"Fathers Beware" – A Father's Day Story from 1931

So... did you know the dandelion is the symbol for Father's Day?

Or that not everyone was for a Father's Day to begin with?

This little extract transcribed from a story in the Hull Daily Mail of Saturday 25 July 1931 posted by the British Newspaper Archives is rather telling.

Hmm... and is that a forwarning of Twitter in there... 


-- -- -- -- --

FATHERS BEWARE

FATHER has long been the butt of stage humorists. His peculiarities have been shown up to an almost distressing degree, but somehow he always comes out trumps by virtue of the fact that he pays the bill for whatever is needed by his up-to-date sons and daughters. Often enough his wife has a modicum of sympathy for the Head of the house -- perhaps because she knew him when he was quite as smart, and quite as up to date, according to the times, as the progeny who now twit him with his alleged shortcomings. Love, coupled with common-sense, conquers a whole heap of supposed frailties and shortcomings.

The latest horror coming to fathers, however, is something the specie should stand up against. It is nothing less than a Father's Day, to be known as Remembrance Day. The idea is American, of course, for no other country could think of such a thing. It is a shopkeepers' follow-up of the Mothers' Day -- successful, we believe, because of the very natural love every human being must bear for a mother. In this case, however, there is a snag -- and very substantial snag -- in that the scheme is engendered by haberdashers, tobacconists, and others who deal in men's goods. Being of American origin, the poor but honest purveyor of spirituous liquor does not find a place in the programme. It does not need much imagination to realise what hopeless things in the way of shirts and pyjamas daughters just fresh from college will produce on Remembrance Day, to say nothing of the "smokes" the son and heir thinks would suit dad, who will, of course, have to pay for it all, indirectly if not otherwise.

Remembrance Day is too terrible a picture to conjecture. If there is any real means to put it on a firm basis in England, then fathers must at once band together to repel it. Many less horrors have caused revolutions. It is hard enough in these days to find money for father's real needs, let alone what supercilious sons and daughters thinks he needs. The only redeeming feature about this hundred per cent. tradesmen's outfit is that the emblem chosen for the day is the dandelion -- a flower which grows better for being trampled on. No truer token could possibly have been picked.


See the original BNA post here.   Image from Found in Moms Basement.

Is Chocolate as Healthy as Fruit?

The good news (according to Yahoo News) is that - Yes! - chocolate can be just as healthy as fruit.  The report repeats claims I've heard before and says:

"When tested and compared to juices from ‘superfruits’ such as blueberries and pomegranate, dark chocolate was found to be higher in antioxidants, which are essential for fighting disease and preventing wrinkles. For a healthy treat, it is best to go for a pure dark chocolate as milk, sugar and too much processing can reduce these health benefits."

The bad news though is that world chocolate supplies are set to run out!

"It is one of the most popular treats worldwide, so it may come as bad news to many that world chocolate supplies may soon run out. Due to political unrest and dangers to farmers in the Ivory Coast (where a large proportion of the world’s cocoa beans are grown), many fair trade cocoa farmers and trainers have fled the country and chocolate production has hit a low. It has been predicted that supplies of sustainable chocolate are set to run out, and a chocolate drought has been predicted for 2014."

If its true that there will be a "chocolate drought" then we can expect the price of the tea-time chocolate biscuit to become far more expensive.

Why is it when they say something is good for you the price goes up?

Presbyterian Historical Society Open for Business

The Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland who recently moved to new premises beside Queens University in Belfast are now open for business once again.

The new premises at 26 College Green are adjacent to the Presbyterian Theological College and it is hoped the closeness to the Colleges extensive library and that of the Presbytery of Antrim in the new Queens library will benefit students and researchers alike.

The Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland
26 College Green, Belfast BT7 1LN
Email: phsilibrarian@pcinet.org
Tel: 028 9072 7330
Web: www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com

Hours of opening:
Tuesday and Wednesday 9.30am-1.00pm; 1.30pm-4.30pm
Thursday: 9.30am-1.00pm

Memories of First Ballymacarrett

First Ballymacarrett Presbyterian Church by David Long

When First Ballymacarrett Presbyterian Church held its final service recently it brought to an end 173 years of work and witness in East Belfast.

Those who have memories of the Church or a family connection may be interested to learn that David Long, President of the Ulster Watercolour Society, completed a beautiful watercolour painting depicting a time when the church was full to capacity in the 1940s.

Mounted prints of the painting (Image size 26x22cm - 40x36cm overall) are now available priced at £20 (plus £4 p&p UK and £6 Eire) and can be purchased through David  Tel: (028) 9127 0101 Email: davidlongni@talktalk.net. 

 

PRONI Lectures at the Linenhall Library

PRONI, which is currently closed due to its relocation to new premises in Titanic Quarter, Belfast, has announced that it will be holding a series of lectures in the Linenhall Library.

The Linenhall Library has agreed to host the lunchtime lectures delivered by PRONI staff on the last Wednesday of the month as follows:

24 November 2010: 'Using on-line sources for genealogical research' by Mr Stephen Scarth, Head of Public Services, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

26 January 2011:  'Vere Foster: the man who paid women to go away' by Dr Ann McVeigh, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

23 February 2011: 'Preserving the past for the future' by Mr Brendan Campbell, Chief Conservator, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

30 March 2011: 'Church Records for Family History' by Valerie Adams, Presbyterian Historical Society (Ex PRONI).

27 April 2011: 'The Blitz on Belfast' by Mr Ian Montgomery, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

The talks are free of charge and will start at 1.00pm in the Performance Area of the Library.

 

Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland on the move

The Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland (PHSI) has announced it is to move to new premises at 26 College Green, Belfast, which is adjacent to Union Theological College and Queens University. The Society, which has been based in Church House the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland since its inception in 1907, hopes the move will be completed by the autumn and that disruption to the services of the Library will be kept to a minimum. If you were thinking of paying a visit to the Library it may be best to call ahead. You can reach contact the Librarian at (028) 9032 2284 or librarian@presbyterianhistoryireland.com

The move will involve a substantial expense on the limited funds of the Society however, and an appeal has been set up help offset the cost and help with the refurbishment of the new rooms. Many of the Society's members have already responded to the appeal but any donations from members of the Churches connected with the Society or interested members of the public would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be sent direct to the Treasurer, Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, Church House, Belfast BT1 6DW.

The Society was formed in 1907 by members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland with the aim of promoting the knowledge of, and education in, the history of the churches of the Presbyterian order in Ireland, and to collect and preserve historical materials and records of those churches.

While the Society's main concern is with historical material relating to these Churches, the collections are of wider ecclesiastical, social and political interest and are consulted by a wide variety of students.

The Society collects items of Presbyterian interest and their library contains a large number of books, pamphlets and artefacts relating to Presbyterianism including some original manuscript material, diaries, letters, speeches and sermons. Among newspapers and journals, one of the Society's main holdings is The Witness, which ran 1874 to 1941. This valuable source of information is also available on microfilm.

The Society recent appointed Miss Valerie Adams, formerly of the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, to the post of Librarian.

A History of the World in 100 Objects Returns for Second Series

Today has started with some great news as A History of the World in 100 Objects has returned for its second installment. I first came across this podcast in January when in it was going into its second week and I was hooked.

This BBC podcast is part of a collaboration with the British Museum and aims to recount the history of humanity using 100 object's from the Museum's collection's. 

The series, which is narrated by the Director of the British Museum Neil MacGregor, is brodcast on Radio 4 each weekday with each episode being approx 15 minutes long and the complete series being aired in three sections with the second beginning today. The first part of the series was brocast in January-February and is still available to listen to online or download

"In these programmes, I'm travelling back in time, and across the globe, to see how we humans over 2 million years have shaped our world and been shaped by it, and I'm going to tell this story exclusively through the things that humans have made: all sorts of things, carefully designed, and then either admired and preserved, or used, broken and thrown away. I've chosen just a hundred objects from different points on our journey, from a cooking pot to a golden galleon, from a Stone Age tool to a credit card." says Neil MacGregor

"Telling history through things, whether it's an Egyptian mummy or a credit card, is what museums are for, and because the British Museum has collected things from all over the globe, it's not a bad place to try to tell a world history. Of course, it can only be 'a' history of the world, not 'the' history. When people come to the museum they choose their own objects and make their own journey round the world and through time, but I think what they will find is that their own histories quickly intersect with everybody elses, and when that happens, you no longer have a history of a particular people or nation, but a story of endless connections."

The BBC blog reports "A difference between this and the first part of the series is that you will have more time to explore the world in a particular slice in time. Across the next eight weeks the objects will often reflect on larger, broader themes and issues that run across this history. These include how political leaders should rule and represent their power; how religions visualise their deities and ideals; and the potency of even apparently mundane objects to unlock secrets of the past."

Along with the brodcast the BBC have set up a website A History of the World where images of the objects can be viewed in close up and you can watch short videos of many of the objects.

The site also highlights Museums from around the country which have chosen objects from their own collections that reflect world history from each area's perspective. Over three hundred and fifty museums are already registered on the site and even Schools and individuals have also joined in the project uploading images.

If you have an interest in History or even if you don't this is a podcast worth having a look at.

What will you do when the oil runs out?

Just when will oil supplies run out and what will you do when it does? It's a question I've asked myself many times but I've never been able to find a clear answer anywhere. Of course if you feel like being pedantic the oil will never actually run out but that is only because the cost of exploration and production will become prohibitive forcing the use of alternative forms of energy.

Since the 1970s there have been warnings that oil supplies are running out and although there are those who reply that there is plenty of oil left the overwhelming opinion seems to be that it could be sooner rather than later.

The issue has become clouded by claims that many countries are grossly over estimating their reserves either for political or economic reasons. Add in other factors like the giant Ghawar field in Saudi Arabia which is now apparently producing water rather than oil (although it still produces about 5m barrels a day) or that Iraq is producing only two-thirds what it did and that Iran is producing well below potential. This reduction in production though is far overshadowed by the increasing demands made on the oil supplies by the growing economies of developing countries like China and India.

The latest estimates I've found put it at about 30-40 years worth but this is a balance between the known reserves which have peaked, improvements in technology which means being able to bring more up and the new fields which are being opened. 

But therein lies a major problem. Most of these new fields which were previously uneconomic and have now become viable because of rising demand and increased prices are in places were there is increased risk to the environment.

One just has to look the Deepwater Horizon well in the Gulf of Mexico and the subsequent oil leak which currently threatens unprecedented environmental damage and destruction of an ecosystem from Louisiana to Florida on which the livelyhoods of thousands depend. Predictably opponents have come out saying this was a disaster waiting to happen and, because of the conditions and risk, drilling should not have been allowed there in the first place but new fields need to be tapped and with drill sites like Deepwater Horizon now feasible... well...

In the push for new sources of oil Canada has permitted the exploitation of its tar sands which is not only devastating the local environment but the extraction of the tar oil is creating more carbon emissions than Belgium and it has been estimated that jet fuel refined from the bitumen creates a carbon footprint over 200 per cent greater than equivalent crude.

It is not only for reasons of climate change that alternative sources of energy need to be explored and brought on line soon.

Oil is a finite resource. The cost of finding new sources is hitting the pockets of everyone. Increased oil prices mean increases in transport costs and production costs. It means that food prices go up... heating costs go up... etc. Many areas of farming have become highly mechanised in order to produce foodstuffs at affordable prices but what happens when farmers can't afford to buy the diesel to run the farm machinery?

Next time you fill up your tank don't just think of the taxes government are taking but think about what its costing the environment to bring it to the forecourt and what you would do if it wasn't there.

Aliens - If NASA finds them don't talk to them and remember to wash your hands

"Scientists haven't found ET just yet, but they may be pinning down the best places and ways to look..." was the message that came from the Astrobiology Science Conference according to a recent article.

Scientists at the conference were still eager to find life elsewhere in the universe said the article and, quoting Mary Voytek, astrobiology senior scientist at NASA Headquarters, the article continued, "We're interested and prepared to discover any form of life."

This comes hot on the heels of comments made by noted astrophysicist Stephen Hawkings who has said he "strongly believes in aliens" and warning that "Earth could be at risk from an invasion."

The comments, (widely reported in the media including the Daily Mail) were made in an interview about a new documentary series he has made for the Discovery Channel called Universe which uses imagined illustrations to explains why he believes in extraterrestrial life and the forms it could take.

"We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet." said Professor Hawkings. 

Like discussing the plot of a SciFi blockbuster movie Professor Hawkings said, "I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonise whatever planets they can reach."

But before you start panicking it should be remembered that this isn't the first time Hawkings has expressed his belief in there being extraterrestrial life. At that time though he claimed it was dumber than us.

In 2008, during a speech to mark the 50th birthday of NASA at George Washington University, Professor Hawkings said "The universe is teeming with alien life but little of it is intelligent." "... if you meet an alien," he said, "you could be infected with a disease to which you have no resistance." (Of course after reading HG Well's War of the Worlds I was looking to microbes to save us from the nasty aliens :)

He then went on to say the odds were in favour of the existence of suitable planets ripe for colonisation. "We cannot envision visiting them with current technology, but we should make interstellar travel a long-term aim," he said.

So, to recap, when NASA finds a likely planet we should send out ships to colonise it "for the good of humanity" but if we run in to any nasty aliens we shouldn't talk to them in case they notice us and if we have to shake their hands... or tentacles or whatever... remember to wash your hands.

Burglars Break Into Dutch Jail To Steal TVs

I just love this story from Sky News.  We've all heard how cushy prisons are getting these days (alledgedly) but one which sends them home at the weekend?

Burglars have broken into a prison and stolen inmates' television sets.

 Het Keern prison (Photo: Ministerie van Justitie)

The thieves crept into a minimum-security jail in the Dutch town of Hoorn, near Amsterdam, when the inmates were away for the weekend, authorities have revealed.

The facility is used for prisoners who are coming to the end of their sentences and, because they are soon to be released, are often allowed out for weekends.

The establishment is described as "a very modestly protected environment".

The thefts took place on two separate weekends, in March and April.

It is still not known how the burglars broke in.

No arrests have been made yet, a police spokeswoman said.

All you wanted to know about Volcanic ash clouds and why you don't fly through them

Among the many wonderful podcasts from the BBC is one from the BBC World Service called Discovery which covers a range of scientific topics.

In a new special episode the podcast deals with the science of volcanic ash clouds and why you don't fly through them.

It discusses the Icelandic volcano, the impact it's ash cloud has had on aviation and the many other implications ash clouds can have.

This podcast is well worth a listen and can be downloaded through iTunes here

What a Waste! The nine-bin nightmare...

Now I'm all for recycling - just ask the family -  but according to the report in the Daily Mail recycling in England is going to take on a new meaning and if the story is only half true it is indeed going to be a nightmare.

According to the report the containers wil include 

1 a silver slopbucket for food waste, which is then tipped in to 

2 a larger, green outdoor food bin, 

3 a pink bag for plastic bottles,

4 a green bag for cardboard, 

5 a white bag for clothing and textiles.

6 a blue bag for paper and magazines

7 a brown bin for garden waste

8 a blue box for glass, foil, tins and empty aerosols 

9 a grey bin for non-recyclable waste.  

When the nine-bin system was introduced in Newcastle-under-Lyme last month they had to publish step-by-step instructions on how to fold down a cardboard box so that it fits into the green bag. 

The new system was introduced to help boost recycling rates from 26 per cent in 2008 to a target of 50 per cent by 2015 but means only food waste is now taken each week and all other rubbish has to be stored for a fortnight before it is collected.

This all seems a step too far to me.

It was bad enough when the blue and brown bin where introduced here.  While it is not too onerous to keep three bins going the fact that the grey bin was changed to fortnightly meant that I have to make a dump run every few weeks cause there is just no room in the grey bin.

Things have improved since they were introduced though as more recyclables can now go into the blue bin and food waste can now be put into the brown bin as well so kudos to Ards Borough Council for helping rate payers.

The report went on to say "Around half the country now has fortnightly collection systems imposed by town halls that prefer to compel their residents to carry out complex recycling than either organise recycling themselves in waste plants or absorb the cost of landfill taxes. 

"A report for the Environment Department last week revealed that the burning of household rubbish by those trying to evade recycling rules has now become the greatest source of highly poisonous and cancer-causing dioxins in the environment."

All I can say is that if this nine-bin system is introduced more widely along with some of the fines currently in place and binmen refusing to empty bins because they are "contaminated" you'll find even more waste being burnt.

 

Yes, we all need to recycle more, but the Councils need to make it easier for people to do it not make their lives more difficult.

iPad for the iGran

Following on from highlighting iPad for the iCat heres one for the silver surfers.

99-year-old Virginia Campbell is the star of the latest viral YouTube video

Never looking up at the camera, she’s totally focused on her new iPad which daughter and son-in-law got her the first day they came out.



An avid reader Viginia suffers from glaucoma, making it difficult to read.

Having never owned a computer before when she heard all the hype about the iPad she wanted one and now she’s reading books on the iPad and writing limericks as well.

Heres a tribute in appreciation of her newfound freedom from the frailties of old age.

To this technology-ninny it’s clear
In my compromised 100th year,
That to read and to write
Are again within sight
Of this Apple iPad pioneer.

 Full story www.oregonlive.com

Every ash cloud has a silver lining

With all the tales of tribulation suffered by the passengers stranded by the grounding of aircraft due the Icelandic ash cloud and all its attendant negative press its hard to believe there would be anything positive to report.

But here's a story for all you with a plot that could have come straight from a romantic movie.

It seems that when Sean Murtagh and Natalie Mead were stranded in Dubai techology came to the rescue to save their wedding when with the use of laptop and webcam the ceremony was broadcast on Skype to family and friends at home to enable them to join the happy couple.

In the report from the Sydney Morning Herald Natalie said, "Passengers stranded in the hotel were getting excited for the first time in days when they heard about our wedding; some even helped me with my hair and make-up. It was also great to see everyone in the UK on our wedding day, even if it was via webcam.

"It has been an amazing day and we are just so grateful for everything that everyone has done for us. It is definitely a story to tell the grandchildren. There was no way we were going to let this volcano stop us [from] getting married."

Read the full story at the Sydney Morning Herald here.

The Tardis lands in the Europa Hotel 2nd May 2010

Fans of Doctor Who and Torchwood will be pleased to learn that following the success of Vortex last year, UT Events have recently announced Vortex II with proceeds in aid of the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice.

Hoping to build on last year's success, the event will again take place during the bank holiday weekend in the Europa Hotel, Belfast on Sunday 2nd of May, with guest actors from the series taking part in the event where they will be signing autograph, answering questions and enabling photo opportunities.

Among the many characters invading the Europa meet the Ood, Weeping Angels, Clockwork Droids who will be roaming around the venue, and the Daleks of course.

During the day take part in the Charity Auction, prize giveaways or, live on stage, the "Feel or No Feel" gameshow and bring the evening to a close by joining the party and Fancy dress competition.

For full details visit the UT events web site at www.utevents.co.uk

Did you sell your Soul to GameStation?

When you buy something online, how well do you read the small print?

When I came across this story I thought... Hey... This is a great Aprils Fool... But it seems not... It does highlight perfectly though how most of us never check the small print and why it catches a lot of people out.

It appears that GameStation in an effort to test this fact out inserted a new clause into their terms and conditions earlier this month that granted them legal rights to the immortal souls of thousands of their online customers:
"By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamestation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions."

The GameStation clause also specified serving such notice in “six foot-high letters of fire” too, but offered customers an chance to opt out, rewarding them with a £5 money-off voucher if they did so.

Very few did and apparently 7,500 customers signed on the dotted line as it where.

From bad to worse... or... There are two tales to every story

It seems like every other day there's a story appearing that makes you go "what?" and this week is no exeception.

Just looking through the MailOnline alone makes you wonder.

The story that topped it all has to be that of Tilern DeBique who won a sex discrimination claim over Army childcare and wanted over £1million in compensation... seven times more than that offered too Ben Parkinson who suffered 37 separate injuries in a landmine blast and was offered only £152,000 (although after a public outcry this was later raised to £570,000)

But it seems she didn't get it all her own way when she was only awarded £17,000

Other stories include the story about the Sainsbury store butcher who had to refuse to de-bone a joint of lamb in case he cut himself - "it's Health and Safety"

Then there is the story of Catherine Leonard who feeling ill asked for help but was refused by the M&S staff - "it's Health and Safety"

The MailOnline also carried the story of Nicola Hobbs who applied for a job but after a health check was told she was too ill to work. Then when she tried to apply for employment support allowance she was then judged she was fit enough for work. There is an argument that the criteria for the job she applied for meant she could be classed as fit for another job... BUT... the incredibly part of the story is that it was the same healthcare company contracted to carry out both assessments. One has to ask how independent these checks where or does it depend on whose paying the bill?

Things get worse again though when you read that a disgraced banker who stole £315,000 from his disabled niece's charity fund and only has to pay back just £1.  The good news here is that, according to the story, the bank has since refunded the entire amount back to the girl's family... now THAT has got to be worth a story on it's own... a bank being helpful!

There are two tales to every story it seems...

Watch that Tweet... Library of Congress Acquires Twitter Archive

Before sending that next tweet... think twice... It will now be preserved for all eternity...

The Library of Congress has announced that is to archive "every public tweet, ever, since Twitter’s inception in March 2006" and that’s a lot of tweets.


The announcement was made in the most apt way via their own feed @librarycongress which has now over 50,000 followers.

On their blog Matt Raymond writes, "Just a few examples of important tweets in the past few years include the first-ever tweet from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey (http://twitter.com/jack/status/20), President Obama’s tweet about winning the 2008 election (http://twitter.com/barackobama/status/992176676), and a set of two tweets from a photojournalist who was arrested in Egypt and then freed because of a series of events set into motion by his use of Twitter (http://twitter.com/jamesbuck/status/786571964) and (http://twitter.com/jamesbuck/status/787167620).

"So if you think the Library of Congress is 'just books,' think of this: The Library has been collecting materials from the web since it began harvesting congressional and presidential campaign websites in 2000. Today we hold more than 167 terabytes of web-based information, including legal blogs, websites of candidates for national office, and websites of Members of Congress. "

You have now been warned...

Driver Blames Little Green Men For Ticket

"Desperate drivers hit by council fines have come up with some unusual excuses in a bid to escape having to cough up, according to a new report." 

That was the opening line of a story on Sky news

Excuses included spotting a UFO, claiming colour blindness, it was raining and I had to pick up and an injured dog.

I had to laugh at "I was only sleeping in the back of the car"... waiting for his chauffeur no doubt... lol