the end of his career."


text:
Please just leave a hi - there are no shipping restrictions....everyone is invited to sign up.
I got the fabric from Hancock's of Paducah but can't remember the name and artist. Anyone know?
Have a great day!
Oh, I love your quilts, Cathy! They are so beautiful and well made!ReplyDelete
i used to know who that was because i have some of the same fabrics for my daughter who loves birds but in a different colorway.ReplyDelete
lol, I'm in love of the quilt top, it looks a lot like springy to me, love the colors, I'll be more than happy to bring it a new home and finish it, of course ;), it's beautiful!!!
Wendy Slotboom Feathered Friends ... i have some of those sweet birds in my stash! i think that is the same bird! its a cute quilt top! thanks for a chance.ReplyDelete
Thank you for the chance ,it is beautiful.ReplyDelete
Hi Cathy, Such a pretty quilt top, I especially love the little yellow birds, nice.ReplyDelete
Such a lovely cheery quilt on a drizzling and dreary B.C. day!!! Well done on the squares and the white border lines... love the fabric choices! Thanks for a chance to win!!!ReplyDelete
Hey Cathy...cuteness plus! I would love to finish this quilt! Lovin' the colors and the birds. Thank you for the opportunity.ReplyDelete
What a wonderful quilt top! I would have a ball quilting it!ReplyDelete
Beautiful, reminds me of Spring.
marie in Oregon
I haven't seen this fabric before but it is very pretty. I would love to have a quilt made with this fabric.ReplyDelete
What a great quilt and a great giveaway! HI!ReplyDelete
I love the top!! I have so many friends that are having babies I don't have time to quilt for them all!ReplyDelete
I love the quilt, my little granddaughter would also love the quilt. Her mum bought some of e time the same fabric to make Lily something but not sure it ever got made.ReplyDelete
Hi, Cathy.
I just started quilting two weeks ago after years of dreaming of it and the beauty of yours here is inspiring me to keep at it. GORGEOUS use of fabric!
"Hi!" That's a beautiful quilt top! I'd love to get the chance to quilt that top!ReplyDelete
I'd love to quilt and finish this one!!ReplyDelete
"Hi", and I do love this quilt top! Thank you, ElaineReplyDelete
What a lovely and generous giveaway! Would look lovely on a summer porch draped across the swing...I know it's still fall, but I'm already dreading the cold that is coming...this top will give me glimpses of the warmth that is to come....:)ReplyDelete
What a beautiful quilt.......you have such a huge heart. Thanks for all you do!!!ReplyDelete
I love it! What a great thought for a giveaway! I'm in!ReplyDelete
Yes indeedy! That is one cute quilt. I would love to bring it home and machine quilt it (newly learned skill for me!) on my domestic machine. No longarm for me. Thanks for the opportunity! ToniReplyDelete
Hi there! That is a such a beautiful quilt top. Love the colors. :)ReplyDelete
Such a pretty, feminine top!ReplyDelete
Oh what a pretty quilt top. I've been working on improving my machine quilting skills and this would be a great top to work on. My little grandaughter would love it too. Thank you for your giveaway and the chance to win.ReplyDelete
Very pretty!ReplyDelete
Hi Cathy,
What a bright, cheery quilt top. I love the colors. Thanks for entering me :-)
It's beautiful and I have some that I could use for a border if I won!! Thanks for being so generous!ReplyDelete
I love those fabrics, Cathy. Thanks for a lovely giveaway. Definitely fun. :)ReplyDelete
What a beautiful quilt top. I can't imagine why you are giving it away!ReplyDelete
Hi! Awesome giveaway! In case I don't win, would you mind posting a few quick steps of instructions on how to make this adorable quilt? Did you use 5" charm squares?ReplyDelete
I love your quilt, it would be so awesome to win it. I looked back at your older posts, nice Airstream trailer. My husband made a teardrop trailer, we have a good time camping in it. I like the Hello Betty quilt you made for it.ReplyDelete
What a beautiful quilt top! I am in awe that you would give it away. :) Thanks for the chance to win.ReplyDelete
So lovely. The bird is just so cute! Thanks for the chance to win such a goodie!ReplyDelete
This is just beautiful. Thank you for this ♥ReplyDelete
I can't imagine why you are giving such a beauty away! But here I am.ReplyDelete
Beautiful quilt top.... I can't believe that you just want to give it away!! Wow you are a generous soul. I would love, love, love to win it!!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the chance Cathy. Beautiful quilt.ReplyDelete
Love the fabric. Love the quilt. Would love to win it. Thanks!ReplyDelete
oh! I'd love to quilt this top! I'd use free motion...after practicing first! thanks for the chance, it's a beautiful quilt top!ReplyDelete
It's so very generous of you to give that beautiful quilt away. Thanks for the chance!ReplyDelete
Beautiful! I would love to win!ReplyDelete
Very sweet quilt. Thanks for sharingReplyDelete
That is a beautiful quilt!ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Beautiful quilt!! I'm sure it would be very happy on my daughter's bed here in the UK!!!
Thank you for this giveaway of such a lovely quilt top. Both my mother and I like to handquilt, so this would be fun to finish and use.ReplyDelete
How wonderful! I love the cheery colors! It's really beautiful! Thanks! ♥ReplyDelete
Thanks for doing a giveaway - very beautiful quilt top.ReplyDelete
I love the quilt top and I know exactly which beautiful little just recently adopted Russian girl I would quilt it for.ReplyDelete
I would love to win. That would be perfect for my little girl!
I would love to win this sweet quilt!! I hope I'm not too late!! Take care!
Oh that is such a pretty quilt. Thanks for the chance. I made a whirlygig quilt top from your tutorial I need to take photos. So thanks for that too.


text:
Internet marketing and Google Advertising are still a complete mystery to a large majority of business owners:
- For many, internet marketing is seen as some foreign area of the web, populated with silly get-rich-quick schemes and unsavory characters ready to rip off the innocent and uninformed consumer at the click of a mouse.
- In reality, Internet marketing is populated mainly with hard working professionals promoting and selling high quality brand products by many of the world's Top 500 companies. Yes, there are some unscrupulous operators as in any industry, but once you find a Google Advertising company you can trust, reaching customers online (through Google AdWords internet marketing) will soon become a highly effective method of generating business for you.
Marketing and advertising is all about reaching customers, but what does the internet have to do with this?
- Australians now spend more time on the internet than watching television*.
- Internet marketing and particularly search engine marketing is the most targeted form of advertising available. The internet allows businesses to reach their target market with pinpoint accuracy (and at the exact moment customers are searching for their services), rather than huge, costly and un-targeted campaigns.
- Over half of Australia's adult population are online every single day.
- A recent marketing ROI study found search engine marketing (e.g. marketing on Google Search) to deliver best return-on-investment when compared with 12 other marketing media such as newspapers, directories, and television. (Frost and Sullivan 2007).
- Over 9 in 10 Australians Search with Google (Hitwise 2008).
Get your business found on Google and make Internet marketing work for your business:
- Mr Search® Guarantees prominent Google Exposure. This allows your business to connect with people who are already searching Google for products and services which you offer!
- Mr Search® designs, programs, maintains and optimises your Google AdWords campaign, provides regular performance reports and keeps in regular contact to ensure your business is receiving maximum ROI from Google Advertising.
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Sources: *The Australian - March 2008
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text:
Image: EWN
LHR believes Operation Fiela targets immigrants
Heard on 702's John Robbie Show: the irregularities of government's inter-departmental Operation Fiela are currently under scrutiny by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR). Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has defended the operation, saying it is about the state re-organising life in areas ridden with crime. In recent weeks, there have been aggressive early morning raids in parts of Joburg's CBD, including the Central Methodist Church - a home for many undocumented immigrants. The Joburg High Court has ordered an immediate two-week halt of the deportation of more than 200 illegal immigrants, giving the LHR the space to assess the situation of affected immigrants, many of whom the LHR believes have been targeted. Head of LHR's Strategic Litigation Programme, David Cote:
On Friday morning, we heard about the operation and we attempted to speak to detainees but we were refused access and so we got a court order which would allow us access, but they still ignored that court order. We were (subsequently) able to speak to some of the detainees that were at a particular camp and we found that there were more assylum seekers amongst these immigrants. We need to see what the basis is for these raids and unfortunately, we've seen foreign nationals being targeted in these matters.
Government makes R23 bil. commitment towards black industrialists
Heard on CapeTalk's Breakfast with Kieno Kammies: a major announcement out of Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel's budget speech on Tuesday is a fiscal commitment to addressing black economic participation and ownership. The R23 billion commitment over five years has been put in place to change the face of ownership in the South African economy. The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) will be funding this R23 billion out of a total R100 billion geared towards industrial development. Patel gives a basic breakdown of this provision:
An industrialist is someone who invests in the real economy and who not only has equity - that is shares - but also plays an active role of control. We are looking at people who manufacture, mining sector, in agriculture and the green economy; in other words, people who create wealth, rather than those who circulate wealth like those in the financial sector. We are also looking to transforming the economy by changing the face of ownership.
EWN exclusive - Jiba's secret meetings with head of her investigation
Image: EWN
Heard on 702's John Robbie Show: in a recent revelation made by EWN, acting prosecutions boss Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba is said to have been having undisclosed meetings with National Head of Detectives, Vinesh Moonoo over her case with the NPA. EWN's Barry Bateman:
This relates to her authorisation of racketering charges against KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss, Johan Booysen with regards to the whole Cato Manor matter and it was found in the High Court in Durban last year that she'd lied under oath and was investigated for purjory and that investigation was opened up in Pretoria and the docket was handed over to Colonel 'Boats' Botha to investigate. She was the subject of that matter related to KZN. Botha has contested his dismissal and has submitted an affidavit to his employer and was has emerged is that in the weeks prior to his docket being removed - there was a point in February where the head of detectives Vinesh Moonoo instructed that the docket be handed over to Major-General Norman Tawe - Jiba, who was the subject of Botha's investigation, was having meetings with the head of investigations, who is Botha's boss, Moonoo. Vinesh Moonoo was not disclosing these meetings to the investigating officer.


text:
I haven't blogged in a while, and for the past 12 days, my heart and days have been filled with only one word: Palestine.
Here is a talk I gave today at a local protest in North Carolina.
We shall teach them resistance. We shall teach hope, love, and resistance.
You have all heard the story of the boys playing soccer on the beach – the Bakr cousins, Mohammed, 11, Ahed, 11, Zakaria, 10, and Ismail, 9. They were targeted by the Israeli military – targeted. One Israeli missile. The boys ran. Second Israeli missile. Four boys killed.
You have heard this story – because this crime occurred in front of international journalists. This crime got the international coverage.
Other crimes committed against Palestinians have not gotten the coverage.
- Yesterday was a bloody Friday in Gaza. 61 Palestinians were killed.
- In the morning, 5-month-old baby Faris Juma al-Mahmoum was killed and his mother and 18 others were injured by "heavy and indiscriminate" Israeli shelling in the border area east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
- Salmiya Ghiyad, aged 70, and 22-year-old Amr al-Mahmoum were also killed in the indiscriminate shelling of the area.
- Imad and Qassim Alwan, both children, were killed as a result of artillery shelling in eastern Gaza City
- Rizk Ahmad al-Hayk, aged 2, was killed in air strikes in Shawwa Square in Gaza City, while Sarah Muhammad Bustan, 13, was killed in the al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City,
- In the afternoon, 3 siblings were killed. Their names: Ahmad Ismail Abu Musallam, aged 14, Walaa Ismail Abu Musallam, aged 13, and Muhammad Ismail Abu Musallam, aged 15. They were feeding pigeons on the roof.
- In the evening, 8 members of the Abu Jrad family, including 4 children, were killed when a missile struck their home in Beit Hanoun. Their names: Haniyah Abd al-Rahman Abu Jrad, Samih Naim Abu Jrad, Ahlam Musa Abu Jrad, and Musa Abd al-Rahman Abu Jrad, – a 6 month-old.
And that was just one day.In that same day, Israeli terrorist forces continued their "relentless shelling" of the Al-Wafa Hospital. Hospital.
To understand the horrors imposed on Palestinians, we need to understand the siege. Earlier today, the Ministry of Health in Gaza wrote: "160 medicines/disposals are at zero stock in Gaza hospitals now, including some very basic and vital needs such as IV fluids!"
Even before this latest onslaught, UNRWA stated that 800,000 Palestinians are in need of food aid.
Now, UNICEF states that one million Palestinians are without a water supply.
This siege on Gaza is a genocide, just like the sanctions on Iraq were a genocide
Let us remember: The 1948 Genocide Convention clearly states that one instance of genocide is "the deliberate infliction of conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of a people in whole or in part." The decline and disablement of Gaza's economy and society have been deliberate, the result of state policy — consciously planned, implemented and enforced.
The siege has been imposed on Gaza since 2005, intensified in 2006. Why?
- To create a maximum-security prison camp. concentration camp.
- To kill Palestinians daily — a few at a time — rather than commit large-scale ethnic cleansing. Incremental genocide preferable.
- To coral the Palestinians — 80% of them refugees — into an open-air prison.
- Why? Because Palestinians are a 'demographic threat." 80% of the Palestinians in Gaza are refugees. Refugees. A demographic threat. Think about that. The racism inherent in such a statement.
And still the media – the US government – and others blame the victims for their own killing. Still they all speak of Israel's right to defend itself.
An occupied population has the right to defend itself.
UN general assembly, Nov 29, 1974: 3. "Reaffirms the legitimacy of the peoples' struggle for liberation from colonial and foreign domination and alien subjugation by all available means, including armed struggle."
I need to repeat this. Palestinians have been dehumanized so long by the press and the government, so they find it easy to blame the victim for his own death. Palestinians have the right to defend themselves. There is no parity, no equivalence between the occupier and the occupied.
Does Israel have the right to claim self-defense? No. An occupier – Israel – does not have the right to self defense. As Noura Erakat explains, "A state cannot simultaneously exercise control over territory it occupies and militarily attack that territory on the claim that it is "foreign" and poses an exogenous national security threat. In doing precisely that, Israel is asserting rights that may be consistent with colonial domination but simply do not exist under international law." (http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/8799/no-israel-does-not-have-the-right-to-self- defense-)
I need to repeat this: The Palestinians have the right to defend themselves. Palestinians have the right to resist. Israel does not have the legal right to claim "self-defense" over occupied lands.
As Seamus Milne writes in The Guardian recently: "The Palestinians of Gaza are an occupied people, like those in the West Bank, who have the right to resist, by force if they choose But Israel does not have a right of self-defense over territories it illegally occupies – it has an obligation to withdraw. That occupation, underpinned by the US and its allies, is now entering its 48th year. Most of the 1.8 million Palestinians enduring continuous bombardment in Gaza are themselves refugees or their descendants, who were driven out or fled from cities such as Jaffa 66 years ago when Israel was established."
Israel claims that it is responding to Hamas rockets. First, that is not true. Second, we need to recognize: the occupation is the Provocation. The Siege is the Provocation. The Denial of Human Rights is the Provocation.
As Osama Mohammad wrote, "It is not the war on Gaza that is intolerable: Gaza confirms the intolerability of the present condition of the world" (@OsamaSh87) It is an ugly world… Yes. An ugly world in which the victim is the culprit, and the perpetrators are rewarded and supported. It is also a world — where hope lives and resists.
We need to remember three things.
- Support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. Organize locally and nationally. Pay attention to the stores that sell Israeli products — including Whole Foods, Trader Joe, and Harris Teeter. Organize.
- Hold Israel accountable. Support Palestinian struggle for equity, freedom. End the occupation. Support the right of return. End apartheid.
- And all the while remember. While we may feel broken, broken by the constant mourning over our dead — our killed children, women, and men — when we may feel overwhelmed by despair, we do not have the privilege to despair. We do not have the privilege to despair, to be pessimistic. So long as Palestinians are resisting, living, loving in Gaza, West Bank, Jerusalem, in Haifa, Jaffa, throughout Palestine; So long as Palestinians are resisting, living, loving throughout the refugee camps, — and living and loving IS resistance — So long as resistance lives – and it lives – we will continue the struggle for liberation, for freedom, for equity. We will be the Resistance.
They want to teach us hate. We shall teach them life. We shall teach them resistance. We shall teach hope, love, and resistance.


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6 Tools that Separate the Extraordinary Video Creators from the Ordinary Ones
Every day, thousands of hours of video are published and promoted online. If you're hoping to monetize your video content or grow your audience, you're not only competing against other digital media creators, you're also competing against Hollywood and the advertising industry.
The good news is that by adding a few tools to your production gear, you can give your content that Champagne quality taste on a Bud Light budget. You'll need to invest a little dough, but doing so will help you avoid the common mistakes that turn viewers off.
Here are the 6 tools that will take your video content from ordinary to extraordinary.
A 3-point lighting system
A poorly-lit video immediately signals to your viewers that your film is low-budget. And why would they want to pay for content that looks bad?
No matter what kind of video content you produce – features, documentaries, educational, instructional – a 3-point lighting kit is the foundation upon which most well-lit sets are created.
Your basic kit should include:
- Key light
- Fill light
- Backlight
The size of each light and the type of bulb used will vary depending on your unique needs, but your lights should be as sturdy as you can afford, easy to set up/break down, and simple to move – either on the set or between locations. If possible, the lights you purchase should include barn doors, or leaves that attach to each light to help direct its beam.
You can purchase lights to fit any budget at stores like B&H, but don't overlook eBay and Craigslist for used lights that still have plenty of life left in them.
Once you've chosen your lights, check out this quick tutorial on how to set up a 3-point lighting kit.
Set Design Software
Quality set design can create a unique "home" for your video content that enhances your brand and makes viewers want to return. Next to lighting, this is the most important differentiator that will set "great" content apart from "good" content.
Professional production designers use sophisticated 3D modeling software to sketch out their ideas for carpenters, painters and set decorators. Fortunately, you don't have to learn AutoCAD to design your own sets.
Sketchup for Film Stage, originally created by Google, is an easy-to-use application that lets you visualize your ideas, storyboard and even work out camera shots before you ever set foot onto a set – saving time and money in costly reshoots and delays.
Hollywood heavy hitters such as production designer Alan Hook (Iron Man 3, Insurgent) use Sketchup for their feature films. At only $700 (AutoCAD pricing starts at over $1600) video creators of all levels can step away from the boring white walls that scream "amateur," and step onto a set that injects life into their story.
Camera Slider
So you've invested in a good lighting kit and designed a killer set. Now it's time to banish that shaky camera work from your content forever.
Including a camera slider in your toolkit ensures smooth pans, zooms and reveals – assuming you don't need to move your camera more than a few feet in either direction.
Great filmmakers know that a camera sliders (also known as "rails") are the key to creating everything from dramatic reveals for films to silky-smooth zoom in/out for instructional videos.
Like every tool on the market, you can pay a little or a lot for a slider. The cost will depend on the type of camera you plan to use with your slider and the conditions you'll use it in.
Want to see a slider in action? Check out this quick video to see what a difference this versatile tool could make in your next project.
Shoulder Rig
For scenes or shots that require the camera to move with or follow the action, you need to stabilize the camera to avoid nausea-inducing motion (unless you're shooting Blair Witch Project-style).
Adding a shoulder rig to your gear vastly reduces shake without completely sacrificing the authenticity of motion. It's the tool of choice for many documentary filmmakers who want that handheld feel without the distraction of too much blur and bounce.
Shoulder rigs can be expensive, even for DSLR cameras, but you can also make them yourself (here's an informative tutorial). And if you're uncertain whether a Steadicam might be a better option, check out this great comparison featuring footage shot with both.
External Sound Recorder
If you're an independent filmmaker or content creator on a budget, you're probably shooting with a DSLR camera. While these little cameras shoot big-camera quality video, they produce sound that screams (or more accurately, whispers) "low budget."
You can have the very best story, news, or ideas to share, but if your sound isn't top-quality, your audience will quickly find entertainment or info they can actually hear and understand.
A sound recorder can take your video from good to great without costing you a fortune, and you can pick up a well-reviewed and respected model for around $150 bucks (Cheaper if you buy them used). Attaching it to your DSLR camera will let you monitor both audio and video simultaneously if you're a crew of one.
Yes, you'll have to sync your video and sound, but your editing software probably has a tool to make the process easy – and the high-quality sound will be worth the extra effort. The audio quality of your content can be the difference of whether a viewer chooses your content over another, so do not skimp out!
Stock Footage or Video
Stock photos and video have gotten a bad rap in the creative industries, but let's be honest: some of the photos are obviously staged and hokey. But usually the awfulness is a result of how they're used more than their actual composition.
These relatively inexpensive photos and clips can be a video creator's best friend, and will merge seamlessly into the look and feel of your content, if used properly.
Need some emergency b-roll? Use stock video to quickly fill in gaps and tell a more complete story. Want to illustrate an idea or process but don't have a talented graphic designer on your payroll? Stock graphs and illustrations to the rescue!
If you're facing a creative or ethical dilemma over whether or not to take advantage of stock sources, this excellent article (and the associated comments from filmmakers) just might change your mind.
Well, there you have it. Using these six tools will help elevate your films and video content from the ordinary to the extraordinary. What must-have tools did we leave out? We'd love to have your thoughts in the comments below.
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Tags: filmmaking, filmmaking equipment, filmmaking tools, video creation


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DTD Episode 45 Show Notes
Your Leadership Balancing Act
Click to download the Show Notes for Defeat YOUR Drama Podcast Episode 45
As I work with clients to create a formula to eliminate drama in their workplace I get to see the impact of varying leadership styles
As I look back over a 20 plus years I have reached a conclusion: the drama happens when leaders are too far in either direction along the spectrum of leadership strategies.
And I now know for certain: Leadership is the Greatest Balancing Act!
Where do you fall along the spectrum?
I've worked with leaders who provide no instruction for how to conduct work leaving everyone to scramble as they design work and coordinate efforts on the fly. Others are micromanagers, dictating every action and leaving no room for creative problem solving or the design of a new path towards a pre-determined end goal. The business is limited by the perspectives, ideas, background, insights, and experiences of the leader or business owner alone
I've seen leaders communicate everything and communicate nothing. Communicate too much and you have an uneasy team reacting to the whims of what ultimately is a passing thought or idea. Communicate too little and employees are operating in the dark, unaware of how their roles help to meet the current mission, with no view of future plans and how roles fit together. Employees cope by creating assumptions to fill in the blanks where facts should live. And, as I've stated many times in other episodes, our assumptions are rarely filled with sunshine and butterflies. For some reason most humans tend towards fearful assumptions of doom and gloom when they are kept in the dark.
I've seen everything from collaborative leadership styles where they've reserved no decision to the full discretion of the business owner to dictatorships where there is zero opportunity for input. At one extreme is a team too rich with power and influence, at the other is a business that moves at a snail's pace as employees sit motionless waiting for the specific direction of a leader for even the smallest initiative.
I've seen everything from the leader who designed processes with intention and expected they be followed without error and regardless of logic with no opportunity for change to the disorganized team that creates process on the fly
I've been witness to effects of the tyrant who disciplines employees for every misstep. The resulting culture generates a team of employees walking on eggshells, hiding mistakes and engaging in duck and cover to just get through the day. On the flip side are the leaders who fear holding employees accountable for even basic standards of work and instead spend their days cleaning up messes and making sense of chaos.
I've helped leaders who feel any kind of acknowledgement or show of gratitude is overkill; after all, their employees are receiving a paycheck. And I've helped others pull back on the reigns when thank you's were on overdrive. Their praise was reminiscent of my years potty training toddlers. After a certain age we should get kudos for going above and beyond and not for completing the most basic task.
In every instance it was movement towards the middle that created harmony and productivity in the organizations I serve.
I've edged them towards that middle with a caution to avoid swinging the pendulum too far to the other side. It tends to be a part of the process, however. It's difficult to land square on the mark. That central balance point is a goal to shoot towards not a place to live 100%. Perfection is rarely, if ever, achievable.
I ask you to take a moment and evaluate your leadership style? Where do you fall on the spectrum of leadership strategies for communication, acknowledgement, accountability, autonomy, structure, training and more. The land of no drama exists in that illusive area of communicate but not too much, discipline but not too harsh, empower them but not all the way….
Submit your Drama Question at the below link…
If you enjoyed this episode, I would really appreciate a review on iTunes and Stitcher


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simplyhired.com's estimated paid traffic cost is $981.93.
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All Films.All Above Board.NOW INCLUDES TV SHOWS & TV LISTINGS
A woman writer retires to a remote mountainside home, after the break-up of her long time relationship. She takes an android with her as a companion. But she soon gets very bored and decides to up-grade the android, Geoffrey, from being a domestic help to being her caring and confident. Unfortunately he is unable to cope with his new relationship and this puts the woman in a life-threatening situation.


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Haunted Hotel
Well, it's official. I have now stayed (in a room ALONE might I add) at a haunted hotel. Wondering what crazy thought entered my head to make me do so? Don't worry I'm not crazy. OK...so maybe I am crazy but I would never purposely choice to stay in a haunted hotel by myself. Or with anyone for that matter. Not this chick. I did not choose the hotel or even know it was haunted until after we checked in thanks to my wonderful co-worker, who did know the hotel was haunted (more like a place to house the next Casper reunion) and decided to book it for our team planning trip anyway.
This place is legit haunted. I'm talking ghost hunters visit this hotel all the time for fun to record paranormal activity. That's the kind of haunted we are talking about just so we are all on the same page. Don't believe me? Just google Sheraton Reed Chattanooga and you we get over two dozen articles of the crazy paranormal stuff that has gone on in this hotel.
Although there are many stories out there floating the web the story that we were told was that the hotel was opened in 1847 and was known as the Crutchfield House. The room that is the most haunted is 311 (although the entire hotel is haunted and guests often see images in mirrors and hear strange voices throughout the ballrooms and other hotel rooms). The hotel burned down in 1867 but apparently the ghost returned to the same room (room 311) after the hotel was rebuilt. The legend says that a Union Civil War soldier was staying in the room. The absence of female companionship was beginning to be too much for the young man so he decided to hire a prostitute. All apparently did not go well and the the solider ended up killing her. No one knows why....whatever the case she was brutally murdered by the young man. Since Union forces controlled the hotel he was never punished for the crime.
In the 135 years since many visitors have seen bizarre apparitions and heard sounds coming from Room 311. It is actually hotel policy to not use this room unless no others are available or unless the room is requested (which surprising enough happens often for real ghost hunters). Many of those who have requested it have not made it through the night and have checked out several hours after checking in, too frightened to stay in the room any longer.
If you are still skeptical check out this video of images one family saw while staying at the hotel. Talk about creepy.
Thankfully we made it out without to much craziness. I was in room 409 so I was thankful for that, but one of my coworkers who stayed in room 313 had a strange call in the middle of the not with nothing but breathing on the other end...everyone the next day swore that they had not been pranking her...was it a haunted call or a PR stunt the hotel does to increase talk about the hotel? I guess we will never know.
I would love to get my readers thoughts on ghosts and paranormal activity. Ever stayed somewhere haunted? What are your thoughts of ghosts?
As a Christian I absolutely believe in spirits beings- both good and bad. The Bible teaches very clearly that there are indeed spirit beings who can connect with and appear in our physical world. The Bible identifies these beings as good and bad angels. Angels are spirit beings who are faithful in serving God. Angels are righteous, good, and holy. Bad angels, or demons as they are often referred to as, are fallen angels, angels who rebelled against God. Demons are evil, deceptive, and destructive. According to 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, demons masquerade as "angels of light" and as "servants of righteousness." Appearing as a "ghost" and impersonating a deceased human being definitely seem to be within the power and abilities that demons possess.
The closest biblical example of a "haunting" is found in Mark 5:1-20. A legion of demons possessed a man and used the man to haunt a graveyard. There were no ghosts involved. It was a case of a normal person being controlled by demons to terrorize the people of that area. Demons seek to "kill, steal, and destroy" (John 10:10). They will do anything within their power to deceive people, to lead people away from God. This is very likely the explanation of "ghostly" activity today.


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Children of prisoners - maintaining family ties
Literature review - Different effects of parental imprisonment on different children
Children might react to parental imprisonment in different ways, depending on their individual characteristics, family environments, and wider social factors. Factors that influence how children react to parental imprisonment are called moderators (26, 44). Identifying moderators can help to explain why some children have adverse outcomes after parental imprisonment while others lead normal lives. Although there is not space to review all potential moderators here, a few key findings are noted (25).
Maternal imprisonment might be more harmful than paternal imprisonment for children, because children are more likely to live with their mother before her imprisonment (60, 61); children are less likely to be placed with their other parent when mothers are imprisoned and are more likely to be placed in foster care (60, 61); and because imprisoned mothers are likely to be held further away from home than imprisoned fathers (61, 62), so children may be less likely to visit their imprisoned mother. However, small-scale studies report mixed findings about the different effects of maternal and paternal imprisonment on children (7, 49, 63), and there is a need for large-scale investigation of this issue.
Comparing the effects of parental imprisonment on 7,277 girls and 7,595 boys in Project Metropolitan, Murray, Janson, and Farrington (41) found that parental imprisonment in childhood was a strong predictor of adult criminal behaviour for both males and females, but the effects were slightly stronger for females. In the same study, the effects of parental imprisonment were compared according to the age of children at the time of parental imprisonment (birth to six versus age seven to 19). The effects of parental imprisonment during both age periods were very similar (odds ratios for child offending in adulthood were 2.4 for the younger children and 2.6 for the older children, and were not significantly different).
'Resiliency' research suggests that children can be protected from adversity by having an above average IQ and an easy temperament, as well as good parental attachment and bonding and positive peer relations (64-67). There is little research on resiliency processes among children of prisoners, but initial findings suggest that children may be protected from adverse effects of parental imprisonment by having a high IQ (68), high levels of hopefulness and social support (69), and stable and affectionate care (15, 70).
Two exploratory studies in the United Kingdom suggest that black families of prisoners (71) sometimes experience racism from police and prison staff, and that black children with parents in prison are particularly vulnerable to racism from peers (72). Families of foreign nationals (73) can also experience particular difficulties keeping in touch.
Using data from the Cambridge Study (England) and Project Metropolitan (Sweden), Murray, Janson and Farrington (41) compared as closely as possible the effects of parental imprisonment on child offending in England and Sweden. Children were born in the same year in the two studies (1953), and both cohorts lived in capital cities (London and Stockholm). Additionally, the samples were matched as closely as possible on child sex (male), class (working class), age at the time of parental imprisonment (birth to 19), and age at the time of outcome (19 to 30). The results showed that parental imprisonment was a strong predictor and a possible cause of adult offending behaviour in England, but not in Sweden. It is possible that, unlike in England, Swedish children may have been protected from the adverse effects of parental imprisonment by more family-friendly prison policies, a welfare-oriented juvenile justice system, an extended social welfare system, a less diverse population, and more sympathetic public attitudes toward crime and punishment. As Bronfenbrenner (74, p. 7) argued, child development may be "enhanced by the adoption of public policies and practices that create additional settings and societal roles conducive to family life". Further cross-national comparisons should investigate the protective effect of social policies for children of prisoners.
In conclusion, parental imprisonment is a strong risk factor for child antisocial–delinquent behaviour, mental health problems, and other adverse life outcomes. However, conclusive evidence is lacking on whether parental imprisonment causes these outcomes for children. It is possible that parental imprisonment harms children because of parent–child separation, economic strain, reduced quality child care, and stigma. The effects of parental imprisonment on children may differ according to children's characteristics, family characteristics, and the wider social context in which children live.
Although there are only a few large-scale studies of parental imprisonment, it is clear that children of prisoners are a highly vulnerable group, and are likely to need extensive support. Policy reforms and interventions should be designed to support children of prisoners. Interventions should be based on evidence about why children of prisoners are at risk. For example, if parent–child separation is an important contributor to adverse outcomes of prisoners' children, prisoner–child contact could be encouraged to reduce child stress, particularly through more child-friendly visiting arrangements at prisons. If economic strain contributes to adverse outcomes of prisoners' children, financial assistance might be made available, for example through the provision of emergency benefit funds, a reduction in the costs of telephone calls between prison and home, and schemes to increase prisoner employment. If parenting strain is an important contributor to children's problems, a range of parenting programmes could be used to support children of prisoners. On these, and various other policy options to support children of prisoners, see Murray and Farrington (75). Resiliency research might highlight other ways in which the harmful effects of parental imprisonment on children can be prevented. There is an urgent need to conduct more large-scale research on children of prisoners to provide appropriate support for this vulnerable population.


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Chrisgump11 wrote:I think the vermin are humanely trapped then retrained in horticulture. Sort of harvest mice?
Thought honey was ok provided the worker bees are paid a living wage?
Greeners Jnr wrote:Question for any vegans on here from my 10 yr old son. If I'm correct in my thinking Vegans don't eat or use anything from animal products i.e. Milk or cheese, therefore do they use honey? If not do they eat any plants as most of them are pollinated by bees, or would they be looking for artificially pollinated fruit and veg?


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Belper Town Juniors failed to progress out of their group in the 2015 Mediterranean International Cup in Spain.
They were beaten 3-0 by Spanish side Alboraya UD at Castell Platja D'Aro stadium, before they were beaten 1-0 against Catalan side OAR VIC.
Belper Town lost their final game against Israeli side Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan in Hostalric stadium to finish bottom of group C in B Class.
The tournament features hundreds of games with teams from all across Europe taking part in U19, U16, U14, U12 and U12 seven a side matches.
It also features sides from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United.


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Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We'll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.
Today I'm offering snippets of Bronco's Rough Ride, the first story in the Bad Boys of Beta Squad books. It's the prequel to The Navy's Ghost and Rimshot's Hard Target, and tells the story of how John Andrews met his wife. In this tease, Lindsey is talking to her handler Courtney about the nullifer for the ketamine and a safe house to get them out. Lindsey's undercover name is Jenna Black.
"Oh, thank you so much. I was almost out of their Luscious Lash mascara." Lindsey pulled out the tube of mascara and surveyed it. The lab guys had outdone themselves in terms of disguise. She'd never know it held a syringe unless she opened it. "This is perfect. Thanks again."
"No problem, Jenna. I know you go through that stuff like water."
"And I love it, too." Lindsey winked and dropped the little pink bag into her purse. She had the nullifier, now she just needed the safe house. "So tell me about this stay-cation." She tightened her lips. "Are you going to the lake house this weekend?"
"No, it still has to be cleaned from the last time my sister was in town. You know how she parties." Courtney grimaced and shook her head. "Apparently, she'd vomited all over the carpet in the guest room and the whole house smells like stomach acid."
Lindsey's gut sank. No safe house. "Oh, that's awful. How soon can it be cleaned? I'd hate for you to miss the opportunity to get away kid-free."
Courtney laughed. "You just wanted to house-sit, didn't you?"
Lindsey bit her lip. "Guilty as charged. You have such a lovely view of Lake Las Vegas. Are you sure you can't go?"
"Bill and I are thinking of maybe renting one of the cabins up at Mt. Charleston for the weekend. I'm sure we'll come up with something. Don't worry." Courtney reached out and firmly squeezed Lindsey's hand. "But I have other good news. Remember that guy you told me about? The cute one from the same party where my sister over-indulged?"
"Yes." Lindsey stuck her tongue out for effect. "Don't tell me. He's married."
"No, silly." Courtney laughed and pulled out a card in a lavender envelope. "I got his name, number, and address for you. It's all there." She grinned. "Are you going to call him?"
"Well, aren't you just the little matchmaker." Lindsey matched her grin and threw in a wink. "I might."
"Oh, come on, Jenna. He was cute."
"He was. But I like to keep my options open. You know, wondrous variety?"
"Yes, yes. Well, at least check him out. You might find more of value than you first thought."
Lindsey ignored the foreboding in Courtney's voice and nodded with an easy smile as she dropped the card in her purse beside the Marie Kinney bag. Both items called to her with a siren's song of temptation, but she steadfastly ignored them as she finished her coffee and scone with Courtney.
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|Low CD4
May 23, 2012
I am 45 year old woman from India.Taking Duovir(twice daily) and Efavir 600 (once daily)since May 2008.Blood parameters at that time were :Viral Load 155618 copy/mL, Abs CD4-62,%CD3+/CD4+(T-Helper cells)-7.9%,Hb-11.5,RBC-4,26,WBC-3.83. Now physically I feel much better with no infections,fatigue or any other symptoms of disease but CD4,RBC and WBC are still low. New readings in April 2012 are : viral load 45 copy/mL,Abs CD4-164,%CD3+/CD4+(T-Helper cells)- 17.2%,Hb-12.3,RBC-2.90,WBC-3.5. I read somewhere that AZT supresses RBC and and also causes low CD4 and TDF/FTC/EFV or TDF/3TC/EFV are better combination from point of view of long term toxicity, lipotrophy and RBC/CD4.Also if resistance is developed with TDF ,AZT may still be used as second line regime but reverse is not possible. My doctor is experienced Medical College Prof. He agrees with effectiveness of TDF but says that as I am physically fit and virus is under control there is no justification for changing the medicine at present. He recommends change only if signs of failure or any side effect appear. Please advice whether increase in CD4 is adequate,whether to continue with present regime or switch over to TDF/3TC/EFV.
Response from Dr. Young
Hi and thank you for posting from India.
First, it seems like you're doing pretty well on your current treatment. Your CD4 count has improved considerably from when you started (from 62 to 164) and seems like you're not experiencing any side effects of your medications. Indeed, worldwide, the regimen that you're taking is probably the most commonly prescribed.
AZT can cause bone marrow suppression and anemia in some people, and compared with other medications causes a slightly lower CD4 count (about 30 cells in one comparative study). Such difference in CD4 cell performance, in my opinion, isn't enough to alone justify changing a successful regimen.
Switching treatments is recommended to simplify treatment (decreased pill number or dosing frequency) or to decrease side effects. A switch from AZT+3TC to TDF+3TC would decrease your dosing to once daily. Since you don't have any side effects of your AZT (or at least don't think that you do), then there might not be any difference- though many who have switched have reported feeling somewhat better. It should be said that if you have significant problems (or risks of) kidney or bone disease, then I'd avoid the use of tenofovir.
The proposed regimen is a well recommended regimen- indeed, most commonly prescribed here in the US for first-line treatment; you're correct that should resistance occur to the TDF-based regimen, that AZT often retains activity.
In sum, there's no right or wrong approach. If going to once daily is attractive and could improve your adherence to medications, then a switch is entirely reasonable.
I hope that's helpful, BY
After 5 years...
Chlamydia or Gonorrhea
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text: Here're a few local shows not to miss: Former St. Louisan Scott Windsor, sole member of the Lyndsay Diaries, writes pretty, sad songs that fans of both indie pop and emo can latch onto. So latch away at the Creepy Crawl on Friday. Miles of Wire, playing Saturday night at Frederick's Music Lounge, hasn't fled St. Louis yet, and that's a good thing. They play rollicking, rootsy tunes that recall Springsteen back when he rocked instead of campaigned. -- Jordan Harper