Patricia Cornwell Books and Life

Read on to learn about Patricia Cornwell's Books, and her life.

Crime novelist Patricia Cornwell is best known for her series of books featuring her forensic pathologist character, Dr Kay Scarpetti.

They were popular even before the current public obsession with forensic detective work.

We suggest that you watch out video as a great way to see our article, but don't forget to return here and SCROLL ON for more info, about the great Patricia!

Her reputation has been enhanced by the number of crime writing awards, Patricia Cornwell books have won, including the Edgar Award and the Sherlock Award and Gold Dagger Award in the UK.  Cornwell has been very open about her medical problems.

She suffered from anorexia and depression when she was young and has had substance abuse problems as an adult.

Cornwell was born in 1956 in Miami and graduated from college with an English degree. The detail and accuracy apparent in Patricia Cornwell books is borne from experience, starting with her job as a crime reporter for a newspaper in North Carolina.

She then took a position in a crime lab in Virginia as a technical writer and computer analyist. Her writing career began with her first Scarpetti novel, Postmortem in 1990, a story about a serial killer, which was very well received.

Another Scarpetti novel, From Potters Field, was made into a movie. Most of the novels are based in Richmond, Virginia.

In addition to crime writing, Cornwell has written a biography of Ruth Bell Graham, her friend and wife of evangelist, the Reverend Billy Graham. It was titled Ruth, A Portrait: the Story of Ruth Bell Graham and was published in 1983.

A series of three police stories, featuring the character of Andy Brazil, have also appeared and these are much lighter in tone. Patricia Cornwell books are nothing if not versatile and she has also produced cookery books containing Italian recipes.

The feted writer has courted controversy in her long campaign to convince people that Walter Sickert was Jack the Ripper.

She has spent a lot of her own money gathering items to support her case that the celebrated British artist was responsible for the murders committed by the Ripper, who was never caught, in Victorian London.

This campaign has met with criticism and she put her theories into a book called Portrait of a Killer. Jack the Ripper: Case Closed.

She even took the step of placing a full page advertisement in two British newspapers to answer her critics.

Of all the Patricia Cornwell books, it is this one that has not been universally praised and a lot of her theory seems to depend on unsubstantiated evidence.

Patricia Cornwell is a Senior Fellow at the International Crime Scene Academy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a founder of the Virginia Institiute of Forensic Science and Medicine and a member of the Harvard affiliated McLean Hospital's national Council, where she is an advocate for psychiatric research.

She is the 2008 winner of the Galaxy British Books Awards' Books Direct Crime Thriller of the Year - the first American ever to win this prestigious award.

Her most recent number one bestsellers include:

• Scarpetta; Book of the Dead; 
• The Front and Portrait of a Killer; 
• Jack the Ripper - Cased Closed. 

Her earlier works include

• Postmortem - the only novel to win five major crime awards in a single year - and 
• Cruel and Unusual, which won the coveted Gold Dagger Award in 1993. via PCornwellDB

Patricia Cornwell is an American fiction crime writer. She was written thirty seven books, including fiction, non-fiction, and a children’s book. She has sold over 100 million copies of her books. She has written many series, including the Doctor Kay Scarpetta books about a female medical examiner for Virginia. Other series include the Andy Brazil and Judy Hammer series, the Win Garano series, and an Omnibus that refers to the Scarpetta novels.

She has written a total of twenty four New York Times Best Sellers. She sold her first book Postmortem while she was working as a computer analyst at Virginia’s medical examination offices. Cornwell was born on June 9, 1956 in Miami.

Her father left the family when she was just five years old. Her mother subsequently was hospitalised for depression in 1961. Cornwell went with her two brothers Jim and John into foster care, growing up in Montreal, North Carolina.

Cornwell struggled herself with depression in addition to anorexia nervosa.

She attended King College in Tennessee before graduating from Davidson College with a Bachelor of the Arts in English. via CornwellBookSeries

Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert

Patricia Cornwell has a theory. The wildly successful author of the Kay Scarpetta mystery series believes she's figured out, once and for all, the true identity of the 19th century serial killer known as Jack the Ripper.

Cornwell explored this topic in her 2002 book, Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper, Case Closed, arguing that the Ripper was, in fact, the celebrated British painter Walter Sickert. She was widely ridiculed; one critic wrote, “Portrait of a Killer is a sloppy book, insulting to both its target and its audience. The only way for Cornwell to repair its damage will be to stay with this case.”

Regrettably, she has.

Cornwell's new book, Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert (Thomas & Mercer, 497 pp., a revised and expanded edition of Portrait, attempts to convince her sceptics that the case she closed is a closed case.

“One of many frustrations in this investigation,” Cornwell writes, “is having very little evidence of where (Sickert) was or what he was doing during any given day, week, month, or year.”

To a responsible investigator such a vacuum might seem like an insurmountable problem, but for Cornwell it’s more like an opportunity — she invents an elaborate, completely nonsensical narrative to fill it, and asks readers to suspend disbelief to come along for the ride. via PCornwellRipperReboot

James Taylor - His Life and His Music

James Taylor has contributed many classic songs that continue to receive airplay.

Many singer songwriters were popular during the 1970s, but none more so than James Taylor. His melodic acoustic compositions, poignant lyrics and rich voice delighted fans across the world.

He still commands a following today and continues to record and perform.

Watch our video about James Taylor's life. AFTER YOU WATCH THE VIDEO DON'T FORGET TO COME BACK HERE, and read more about him.

James Taylor - Early Life and Songs

He was born in 1948 in Massachusetts and was raised in North Carolina, learning to play music at an early age with folk influences such as Woody Guthrie records.

Success did not come straight away and Taylor was a member of bands that didn't get noticed. Moving to New York started an intermittent struggle with heroin addiction that would repeat through his life. After re-locating to London, he signed with the Beatles' label, Apple Records but the first album didn't do well.

He went back to America and revived himself with live performances that included the prestigious Newport Folk Festival in 1969.

He settled in California, signed with another record label and had a huge success with Sweet Baby James, his follow up album.

The single Fire and Rain became an instant classic.

James Taylor Wives Career, and Family

Another popular singer songwriter around at the time was Carole King, whose standard You've Got A Friend, James Taylor covered. He won a Grammy Award for his version and hit the number one spot on the Billboard chart.

This was from his third album, Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon from 1971. The album featured King, Joni Mitchell and his sister Kate Taylor on backing vocals. Many more hit releases followed through the decades including live recordings and greatest hits compilations.

He has also tried his hand at acting, appearing in Two-Lane Blacktop with Dennis Wilson from the Beach Boys.

It's a respected road movie from 1971 in which James Taylor plays a drag car driver. In 2004, he played himself in an episode of the political drama, The West Wing.

This was the same year in which he supported the John Kerry campaign against George W. Bush. The animated Pixar movie, Cars features a Taylor track called Our Town.

A James Taylor Musician's Summary

There is renewed interest in acoustic music with a folk and country feel today and James Taylor is an inspiration to many up and coming songwriters. He has contributed some classic songs that continue to receive airplay and other artists like to cover them.

Taylor has been married three times, most famously to singer Carly Simon. They divorced in 1983, their son Ben and daughter Sally have followed their famous parents into the music business.

The Story of Jim Henson of the Muppets, Miss Piggy and "The Empire Strikes Back" etc

Children all over the world are familiar with the creative genius that was Jim Henson. Adults too enjoy the puppets he made, especially the popular Muppets.

He was also very successful as a television producer and film director. His career began when he devised his puppet entertainment on TV shows in the 1960s with his early characters.

He formed his own company, in partnership with Frank Oz and they introduced Kermit the Frog and other creations to the popular children's education show, Sesame Street.

Some early forerunners of the Muppets even found their way onto hit satirical sketch show, Saturday Night Live but it was The Muppet Show, which brought huge fame and fortune when it became a hit in the UK in 1976.

This led to international fandom for Jim Henson and his buddies, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Gonzo the Great. Muppets films followed, beginning with The Muppet Movie in 1979.

The on and off romance of the show's host Kermit and the diva, Miss Piggy kept the audiences coming back for more. Kermit even found himself in the pop charts.

He was always good at making the best use of his talents and didn't just confine himself to the Muppets. His company, the Jim Henson Creature Shop, supplied creatures for numerous movies and TV programs.

He was involved in the making of the film version of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

He co-wrote and directed Labyrinth, a musical fantasy starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.

He also co-directed The Dark Crystal along with Frank Oz from one of his own stories and he supplied the voices for several characters. Director George Lucas brought Henson and Oz into his Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. They invented the Jedi sage; Yoda and Oz voiced the character.

The children's hit series, Fraggle Rock was also the product of Henson's fertile imagination, a popular show that ran from 1983 to 1987.

He co-produced the science fiction TV series Farscape, a live action show that also featured two of Henson's robotic puppet characters.

Sadly, he died from pneumonia in 1990, aged fifty-three.

Jim Henson left a legacy of much loved characters that still influence children's and fantasy entertainment today.

Many people grew up with the Muppets and remember them with affection.

He never talked down to children and his playful love of fun shone through.

Updates about current showigns of Jim Hensons Work:

This Cult Classic Christmas Special Is Quintessential Jim Henson | Arts & Culture

While it may not be as well-known as the North Pole, Whoville, or Bedford Falls, for Muppet aficionados, no holiday season is complete without a trip to Frogtown Hollow. It’s the rural home of “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas,” the television special created by Muppet visionary Jim Henson that celebrates its 40th anniversary this week.

In 1976, following the first season of “The Muppet Show,” Henson was riding high. He decided to fill the break between seasons with a quixotic adaptation of Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, a 1971 book by prolific author Russell Hoban of Frances fame. Narrated by Kermit the Frog, the program tells the story of two dirt poor otters, Emmet and Ma, neither of whom has enough money to buy the gift they want to give. (A guitar for Emmet, a piano for Ma.)

Known for their musical aptitude, the otters separately learn of a local talent show with a $50 prize. Both Emmet and Ma enter, and in a twist on twistmaster O.

Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi,” each sells the other’s livelihood for their performance, so if they don’t win, they’ll have no way to earn their keep.

Ma hocks Emmet’s tools for dress fabric; Emmet turns Ma’s washtub into a standup bass for the jug band. via ClassicChristmasSpecial

im Henson's Labyrinth Is Returning to Theaters This Spring

Fathom Events has announced their partnership with the Jim Henson Company and Sony Pictures to bring Labyrinth back to the big screen in a special 3-day event. Though the movie debuted at number 8 at the box office upon its initial release in 1986, Labyrinth went on to become a cult favorite. The movie stars musician David Bowie and Academy Award Winning actress Jennifer Connelly in one of her earliest roles. While their performances were not praised by critics during the original theatrical run, new reviews have gone on to applaud the work of both Bowie and Connelly.

The new 3-day special screenings of Labyrinth will take place on April 29th, May 1st, and May 2nd with fans being encouraged to come dressed up in costume as The Goblin King and other iconic characters from the movie.

As with most Fathom Events screenings, the movie will come with bonus features. Introductions by Jennifer Connelly and Jim Henson's son, Brian Henson will start off the feature, as well as an excerpt from the Jim Henson fantasy series The Storyteller.

Brian Henson will be talking about the Soldier of Death episode of the series and discuss the special effects used in both The Storyteller and Labyrinth.
The special screenings will be available starting Sunday April 29th, with two times to see Labyrinth, once at 2pm and then 7pm (local time).

After that, the remaining showings will be at 7pm during the week. Tickets will go on sale online starting this Monday, February 26th. In a statement, Fathom Events vice president of studio relations, Tom Lucas, spoke about his excitement to bring the cult classic to theatres again. via Labyrinth Is Returning

Adam Savage is a Kid Again Touring an Amazing Jim Henson Museum Exhibit

It’s impossible to explain how many people Jim Henson‘s work has touched. His puppets were—and will always be—a huge part of innumerable lives.

Which is why it’s hard to not get a little emotional watching Adam Savage take a tour of the new Jim Henson Exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, New York, which features items from his work on The Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth, and Dark Cryst. via Kid AgainTouring

"Flight of the Navigator" remake to be produced by Jim Henson Company outside of Disney

Among the many fondly-remembered children’s movies from the 1980s is “Flight of the Navigator,” uniquely remarkable for its trippy sci-fi premise, darker-than-expected themes, and humorous vocal performance by Paul Reubens.

Though the original 1986 “Flight of the Navigator” film was famously distributed theatrically and on home video by Disney (and aired many times on the Disney Channel afterward), a remake is now in development at Lionsgate under the watchful eye of The Jim Henson Company.

via Navigatorremake

How Vivienne Westwood Fashion Designer Rose from Punk to Mainstream and Dame

This is Vivienne Westwood's journey from controversy to acceptance by the establishment has been a long one for English fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood. She is one of the most individual designers around, having made a huge impact at the very start of her career.

She had been working as a teacher when she met Malcolm McLaren, who would later be famous as the manager of punk band, the Sex Pistols. They opened a clothes shop together on the trendy King's Road in London and made history.

The shop, with the grand title of Sex, Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die, Seditionaries, sold Westwood's designs and sparked a new fashion movement that tied in with punk music. The range included clothes inspired by fetish and bondage enthusiasts, including garters, corsets, fishnet stockings and stiletto-heeled boots.

The store was awash with rubber, leather, spandex, latex and PVC. There were safety pins and razorblades incorporated into the designs. Spiked dog collars were sold as necklaces and a curious mix of tartan was also used. Most customers had never seen anything like it.

The shock value of the clothes was brought to mass attention when the Sex Pistols wore Vivienne Westwood merchandise at their debut gig. The band hit the big time and their fans copied the clothes, make up, hair and jewellery.

The designer was a notorious star but she went on to expand her repertoire and establish an enduring career. The shop on the King's Road is still open and now called World's End. Westwood retails her Anglomania label from there.

The designer proved over the years that she wasn't just an eccentric who had tapped into a fad but an extremely talented artist. Her first runway show took place in 1981 and was very successful.

The collection was based on a pirates theme with inspiration from 17th and 18th century fashion. Many of her collections in fact, are influenced by historical periods. She is also a fan of ethnic design and she has popularized the wearing of knitwear. The prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London honored her with a Vivienne Westwood retrospective exhibition in 2004.

The designer was paid tribute to by her Queen and country in the Honors List of 2006 when she was made a Dame for her services to fashion. Vivienne Westwood has come a long way from selling PVC dresses held together by safety pins to punk fans in the 1970s.

"Beast from the East" Snow and Freezing UK Weather February 2018

The week of the "Beast from the East", and storm Emma at the end of February, and into the start of March 2018, will be remembered for a long-time for its brutal severity and arctic conditions right across the UK and Ireland.

I don't often blog about the weather, but this one seemed so unusual that I felt compelled to create the article which follows. I have put together a series of the newspaper, and television items that seemed to most portray the week the arctic took-over the UK. It was truly "the beast from the east", and for once the forecasters got their predictions right:

UK weather: Snow falling as Siberian blast hits UK

Heavy snow and freezing winds are forecast for Tuesday

Snow is falling across parts of the UK as very cold air sweeps in from Russia.

Heavy snow is expected across southern and eastern England overnight on Monday - with warnings extending into the Midlands, Scotland and Wales on Tuesday morning.

Many areas have been hit by freezing temperatures, with a wind chill making it feel like -15C in some places.

Rail firms have warned of disruption, with many planning to run a reduced service overnight and on Tuesday.

A snow emergency was declared in Kent and the council urged people not to contact it unless there is an emergency.

Heavy snow is forecast for much of Yorkshire, Teesside, Durham and Newcastle in the early hours of Tuesday morning, which is likely to cause delays on the roads, the Met Office said.

A warning is also in place for London and parts of the South East on Tuesday, with the possibility of delays and cancellations on travel networks as well as power cuts in rural areas.

Snow warnings have been issued for the whole of Wales, with temperatures expected to fall to -5C, the Met Office says.

The Met Office has both yellow warnings and more serious amber warnings - meaning there is a potential risk to life and property - for large parts of the UK for the rest of the week. via SnowfallingSiberian

WARNING – Week of Severe Disruption Likely as “Beast From the East” Encroaches UK

Take a big deep breath before you read this forecast….

... the coldest weather since 2010 is indicated. Day time temperatures will struggle to reach 0°C with nigh time temperatures likely to near or bottom -10°C in many places.

Snow showers also feature in the forecast, at times more prolonged giving significant disruptive accumulations especially for more eastern parts of the country.

Severe Cold

Wind chills below -10°C are forecast pretty much throughout the ENTIRE country through most of next week – in some places lower where winds strengthen to concentrate more severe falls of heavy snow.

Strong winds are indicated across the country as the pressure gradient tightens, average wind speeds are forecast to be above 30 mph in many locations. As a result blizzard conditions are likely to give way to severe drifts of snow in highland locations, however given the air is about 7°C past the minimum for snow to fall at sea level, drifts can’t be ruled out in rural, low level or even urban places either, especially those in the east more exposed to the raw wind.

The consensus is that temperatures will drop steadily through the week, with values hovering around freezing on Monday, however by Wednesday most places will be lucky to see temperatures of 0°C, and rural locations remaining 4 or 5°C below freezing. Some crisp winter sunshine is likely further west, however even here some snow flurries are possible in the increasingly viscous easterly wind.

Heavy Snow

As the wind strengthens through the week, snow showers and prolonged spells of snow will become more widespread across the country. Both intensity and “widespreadness” of the snow showers will increase steadily through the week.. via BeastEncroaches

‘Beast From The East’ Storm Bringing ‘Potential Risk To Life’

I don't want to seem overly dramatic here, but a storm is expected to really bring its A-game when it fully hits the UK in a few hours. Snowflakes are already lightly falling in south-east England, but that's child's play compared to what's forecast, according to the Met Office.

Last week, the polar vortex was listed as a 'Yellow Weather Warning', which means 'be aware' but that's now been bumped up to 'Amber', meaning 'be prepared' for the Midlands, England's north and half of Scotland.

That level of warning suggests that there is a potential risk to life.

via ‘Beast From The East’ Storm Bringing ‘Potential Risk To Life’

Revealed: The Edinburgh bus driver who averted snow disaster

A HERO bus driver has told of the heart-stopping moment she skilfully averted tragedy on the Capital’s treacherous roads.

The wheels of Charmaine Laurie’s double-decker skidded on snow as she swerved to avoid a car which lurched into her path.

But the mum-of-two - ferrying 20 passengers included schoolchildren through the blizzard - skilfully controlled the drift to just miss the hatchback and oncoming traffic.

Unbeknown to her at the time, Charmaine’s heroics were captured on a van driver’s dash cam and became an internet sensation when posted online. via Revealed Edinburgh

'Really extreme' global weather event leaves scientists aghast

"The anomalies are really extreme," Andrew King, a lecturer in climate science at the University of Melbourne, said. "It's a very interesting event."

"It's just wrong": This week's unusual burst of heat over the Arctic.

Photo: Climate Reanalyzer

Warm, moist air is penetrating much further north than it would normally at a time when the North Pole is in complete darkness.

Cape Morris Jesup, the world's most northerly land-based weather station, in Greenland, touched 6 degrees late on Saturday, about 35 degrees above normal for this time of year.

Robert Rohede, a Zurich-based scientist with Berkeley Earth, posted on Twitter that Cape Morris Jessup had already recorded 61 hours above freezing so far in 2018.

The previous record of such relative was just 16 hours recorded to the end of April in 2011.

"Parts of Greenland are quite a bit warmer than most of Europe," Dr King said.

The cold snap will sink temperatures moderately below freezing in London each day until Friday. However, cities such as Berlin will dive to as low as minus 12 degrees and Moscow to minus 24.

With a weak jetstream, surface winds are taking an unusual course - bringing snow from the east and prompting some commentators to dub the event the "Beast from the East".

"For Britain and Ireland, most weather systems would typically blow in from the west, but [on Tuesday] we will see a cold front cross Britain from the east," Dr King said.

Along with the unusual warmth over the Arctic, scientists are monitoring the retreat of sea ice in the Bering Sea.

The ice coverage in the region is now at levels previously seen only in May or June, Mr Labe posted on Twitter, citing data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre.

While climate change itself is only likely to have exacerbated regional weather variability, the long-term shrinkage of sea ice has a reinforcing effect on global warming in a region already warming faster than anywhere else on the planet, Dr King said.

Ice reflects sunlight back to space. When it melts, the sea ice exposes more of the dark ocean beneath, which then absorbs that solar radiation, adding to the warming.

Sea ice coverage is currently at or close to record low levels at both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

The Arctic Ocean has endured another warmer-than-average winter in a region that is warming much faster than the rest of the planet.

The impact of the relatively warm air in the Arctic could play out for months to come. Multi-year ice is likely to be thinner and more cracked, leading to a faster melt when spring arrives, Dr Meyer said.

While researchers had pegged 2050 as a possible year when the Arctic will become ice-free, this winter and the previous one - also unusually warm - had thrown those estimates out.

via Extremeglobalweather

Storm Emma: UK snow could reach 50cm as conditions worsen

Parts of the UK are braced for up to 50cm of snow, as Storm Emma brings worsening conditions.
A highly unusual red weather warning for snow is in force for south-west England and south Wales until the early hours of Friday.

UK roads, railways and airports have been severely hit by snow for a third day, with thousands of schools shut.

Thousands of drivers across the country are stranded in freezing temperatures as police urge people not to travel.

The military has been called in to rescue drivers who have been stuck for several hours on the A31 in Hampshire as police declared it a major incident.

Avon and Somerset police have also declared a major incident over concerns medical staff were unable to get to their place of work.

Police said about 100 vehicles are stuck in snow on the A303 at Ilminster, Somerset, and a rescue operation is under way.

In Dorset, around 100 vehicles are stranded on the A35 near Puddletown and a coach full of elderly passengers have been stuck on roads in Northumbria for eight hours, police said.

The Met Office has 11 live severe weather warnings for snow, ice and wind in place for the UK. The final warning is in place until 23:55 GMT on Monday. via StormEmma

South Dublin store sells out of bread, milk and spuds as 'Storm Emma' approaches via SouthDublinStore

Care worker dies on way to work in North Glasgow in the midst of the Beast from the East storm via NorthGlasgowBeast

Brits Warned To 'Get Home Before 6pm' As 'Beast From The East' Blizzard Set To Hit

Brits have been warned to get home as early as possible tonight as a snow blizzard is set to batter the UK.

The so-called ‘Beast from the East’ will generate four days of snow, with temperatures set to drop to as low as -15°C in certain areas of the country.

Train operators Southeastern and Great Northern have urged their customers to get home early tonight, ideally before 6pm, amid fears that severe weather conditions could shut down transport. ...
via BeastBlizzard

Care worker dies on way to work in North Glasgow in the midst of the Beast from the East storm via Care worker dies on way to work in North Glasgow in the midst of the Beast from the East storm

Beast From The East Has Already Killed 48 People

A devastating 49 people have already died as a result of the treacherous weather conditions brought about by Storm Emma.

The so-called ‘Beast from the East’ has proven to be deadly; taking lives across Europe.

Many of the deceased are said to be homeless, with emergency shelters being set up in cities across Europe to help battle against the effects of the perilous weather. ...

A care worker in Glasgow, named as Elaine McNeill, died while battling the storm on her way to work. Elaine has been described by colleagues as ‘lovely’ and ‘popular.’

A spokesperson from Cordia, where Elaine worked, released the following statement:

We are shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Cordia employee, Elaine McNeill in the Milton area of Glasgow. ... via Beast Killed48 

More About Beast from the East Storm and Freezing UK Weather - February 2018

UK weather: Snow causing widespread travel disruption via UKSnowtravel

Carnage as drivers face staying overnight on snow-hit M80 via DriversM80Night

Thousands Of Irish People Flock Back To Mass In Search Of Bread via IrishPeopleFlock

Live updates as Scotland battles through heavy snow after brutal Beast from the East weather system hits hard via ScotlandBattles

Red alert issued for all counties ahead of blizzard via RedAlert

Flights grounded as the Beast from the East bites via FlightsGrounded

London police officers enjoy snowball fight as Beast from the East blows into the capital

'ELLO, 'ello 'ello... what's all this then?

A group of London police officers made the most of the capital's rare snowfall - by having a snowball fight in the street.

Dubliners devastated as 'defenceless' little dog found dead in the snow via DublinersDevastated

Beast from the East: Much of Europe is colder than the Arctic via EuropeColderthanArctic

Ski centre in Kent closes due to too much snow via Ski Kent

Couple marries in snow after Beast from the East crashes their wedding via Couple marries in snow


Military Helps Rescue Hundreds Of Stranded Motorists Across The Country via MilitaryHelps

7 Travel Tips for Enjoyment and Security

We love taking trips, whether it’s a short road trip, or a longer trip by air to some distant exotic place. But all too often we fail to plan for our trip and the result is frustration and annoyance.

1. For road trips, get the right maps and plan your route thoroughly. Everything won’t go exactly to plan, but at least you’ll have much fewer nasty surprises.



 2. Never, ever make a joke about bombs or terrorists near security at an airport. Many people have jokingly mentioned they have a small bomb in their case as their luggage is being inspected. Later at the police station they deeply regretted their stupidity.



 3. Be immediately suspicious in airports, railway or bus stations when someone bumps into you. It may be a pickpocket. Also be aware if something is spilled on you, or a spot on your clothing is pointed out to you. These things are designed to distract your attention from what is really going on: the theft of your valuables.



 4. While cruises make planning easy with their all in charges, there is likely to be many extra items that you should budget for. These include, taxes, surcharges and fees, tipping, drinks, some shore excursions, shopping purchases, etc.



 5. The most obvious thing to check on before setting off on a foreign trip is the state of the local weather where you are going. You don’t want to arrive in a tee shirt if it’s snowing, or in a fur coat if it’s in the 90s.



 6. When travelling with children bring along recent photos of each one. If a child gets lost, the photo will prove invaluable in helping to locate the child again.



7. A trip to a theme park will suffer from a lack of careful planning. Some parks are so big that planning is essential. Get a list of all the rides and a map of the park, as well as opening and closing times, before setting off.



 Copied with permission from: http://plrplr.com/65474/7-tips-for-travel-trips/

George Washington 1st US President and Politician (Reluctantly)

We hope you will enjoy watching our video about George Washington, who was the very first President of the United States of America.

Our George Washington video is below. However, to find out more about him, after you have watched the video we recommend that you return here and scroll down the page for more information about him, his family and his amazing career.

He was born on February 22, 1732 in a small County called Westmoreland, located in Virginia. Washington, whose father passed away when he was only 11, was home schooled and learned how to become an expert woodsman and mapmaker by himself.

In 1759 Washington married Martha Curtis, a wealthy widow. Although Washington and Curtis never had children of their own, Curtis had two children, Martha and John, from her previous marriage.

After many years of turmoil between the Colonists and British, Washington was selected as the Commander in Chief of the Colonial Army in 1775. The following year, Washington and the rest of the Colonists declared their independence from the British. After years of fierce fighting and much bloodshed, the British were defeated in 1781. Washington's unique strategies combined with the help of the French, granted the Colonists their independence.

In 1787 Washington attended the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, where the United States Constitution was first drafted. This Constitution was the main outline for how the government would function. The Constitution was ratified a year later, and went into effect the year after that (1789).

When it was time for voters to choose their first leader in 1789, Washington was unanimously voted in as the first President of the United States. He was also voted in unanimously for his second term in 1792. Although much was accomplished during his 8-year presidency, his most well known accomplishment was that of the Bill of Rights, which was adopted in 1791. Washington declined to serve a third term, explaining in his farewell speech that a third term would give one man too much power.

After retiring from politics in March of 1797, Washington returned to Mount Vernon where he devoted much of his time to farming. Washington's health began to deteriorate severely in mid-1799, and he passed away shortly thereafter on December 14th, 1799, at his home. The cause of death is believed to have been acute laryngitis and pneumonia.

What they are saying about George Washington Around the Internet

Washington was born into the provincial gentry of Colonial Virginia to a family of wealthy planters who owned tobacco plantations and slaves, which he inherited. In his youth, he became a senior officer in the colonial militia during the first stages of the French and Indian War. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress commissioned him as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolution. In that command, Washington forced the British out of Boston in 1776 but was defeated and nearly captured later that year when he lost New York City. 

After crossing the Delaware River in the middle of winter, he defeated the British in two battles (Trenton and Princeton), retook New Jersey, and restored momentum to the Patriot cause. His strategy enabled Continental forces to capture two major British armies at Saratoga in 1777 and Yorktown in 1781. Historians laud Washington for the selection and supervision of his generals, preservation and command of the army, coordination with the Congress, state governors, and their militia, and attention to supplies, logistics, and training. In battle, however, Washington was sometimes outmaneuvered by British generals with larger armies, yet was always able to avoid significant defeats which would have resulted in the surrender of his army and the loss of the American Revolution.

In avoiding war with Great Britain, he guaranteed a decade of peace and profitable trade by securing the Jay Treaty in 1795, despite intense opposition from the Jeffersonians. He oversaw the creation of a strong, well-financed national government that maintained neutrality in the French Revolutionary Wars, suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion, and won wide acceptance amongst Americans.[6] Washington's incumbency established many precedents still in use today, such as the cabinet system, the inaugural address, and the title Mr. President.[7][8] His retirement from office after two terms established a tradition that lasted until 1940 and was later made law by the 22nd Amendment. He remained non-partisan, never joining the Federalist Party, although he largely supported its policies. Washington's Farewell Address was an influential primer on civic virtue, warning against partisanship, sectionalism, and involvement in foreign wars. ...via Wiki About George Washington

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George Washington – first American president, commander of the Continental Army, president of the Constitutional Convention, and gentleman planter. These were the roles in which Washington exemplified character and leadership. Learn more about the remarkable life of George Washington in our biography below.

http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-first-president/ten-facts-about-washingtons-presidency/

George Washington (1732-99) was commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-83) and served two terms as the first U.S. president, from 1789 to 1797. The son of a prosperous planter, Washington was raised in colonial Virginia. As a young man, he worked as a surveyor then fought in the French and Indian War (1754-63). During the American Revolution, he led the colonial forces to victory over the British and became a national hero. In 1787, he was elected president of the convention that wrote the U.S. Constitution. Two years later, Washington became America’s first president. Realizing that the way he handled the job would impact how future presidents approached the position, he handed down a legacy of strength, integrity and national purpose. Less than three years after leaving office, he died at his Virginia plantation, Mount Vernon, at age 67.

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, at his family’s plantation on Pope’s Creek in Westmoreland County, in the British colony of Virginia, to Augustine Washington (1694-1743) and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington (1708-89). George, the eldest of Augustine and Mary Washington’s six children, spent much of his childhood at Ferry Farm, a plantation near Fredericksburg, Virginia. After Washington’s father died when he was 11, it’s likely he helped him mother manage the plantation. ... via Presidents - G Washington

One of the most popular Presidents of the United States, George Washington is known for leading the Continental Army in victory over the British in the American Revolution. He also was the first President of the United States and helped to define what the role of the president would be going forward.

George grew up in Colonial Virginia. His father, a landowner and planter, died when George was just 11 years old. Fortunately, George had an older brother named Lawrence who took good care of him. Lawrence helped to raise George and taught him how to be a gentleman. Lawrence made sure that he was educated in the basic subjects like reading and math. ... via History George- reluctant-president

On February 22, 1789, George Washington turned 57, knowing he had won a unanimous election as his nation's first president -- indeed, the first popularly elected president in world history. His election, however, presented him and the rest of the nation with an unexpected problem. He was to take his oath of office before the First Congress in, but 10 weeks -- on April 30, 1789 -- and no one knew what to call him.

During the Revolutionary War, Americans called him "Your Excellency" or, more simply, "General," in keeping with customs the world over. But there were no precedents for addressing an elected president. No other nation had ever elected a president. ... via historynet.com

George Washington summary: A name that stands out in US history more than many others is George Washington. George Washington was the first president of the United States. He was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia in 1732. As a young man, he was a surveyor. His military career began with his involvement with the Virginia militia, including a notorious mission he undertook to deliver a message to the French in the Ohio Valley from Governor Dinwiddie; he almost lost his life on the return trip home after he fell from a raft into the icy waters of the Allegheny River. Several years later, he was given command of the Virginia militia forces due to his heroism. He resigned in 1758 and returned to his home, Mount Vernon. He married a rich widow, Martha Custis, later that year.

While Washington focused on his farming for the next few years, eventually expanding his 2,000 acre farm to 8,000 acres, he also became involved in politics. He was elected into the Virginia House of Burgesses, and in 1774, he was one of Virginia’s representatives in the Continental Congress. When the Revolutionary War began, Washington became the Continental army’s commander in chief. He was elected as the first president of the United States in 1789. Washington laid the foundations for the role of a president during his first term; he served a second term, during which his focus was foreign affairs. He refused a third term, and retired to Mount Vernon in 1797; he died two years later. ...via

americas-presidents

Most people know him best as the first president of the United States, from 1789 to 1797. But the list of his accomplishments is long. Washington commanded the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. He led the American colonists to freedom from British rule. He was also president of the convention that created the U.S. Constitution.

In his private life, Washington owned a large whiskey distillery and thousands of acres of land. He operated a large and successful farm. When the Revolutionary War was over, General Washington wanted to go home to his Virginia estate, called Mount Vernon. via millercenter.org