#but also its literally called a formulary

[calciifer]

For additional consideration

microwaves are perhaps the only object the average person can own in their home capable of casting a beam attack spell

[mistydeyes]

a panacea

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pan·a·ce·a noun

a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.

summary: In pharmacy school, patient interaction was a core part of the curriculum. You tirelessly remember long, coffee-fueled nights going over your notes for each Professional Practice Skills class. The 141 boys make sure you can exercise these communication skills daily.

141's medical file reference

pairing: Task Force 141 x pharmacist!Reader

warnings: medical/pharmacy terminology, medical inaccuracies, swearing, depiction of wounds and needles, fluff, flirting, and mutual crushes

a/n: i'm an american pharmacy student so sorry for some inaccuracies about how pharmacy across the pond

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As you walked into the pharmacy and began your shift, you paged through a few recent scripts and checked in with your technicians. Your graduation from university, years of clinical experience, and now your more recent military training seemed like a distant memory. You would constantly see a variety of service men and women every day without much thought. Yes, there were some repeat individuals but overall everything seemed to blend. 

Despite this, you still attempted to form a meaningful interaction with each patient regardless of what they’d be picking up. Doctors were constantly bothersome with questions about the recommended treatment and asking for a drug not listed on the formulary. Patients were different though, you would always try to have a friendly conversation and wonder what missions they would be deployed on once they left the queue. As you prepared to work through today’s prescriptions and tackle a new medication supply, you reminded yourself that today was filled with a new set of faces to meet.

price

The members of 141 were all too familiar with a distant employment in a foreign country. It was part of the job description, something you do without question. However, some countries had the luxury of also having medication to take for the duration of the trip. Malaria is no joke and you always had to ensure you ordered an abundant supply of antimalarials for the soldiers constantly going around the world.

Today was no exception, your new order had literally been flying off the shelves. It was the post-breakfast rush and you had a few boxes left of atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone). Although the frequency of taking these was a pain, you loved the easy verification and packaging of the box.

As you continued to provide the queue with their prescriptions, a familiar face and hat made its way to the front.

"Ah Captain Price, back again?" you grinned as he approached the counter.

"Back too soon," the man chuckled, the deep baritone of his laugh bouncing across the walls. "I believe I have a couple of things to pick up from you, love."

With that, you pulled his file up and confirmed his array of medications. Generally, nothing out of the ordinary you noted and acknowledged the new addition of Malarone.

"Yes just give me a moment," you replied as you went to grab his bag.

As the bottles rattled around in the bag, you took a peek and counted the correct number of bottles/boxes, and verified their appearance.

"Now are you going for leisure or work? I saw the newest order for an antimalarial." Secretly you knew the answer but there was always the possibility that the Captain was going on leave.

He let out another small chuckle, "I think you know the answer to that one, doll. Duty calls."

You smiled back, the small inclusion of pet names brightening your day. "Alright then, and I'm assuming you know the regimen. This isn't your first rodeo."

"Yeah, take one for the next day, every day there, and for the week when I get back." You hummed in agreement with his response and he gave you a quick thanks before turning to go.

"Oh but while you're here, any interest in some smoking cessation recommendations!" Like before, you knew the answer. This man was loyal to his country and even more loyal to his cigars. The air filled with the fragrance of musk and cigar smoke whenever he came in definitely made an impression on you.

With this last comment, he let out a final, breathy laugh before responding, "You are many things, Captain, but that's a fucking miracle I don't believe you can pull off."

soap

Infections were no surprise to you. Especially working in the military, there was plenty of incidence for it. Most of the time and even after the doctor patched them up and directed them on proper care, there would still be a select few that would return with an infection.

The rest of the morning was quiet, you were able to catch up on some documentation and had time to pop into the medical wing to provide your pharmacist expertise. That's why when everyone's favorite Scot came by to pick up his antibiotic you didn't mind the company.

"Hi gorgeous, I'm here because of some doc's slipshod job stitching me up." He beamed as he raised his forearm to reveal new stitches and a clearly red, inflamed area. You quickly pulled up his file and your suspicions of an infection were confirmed.

"Sure, MacTavish. I completely believe that the medic specifically botched yours out of the whole team," you sarcastically replied. You served multiple tours with the "guilty" medic and knew they were of equal expertise to you. There was a reason they were performing surgeries while you provided insight and the medication. "I also trust you managed to keep the wound clean and didn't do anything stupid like, I don't know, training instead of resting," you finished as you raised an eyebrow.

He looked like a child who got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. "Ah good one, Doc, I guess nothing is getting past you."

"Mhmm, I'll make you think twice about negatively referring to my colleagues. And again, you know I'm not a doctor. If I were, you know I wouldn't be so willing to stitch you up and send you on your way" you jokingly threatened. He shuddered slightly, he wouldn't want to imagine a world where you were his medic on the battlefield. But then again, his constant injuries would mean frequent visits.

"But I would get to see that gorgeous face of yours more," he joked and you could feel your face flush. His flirty antics and your eye rolls were a staple of this relationship.

"Do you talk to everyone this way?" you countered, "I bet your superiors love the constant flow of compliments and just blush at your tone."

"Oh yes, they do. My Lieutenant turns into a giggling mess underneath his mask. Do you know he's bloody handsome under that? You should try flooding him with pet names and admiration to see for yourself." He responded, a clear sarcasm in his voice evident even with his familiar accent.

"Will do, MacTavish. Now will you let me get your medication so I can return you to your loverboy?"

"Of course, Captain" he saluted exaggeratedly as you walked to the rows of shelves.

You opened the bag and then placed the verified medication into his hand. "You know the routine and for the love of God, please finish the amount in here. I don't want to be seeing another order for Augmentin from you any time soon!"

"Yes, love, but nothing can stop this machine from gathering more illnesses and wounds requiring your expert care." You rolled your eyes as he explained and gave a cocky gesture showcasing his chiseled injured body.

"Don't mess with me, you know I can easily sneak my way into the med ward and make sure you go nighty-night." You were bluffing, the Hippocratic oath painfully engraved in your mind. But it didn't hurt to joke back.

"Oh I'll be sure to watch out for you, scary legal drug dealer." With this last jab, he walked out and left you chuckling to yourself at his antics.

gaz

The flowers and trees were in full bloom around the base. It reminded you of the days studying outside and crying over learning your Year 2 immunology coursework. However, just like immunology, pollen just made your job more difficult. It seemed like the scripts for nasal sprays and allergy medication were endless. Day after day you would go to work with your technician as you helped their workload by filling the myriad of prescriptions.

Following the quiet lunch hour, the pharmacy quickly became flooded with people. As a younger soldier presented to your counter, you could immediately guess what they were here for.

Although he was not one of your repeat offenders, his watery eyes and the constant flow of sniffles made it clear that he was another victim of the unrelenting pollen.

“Garrick, Kyle,” he said and you couldn’t help but feel bad for him as he stood there a sniffling mess. You typed his name in and checked his credentials as he turned to sneeze.

“Ah yes, you have a nasal spray and another prescription here. Just give me a moment.” You walked away from the counter as you heard him chuckle and call out, “You wouldn’t happen to have a panacea back there would you?”

“Unfortunately I do not,” you said and frowned upon your return, “But just take these once a day with water and use the nasal spray as needed. One puff in each nose should do the trick and don’t forget to shake it!” You explained. Holding the small container of pills you noted, "Plus this is Piriteze, so you won't feel tired after taking but I usually recommend taking a half hour before you know you're going outside or having any interaction with pollen."

He nodded in agreement and took out a tissue to blow his nose for the hundredth time today. This action didn't relieve his congestion. Allergies were really the bane of everyone's existence and you felt for him as he let out a couple of sneezes and apologized.

As he took the bag you gently said, “Sometimes something spicy really clears everything out. Spice has the benefit of being both delicious and working as a decongestant. You’ll definitely need some tissues but it’s worth it in my opinion.” With that, you offered a wink and sent him on his way.

"You're truly an angel. I'll be sure to update you, love," he beamed at you with a dashing smile. You would be flattered if it had not been for his subsequent barrage of sneezes.

A few days later, a pleased Gaz returned to you and explained your life hack had worked. One half bottle of hot sauce later and he had been congestion free. Brushing your astonishment at his spice tolerance aside, you explained that it had been just the medicine. However, Gaz would soon be giving everyone an earful of your non-conventional methods. Although his mates constantly joked about the image of him drowning in snot (a picture gracefully captured by Soap), he was thankful for you, the pretty pharmacist, and the help.

ghost

You could feel the headache forming from the fluorescent lights and the busy day you were currently having. This morning new missions called for you to enforce the regimen of taking antimalarials and in the afternoon, returning soldiers required pain medication and antibiotics (although you were thankful these were tablets and not through IVs). However, this was no challenge to you and you were further encouraged by the recent positive interactions you’d been having.

Just as you stepped away for a water break, your desktop notified you of a patient awaiting their prescription. You sighed and walked over to see the patient file as well as what medication they’d be receiving today.

You read the name carefully and slowly, partially because of your tiredness as well as your irrational fear of giving the patient the wrong medication.

“Riley, Simon” you mumbled and kept repeating the name as you walked amongst the rows of bags to retrieve the medication.

Just some routine painkillers. You examined the container to verify the oval, white pills of paracetamol.

As you notified the waiting soldier, your computer showed a reminder that they were due for a flu shot. You smiled, immunizations were often done routinely through a clinic but sometimes, you would get a break from your day and be able to administer one.

You acknowledged the reminder just as the soldier walked up. Tall, brooding, and donning a unique balaclava, you presumed this was Simon Riley. Your earlier conversation with Soap made you realize that this was the man who put up with all of his antics. You wondered if the paracetamol was for an injury or his raging headache from his Sergeant.

Recognizing his rank, you greeted him warmly and went to verify his patient credentials. He was a quiet man, only replying to your necessary prompts. This further added evidence that the medication was because of Soap, the chatterbox that he is. As you handed over his prescription, you let him know the bad news.

“Unfortunately, you are due for a flu shot but I can have you out of here in less than 15 minutes if you’d like?” you smiled, "or you could always just have me refer you out to get it while you're on leave."

"I'll do it now, don't know the next time I'd be returning," he spoke lowly. You wondered where he would be off to next as he pocketed the medication and nodded in agreement.

You motioned for him to sit in the designated area and prepared the necessary materials. As you walked over to the vaccine area now occupied by the large man, you positioned yourself to the side of him. You performed your typical routine of verifying the prescription and noting the necessary numbers before you felt the need to break the silence.

“You know, I used to be terrified of these as a child. I hope you didn’t have the same experience, Lieutenant,” you chuckled as you began to clean his bicep. You admired the tattoo on his right arm, so intricate and beautiful.

“I’ve had much worse, trust me,” he replied and you could almost hear the smile in his voice. Well, I guess the man of few words has a sense of humor.

“That’s good to hear! You wouldn’t imagine the number of recruits that squirm even before I’ve begun to prep their arm. I thought all that training taught you guys to be tough.” With this, you both laughed and you began to position your hand ensuring the needle was going into the proper area.

You felt him slightly tense under your touch but you gave him a reassuring pat on the hand. You knew as a child that the best way was to finish the vaccine before they even had time to react.

“You can hold my hand if you’d like,” you joked, not realizing that he was pink under his mask. "Or you could be a good little soldier and I might give you a lolly" you continued further, teasing the man. He was so glad to have the safety of concealment as you were really rubbing it in. He waved you off with his other hand and you went about a quick administration.

“See that’s not so bad,” you smiled and you went to apply a bandage. Unfortunately, you realized you were out of your typical issued bandaids and quickly grabbed a colorful, neon star one.

He glanced down and responded with a low, “What the hell is that?”

“I’m sorry it’s the only one I have at the moment, but you should be able to take it off before bed tonight!” you apologized and you fastened it onto his strong bicep.

Little did you know that your small talk and neon bandage had endeared you to the Lieutenant. Your reassuring touch and soft actions made him believe you’d be a better fit for a position in pediatrics than here. Although he would have to explain the ridiculous stars, he found himself wanting to get all of his vaccines from you.

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first time writing and posting here in like forever! hope you enjoyed this mw2 content :)

[naturesanswer1]

Extracts vs Tinctures. Take A Dive Into How Our Herbal Extracts Are Made

There are many ways to experience the benefits of herbs. The oldest methods include direct ingestion of raw plant material, the use of herbal tisanes (teas) made from fresh or dried plant parts, and the use of tinctures and extracts. Tinctures are prepared by soaking herbs in a solvent to draw out active ingredients. Specific instructions on how to properly prepare a tincture are described in the well-respected pharmaceutical texts The United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary. These texts describe a tincture preparation method with a specific ratio for each plant; while this ratio varies, it usually calls for 100-200 grams of dried herb equivalent per liter (approx. quart) of solvent. A fluid extract is initially prepared in a similar manner to a tincture but uses a much higher ratio of herb to solvent (1 kg of dry herb equivalent plant parts to 1 liter solvent). This means a typical fluid extract is much more concentrated and offers a higher concentration of herb equivalent per serving than a typical liquid tincture of the same plant. Both tinctures and herbal extracts are prepared by soaking herbs in an extracting agent called a ‘menstruum.’ A common menstruum is alcohol, which is often used to free the constituents of the herb so they can become more bio-available to the body. However, many tinctures contain a very high percentage of alcohol, often 60-90%. Tinctures are often quite dilute due to this high level of alcohol and do not usually contain a high concentration of herbal constituents and supportive phytonutrients. While many herbal product manufacturers simply soak the herbal material in the menstruum, a process known as maceration, Nature’s Answer® takes it a step further. In addition, Nature’s Answer utilizes a unique additional cold-percolation process, which draws out more of the phytonutrients that the plant has to offer. Extracts are more potent and contain less alcohol than tinctures, but they still may have more alcohol than many people would prefer. Here at Nature’s Answer, we have the unique capability to remove all the alcohol from our extracts with our proprietary Bio-Chelation® cold extraction method. We then add back only 12-14% certified organic alcohol in our low-alcohol products (and none in our alcohol-free products). The result is a liquid extract that is up to 5 to 10 times more concentrated than a tincture, which means you get the benefit of a much higher potency herbal product. There are many reasons why people may not want to use herbs with a high alcohol content, such as disliking the taste or alcohol sensitivity. Alcohol can also stress a weakened or under-functioning liver in sensitive individuals and isn’t appropriate for young children. Nature’s Answer alcohol-free extract formulas replace alcohol with natural vegetable glycerin, which helps bind certain plant constituents and is easily absorbed by the cells. Glycerin occurs naturally throughout the body and makes up a portion of cellular membranes. This gives glycerin an affinity for the body, making it an excellent carrier for herbs. Both alcohol and glycerin act to protect and preserve the potency of the herbal extract in the bottle. Occasionally, once the bottle is opened, alcohol may evaporate and lose its effectiveness as a preservative as the amount of alcohol in the bottle decreases. Glycerin, on the other hand, aids in maintaining the freshness and potency of the herb for the life of the product. Glycerin also has the added advantage of acting as a sugar-free natural sweetener, making the taste of some bitter herbs more palatable with little insulin response. Other companies may offer alcohol free herbs in glycerin, but they usually use glycerin in place of alcohol as the original menstruum (extracting agent). This kind of extraction process produces an end product called a ‘glycerite.’ Since glycerin is not as effective as alcohol to extract biologically active constituents, glycerites do not have the same quantity and quality of active phytonutrient constituents. However, glycerin is a good addition to an herbal extract that was originally produced with alcohol, including the unique low-alcohol, cold-percolation process herbal extraction method exclusive to Nature’s Answer. Nature’s Answer’s standards go beyond even that! Our founder, Frank D’Amelio, Sr., has always believed in the benefits of the whole herb and has insisted from the beginning on capturing the full spectrum of the herb in his extracts. Every plant has a unique chemical pattern that can be identified, so Frank developed a process and test methods to scientifically identify these markers and confirm the plant’s identity. At Nature’s Answer, we call this process Advanced Botanical Fingerprint Technology®. This unique process utilizes state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, which we use to identify incoming plants as well as our finished extracts and packaged products to ensure that the you get the best product available. This is just one of the many steps we take to ensure that you’re getting the full spectrum and all of the benefits of nature’s phytonutrients direct from the herb in every Nature’s Answer herbal extract. Just as nature intended. Interested in Herbal Extracts? Shop our herbal extract category. From immune to sleep support, we have an extract for you!

[divinum-pacis]

History of Rosicrucianism

The Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, is known internationally by its traditional and authentic title, the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, from which is derived the acronym “AMORC.” The Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis is the Latin form of the organization’s name, which literally translates into the Ancient Mystical Order of the Rose Cross. There is no religious connotation associated with this symbol; the Rose Cross symbol predates Christianity. The cross symbolically represents the human body and the rose represents the individual’s unfolding consciousness. Together, the rose and cross represent the experiences and challenges of a thoughtful life well lived. Thus, by our name and symbol we represent the ancient Rosicrucian Tradition, perpetuating the true traditions of Rosicrucian movements from centuries past to the present day.

The history of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, may be divided into two general classifications: traditional and chronological. The traditional history consists of mystical allegories and fascinating legends that have been passed down for centuries by word of mouth. The Rosicrucian Order’s chronological accounts are based on specific dates and verifiable facts.

Roots in the Ancient World

The Rosicrucian movement, of which the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, is the most prominent modern representative, has its roots in the mystery traditions, philosophy, and myths of ancient Egypt dating back to approximately 1500 BCE. In antiquity the word “mystery” referred to a special gnosis, a secret wisdom. Thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt select bodies or schools were formed to explore the mysteries of life and learn the secrets of this hidden wisdom. Only sincere students, displaying a desire for knowledge and meeting certain tests were considered worthy of being inducted into these mysteries. Over the course of centuries these mystery schools added an initiatory dimension to the knowledge they transmitted.

 It is further traditionally related that the Order’s first member-students met in secluded chambers in magnificent old temples, where, as candidates, they were initiated into the great mysteries. Their mystical studies then assumed a more closed character and were held exclusively in temples which had been built for that purpose. Rosicrucian tradition relates that the great pyramids of Giza were most sacred in the eyes of initiates. Contrary to what many historians believe, our tradition relates that the Giza pyramids were not built to be the tombs of pharaohs, but were actually places of study and mystical initiation. The mystery schools, over centuries of time, gradually evolved into great centers of learning, attracting students from throughout the known world. 

Pharaoh Thutmose III, who ruled Egypt from 1500 to 1447 BCE, organized the first esoteric school of initiates founded upon principles and methods similar to those perpetuated today by the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC. Decades later Pharaoh Amenhotep IV was initiated into the secret school. This most enlightened pharaoh—history’s first monotheist—was so inspired by the mystery teachings that he gave a completely new direction to Egypt’s religion and philosophy. He established a religion which recognized the Aton, the solar disk, as being the symbol of the sole deity—the foundation of life itself, the symbol of Light, Truth, and Joy—and changed his name to Akhnaton to reflect these new ideas. And although the earlier religion was later reestablished, the mystical idea was put forth in human consciousness, and its flame never died. 

Centuries later, Greek philosophers such as Thales and Pythagoras, the Roman philosopher Plotinus, and others, journeyed to Egypt and were initiated into the mystery schools. They then brought their advanced learning and wisdom to the Western world. Their experiences are the first records of what eventually grew and blossomed into the Rosicrucian Order. The name of the Order, as it is now known, was to come much later. However, the Rosicrucian Order always perpetuated its heritage of ancient symbolism and principles.

Early European Beginnings

It was in the time of Charlemagne (742–814) that the French philosopher Arnaud introduced the mystical teachings into France, and from there they spread to much of Western Europe. Throughout medieval Europe mystical knowledge was often necessarily couched in symbolism or disguised and hidden in the love songs of Troubadours, the formularies of Alchemists, the symbolical system known as the Kabbalah, and the rituals of Orders of Knighthood. 

While much of medieval Europe lay in darkness, the highly advanced Arab civilization preserved a large body of the mystical teachings through texts translated directly from the great libraries of the ancient world, such as Egypt’s Alexandria Library. Philosophy, medicine, mathematics, and alchemy were all important subjects preserved in these libraries and later transmitted to Europe by way of the Arabs. 

Alchemy—the art of transmutation—came into prominence with the Alexandrian Greeks. It was then introduced to the Arabs, who then transmitted this art and forerunner of chemistry to Europe. The alchemists played a tremendous part in the early history of the Rosicrucian Order. While many alchemists were interested in making gold, some were more concerned with the transmutation of human character. European alchemists and Knights Templar, in contact with the Arab civilization at the time of the Crusades, brought much of this wisdom to the West. In Europe the transcendental alchemists—mystics and philosophers—sought to transmute the base elements of human character into the more noble virtues and to release the wisdom of the divine self within the individual. Some of the renowned alchemists who were also Rosicrucians or were closely associated with them were Albertus Magnus, Roger Bacon, Paracelsus, Cagliostro, Nicholas Flamel, and Robert Fludd. 

As the saying goes, “The truth shall make you free.” Consequently, those who sought Truth and attempted to expound it to their fellow humans became the objects of persecution by tyrannical rulers or narrow religious systems. For several centuries, due to the lack of freedom of thought, the Order had to conceal itself under various names. However, in all times and places the Order never ceased its activities, perpetuating its ideals and its teachings, participating directly or indirectly in the advancement of the arts, sciences, and civilization in general, and always emphasizing the equality of men and women and the true solidarity of all humanity. As the Renaissance burst upon Europe with a flash of new interest in the arts and sciences, a mysterious publication printed in seventeenth century Germany and called the Fama Fraternitatis heralded a renewed interest in Rosicrucianism throughout Europe.

The Fama introduces Christian Rosenkreuz, a mythical character who was said to have traveled to centers of learning in the Near East and who personified the revived interest in esoteric studies and mystical learning. 

As part of this great renewal, the renowned Sir Francis Bacon (1561–1626), English philosopher, essayist, and statesperson, directed the Rosicrucian Order and its activities both in England and on the continent.

Cross the Atlantic

In the late seventeenth century, following a plan originally proposed by Francis Bacon in The New Atlantis, a colony of Rosicrucian leaders was organized to establish the Rosicrucian arts and sciences in America. In 1694 Rosicrucian settlers made the perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean in a specially chartered vessel, the Sarah Maria, under the leadership of Johannes Kelpius, master of a Rosicrucian Lodge in Europe. Landing in Philadelphia, the colonists established their first settlement and later moved further west in Pennsylvania. These Rosicrucian communities made valuable contributions to the newly emerging American culture in the fields of printing, philosophy, the sciences, and arts. Later, such eminent Americans as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine were intimately connected with the Rosicrucian community. In fact, many Rosicrucians played an important role in the great alchemical and social process leading to the founding of a new nation. 

Throughout history, there have been periods of greater and lesser activity of Rosicrucianism around the world. While inactive in the Americas during the nineteenth century, the Order was very active in France, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Spain, and other lands during this time. 

In 1909 the American businessperson and philosopher H. Spencer Lewis journeyed to France, where he was duly initiated into the Rosicrucian Order and chartered with the responsibility of renewing Rosicrucian activity in America. With H. Spencer Lewis as its president, the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, was incorporated in 1915 in New York City. In 1927 the Order moved its headquarters to San Jose, California—the site of present-day Rosicrucian Park. 

Over the past century hundreds of thousands of people have been students of the Rosicrucian teachings. From the beginning, both men and women have played an equal role in the Rosicrucian Order, without regard to religion or race.

Throughout history a number of prominent persons in the fields of science and the arts have been associated with the Rosicrucian movement, such as Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), Cornelius Heinrich Agrippa (1486–1535), Paracelsus (1493–1541). Francois Rabelais (1494–1553), Theresa of Avila (1515–1582), John of the Cross (1542–1591), Francis Bacon (1561–1626), Robert Fludd (1574–1637), Jacob Boehme (1575–1624), Rene Descartes (1596–1650), Blaise Pascal (1623–1662), Baruch Spinoza (1632– 1677), Isaac Newton (1642–1727), Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz (1646–1716), Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), Michael Faraday (1791–1867), Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919), Marie Corelli (1855–1924), Claude Debussy (1862– 1918), Erik Satie (1866–1925), and Edith Piaf (1916–1963). Today’s Rosicrucian legacy consists of a vast collection of knowledge which has come down to us through many centuries to enrich the cultural and spiritual heritage of AMORC. To the knowledge passed on by the sages of ancient Egypt were added philosophical concepts expressed by the great thinkers of ancient Greece, India, and the Arab world. Then, a few centuries later, the mystical precepts of Rosicrucian alchemists of the Middle Ages were formulated, followed by the vast expansion of knowledge which occurred from the Renaissance to the present day.

Source: The Mastery of Life, pgs. 19-23

[tipsycad147]

Datura 2

Mythology & Preparation. Many myths surround Datura, including some that say Lord Shiva favors the thorn-apple. According to the Vamana Purana, the thorn apple grew from the chest of the Hindu god Shiva, the lord of inebriants. Datura was first mentioned in the ancient Vedic scriptures as ‘Shivashekhera,’ showing the connection to Shiva was made very early. Shiva accepts offerings of Datura flowers even today. Datura flowers are depicted in Hindu Tantric art, and in many cultures a small dose or smoked Datura is considered an aphrodisiac. Datura is also used in Navajo frenzy witchcraft, where one transforms into a Datura animal spirit for either love, power, or both. Datura is associated most with four magical properties: passion, power, prophecy, and protection. It has also been called 'love will', as it is favoured in persuasive love magic.

The medicinal and magical properties of Datura were well known by the Chumash people. In their tradition, Datura was known as Momoy, a wise old Grandmother. Drinking the water she washed her hands in would bring visions of ones future and a spiritual guide. However, she warned her children not to drink too much, or they would meet a terrible fate. Also, strict fasting and other preparations were needed to ensure the journey would be a good one. If someone were to consume Datura without following the guidelines and without proper respect, the spirit was thought to be very hostile. Perhaps you would feel great courage, but also be made so foolish as to run off a cliff or drown in a small pool of water. Of the specifications, sex was strictly prohibited, as was meat and grease. One should be using great self-control, and not indulging during the time of preparation. Generally, tobacco was allowed to be smoked, as Momoy herself was said to eat nothing but tobacco. Nicotiana rustica (Solanaceae) is also an important plant spirit, and some believe was given to humanity as an aide in communication with the supernatural realm. Certainly, tobacco is often used in conjunction with other magical and visionary ceremonies across the world.Among some traditions Coyote is the Datura giver, who came into existence from Momoy's sweat. Some say Coyote is not only the trickster, but perhaps also the first witch/shaman. The rock art of the Lower Pecos indicated that shaman would use Datura to seemingly transform back into coyotes, or other animals. Many spiky Datura seed pods are depicted in the art, and thousands of seeds have been found in ceremonial areas. 

A shaman might also use Datura to diagnosis an illness, or induce a vision of future events. The shaman would prepare him or herself in order to harvest a portion of the sacred plant's root, which would always be done with a prayer. The Datura giver would have to be very knowledgeable about the dose, meaning he or she would need to assess the type of Datura, the soil, age, season, rainfall, moon phase, what parts and amounts to harvest, and finally how to prepare the brew. Datura has three active chemicals (scopolamine, hyoscyamine, and atropine), so all these factors go into determining the best time to harvest a plant with the right chemical concentrations. Harvesting a plant too young, or otherwise unready, may result in too much hyoscyamine or atropine, and not enough scopolamine. This mistake could make for a particularly frightening journey fraught with terrible visions. It might also result in an over dose, which was said to turn you into a devil, if not kill you. 

VI. Rites of Passage. Historically, Datura would be prepared by a shaman, curandero, other villager elder or wise person. Consuming it is well known to cause incurable madness or death if taken without proper guidance. Datura was used in several cultures as a rite of passage from childhood into adulthood. Often Datura was given to youths upon entering puberty. These events would typically last days or in some cases even weeks. Sensations of death and memory loss can occur with Solanaceae use, making the spiritual journey also literal. The childhood was actually meant to die and the youth to be reborn in a mature form. Many times it would be given in groups, especially with females who reacted less violently. The youths would be leaving their childhood behind and connecting with a spirit guide that would show them their adult path. Great variation existed among tribes. Some would have Datura use occur with a season or at individual choice year round. Other groups might limit its use to once in a lifetime, unless by a spiritual leader. Datura was thought to have many supernatural uses, including the ability to speak with the dead. In some cultures Datura is thought to grow over portals to the realm of the ancestors. In general, atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine have all been associated with communication from dead ancestors. 

Datura taken as a medical cure, which it was also often employed, was not thought to cause supernatural powers. When used to treat an illness, or as an aphrodisiac, only small doses would be given. Datura taken with the specific intent to communicate with the spirit was the only way to get magical access. Datura was known to grant great courage and strength, but also protection from danger. For these reasons Datura also had uses in hunting ceremonies to ensure success. Maybe the greatest gift granted was the ability to see beyond the surface of things, and see them as they really are. V. Divine Beings. A Zuni legend says that long ago, a brother and sister who lived in the underworld found their way up to the light. The brother and sister would take long walks on the earth, wearing Datura flowers in their hair. They learned many things during their walks, and had many adventures. One day they met the Divine Ones, the twin sons of the Sun father. They talked too much about their adventures, about how they had learned to make people see ghosts, and make them sleep, and how they could even make others find lost or stolen objects, or find the thief. The Divine ones decided that these children knew far too much, and something had to be done with them. They caused the brother and sister to disappear from the earth forever; but where they sank back into the underworld sprang up the beautiful white flowers they had worn on their heads. The gods called the flowers by the name of the boy, A’neglakya, and the flowers had many children to be found throughout the land. 

Among the many plants in the Aztec garden that Hernando Cortes encountered was Datura, known for the ability to relieve pain and cause sleep. One of the Aztec names for Datura was Toloatzin, meaning inclined head. Datura flowers are depicted in various Aztec art works and codices, sometimes shown in a ceremonial bowl to be consumed. This sacred plant (and several others) was a important element in ceremonies and communication with the gods. An Aztec magic formulary from the colonial period invokes the plant spirit of Datura with the following prayer: “I call to you, my mother, she who is of the beautiful water! Who is the god, or who has the power to break and consume my magic? Come here, sister of the green woman Ololiuqui, of she by means of which I go and leave the green pain, the brown pain, so that it hides itself.  Go and destroy with your hands the entrails of the possessed, so that you test his power and he falls in shame.” -(Jacinto de la Serna Documentos Ineditos para la Historia de Espawe). In the Peruvian Andes priests at the Temple of the Sun believe that Datura allows them to communicate with the spirits of their ancestors, allowing them to gain wisdom from beyond the grave. This is why they know the thorn-apple as Huacacachu, the grave plant. Sacred Datura may even have been known to the ancient Egyptians, as it is depicted in the stele art "Lady Tuth-Shena". Streaming from the sun disc on Horus's head are five rows of what appear to Datura flowers, which have a distinct trumpet shape, and also five points. These flowers are being received by Tuth-Shena, in this epic depiction of how the gods speak through plants.   

IV. Poison or Medicine? The alkaloid hyoscine in Datura has also been identified as a remedy for organophosphate, nerve gas, and puffer fish exposure. This is another reason why Datura has been used by some darker Voodoo practitioners in Haiti as a ‘Zombie’ poison, when combined with puffer fish toxin. The puffer fish toxin gives the appearance and full effect that a person has died (Being that it is capable of doing just that). A small amount combined with the antidote, Datura, would make it appear as though a person has died, and then returned in a ‘Zombie’ dream-like stupor. Along with the power of suggestion, this is one of the more sinister uses of Datura, and not one which I favour. The effects of Datura toxicity have been described as: "Blind as a bat, mad as a hatter, red as a beet, hot as a hare, dry as a bone, the bowel and bladder lose their tone, and the heart runs alone." Once a person reaches this stage he or she would also be completely delirious and unable to distinguish reality from a waking dream. This is an extremely dangerous state, where hyperthermia (extreme over heating), heart attack, or other serious health complications could occur. However, most deaths happen as a result of the delirious person stumbling unwittingly into danger (oncoming traffic, drowning, etc). 

There are many historical medicinal uses for Datura. While I do not recommend it be used internally today, its capacity for healing should not be over looked. Medicinal doses would all have been minimal to avoid side effects and danger. Formally all parts of the plant were considered anodyne, antispasmodic, hallucinogenic, hypnotic and narcotic. It has been used as a pain killer and also in the treatment of insanity, child birth, fevers with catarrh, diarrhea and skin diseases. Scopolamine is a powerful anticholinergic medicine. Scopolamine has many effects in the body including decreasing the secretion of fluids, slowing the stomach and intestines, and dilation of the pupils. Scopolamine is used in modern medicine to relieve nausea, vomiting, and dizziness associated with motion sickness. Scopolamine may also be used in the treatment of parkinsonism, spastic muscle states, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, and other conditions. Externally, it is used as a poultice or wash in the treatment of fistulas, haemorrhoids, abscesses, wounds and severe pain. The leaves have been successfully smoked as an anti-spasmodic in the treatment for asthma. The seeds are used in Tibetan medicine as analgesic, anti-helmintic and anti-inflammatory. The leaves and branches are effective against many common bacteria and fungi. They are used in the treatment of stomach and intestinal pain due to worm infestation, toothache and fever from inflammations. The juice of the fruit is applied to the scalp to treat dandruff. No topical or bathing applications should be used for any extended period to due to over-dose risks from skin absorption.

In ancient times Belladonna and Datura (due to the Atropine and Scopolamine content) were employed as an antidote for Amantia Muscaria poisoning, as the effects are opposing. New research indicates that in some cases, depending on the type of Amantia, or if another mushroom is eaten by mistake, the effects can actually be potentiated and therefore significantly more dangerous. So while Datura can be a possible antidote for some types of poisoning, medical advice is needed before it can be used safely and confidently. The plant contains several tropane alkaloids, the most active of which is scopolamine. This is a potent cholinergic-blocking deliriant, which has been used to calm schizoid patients in the past. One Datura specimen showed the following scopolamine content: leaves contain 0.52% scopolamine, the calices 1.08%, the stems 0.3%, the roots 0.39%, the fruits 0.77%, the capsules 0.33%, the seeds 0.44% and the whole plant 0.52 – 0.62%. The alkaloid content varies greatly from plant to plant, and has an important impact on the effects experienced, and the danger of toxic over dose. 

IIV. She of Many Names. Known by many names, Angel’s Trumpet, Moonflower, Downy Thorn-Apple, Thorny Apple of Peru, and more than I could possibly list, but here is a sample (especially as most groups had unique names for each datura species). The Zuni call her A'neglakya and u'teaw ko'hanna ("white flower"), the Mazatec A-neg-la-kia, the Dine (Navajo people) called her chamico, chanikah, ch'oxojilghef ("crazy making"). The Tarahumara call her Dekuba, telez-ku, and tikuwari. The Hopi call her Tsimonmana (in connection with her pollinator, the Hawk moth). The Seri say it is devil's weed, hehe camostim ("plant that creates grimaces"), hehe carocot (“plant that makes crazy“). The Spanish called her hierba del diablo, Indian apple, Jamestown weed, Jimson weed, toloache. The Pima called her katundami, and the Huichol called her kieli, Kiéri, nacazcul. 

The Zapotec said she was nocuana-pato. The Mayan called her nohochxtohk'uh ("large plant in the direction of the gods"). To the Tewa she is rauchaofel, rikuri, sape enwoe be. To the Garigia she is rhe solanum manicum, stechapfel, tepate, tecuyaui. The Aztecs knew her as toloatzin, tolochi, tolohuaxihuitl  (“inclined head“), toluache. The Hindus called her Dhatura, Ummatta, and the Sanskrit D'hastura.                                                                     PIMA O’ODAM POEM                                                 Sacred Datura leaves, sacred Datura leaves,                                                         eating your greens intoxicates me,                                                          making me stagger, dizzily leap.                                                       Datura blossoms, Datura blossoms,                                                       drinking your nectar intoxicates me,                                                          making me stagger, dizzily leap.      https://www.moonflowergarden.com/midnight-musing/sacred-datura

[sinceileftyoublog]

Sir Richard Bishop Interview: Scattered

Photo by Alan Bishop

BY JORDAN MAINZER

Experimental singer-songwriter, composer, Sun City Girl, world traveler. Sir Richard Bishop listens and channels influences from all over on his first new album in five years, Oneiric Formulary, out April 17th on Drag City. Taking the same approach he did for Polytheistic Fragments, his drag city debut, Bishop employs a different sound for almost every track, inspired by music from a wide array of nations. There’s the atonal, shrieking opener “Call to Order”, flamenco meets surf rock of “Mit’s Linctus Codeine Co.”, baroque stylings of the appropriately titled “Renaissance Nod”, creepy “Graveyard Wanderers”, and country strummed “Enville”, among others. It’s all quintessential Bishop, using his guitar to conjure exactly what the title suggests, a certain dream-like state.

Bishop answered some questions over email about his approach to making Oneiric Formulary. Read his responses below, edited for length and clarity.

Since I Left You: Why was it time to replicate the approach to Polytheistic Fragments on Oneiric Formulary? Richard Bishop: I had been working with a lot of different material that was a bit scattered as far as any identifiable themes or genres were concerned. A fair amount of that material was much more experimental and didn’t involve using a guitar. And though I had several solo guitar pieces ready for a record, I didn’t want the entire record to be that way. The previous album I did (Tangier Sessions) was all solo guitar, and it was done with one very particular instrument which had one particular sound or tone. The album before that (The Freak of Araby) featured mainly electric guitar, and while it wasn’t solo guitar (except for one song), it focused on one specific genre of music. So, the combination of solo guitar material with a few things a little more abstract and other odds and ends seemed to be the way to go for this one.

SILY: How did you decide what genres, aesthetics, or instruments to explore? RB: With the exception of the guitar pieces, it was somewhat random. Many of my recent sound experiments were originally designed to be used with some short films I have been working on, so the instrumentation varied quite a bit. There was a lot of piano and other keyboard instruments, as well as a midi controller which could produce a nearly unlimited array of sounds. Field recordings of mine were also thrown into the mix. What ended up on the new album was a small fraction of what I had gathered or assembled, but they somehow seemed to fit. SILY: How did you come up with the titles to the songs? Some seem to be more literal or representative of what's in the song, whereas others evoke something more abstract.

RB: Nowadays, I care less about song titles matching what the music sounds like. So yes, some seem to fit well, and others maybe not so much. It often gets to the point where because of deadlines you just scramble at the last minute to come up with titles without giving it much thought or worrying about it at all. In the end, the song title doesn’t really matter; its the music that’s important. SILY: What's the inspiration behind the video to "Celerity"? RB: I’m not sure there was any real inspiration involved. Due to the ever-increasing rise of short attention spans these days, it’s a good idea to give people something to look at in order to hold their attention, hopefully until the end of the song. It isn’t always easy for me to come up with the right visual to represent what people are hearing in the song. I have a lot of film footage from my many travels over the years, and I always try to source my own material before having somebody else make a video for me. So with the song “Celerity”, since the word relates to the idea of speed or velocity, I wanted to have something that moved at the same pace as the music. I stumbled upon this footage of a puppet show that I filmed many years ago, and with some creative editing and speed adjustments, it ended up complimenting the music in a pretty decent way. SILY: Thinking about the album title: Is there anything particularly dream-like to you about the record?

RB: Yes, but probably not in a way that would make sense to anybody else. Three of the pieces were certainly inspired by dreams I had, but that’s a very personal thing. Each song could easily represent a dream-like state if I let my imagination run with it. But it really doesn’t matter. It’s just an unusual album title.

SILY: What's the inspiration behind the album art? RB: I was searching through some of my old photographs, and I just happened to be a bit enamored with this particular photo. It was ambiguous, mysterious, and somewhat creepy at the same time. I spent a lot of time just staring at it, and it seemed to communicate with me as if it was alive. It was obvious to me that this was the one to use. Then I had Kate Widdows, a designer I have worked with on many occasions, take it from there. She gave the album a full antiquarian treatment, which was perfect, since I also work in the rare book trade. I am very happy with how it turned out. SILY: Are you playing these songs live? If so, how are you approaching them?

RB: The solo guitar pieces I will perform for sure, even though each one is in a different guitar tuning. Some of the others may require a bit of trickery in order to make them work. I’m trying to figure out the correct approaches on these. There are a couple of pieces that I don’t think I could do at all without help from others. But we’ll see how it all plays out. SILY: What's next for you? RB: Tour plans are in the works for the U.S. and for Europe in order to promote the new album. I will also being doing a handful of shows with Alan Bishop and Chris Corsano later this year (under the name The Clandestine Trio). I am hoping to hook up again soon with Chris and Ben Chasny in order to record a new Rangda record. And, I will continue to work on new solo recording projects. It will be a busy year. SILY: Is there anything you've been listening to, reading, or watching lately that's caught your attention? RB: No, not a damn thing!

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 4/20/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Friday 20th April 2018. Remember that you can read full articles via subscribing to Nation News Online, purchasing Weekend  Nation Newspaper (WN) or via Barbados Today (BT).

BODY FOUND AT HELIPORT – Police are currently in the area of the Bridgetown Heliport investigating the discovery of a body. Police say they received a report around 2:30 p.m. that a body was lodged between some rocks just off the water. The discovery was made by someone who was fishing in the area. No further details are available at this time. An update will be provided once more information is received.  (WN)

PRESCRIPTIONS AND REFILLS TO BE HONOURED UNTIL JUNE 30 – Effective Monday, April 23, drugs affected by changes to the Barbados Drug Formulary, will continue to be available to patients under the Barbados Drug Service’s Benefit Scheme until June 30. Both new prescriptions and valid refills will be honoured during this period. The announcement came today at the conclusion of a meeting between the Ministry of Health, the Barbados Drug Service and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.  In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, it was revealed that the Barbados Drug Service will reimburse the cost of these items to the private pharmacies during this period. The period provides an opportunity for doctors to transition patients to the new medications.  Patients have been advised to consult with their medical practitioners, pharmacists or the Barbados Drug Service to determine if the medications they are currently taking are still on the Formulary. The changes to the Formulary, which occur every two years, are made on the  advice of a team comprising local experts, doctors, pharmacists and members of the Drug Formulary Committee. According to the statement, the changes are based on “regional and international guidelines, and are made in the interest of good patient care and to provide the best medication available” The Ministry of Health gave the assurance that it would continue to work with its partners to monitor the situation “to ensure that we can continue to meet the health needs of the people of Barbados in the most effective manner”.   (WN)

ST PETER AND ST JOSEPH CLINICS SUSPENDED TOMORROW – The public is advised that regularly scheduled clinic services at the Maurice Byer Polyclinic, Station Hill, St Peter and the St Joseph Outpatient Clinic will be suspended tomorrow, Friday, April 20, to facilitate the hosting of a health fair at the polyclinic. Additionally, there will be no Extended Hours Service.  According to the Ministry of Health, arrangements are in place to handle any emergencies which may arise. The health fair, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will feature a range of activities including presentations on health topics, screening for non-communicable diseases, Zumba and other fitness sessions. Everyone is invited to attend the free event.  (WN)

COMMISSIONG CALLS ON GG TO INTERVENE ON ELECTION HOLD UP DATE – As the country drifts towards the end of the 90-day constitutional deadline for a general election, social activist and attorney-at-law David Comissiong is calling on Governor General Dame Sandra Mason to put an end to the “governmental stasis”. Comissiong said Dame Sandra was not obligated to wait on Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to set a date for the poll, constitutionally due by early June, arguing that the Constitution allowed for the Governor General to exercise her discretion once the provision for the automatic dissolution of Parliament was triggered. In written correspondence to Barbados TODAY, Comissiong pointed to the fact that Parliament was dissolved on March 6, and that Section 62 (1) of the Constitution makes it clear that “after every dissolution of Parliament the Governor General shall issue writs for a general election of members of the House of Assembly returnable within ninety days from the dissolution”. He further explained that Section 32 (1) (b) of the Constitution “also tells us that our Governor General does not have to wait upon or to be advised by the Cabinet or the Prime Minister” in relation to “any function which is expressed in whatever terms to be exercisable by her in her discretion”. “A plain and literal reading of Section 62 (1) of the Constitution suggests that this duty of our Governor General to set the date for a general election is a duty that is exercisable by her in her own discretion,” Comissiong said, while going on to ask: “What is the Governor General was waiting for.” The attorney suggested that if Dame Sandra, who served as a judge on the Court of Appeal, were in doubt about the wording of the various sections, she should go to the Supreme Court for clarification. He therefore called on Barbadians to let their voices be heard on this matter as major institutions were breaking down while country remains in a state of “political limbo”. The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) recently made a similar call, with George Payne, the party’s chairman, contending Dame Sandra needed to act in order to protect the country’s integrity. “You are dealing with a man who does not make any decisions,” Payne told a BLP meeting in St Michael South about Stuart. “The Governor General also has a responsibility, taking into consideration the state of affairs of this country at this particular point in time . . . . The Governor General has the absolute discretion of issuing the writs for election. At this particular point in time [Stuart] could scotch back and say, ‘it is not my fault, it is the Governor General. The Governor General is the person who is supposed to call the election and the Governor General has refused,’” the BLP chairman had said. (BT)

PUPILS FORCED OUTSIDE – An environmental issue forced children from two classes at the Catherine’s Primary School outside yesterday. The children of Infants A and Reception took classes under a tent next to the school hall, where the issue was said to be. The school principal, who did not wish to be named, said the situation was under control. “I have reported an issue to the ministry and I am giving them the opportunity to deal with the matter. In the meantime, we have accommodated the children under a tent so teaching can continue. The children are already accustomed to outdoor classes, and should bad weather come, they will be accommodated,” he said. However, parent Simon Clarke was less confident in the actions of the school. He said it was like they were keeping a secret.  “I heard a rumour this morning that the children were outside, so I came to see for myself. There was no communication from the school, and to my mind there is no solution in sight to the problem,” he said. Clarke said he understood that since March 1 the ministry had been made aware of the issue, which appeared to centre on animal droppings, fungus and dust, but to date noting had been resolved. He said parents had been finding out via tip-offs, which was not good enough. “I heard the teachers are suffering health challenges, so sooner or later so will the children. I was told they might cordon off the area, but then where will the children go? Many parents are still unaware of what’s happening here but from March to now seems like a reasonable time in which to make us aware,” he said. Clarke said he was planning action by writing to the Ministry of Education himself as he said he was not satisfied after speaking to the principal. Attempts to contact Chief Education Officer Karen Best were unsuccessful.  (WN)

UWI SOURCING MORE FUNDING FOR STUDENTS – With several of the contributing governments affected by harsh economic times the 70-year-old University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus is looking to new revenue streams to assist poor students who cannot afford the tuition fees for the campus.  Come April 28, the Cave Hill Campus as part its anniversary celebrations will be staging "a blue riband and red carpet gala" in association with the Elliott and Loretta Belgrave Scholarship Trust on its grounds to set up a scholarship to assist those deserving students.    Principal of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, Professor Eudine Barriteau, made these disclosures on Tuesday while speaking to members of the media in the conference room at Cave Hill Campus. Barriteau said the $500 per ticket gala will be held under the distinguished patronage of Governor General Dame Sandra Mason who is an alumna of the Cave Hill Campus. She said that the gala has attracted the endorsement and active support of a constellation of regional and international "stars" and several prominent citizens and they were anticipating a successful event. "We look forward to spending an enchanting evening. One which we look forward to spending with a wide and varied array of the UWI community including alumni, friends, and well -wishers, including corporate and individual donors, all lending their support to the very worthy cause of raising funds for scholarships for our most needy and deserving students," she said. During the press conference it was disclosed that for the past two years faculty members have been making monthly contributions from their salaries to an "Adopt a Student Fund" for needy students.. Cultural Ambassador Anthony Mighty Gabby Carter and calypsonian Anderson Blood Armstrong have also thrown their support behind the event. In a brief presentation the Mighty Gabby said that since its establishment in 1948 the university has done a lot for the region and has touched almost every family in the Caribbean. "All you have got to do is to look and see how far the region has advanced since 1948. Not advancement in terms of material things, but in terms of education overall. When I heard about this fund raising event, I could not think of a better fundraiser than this one. If we can get our people educated we will see a drop in crime and more people engaging in the arts and sporting disciplines. It hurt me when I heard that the student population dropped from 8 000 to 5 000. I would do anything to support this cause." Meanwhile, Blood said that after being in the entertainment industry for the past 35 years he felt he should give back something to the country and he recognised the importance of education even though he supports emphasis being placed entrepreneurship.  (WN)

SOME MEN RESENT WOMEN’S SUCCESS – A successful woman can be a threat to the average man. That was the point made by executive director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency, Pamela Coke-Hamilton to Soroptimist International Barbados at its 55th annual general meeting on Monday night at Accra Beach Hotel & Spa. She said the challenges women faced in business were not separate from gender-based violence. “A lot of men resent the fact that when women become more successful, they have a stronger voice, and it’s not an accident that when women become more independent; they are also subject to more violence. So we can’t separate the two,” said Coke-Hamiltonin her address entitled Challenges For Women In Economic Empowerment In The Caribbean. Coke-Hamilton, who called for the names of the abused to be known, invoked the name of domestic violence victim Onica King, who died fatally last Saturday afternoon in The City.  “Her name was Onica King and her voice was silenced like so many others. The thought I had was, would it be possible for maybe Soroptimists here to get a list of the names of those women who’ve been silenced? . . . Publish it and [let] somebody with a beautiful voice read it, record it and give them a voice and let people know their names. “They have names. They’re not just some other woman who got killed by some angry man that felt like he owned her,” she said to an audience that included Dame Maizie Barker-Welch, United States Ambassador Linda Taglialatela and patron of the Soroptimists, Dr Frances Chandler. (DN)

PSV LEADER DEFENDS BUS FARE INCREASE – Head of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport, Roy Raphael, has defended the recent rise in bus fare for schoolchildren on public service vehicles (PSVs). The children were required to pay $2 on all PSVs from the start of the new school term on Tuesday. They still ride free on the state-owned Transport Board. Addressing the issue on yesterday’s Down To Brass on Starcom Network with host Corey Lane, Raphael said PSV operators had no other option as the figures just weren’t adding up. “I called to clear the point on the bus fare issue. Let me make it clear that bus fare in Barbados is $2 across the board, and over time, what we would have been doing as responsible owners is charging schoolchildren $1.50, which we could no longer absorb because of high insurance costs, high court costs and so on,” he said. “Our vehicles are very old – we have some dating back to 1984 – and insurance can rate for a third party from $17 000, so at this time our profits aren’t allowing us to continue in that vein. We have made countless attempts to the Ministry of Transport and Works [and] the Ministry of Finance to give us duty-free concessions on our vehicles and we are at the point where we don’t know if we are going to get it.” Raphael said the operators were not breaking the law. “We had a meeting with the relevant authorities to make sure that we are well within our rights and we are. So we said effective [Tuesday], that schoolchildren will now have to pay $2 across the board. We said to our drivers and operators to be responsible as well and if a child doesn’t have the $2, not to leave them stranded by the road.”  (DN)

FIRE DESTROYS TRANSPORT BOARD BUS – Police are conducting investigations into the circumstances surrounding a fire onboard a Transport Board bus. It occurred around 5:50 a.m. today along Porters Road, St James as the bus made its way to Speightstown with 15 passengers on board.  “The bus was stationary at a bus stop when the driver was alerted by passengers of smoke coming from the rear of the bus. The driver switched off the engine, investigated and saw the smoke, he tried to extinguish the fire in the engine compartment by use of the fire extinguisher,” police public relations officer Acting Inspector Rodney Inniss said. The Barbados Fire Service was summoned and one tender and three personnel responded and extinguished the blaze. Two passengers complained of smoke inhalation and discomfort and opted to seek private medical treatment. The bus was destroyed but there was no reported damage to any other property. Vehicular traffic was temporarily diverted at Porters road junction. Police are at the scene and investigations are continuing. Anyone who can provide information to assist with these investigations is asked to contact the Holetown Police Station at telephone 419-1701. (DN)

FAMILY PLANNING NEEDS MILLIONS – After being badly affected by a fire over the weekend, the Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA) will have to seek millions of dollars to restore its offices. Chief financial officer Sonya Alleyne told a press conference at the Barbados Diabetes Foundation, Warrens, St Michael, yesterday that because of the medical services provided, it would take at least five $5 million to get the organisation running again. The fire destroyed a significant portion of the operations, and made the remaining buildings on the old Ministry of Health property at Jemmotts Lane unusable. Twenty-four employees and more than 30 clients were impacted. However, Alleyne said staff would be reassigned and there would be no job losses. Acting executive director Anderson Langdon, president Ruth Phillips, director of clinical services Dr Shanae Gill and brand champion Kirk Brown were also present. “We are unable to continue business as usual due to this tragedy. Several critical services have been impacted, including breast lump removals, prostate and cervical cancer screenings, screening for gender-based violence, the Adolescent Young Mothers Programme, our schools programme and antenatal care delivery,” Langdon said.  Gill said there were 12 000 visits and over 76 000 services provided to clients last year.  To accommodate requests the association has set up an appointments hotline at its temporary location. Gill said they were working on fundraising activities and expressed her gratitude on behalf of the BFPA to the Ministry of Health, Brown and other agencies who lent support. (WN)

BYS PARENTING WORKSHOP COMING – The Barbados Youth Service (BYS) will assist in the facilitation of an upcoming parenting seminar and workshop. The seminar and workshop, will be held on Saturday, April 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Almond Beach Resort, Heywoods, St Peter, under the theme Strengthening Communities through Effective Parenting: Our Children, Our Investment. According to coordinator and social work intern at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Ashanki Doughlin, the session is geared towards assisting in the fostering and building of relationships through “quality connections between parents/guardians and their children or wards”. The workshops and seminars will specifically target parents and guardians of BYS trainees, as well as those enrolled in the Endless Possibilities Programme and the Community Technology Programme of the Community Development Department.  Some of the topics to be discussed are: Managing the Social and Sexual Dynamics of the Adolescent; The Economic Management of Your Household; and The Impact of the Male Presence within the Family.  (DN)

NEW SHELTER SOON FOR HOMELESS WOMEN – Work is expected to begin next month on a long-awaited shelter for homeless women and children. “In the month of [May] we will be breaking ground for a shelter for females and children, because currently we do have women and children on the streets,” Kemar Saffrey, the founder and president of the Barbados Vagrant and Homeless Society (BVHS) announced this morning at a seminar at which he received donations from students of the Graydon Sealy Secondary School, the Codrington School and Springer Memorial School. Thirteen charities were presented with cheques from students who took part in the last Scotiabank/Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation $20 challenge, at this morning’s seminar at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business. Saffrey told the students the BVHS had seen an increase in the number of homeless people this year, when compared to 2017, continuing a trend that began in recent years. So far this year 26 new homeless people have sought support from the charity, Saffrey said, bringing to approximately 500, the number of clients on file, up from about 380 two years ago. The eight-year-old BVHS has been pleading with Government since 2016 for help in finding a home for vagrants. Back then Saffrey had indicated that he would meet with the Minister of Housing and Lands Denis Kellman and Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler to push for a permanent home for the organization. It was also in 2016 that the organization had launched its “dollar drive” as part of its “Building a Future for the Homeless” campaign aimed at raising $1.7 million for a new building to accommodate the rising number of vagrants seeking assistance. After accepting a $20,000 donation from CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank last year as part of a planned $100,000 donation over a five-year period, Saffrey had again pleaded with Barbadians for more support as the organization continued to contend with reduced operating capacity at its Tudor Street location. During this morning’s event S affrey did not say where the new home would be located, nor did he provide further details. However, he promised “to take your funding and definitely put it to that use to make sure that these persons on the street would not have to spend night after night there, but they would have now, a shelter that will be provided”. He also said the BVHS was hoping to purchase a building by the end of this year, that would be retrofitted for homeless men. The BVHS’s website said the charity has taken 113 people off the streets and assisted 80 women and children and 373 men since its inception in 2010. The organization feeds approximately 120 people every week. (BT)

A REVITALISED AGRICULTURE SECTOR KEY TO RECOVERY – Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, Senator Dr Esther Byer Suckoo, has proffered the view that the island’s future economic recovery is hinged on revitalised and strategically developed agriculture and fisheries sectors, operating to international standards. She made the suggestion while addressing a stakeholder consultation for the Skills Needs Assessment for Agriculture and Fisheries sectors at Savannah Beach Hotel on Monday. The Minister reasoned that this recovery “required the sector to be set within an enabling environment that is, in part, characterised by the supply of the right mix of human capital that has relevant skills and competencies that would increase the productivity and competitiveness of agricultural enterprises”.  “It would also require an environment that continually promotes and nurtures the youth’s involvement in farming, fishing and agro-processing as a means of sustaining the growth of the sector,” Senator Dr Byer Suckoo added. The Minister said at present, there is limited information on the current supply of farmers and other relevant agents in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.  It is also unclear, Senator Byer Suckoo added, how many farmers received any formal training in agricultural science, the skills set required of livestock farmers versus crop producers, their educational background and whether any specific education and training opportunities were needed. “There is limited information on labour market needs and skills deficits. Do the farmers and fishermen have all the skills necessary to efficiently run their operations? As employers, is production compromised by the unavailability of certain competencies in the pool of workers available? Given advances in aquaponics and other non-traditional farming methods, green energy, or even animal genetics, are there any skills needed by agricultural producers to embrace these advances in technology?” The Labour Minister queried. In this regard, the Senator said the skills needs assessment was just one of the initiatives her Ministry would employ to promote a demand-driven education and training system under the Barbados Human Resource Development Programme. “Previously, small stakeholder consultations provided some guidance on the trends and developments in the sector and emerging skills needs. However through this initiative and also through employer surveys conducted under the Ministry of Education’s Skills for the Future Project, we have sought to target a wider cross-section of stakeholders to better identify the needs of employers and the markets in general,” she added. The Labour Minister expressed the hope that this research would inform the decisions of education and training providers, both formal and informal, on programme planning, curriculum design and programme delivery. During the session, stakeholders were presented with findings from consultants Hans Bekkers, Jehroum Wood and Ann Southall.  (WN)

TWO FISHERMEN IN VENEZUELA – Two Barbadian fishermen who were missing at sea have been found. The Barbados Coast Guard confirmed that the vessel Pearlita was found in Venezuelan waters and two men believed to be Kurt Watson and Michael Hawkesworth were rescued by Venezuelan authorities and taken for medical attention. Coast Guard Operations Officer Sub Lieutenant Alexander Kellman said they received information about 11 p.m. Wednesday night from Venezuelan authorities that the Pearlita had been discovered six hours earlier. It had apparently run aground in an area called Sebastopol. Two men who were rescued are with the Venezuelan Coast Guard. According to Kellman, the Barbados Coast Guard is monitoring the situation and awaiting word as the Venezuelan authorities will attempt to refloat the vessel. There is no confirmation as to when the two men or the boat will be returned to the island. Kellman said the Venezuelan authorities would be conducting investigations why the Pearlita and its crew were in the area. Principal Fisheries Assistant Philip Jackman said he had no official confirmation from the Coastt Guard at the time he was contacted. However, he said, when they were informed of a rescue, the normal procedure would be for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to liaise with authorities in the territory where the rescue had taken place. Meanwhile, June Haynes is thankful her prayers were answered and that her adoptive brother Hawkesworth and Watson were rescued. “We lifted them up in church last night (Wednesday) and I thank God, “ said Haynes. Watson and Hawkesworth left for a fishing trip onboard the Pearlita on March 26 and sent out an appeal for help about a week later. Up to Wednesday, there was no word of the two men and sisters June and Marlene Haynes were becoming increasingly anxious. When contacted, caretaker of the Pearlita, Randolph Blackman, said, “of course I am happy. You don’t have to say that twice”. He said attempts were being made to have them flown in by air. (WN)

HIT AND RUN VICTIM DIES - The pedestrian who was injured in a hit-and-run accident last month passed away today at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Forty-five-year-old Ronald Knight of Exchange Hill, St Michael was struck from behind by a green Suzuki Vitara as he walked along Bibby’s Lane, St Michael on March 11. He received multiple injuries and was listed in critical but stable condition. Police had appealed to anyone who witnessed the accident or who could provide any information to assist in the investigation, to contact the District ‘A’ Police station at 430-7242 or 430-7246, the Operations Control Room at 430-7100 or any police station. (WN)

GRIEVING FAMILY – We want justice. This is the plea of friends and family of Ronald Knight, who died yesterday after being struck by a Suzuki Vitara sports utility vehicle on Sunday, March 11, while walking along a road in Bibby’s Lane, St Michael, metres away from his home. The 45-year-old handyman had been detained at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital since the incident. He passed away around 4:40 p.m. Knight was unable to breathe on his own and was attached to machines with a tube in his throat. He also suffered a broken spine and other bones. The mood was sombre at his Exchange Hill community Tuesday night. Eldest daughter Shakila Wilkinson, 21, speaking in a soft voice, said her father was a loving man who had a close relationship with each of his six children. Her ten-year-old sister Aaliyah, said she would not be able to tell her father which secondary school she passed for after sitting the Common Entrance Exam next month. Their mother Antoinette, Knight’s girlfriend for over 20 years, was not at home. Knight has three other children, Shaquoia, 16, A-Ryhianna, 13, and Shaquan is 18 while Knight had a grandchild: two-year-old Shariya. Neighbours also expressed sorrow at the passing of a man cherished for his community spirit. Neighbour and close friend Krystal Wilkinson said the family was depressed and his children were taking it the hardest. To date, no one has been charged.  (WN)

LAWYER FIGHTER TO THE END – A true warrior and fighter. That was how attorney Kathy-Anne Trotman was described by Rev. Arlette Waterman during her funeral service at the Ebenezer Methodist Church, Ebenezer, St Philip, on Thursday. Trotman, 49, became a household name when she and her husband, attorney Douglas Trotman, joined forces to press Government to approve her medicinal marijuana request for palliative care, after she was diagnosed with Stage II triple negative breast cancer in 2015. “Kathy was a true Christian woman who fought for what she believed in . . . .  She would have fought like Paul and never gave up even until her last moments on Earth. She fought ill health, social obstacles, even spiritual battles, and legal fights,” Waterman said. Tributes flowed for the mother of six as Governor General Dame Sandra Mason, judges, magistrates, lawyers, politicians, family and friends paid tribute her. Douglas, Kathy-Anne’s husband of 14 years, eulogised his wife as the epitome of strength that kept the entire family together. “When Kath was diagnosed, she said she would not have chemotherapy or radiation. She said she would fight naturally, and use other Western medical methodologies. We journeyed to Vancouver [Canada] on two occasions, [before] she took her fight public for the use of medical cannabis. “The system responded sluggishly, but Kath kept fighting and I fought with her. Eventually we got a prescription for her to use medical cannabis from Dr Harley Moseley III,” he said. He said that she was his rock, and together they made a great team. “We thought we had time . . . . This has been difficult for all of us, but Kath kept to a single promise; that she would indeed cleave to her husband . . . . Kath, I love you, we will all miss you, and we know you will be with us every day. I saw the power of prayer, and I now must search my burning bush,” he said as he began to cry.  (WN)

TNT - BOY CHOPS OFF MOTHER'S HAND – A 15-YEAR-OLD form three Presentation College student, in a fit of rage, yesterday chopped off his mother’s right hand and then chopped her several times on the back of the neck after an argument at their Waterloo home. The teen, who was in his school uniform, with blood splattered over his shirt, was found in a daze at the nearby Waterloo Cremation site. While being escorted to a police van, he began weeping and told police he was sorry. He said, “I did it because my mother took away my cellphone the night before and I found it was unfair.” The boy was taken to the Brasso Police station, which has a detention centre for juveniles. The boy was at his Butler Village, Carapichaima home with his mother who is a nurse, early yesterday when they argued over her decision to take away his cellphone. The teen took a cutlass and chopped off her right hand at the wrist. He then chopped her several times on the back of the neck. As he left the house, his father met him and asked why he was not at school and why his clothes were soiled. The boy did not respond but rode off on his bicycle. When his father went upstairs to the bedroom, he found his wife semi-conscious and bleeding, with her severed hand on the floor. He called a neighbour, who put the hand in a bag of ice. The injured woman, a nurse for several years, told her neighbour and husband what to do to stop the bleeding.  She was taken to the San Fernando Hospital, treated and warded in critical condition. Yesterday, she had emergency surgery to have her hand re-attached and to save her life because she had lost so much blood.  Police led by Sgt Boxer and including PC Gibson, interviewed the boy’s father, who told them his son had been acting strangely within recent weeks, and they suspected he was using drugs. His cellphone was taken away as punishment, but his father expressed regret over the move and believes his wife would not be fighting for her life if they had not done so. Investigators said yesterday that they would have to await advice from police legal officers before the boy is questioned. Brasso police station is a juvenile booking centre and he will remain there until Legal Aid assigns a state-appointed lawyer to speak with him. Only after that will police be able to interview him. If he is charged he will appear before the children’s court in Fyzabad. Yesterday, Central Division police described the incident as the most incredible for the year and said it reflects what society has now become. Head of Central Division Snr Supt Inraj Balram said the incident was very disturbing. “It is appalling for a 15-year-old who is attending a prestigious school to resort to that kind of violence against his own mother. I am pleading with people who have troubled children to seek counselling for them,” Balram said. Education Minister Anthony Garcia said the ministry received a report from School Supervision personnel on the chopping. Garcia said the information he had was that the incident occurred after the mother scolded her son about his school work. He said the ministry is mobilizing all necessary resources and experts from the Student Support Services Division of the Ministry will provide counselling and intervention for teachers and students of the suspect’s school. The Division will also extend similar services to the student’s relatives.  (BT)

WOMEN’S CRICKET NOT EQUAL TO MEN’S – Though women’s cricket in the West Indies has come a long way, more needs to be done to ensure it is seen equal to the men’s game. So said librarian Margaret Broomes during the Barbados Museum & Historical Society’s lecture entitled Women’s Cricket In The Caribbean on Tuesday night at the Queen’s Park Steel Shed. “West Indies women’s cricket is still not viewed in the same light and is very much unequal to the men’s game. Cricket in the West Indies is still viewed as a man’s game. “Women’s cricket is played separate and not seen as West Indies cricket but two separate games,” she said.  During her presentation, which is the sixth in the series of 12, she mentioned that that inequality trickled down from women’s cricket in the 1960s and 1970s when it experienced a lack of funding, poor facilities and very little media coverage. Broomes explained that some progress was made when the women’s team gained success by capturing the ICC World Twenty20 title in 2016, in the same year in which the men’s and Under-19 teams were successful. These accomplishments resulted in greater media coverage and more women even came out to support the game.  “Surely the structures and programmes put in place helped the women. There is need to continue to build and improve on these structures. . . Fans were given the opportunity to realise that women’s cricket is a serious sport played with talented ladies. There is a need to keep this momentum going for the ladies. The women are now seen as heroes and as a result young girls may be more inclined to choose cricket as their sport,” Broomes said. However, she mentioned that total equality depended on the realisation by the powers that be that the sport was worthy. “It depends on the West Indies Cricket Board (now Cricket West Indies) and how they perceive women’s cricket. The men are sponsored; the women are not sponsored. It seems as though the women are a liability to the cricket. They are playing better but they are not being recognised for their efforts only the men. “The men have been sponsored for many years and up to now the women cannot find a sponsor in the same way . . . . Some of the women also feel because it started as a working class sport was the reason why they weren’t being sponsored because they never had anyone to speak out on their behalf,” said Broomes.  (WN)

XHOSA BAND VOWS BETTER FOR 2018
- Xhosa Barbados is promising to make amends with masqueraders this year after a disappointing 2017 performance. The Grand Kadooment band, now in its fourth year, launched its 2018 theme Circle of Life to curious patrons at the National Conservation Commission’s Botanical Gardens on Sunday. Last year, Xhosa won the top prize for Large Band of the Year, Best Party Band and Most Colourful Large Band, but it was heavily criticised for its distribution and road experience. Band Leader Jeremy Nicholls revealed that the organisers went back to the drawing board for 2018 to figure out where they went wrong. “The team has looked at the overall experience. We were successful in 2015, 2016 [and] we looked at what changed in 2017 and tried to make sure that we stopped those things from happening again,” he said True to Xhosa’s mantra, We Don’t Pose, We Party, the band launch was also a cooler fete with a deejay line up consisting of Jus Jay, Mali Fresh & Scott Le Roc, Infamous & Boom Mafia and DJ Kareem. The gardens were packed with patrons eager to see the nine sections from Circle of Life: Bloom, Phoenix, Ari, Ceres, Aja, Anake, Lignum Vitae, Reaper and Teratai. The theme explores the journey and the rebirth of Xhosa Barbados and examines the deities that guide and control fate, whether successes or failures. Nicholls indicated they were expecting at least 900 masqueraders to be jumping down Spring Garden Highway on August 6, however, he was committed to ensuring that Xhosa Barbados delivered on the carnival experience. “My main focus is not the number of people, but [our] quality of the service. It is about making sure the experience matches the brand,” Nicholls said. “We are definitely ready to go on the road, the product is going to remain the quality people expect it to be,” he added. Band designers include regional artists Marlon Smart, Christian Boucaud, Tanya Duncan, Rawle Permanand, Humzee, Whitney Shand, Simone Nielson, Keisha Als and Sherise Stewart.  (BT)

KRAVE THE BAND IN A FIGHTING SPIRIT FOR 2018 – What happens when colour and creativity collide and are energized with spectacle? We get the Year of the Savage of course. At their weekend launch, the five-year-old Krave the Band signalled its intentions to bring the full action, no posing, to this year’s Crop Overseason. The stage was set early in the proceedings with strong showings from the selected DJs, DJ Psalms and Mad Russian to name just a few, and it was left up to the organizers to deliver what was promised – action with energy. With section names such as Headhunter, Pagan, Mesoa, Iskaba, Witch Doctor, Beautiful Savage, Forbidden, Chameleon and Rituals, it was not hard to see why they chose such an aggressive theme for this year’s festivities. Krave was out to fight, and fight they did. The sections had a distinctive Native American and African tribal flavor to the designs which were personally appealing. Witch Doctor’s individual costume, with its interesting arrangement of blue, red, and orange feathers dominating the headpiece and leg fixtures, certainly grabbed some attention. But it was the neck garb which resembled a giant centipede that took the breath away. I look forward to seeing Barbadians this year facing their sworn enemy while playing mas down to Spring Garden. The spiked headpiece of the Head Hunter’s costume is a showstopper, exuding raw, visceral, aggressive energy. If Head Hunter was the showstopper, the queen of the band costume must be the grand finale – loud, potent, and it “slayed”. It was obvious the piece was not exactly ideal to wear for the whole day, however in terms of exclusivity, and the sheer looks of it, Krave certainly has a crowd pleaser on their hands. Speaking to Bajan Vibes after the launch, CEO and bandleader Avery Hackett had strong words for his competitors this year. “It’s been a crazy journey, coming from a place where we know nothing about mas, to a point where we understand it, appreciate it, and you live for it. We have been laid back on how we treat the market, our competitors, and how we view carnival in Barbados, so this year we wanted to say, let’s go back home… let’s take the gloves off.” Now that Krave has signaled its intention this year to be serious with Crop Over, it will be interesting to see how other band leaders respond to the challenge. Can they too be savage?  (BT)

THE LITTLE MERMAID WOWS PATRONS –This weekend’s staging of The Little Mermaid by Operation Triple Threat (OTT) was nothing short of amazing. The young and the young at heart filled Frank Collymore Hall each night for an exceptional production – a tapestry of singing, dancing and acting of a classic love story portrayed by some of Barbados’ most talented young artistes. It was a well delivered adaptation of Disney’s 1989 film in which a curious young mermaid falls for a handsome human prince and agrees to a dangerous bargain with a powerful sea witch in exchange for legs and a chance to live with the prince on land. Reneice Bonnett played the lead character Ariel, and she mesmerized the audience with her beauty and her acting. It was her voice, however,  that truly brought Ariel to life as she sang Part of Your World. Elisha Ifill depicted a cute Flounder and along with being Ariel’s best friend, he undoubtedly had a major crush on her. But he was no match to her love interest, Kian Toppin, who was a charming Prince Eric. The two actors had clear, strong chemistry on stage as they danced close together. Prince Eric’s closest advisor Grimsby was portrayed by young Jon-Mykul Bowen, who this weekend transformed into a sincere, elderly gentleman and personified the supporting role to perfection. Speaking of perfection, Chad Montplaisir embodied the role of flamboyant Sebastian, complete with all the Disney character’s antics and accent. His performance of Under the Sea and Kiss the Girl was highly entertaining. Sebastian played a servant of King Triton acted by Mark Yarde. King Triton was father to Ariel and the six mersisters, who along with Flounder, delivered a fantastic performance of She’s in Love. Evan McDonald, who played Chef Louis, delivered an eccentric performance in the set kitchen and was a definite crowd favorite. No one could forget the villainous sea witch Ursula, portrayed by Sydney Hassell, who delivered a great performance in an equally impressive costume, as she sang and acted. The three-hour-long production received a standing ovation from patrons and nothing but glowing reviews on social media.  (BT)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 259 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles  #dailynewscapsbythechasefiles