Podcasts about Dalkeith

Justin Fris and Sam Jones discuss the emergence of WA juniors mining throughout Latin America. Plus: Austal chair shares his thoughts on Hanwha interest; Nedlands mayor unable to overturn approval of Dalkeith medical centre; MinRes temporarily halts trucking on private haul road.

Beatrix Leslie is an 84-year-old midwife living just outside Edinburgh, Scotland in 1661, which happened to be a very bad period of time to be a disliked elderly woman in the community because it was smack dab in the middle of the Great Scottish Witch Trials of 1661-1662. During a span of literally 16 MONTHS over 660 people were publicly accused of witchcraft in that neck of the woods, and Beatrix, unfortunately, was one of them. Listen now to learn exactly what she was accused of, and how the way her trial went down made it utterly impossible for true justice to be rendered. (HINT: John Kincaid is one of the biggest *ssholes of all time). You're also going to learn a whole lot about the Scottish Witch Trials - how they became the some of the largest, most deadly witch trials in human history, and how the government (who caused this fiasco in the first place) was able to break the witch fever that had such an insane hold on the region. — A Broad is a woman who lives by her own rules. Broads You Should Know is the podcast about the Broads who helped shape our world! BroadsYouShouldKnow.com YT/IG/FB @BroadsYouShouldKnow & TW @BYSKpodcast — 3 Ways you can help support the podcast: Write a review on Apple Podcasts Share your favorite episode with a friend or on social Send us an email with a broad suggestion, question, or comment at BroadsYouShouldKnow@gmail.com — Broads You Should Know is hosted by Sara Gorsky. IG: @SaraGorsky Web master / site design: www.BroadsYouShouldKnow.com — Broads You Should Know is produced and edited by Sara Gorsky, with original music by Darren Callahan.

Today Elaine chats with Scottish based artist Katie Slater and Rona Johnston about their new show Mary: A GIG Theatre Show. They talk about finding other creatives you click with, their passion for music and theatre and their joy at discovering the marrying of the two in Gig Theatre. We also talk the inspiration for the show and there is a little unmixed snippet at the end of the episode of one of their original songs. Mary: A Gig Theatre Show - theSpace - Symposium Hall - Annex Dates: 12th-17th August @ 10:25 pm Tickets available here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/mary-a-gig-theatre-show MARY: A Gig Theatre Show Blending rich spoken word with haunting original music, Mary: A Gig Theatre Show retells the story of Mary Queen of Scots. Performed by a live band of actor-musicians, the show searingly questions the treatment and portrayal of women historically and today. Writer/lead performer Rona Johnston and director Katie Slater began creating Mary in 2022, before developing it for Gateway Festival in November 2023, and now Bedfest! The 5 actor-musicians of Mary devised the band arrangements in rehearsal, so are also integral to the making of the show. All are Edinburgh-based emerging theatre makers with musical backgrounds. They are Hester Irving (Fiddle/Bass), Laura Coull (Drums/Bass), Alli von Hirschberg (Guitar), Izzie Atkinson (Singer) and Jodie Kirkwood (Singer). Katie Slater Katie is an early-career director and musician (drummer) from Dalkeith, with a BA Hons Drama degree from QMU. She is passionate about making theatre where music is central to the storytelling, Her recent assistant directing projects include The Girls of Slender Means (Royal Lyceum Theatre), Pushin' Thirty (A Play, A Pie and a Pint) and The Winter's Tale (Theatre in the Garden). Her recent directing projects include Mary: A Gig Theatre Show (Knot Tied Theatre),Bohemia (Edinburgh Footlights) and Pilgrimage (Veto Theatre). She is also a member of the 2024/25 Wonder Fools Youth Board. Alongside working on theEdinburgh Fringe run of Mary: A Gig Theatre Show she is assistant director on The Events at Cumbernauld Theatre, supported by an FST bursary. Rona Johnston Rona is an Edinburgh-based singer/songwriter with an interest in female and queer led stories and productions. Recent credits as an actor: Pilgrimage (Veto Theatre with Paradok), Bohemia (Footlights Show Choir), Oliver (Captivate Theatre) Recent gigs as a musician: Solo sets at Sneaky Pete's, The Caves, Three Sisters. Rona often plays at local open-mics and fundraising events, you can find out what she's up to on her music Instagram page @ronarobertsmusic EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE 2024 LIVE PODCAST REQUEST https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YVQ1q1cVkPmqqQ_q6VP24-r44dfr7CZkonoxpRZHa88/edit EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE 2024 SCOTTISH BASED ARTITS PODCAST & BLOG REQUEST FORM https://forms.gle/6obqxzCCWyY9aVSS6 Please Note: podcast slots are not assigned on a "first come, first serve" basis. We select podcast guests based on relevance to our listenership. HIPA GUIDES: HIPA GUIDES OUR WEBSITE - www.persistentandnasty.co.uk Persistent Pal & Nasty Hero - Pals and Hero Membership Email – persistentandnasty@gmail.com Instagram - @persistentandnasty Twitter - @PersistentNasty Coffee Morning Eventbrite - Coffee Morning Tickets LINKTREE - LINKTR.EE Resources Samaritans - Rape Crisis Scotland - Rape Crisis UK ArtsMinds - BAPAM Freelancers Make Theatre Work Stonewall UK - Trevor Project - Mermaids UK Switchboard LGBT+ - GATE PLANNED PARENTHOOD DONATE - DONATE ABORTION SUPPORT NETWORK UK - ASN.COM- DONATE

“My mama said Saints is like a box of chocolates…you never know what you're gonna get.” Not our words, friends, the words of running enthusiast, simpleton and utter doormat Forrest Gump. However, you know where you do know what you're getting? The Dogger Saints Podcast - you're getting capers, you're getting your old pals Sam and Dan, and you're getting them right here in our big post-winter break Episode 94! Death. Taxes. Saints getting potted out of a cup competition by some lower league mob. On reflection, Saturday was inevitable, but we better go over it anyway, and assess what went wrong and where Saints can put it right for the rest of the league season. If you're after some light relief from the women's team you're shit out of luck, but we do look at some of the January comings and goings, as the team looks to climb up the table, now under the sole charge of Kev ‘Candyman' Candy. You want some good times? We'll give you all the good times, with a bucketload of features. Get your passports out as the old favourite's return, as we slip on a pair of clogs for this week's Club Shop of Shame, and we jet off with George for some winter sun in this weeks O'Boyle in the Royal. Dan pays an ode to the City of Discovery in the latest instalment of poetry corner, and we bring in two new features in the shape of ‘Unluckiest Saints Fan' and our latest brain teaser ‘Littler or Hitler?' For the first time since we held two cups, we are able to welcome a men's first team player to the podcast, as we are delighted to be joined by Saints's rock at the back, Ryan McGowan, to discuss Macca, globetrotting, Aussie Rules, getting Chicken Pox at the age of 34, and much more. A smashing guy and a great chat, you don't wanna miss this. We're also delighted to be joined by a second guest, Aberdeen fan and podcast mainstay Erin Grieve, for a right old laugh discussing the Dandies, Steak and Chrizo pastry delights, and looking ahead to Wednesday night's clash at McDiarmid. Sam Miller vs Dalkeith! Danny Williams vs Motherwell! Increasingly poor impersonations of Tom Hanks! We've got it all, and much more, so get comfy and join your old pals for a right old chuckle. Get there!

Beatrix Leslie is an 84-year-old midwife living just outside Edinburgh, Scotland in 1661, which happened to be a very bad period of time to be a disliked elderly woman in the community because it was smack dab in the middle of the Great Scottish Witch Trials of 1661-1662. During a span of literally 16 MONTHS over 660 people were publicly accused of witchcraft in that neck of the woods, and Beatrix, unfortunately, was one of them. Listen now to learn exactly what she was accused of, and how the way her trial went down made it utterly impossible for true justice to be rendered. (HINT: John Kincaid is one of the biggest *ssholes of all time). You're also going to learn a whole lot about the Scottish Witch Trials - how they became the some of the largest, most deadly witch trials in human history, and how the government (who caused this fiasco in the first place) was able to break the witch fever that had such an insane hold on the region. — A Broad is a woman who lives by her own rules. Broads You Should Know is the podcast about the Broads who helped shape our world! 3 Ways you can help support the podcast: Write a review on iTunes Share your favorite episode on social media / tell a friend about the show! Send us an email with a broad suggestion, question, or comment at BroadsYouShouldKnow@gmail.com — Broads You Should Know is hosted by Sara Gorsky. IG: @SaraGorsky Web master / site design: www.BroadsYouShouldKnow.com — Broads You Should Know is produced by Sara Gorsky & edited by Chloe Skye

Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss green hydrogen investment, hot springs at Dalkeith, university rankings, changes at St John WA and St John of God Health Care, and a real estate acquisition.

For this episode we are joined for a good long chat with Theo from up and coming brewery Otherworld - from Dalkeith near Edinburgh. He talks about how the brewery got started, their philosophy, inspirations and influences. We also taste and try to identify another mystery beer.

In the eighth episode of season 7, I tell the story of Luke Mitchell and Jodi Jones.This incredibly divisive case began on June 30, 2003, when 14-year-old Jodi Jones was brutally murdered on an isolated footpath in Dalkeith, Scotland.Fellow 14-year-old Luke Mitchell, Jodi's boyfriend, was the one who found her body, and the police treated him as their key suspect from the very beginning.On February 11, 2005, Luke was found guilty of murdering Jodi and handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years.Luke has continued to proclaim his innocence and insists that someone else was responsible for murdering Jodi.Those on Luke's side have praised a recent Channel 5 documentary focusing on the case, but those who believe he is guilty have criticised it for being too heavily biased and for omitting key evidence.⁣⁣For all things British Murders, please visit my website:⁣https://www.britishmurders.com/⁣Intro music:⁣David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣https://linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic⁣My recording equipment:⁣Shure SM7B Vocal MicrophoneCloud Microphone Cloudlifter CL1Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio InterfaceRode PSA-1 Professional Studio Boom ArmRecorded and Edited in:⁣Hindenberg PROReferences:⁣www.britishmurders.com/lukemitchell/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the eighth episode of season 7, I tell the story of Luke Mitchell and Jodi Jones. This incredibly divisive case began on June 30, 2003, when 14-year-old Jodi Jones was brutally murdered on an isolated footpath in Dalkeith, Scotland. Fellow 14-year-old Luke Mitchell, Jodi's boyfriend, was the one who found her body, and the police treated him as their key suspect from the very beginning. On February 11, 2005, Luke was found guilty of murdering Jodi and handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years. Luke has continued to proclaim his innocence and insists that someone else was responsible for murdering Jodi. Those on Luke's side have praised a recent Channel 5 documentary focusing on the case, but those who believe he is guilty have criticised it for being too heavily biased and for omitting key evidence. ⁣⁣For all things British Murders, please visit my website:⁣ https://www.britishmurders.com/⁣ Intro music:⁣ David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣ https://linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic⁣ My recording equipment:⁣ Shure SM7B Vocal Microphone Cloud Microphone Cloudlifter CL1 Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface Rode PSA-1 Professional Studio Boom Arm Recorded and Edited in:⁣ Hindenberg PRO References:⁣ www.britishmurders.com/lukemitchell/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A heritage survey of the Nedlands Baths, Allen Park and surrounds, the Tawarri Reception Centre and the foreshores in Nedlands and Dalkeith yielded a lacklustre 12 submissions - and half those were urging the City of Nedlands to be more pro-development.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

City of Nedlands mayor Fiona Argyle has lambasted display home agents for not greeting her and warned councillors “no means no” while leading a charge to refuse permission again for a display home in Dalkeith.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Franco family has continued to sell its property portfolio as the billionaire dynasty builds what is to become WA's biggest home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suspect in an elaborate drug trafficking scheme has been arrested at his golden triangle home with more than $500,000 of luxury items seized, including Rolex watches and several silver bullions bars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back, to The Dark Paranormal.In today's true paranormal experience, we hear from our listener, Andrew in York, who tells us about his life in the early 1980s whilst temporarily staying at a relatives house before heading to university.What begins as an exciting first foray in to the world of independent living, quickly turns in to a dark brush with the occult, and possibly, the unveiling of darker family secrets. Don't forget you can join our Patreon team by heading over to:www.patreon.com/thedarkparanormal See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A controversial $25 million hot springs wellness centre led to a fiery on-air exchange between WA Lands Minister John Carey and 6PR Mornings host Liam Bartlett on Thursday. The State Government intends to bypass the City of Nedlands to ensure the development goes ahead. The State Government intends to bypass the City of Nedlands to ensure the development goes ahead.  The minister is set to trigger powers of Parliament to excise the riverfront land in Dalkeith for the Tawarri Hot Springs along the Swan River in a prime Dalkeith location (Tawarri is a Noongar word for ‘evening breeze'). Nedlands mayor Fiona Argyle earlier told Bartlett she had moved a motion at a March meeting to not proceed with the land transaction and instead explore different options. On Thursday, Carey and Bartlett clashed over the government excising the land, allowing it to negotiate a lease with developer FJM Property, after it identified the hot springs as a project of state significance, and claimed it would attract 100,000 visitors a year. Press PLAY below to hear the fiery exchange between Carey and Bartlett. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did hissing pupils lead their teacher to discover Reformation teaching? And how did the number 7 feature in the life and ministry of Archibald Simson of Dalkeith? We explore his imprisonment and attempted murder along with other incidents in this episode.

Could this Covenanters cave in Newbattle near Dalkeith have been a hiding place for the local minister George Johnstone? Who was Johnstone and why was he wanted by the government? We learn much about his life, sufferings and decisions. Will he always stand without wavering?

Ahead of his performance at this weekend's Let's Rock Scotland event in Dalkeith, legendary Black Lace singer Dene Michael chats to Gary Morris about his career.They discuss his recently released autobiography Still Pushing Pineapples, and speak about the history of the Quintessential British party band.A must-listen for anyone that loves 80s music, and reminiscing of your school disco days.Everybody - A-Ga-Do-Do-Do!!!Dene Michael Official SiteAn original production from GlasgowerQuite The Music is on TwitterProduced by Gary Morris

June 30, 2003. Dalkeith in Midlothian, Scotland. A 14 year old girl named Jodi Jones is murdered after she leaves her house to visit her boyfriend, Luke Mitchell. That, combined with his discovery of her body behind a stone wall, had detectives focusing on him as the suspect for the crime. But was Luke Mitchell Jodi's killer? Join us as we discuss a case reminiscent of the West Memphis 3 case.Exclusive Generation Why content is available. Visit: patreon.com/generationwhyListen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/generationwhy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, game creator Dave Beck joins host Eduard Gafton to talk about Distilled and how this upcoming spirited strategy game started with a sabbatical spent in Dalkeith.

Many places around the world are familiar with moirologists are actors hired to grieve at funerals and wakes. This profession may be the culture in many parts of the world but not the norm in Jamaica. The aim of the moirologist is to increase the number of funeral participants, provide new faces on the spot, display enhanced support for the deceased, and help people cope with the loss through the expression of grief. Canyouth's Exploration featured a Jamaican moirologist, otherwise called a professional mourner or professional wailer, serving Jamaica. Who is this Jamaican professional mourner? What does he really do? Why becoming a moirologist? What are the services offered? How does COVID-19 affect the profession? How does moirology benefit you? Where do you find this talented mourner? Let him cry for you! Watch on YouTube and listen on your favorite podcast platform. Canyouth's Exploration goes live from its virtual studio out of Miramar Florida. Comment, rate, and SUBSCRIBE. Follow us on Instagram @canyouthsexploration and Facebook – Canyouth's Exploration. We endorse Bluehost for this episode. Click the link below to get your website designed and hosted through a reliable company. https://www.bluehost.com/track/canyouth/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/radio-white/message

This week we sit down with one of Perth's most prolific agents to discuss one of Perth's most prolific suburbs - Dalkeith. What makes it unique? (Other than its price point). We discuss the future of this premium suburb as well as the buying opportunities in the market right now.

Just north of an old toll bridge on the border of Dalkeith, Scotland sits a property called The Neuk in Bridge End. The beautiful home with servant quarters and outbuildings in Midlothian was the place for an exceptional party on February 3, 1911. As the evening was drawing to its conclusion, a party deemed a roaring success, it was time for one last drink, a coffee. But things were about to take an awful turn... *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED *** Become a ‘Patreon Producer’ and get exclusive access to Season 1, early ad-free access to episodes, and your name in the podcasts credits. Find out more here: https://www.patreon.com/TheyWalkAmongUs Order our book ‘They Walk Among Us’ here: https://theywalkamonguspodcast.com/merchandise Court documents and information from the following news organisations and books were referenced in this episode: Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, London Daily News, Lyttelton Times, Lincolnshire Echo, Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, Hereford Times, Tamworth Herald, Belfast Telegraph, Dundee Courier, The Northern Miner Monday, Aberdeen Press and Journal, Cornishman, The Cornish Telegraph, Portsmouth Evening News, Evening Mail, Midlothian Advertiser, Sleaford Gazette, The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times, Lincolnshire Free Press, Belfast News Letter, The Scotman, ’Killers, Crooks and Cons: Scotland's Crimes of the Century’ by Reg McKay and ‘Scottish Murders’ by Lisa Wallis & Derek Wright.More information and episode references can be found on our website https://theywalkamonguspodcast.comMUSIC: No.2 Remembering Her by Esther AbramiNo.7 Alone With My Thoughts by Esther AbramiImmuration by Purple Planet Music *Dramatic Swarm by Doug MaxwellWrong Turn by Purple Planet Music *Allegro by Emmit FennSurrender by Asher FuleroNo 8 Requiem by Esther AbramiFresno Alley by Josh Lippi & The OvertimersSlow Motion Part 2 by Peter RudenkoLurking Shadows by MyuuIt’s Coming by Josh Kirsch / Media Right ProductionsAll music used under an Attribution License - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/* sourced from https://www.purple-planet.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - https://twitter.com/TWAU_PodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/theywalkamonguspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/theywalkamonguspodcastAcast - https://www.acast.com/theywalkamongus Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theywalkamongus. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jane Porter's 1809 "Scottish Chiefs"

Politics and government often present complex realities. How do you face a turbulent political situation and an unwanted regime with conscience and principle? We visit the Scottish headquarters of Oliver Cromwell's regime to consider how Covenanters decided to respond to it. There was much soul searching about the appropriate conscientious obedience they could offer. Was it right to submit to an invading power? Could they preserve principles intact while being peaceable citizens who respected authority? Discover some of their answers in this debate about authority, power and obedience. This episode made use of historical research by Calum Summerill Wright, Scott Spurlock and John Coffey.   

You’ve tuned into The Perth Property Chat with Dan Hegney and Dan Paton. This week we have interviewed the leading independent expert in property management - Lee Fitzgerald. With over 20 years’ experience in the game, Lee is a voice of authority for anything pertaining to tenants, leases, landlords and everything in between.   0.30 –21 years of experience - Licensee, Property Manager, General Manager 2.50 – The role of a property manager 3.45 – Tenant red flags, proof of ID & rental history 5.30 – Who’s responsibility is the maintenance of a property? 7.10 – What makes a good property manager? 8.10 – Investment properties vs. Owner occupied 8.50 – What is required to be a property manager? 10.35 – The relationship between strata and a property manager 11.35 – Notable changes in property management 12.10 – The eviction process 15.00 – Selecting an investment property 16.40 – Terminating a lease agreement 17.40 – Owner & tenant relationships 18.45 – What fees should an owner expect to pay? 20.30 – Who does the industry support – tenant or owner? 21.25 – Where is the market sitting? 22.30 – Marketing a rental 23.15 – The worst situation Lee has seen in her role 24.15 – What to look for in your property manager

Living Water Community Church was privileged to sit under the teaching of Rev. Jeremy Shaw in July 2019. He and Pastor Clark participated in a Pastoral Exchange Sabbatical, with Pastor Clark preaching at the Dalkeith Baptist Church, just outside Edinburgh, Scotland while Pastor Jeremy preached here in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Pastor Jeremy has served at Dalkeith since 2009. You can enjoy Pastor Jeremy’s messages here. Preached by Rev. Jeremy Shaw on 7 July Trusting God when Life is Hard. Exodus 1:1-2:10 Click here for more information about Rev. Jeremy Shaw

This week on the show, we are talking with Mark Davidson, who is the Deputy Head Teacher at Newbattle High School in Dalkeith, Scotland. The school recently won the Scottish Education Award for Employability and Creativity Skills Across Learning, which is a fantastic achievement and very well deserved.  We ask Mark about what went into making this happen, and how others can learn from the fantastic initiatives and partnerships the school have created to be recognised in this way.  Eduvate has worked closely with the school over the last 2 years, and we would be the first to say that Newbattle High, which is the first Digital Centre Of Excellence in Scotland, is a shining example of how schools across the world should be approaching Employability and Skills Readiness for the 21st Century.  Ensuring students leave school prepared is quite simply in their DNA. "Career Ready, College Ready, University Ready, Digitally Ready!'   Such a great day for our school community! Employability and Creativity at the heart of our curriculum. #ScotEdAwards https://t.co/j5Ld9O8k1z — NewbattleHighSchool (@newbattlehigh) June 5, 2019

Peacemakers Matthew 5:1-11 A sermon preached by Rev. Ben Roberts at Foundry United Methodist Church, Sunday, August 12, 2018   N-A-T-S, NATS, NATS, NATS, WOOOOOOO! A run is scored, the people sitting in (formerly Gwenda Martin’s Section) and around Larry Slagle's section extend their arms holding hat in hand, with the top of the hat pointed downward. They begin to chant; N-a-t-s, then what? NATS, NATS, NATS WOOOOO. What if someone new was near by? They have question; you explain it to them, this is what we do when a run is scored. For each run we do this. N-A-T-S, NATS, NATS, NATS, WOOOOOOO! A run is scored, someone else joins in, N-a-t-s, NATS, NATS, NATS,  AHUUUGA! What do you do? You would correct them, hard...it's not ahuuuuga! It's woo, pronounced WOOOOO. What are you doing get with the program? They inquire, what's the difference, it's still jubilation? No, it's woo. Maybe you are a tolerant person, you let it slide...the first two times, but tonight the Nats decide to score 25 for some reason not thinking about spacing the blessed runs out maybe, want to win some other games occasionally? Other games need runs Nats, all games matter!!!! You don't let ahugahhh slide, certainly not 24 of them. You call the usher. “This person is saying ahugaa not woo, they need to go. Get them out of here.” Usher totally gets it being there day in day out, they get rid of this person. Figure out the rules and participate or go. We teach (sometimes), we correct, this is how racismworks...I mean baseball, this is how baseball works. Slipped up there. But you get it, you understand how culture and cultural norms work. We teach we correct. We do it with gusto. We do it as duty. We do it as doing our jobs. We do it because we've been taught too, and whether we believe it or not, we find it important and normal to do so. This is how racism works, this is how racism works too. Rev. Dr. Shively Smith introduced for us a few weeks ago concept of “Sankofa.” She told us about the symbol, the Sankofa bird, with its feet planted forward and its head turned back. The word comes from the Akan people in Ghana. Sankofa is a Twi word meaning to go back and get it. One of the ideas around it being, the future can be planned by learning from the past. It’s important to go back and retrieve what’s at risk of being lost. A week before that Rev. Dr. Serene Jones told us of the power of faith communities to help their people be happier by sharing stories that also include hardship and difficulty. Those stories can make us more resilient. And so, this is what I have for you today. It’s just the sharing of story with the hopes it can help us live forward better together. Rev. Dr. Robert Brewer teacher, friend, and Th.D. in Homiletics, that is the craft of preaching advises this. “Don’t start a sermon with a question, because then the congregation will just be thinking about the question rather than what you’re saying. So, When did you first notice something was wrong with race or racism in the world?   Battlefields and historic sites were our playgrounds for good part of my childhood. From revolutionary war sites, to the many Civil War sites, and the battleship memorial in Wilmington, NC. These were the road trips we would take as a family and it was also our back yard. We would learn history through those places, we would learn the stories of the battels and the wars which occurred in those places. Cortney can tell you that I still enjoy going to those places when take trips. As a child, one of the best things about those places were the gift shops. What kid doesn’t love a gift shop. We would end up with little army men to play with when we got home. These toy soldiers were usually little blue men, and little gray men. The little blue men being the north and the little gray men being the south. We were young when we had these. Somewhere in the range of 4-8 years of age. I was not processing all that the blue and gray meant. History of the civil war and the history of the state of North Carolina, and the history of my family were very intertwined, not always processed, but intertwined. In addition to these battlefields we’d also visit cemeteries where relatives were buried like my grandfather, great grandparents and many cousins. They are all together in a little family plot near an old federal style house called Dalkeith where my family still gathers for Thanksgiving each year. The family bought the house in the late 1880’s, but it was built in 1825. We are confident there was enslaved African people present on that farm through 1865. We aren’t confident if the enslaved Africans were housed on the land or housed nearby with their labor being forced on multiple farms in the area. But that’s not really talked about at Thanksgiving. The family plot at the cemetery is at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Arcola, NC. At the foot of my immigrant, WW 2 United States Navy Veteran, grandfather Brodie’s grave is a little emblem they give to retired Methodist Pastors, it’s a circuit rider. At the foot of a number of my older relative’s graves, are little metal crosses with letters C.S.V. on different points of the cross. C.S.V., Confederate States Veterans. I knew what the C.S.V letters stood for this even when I was little, but again the privilege of not having to process was very real. I do think I knew enough to know that that meant they were the little gray men, the toys we would play with. We’d go to museums like the North Carolina History where two small artifacts are kept. Both carved from beef bone, one is a bird clutching a snake, the other is a book surrounded by what resembles a horseshoe shape. They were carved by George W. Davis, a cousin, while he was a prisoner of war, a little gray man, held in a prison in Elmira, New York. We were in museums. In Lexington, Virginia, home of the Red Hen, is also home of the cemetery where my father’s parents are buried. And Just a stone’s throw from my WW 2 United States Army veteran Grandfather Roberts, is the grave and statue of General Stonewall Jackson, C.S.V. Lexington is also home to my father’s alma mater and the place where my grandfather taught, cytology and histology, Washington and Lee University. Home of Lee Chapel where Robert E. Lee is buried, and where Confederate Battle flags hung just beyond an opening at the front of the chapel space. These were our playgrounds and our toys. Me, my brothers, my parents and theirs. These where spaces we learned stories both from the family and from history. Some stories incomplete, few stories reflected upon in the moment. When did you first realize something was wrong? In 2nd grade, so when I was 8 years old. I recall specifically and vividly the moment I realized something was wrong. It’s stuck with me ever since. It is possible I’m not remembering this perfectly, but here it goes. We were sitting in the rear section of our classroom on the floor. That meant that whatever we were doing it didn’t involve desk work and there’s a good chance we were watching a movie as part of our discussion. Mrs. Adams was my teacher. Mrs. Adams was an African American woman and had responsibility for teaching young children multiple subject. I won’t be able to stress the significances of this enough, but having her as a teacher in the state of North Carolina is proving more and more invaluable. On to our subject, through whatever medium, we were learning about the civil war. I don’t remember the film and I don’t remember any other aspect of the discussion. However, enough was said to finally articulate that slavery, was one, a thing, and two was a central to the civil war. Thankfully, I had a teacher (or teachers) who could say plainly enough that slavery meant black people were owned as property. And this was largely (not exclusively) the case in the South (my playground) and with the people of the gray team as owners (my team), and fighting to preserve this right to own and force people into labor. Eight-year-old Ben’s head (and probably heart) nearly exploded at this point. All of what I knew about my family and the gray team was coming into focus in a new way. Deep processing and unpacking was not necessary at this point, but I knew enough thanks to good parenting that this slavery thing, this owning people thing, this working people against their will, this abusing people thing, this violence, this denigration of an entire group of people thing, this separating of families, mothers from children, husbands from wives, sisters from brothers, peoples from land thing; was not a good thing. No time, much less capacity, to think though because, my God! My friend Meghan is sitting right beside me. Holy crap! Our whole existence has a new meaning, and what on earth shall I say to my black friend Meghan who was, I’m sure, more disturbed by all this than I was. So, I did what any 8-year-old would do when confronted about a truth of history indicating a form of responsibility for a bad thing. I lied! I lied my tail-off! Bold face falsity as a means of self-preservation, friend console-ment, but mostly self-console-ment. An example of what I mean here: you say to a young child knowing the answer is yes, “Did you take the cookie when we told you not to?” What’s the answer? “No.” Same for pretty much every kid, and far too many adults. I turned to my friend Megan, I leaned over and I said, I remember this clear as day, “My family was on the blue team.” Such a little liar. If you’re finding yourself having sympathy for 8-year-old Ben, don’t. Eight is a pretty late age to be learning something is wrong with racism in America. Maybe it doesn’t seem old for a white kid, but black boys and girls at that age are learning, as a matter of life and death how to navigate what they already knew was a problem. This was it, this was the first time I think I realized something was wrong. I’m embarrassed it took so long. Even up to last week I was still trying to change it because it presents racism as binary (white and black) and related to  tangible institutions like slavery or segregation when we know it’s so much more than that. But it’s my story and it’s mine to grapple with. The tendency, however, to deny our story, to lie to ourselves or others about the conditions of the world and our culture is not mine alone. When did you realize something was wrong? Do you remember your story? Is there something that you need to go retrieve from it before it’s lost? Is there something in that can help us live forward better and be more resilient in difficult times? We read the same texts they are reading at the worship service on the Mall today. The focus for is on the Matthew 5 text, verse 9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” It’s either a hard or very appropriate day to think of peacemaking when there are planned gatherings celebrating and encouraging violence. Our key verse begs the question, “Really? With them?” I’d say, “yes” and “no.” With the people of all the various groups that gather today? “Yes.” With the ideas that white supremacist espouse? No, never. Resist always evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. What a lot of us need to do today is begin making peace with our stories. Make peace with their incompleteness and their privilege. Make peace with them so our reaction to them isn’t what 8-year-old Ben did, lie about it, be embarrassed by it, feel guilty about it, re-write the history of it. You can’t change it, but you can learn from it. Ignoring the fullness of our stories isn’t helpful and only prolongs our inaction on the ways racism persists in our collective daily story. I’ll give you another story Foundry Church. When this congregation began 1814 it was over 50% African enslaved and free. But we were segregated in our seating and leadership. By 1836 Asbury Chapel was formed and the black constituency of Foundry made their way to that space further entrenching the forced racial divide that for Foundry persisted roughly another 130 years. In 1965 Norman and Francis Prince joined Foundry as members becoming the first black members of the church since the early 1800’s. It would be another 30 years before we became a reconciling congregation, committing ourselves to welcoming all people. Then between 2000 and 2001 a group of Foundry members decided it was time to make peace with our own story. I’m deeply grateful they did too. A congregation wide study on racism and white privilege took place over the course of at least a year. Joint classes and discussions were held with both Asbury and Foundry members. Through that Foundry was able to put together a formal act of repentance for the sins of racism through the church. Asbury received that and there were marches back and forth between our two buildings; of course, there was food. But these were the steps taken to make peace with our own story and culpability. To learn more from them and examine the deeper roots of entrenched systemic racism. Since then we’ve been able to collaborate in ministry in our downtown area. And we’ll stand together today on the mall against all forms of hate. Those Foundry and Asbury groups took a risk. They risked admitting to not knowing everything. They risked publicly acknowledging ways we have collectively and individually participated in systems of racism. They risked having others’ opinions about them being lowered. They put in work to make peace with a story, so that we could live forward better. Our verse today, “peacemakers;” one French translation uses “répandent (autour d'eux la paix).” I like this one, “it’s to spread peace around them.” It makes peace something you possess and spread all around you. In English though, peacemakers ends up essentially meaning peace is created. A peacemaker’s work is to reconcile two or more adversarial parties. That’s more appropriate for us today. There’s work to be done; with our own stories, so that we can alter the trajectory of our current shared narrative. Every second Sunday, the racial justice ministry team gathers for discussion, field trips, lectures or some other activity. We do something every month. Take advantage of that, it can easily help reframe your story and what you’re seeing around. This fall we’ll be working through writings of Howard Thurman. I’ll recommend you get involved with that group. I’ll also recommend to you the book “Waking up White, and Finding my self in the Story of Race,” by Debby Irving.  It’s a good baseline consciousness raising narrative of the author’s own figuring out of how racism is operating in systems of our culture and how she was operating within and perpetuating them, as a nice person, as well. Today if you’re wanting to go to the rally, but don’t want to get “yelled at” or something like that know this; if they only time you choose to show up is when the white nationalist come to town or shortly after another unarmed black or brown person is killed, you’re probably going to hear some yelling. Show up any way. Don’t ask someone who has an embodied experience of racism to sanitize their emotion or feelings for your comfort. Just show up. Then show up the next day and every day in between. Go ahead and make peace with the fact that you are going to make mistakes on this journey. That you are not all knowing and that there are ways that even you, good as I know you are, still participate in racist systems. Don’t let some sense of guilt or shame hold you back from engage the work, that is one of the subtlest yet most effective ways evil works to perpetuate this whole mess. Risk your public reputation as good a good person who has it all figured out, so that you can engage in the real work of peacemaking, of reconciliation; the work God calls us to. Soon you’ll begin to realize that the real conversations don’t happen in 3-hour blocks at rallies. Soon you’ll realize that the real work of breaking down your own privilege happens as you draw closer to one another, not in groups of thousands, but in groups of 2 or 3 or 4. This is where the real work of peace happens. Maya Angelou says this, “if we face the past with courage we don't have to repeat it.” There is peace making work to do friends, let’s commit ourselves this day.    

WARNING: THIS IS PART TWO OF A TWO-PART STORY. PLEASE LISTEN TO SEASON 2 - EPISODE 13 FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS CASE. On June 30, 2003, a 14-year-old girl was found stabbed to death behind a wall on Roan’s Dyke Path, a countryside short-cut in Dalkeith, Scotland. The investigation into her death continued for nine months with little result but all that would change in April 2004.*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED AS THIS EPISODE CONTAINS ADULT THEMES AND DESCRIPTIONS THAT SOME LISTENERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING *** More information can be found on our website at http://theywalkamonguspodcast.com For early advert free access and other extras visit https://www.patreon.com/TheyWalkAmongUs MUSIC: Wake Up by Kai EngelOneiri by Kai EngelImminence by Kai EngelHarbor by Kai EngelDenouement by Kai EngelComatose by Kai EngelMusic can be purchased here: https://kaiengel.bandcamp.com/All music sourced from http://freemusicarchive.org and used under an Attribution License - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ YOU CAN FOLLOW US VIA OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES: Twitter - https://twitter.com/TWAU_Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theywalkamonguspodcast/ Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1346814312074979/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theywalkamonguspodcast/ Acast - https://www.acast.com/theywalkamongus See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this weeks episode, we will be covering the Flemish Giant rabbit, the plant of the week which is Linseed, the word of the week; admission, and a few news articles. I have a new segment I am adding to the podcast.  Every week I would like to bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience, and I have researched enough to recommend. Today’s HOTR Amazon Item of the week is the 20 Pack of Blue Barb Rabbit Nipples for Automated watering .   I believe with some things to always buy the best you can afford. This weeks product is a nipple waterer for rabbits.  These are one of the best rabbit nipples available for 5/16″ inch tubing.  These are easy to take apart either to clean or replace parts. They are easy for rabbits to use and works great with gravity fed or low psi automated watering systems.  They can also be used with Ferrets, Chinchilla’s and other small Mammals.  I have found that the blue ones seem to hold up better then the red nipples.  I have also found that the “T”‘s that are with the nipples break very easily, so I would not recommend expecting the “T”‘s to last very long.  In fact, I have found that the “T”‘s last about thee weeks before I have a failurethat I have to change them out.  The nipples I have found seem to last pretty well.  I have had to swap them out about every few months, and this is because they sometimes break in half, and I think this is more from getting knocked by something outside of the cage.  They attach to the cage by sticking one end of the spring in one of the small holes on the metal base of the drinker, hook that to the cage, and stick the drinker inbetween one of the bars of the cage, with the hook on the nipple piece to the cage.     If you would like to support the podcast, you can support through Patreon for one dollar a month.  Patreon is an established online platform that allows fans to provide regular financial support to creators.  Patreon was created by a musician who needed a easy way for fans to support his band. you can also support the podcast, and help keep the lights on, whenever you use Amazon through the link at Hare of the Rabbit on the support the podcast page. It will not cost you anything extra, and I can not see who purchased what.   Now we are going to explore the Flemish Giant Rabbit.  We briefly discussed this breed last week when we were covering the Belgian Hare, and that led to this episode. History Opinions differ as to the real origin of the Flemish Giant.  It is undisputed that Flanders – the origin of it’s present name – was the country of it’s adoption and dissemination throughout Europe and eventual appearance in America.  As early as the 1500’s, rabbits "four times bigger than ‘normal’ rabbits" were already living in the area of Verona, Belgium.  Exactly when the actual oversize rabbit giant genes first surfaced will probably remain forever unknown. It could have been a random mutation. It was bred as early as the 16th century near the city of Ghent, Belgium. It is believed to have descended from a number of meat and fur breeds, possibly including the Steenkonijn (Stone Rabbit—referring to the old Belgian weight size of one stone or about 3.76 kg (8 lb 5 oz)) and the European "Patagonian" breed (now extinct). The name Patagonia is a reference, which could be a reference to Argentina, or to a Spanish term meaning "big foot."  On the other hand, the belief that giant creatures lived in Patagonia was common at the time, making the name a logical one for a very large rabbit breed. In the late 19th and early 20th century, big bunnies were all the rage.  From Flanders, Belgium comes the biggest bunny of all, the Flemish Giant.  Europe, however, can give no definite information as to how or when it first appeared there.  It is known to have been bred there on a large scale during a period of several hundred years, and for a long time was called the Patagonian rabbit. Now I read many different thoughts about the "Patagonian" Rabbit, and I will cover them as we go. This "Patagonian" rabbit, a large breed that was once bred in Belgium and France, was not related to the Patagonian rabbit of Argentina (Sylvilagus brasiliensis), a separate wild species weighing less than two pounds (about 1 kg), nor the Patagonian hare (Dolichotis patagonum), a species in the cavy family of rodents that cannot interbreed with rabbits. An analysis of historical events during the 16th and 17th centuries gives strong support to the belief that the original Patagonian was the wild rabbit of Patagonia in the Argentine Republic.  During the 16th and 17th centuries the Dutch were sailing the seas back and forth, trading with the West Indies, Central and South America.  It is not likely that they would bring back with them merely the name Patagonia and tack it on to the rabbit of Flanders and the Netherlands.    It is, however, very likely that they would take back to Europe the rabbit itself, and name it after the country from which it came.  However, it was just about the time the Dutch were carrying on their trade with South America that these rabbits first became known.  Previously there was no record of them.  Even today the loose limbed, wild sandy rabbit of Patagonia has the same typical appearance of the Patagonian rabbit of Flanders as it existed there several hundred years ago. It seems likely then that one of three things happened.  Either this rabbit was taken from Europe to Patagonia, or from Patagonia to Europe, or was a breed givin an exotic name with no origin's in Patagonia; but since we find no record in Europe before the Dutch started trading with America, then it seems fairly obvious that this rabbit may have originate in Patagonia. Whereas, however, in Patagonia the rabbit has remained wild and not been subjected to selective breeding, leaving it as it was hundreds of years ago. In Europe and America, selective breeding has been carried out extensively, and this has produced the far superior rabbit known today as the Flemish Giant. The earliest authentic record of the Flemish Giant Rabbit occurred about the year 1860.  At that time, in England, stories were being circulated by travelers having recently returned from Flanders, of the enormous size of the rabbits raised in that country and in parts of France.  Weights of certain specimen were stated to be 18  to 20 pounds.   Rabbit meat at the time was being imported into England to the extent of millions of pounds yearly and local breeders were unable to fill the demand.  English breeders of meat stock produced their product from stock weighing an average of 7 to 8 pounds at maturity, so it was but a short time later that the first importation of Flemish breeding rabbits took place.  In The British Islands Rabbit breeding as a fancy and as a means of reducing family expenses was looked upon more as a necessity rather then a hobby with this and competition being what it is, it was but a short time before the Flemish Giant made its appearance at some of the many rabbit shows held periodically in England.  The first standards for the breed were written in 1893. The first Flemish exhibited, although impressive in size, was not handsome.  The color being of a dirty iron grey with sandy or white bars on legs, long ears bent over at the tips, and a general uncouth appearance.  Nevertheless, it was but a brief period before the first Flemish Breeders’ Association was organized for the express purpose of improving the new breed.  Various experiments and crosses with other varieties worked a wonderful change in the former homely specimen and it eventually became the rule that no show was complete without a large display of Flemish Giants.  The weight and color improved from time to time.   American fanciers imported Flemish Giants from England about the same time of the Belgian Hare boom in the early 1880’s.   Fast-forward to the mid-1800’s.  Multiple Belgian clubs were already regularly holding weight competitions featuring their giant rabbits. The winning Flemish Giants weighed up to 19 pounds in the latter half of the 1800’s. No special notice was attracted to the breed until the year 1910 when at that time rabbits were exhibited at the leading poultry shows throughout the country.  The Flemish Giant was soon established as a favorite owing to their enormous size and beautiful colors.   Flemish Giants arrived in the USA at the very end of the 1890’s. They arrived here only partially pedigreed, yet the demand for these giant rabbits was as monstrous as the rabbits themselves. It was not long before American breeders organized their own clubs and standards of perfection for the Flemish Giant. The breed was well established by the turn of the 20th century, desired for its meat-producing qualities.  The first Flemish Giant club in the United States was established in 1915.  The Federation was founded in 1915 by a group of four Flemish Giant rabbit breeders and recently, they celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Flemish Giant National Show.   In 1924, the Flemish Giant Rabbit became a charter breed of the newly formed American Rabbit and Cavy Breeders Association, the forerunner of today’s ARBA. Before and during the last World War, it was very common in Europe to see these large easy-care rabbits being raised by children, who fed them on garden produce, to provide cheap and healthy meals in hard times. The British Flemish Giant is only bred in the UK, and is not as large as the typically massive Flemish Giants found in every other country. The breed is rare today. British Giant Rabbits The British Giant Rabbit is similar to a true Flemish Giant as recognized throughout the world.  It is a massive rabbit with a minimum weight of 13.5 pounds (6.14 kg), and no maximum weight. Now we are going to look at how the breed spread around rest ot the world!  By the end of the 19th Century, Flemish Giants were recognized in Belgium in two colors, gray agouti (white bellied) and iron gray (dark bellied), and various breeders began importing them to their various countries. Flemish Giant Rabbits are the mammoth rabbits of the rabbit world, and the basis of all giant rabbit breeds such as British Giants, Continental Giants, and Gigantes de Espana (Spanish Giants). New Zealand: The breed was imported into New Zealand from North America in the 1980s, its principal attraction being its large size – it is one of the largest breeds of domestic rabbit.  It soon attained a degree of popularity in NZ, which it still has today.  In 1986 a 10-month old Giant weighting over eight kilograms was imported from Germany and was used to help increase the size of those in New Zealand. Since then no other Flemish Giants have been brought into New Zealand.  Some time after the Flemish Giants were imported into this NZ, they were bred to New Zealand Whites by a small number of commercial breeders to try and produce a larger carcass with a fast growth rate.  The results were not up to their expectations as the cross resulted in an increase of bone to meat ratio – a Flemish Giant will produce bone first before filling out into the large solid rabbit they are.  They are often referred to as slow growers.  The Giants were also crossed with smaller breeds to introduce different colours and this has resulted in a reduction in their overall size, with a number of smaller sized rabbits being sold as Flemish Giants in New Zealand.  Any adult below five kilograms can’t be a giant amongst rabbits and live up to its name!  In 2011 it was estimated that there were about 70 Flemish Giant rabbits in New Zealand. Germany: The Germans changed the name of their Flemish Giants to German Giants in 1937.  They are genetically 100% Flemish Giants, however selectively bred to conform to the particular specifications of the German standards of perfection for the breed. England: Flemish Giants arrived in England in the early 1900’s. There was apparently a difference of opinion as to which breeding goals to pursue and which colors would be permissible. Perhaps this is why one can find a British Flemish Giant which is only bred in the UK and in only one variety, and the larger British Giant Rabbit which resembles the true Flemish Giant, and which is found in various colors. Japan: Japanese Jumbo Whites resulted from crosses between Flemish Giants and New Zealand Whites.  They enjoyed their heyday before 1950, but now their numbers are so few that the Japanese Agriculture Association protects the breed. Spain: The generally accepted breed history is that the Spanish Giant is the result of crosses between Flemish Giants and two Spanish rabbit breeds, the Lebrel Espanol and the Belier, a lop.  Subsequent breedings selected for erect ear carriage and size.  By 1900, the breed known as the Gigante de Espana (Spanish Giant) was recognized in Valencia, Spain. Flemish Giant Rabbits in the USA American Flemish Giant Rabbits are massive, but don’t quite achieve the truly gigantic proportions seen in a few strains of Continental Giants. This does not mean that Flemish Giants do not have the same size potential of the Continental Giant. They do, but the US Standards of Perfection don't incentivize massive size. Additionally, Flemish Giants in the USA do not carry themselves as flat as do the Flemish in other nations.  American breeders focus on their ideas of overall "balance," while still specifying no maximum weight.  In the US, a slightly smaller, but balanced rabbit will win over an enormous Flemish Giant that does not appear sufficiently balanced. This is the part of the USA standard that places less emphasis on a gigantic rabbit, resulting in giant rabbits that aren’t quite as ‘giant’ as their cousins in the UK or Europe. Overall Description Appearance The typical reaction of most people who see their first Flemish in person is that of awe! Those first comments are almost always some version of “WOW! That is one BIG rabbit”; many will also add “that is bigger than my dog!” Both statements are not an exaggerated truth, though are they favorites that the owners of these amazing giants just love to hear. The body of a Flemish Giant Rabbit is powerful, with relatively broad hindquarters without being fat.  It should carry a heavy bone. Flemish Giants are easily recognizable & quite distinguishable from other breeds of rabbits.  Most commonly, Flemish are world-renown for their long, erect ears and their substantially large size. In addition to this, they have big blocky looking heads with bright bold eyes that are fully complimented by long, noticeable eyelashes. When they are sitting in a resting position on a flat surface, starting from the base of their shoulders, they have a gradual rise that transitions across their wide midsection to their massive, broad hindquarters which continues in a smooth descent, over the hips, to a rear end that sits flatly on the table-top. As one of the largest breeds of domestic rabbit, the Flemish Giant is a semi-arch type rabbit with its back arch starting in back of the shoulders and carrying through to the base of the tail giving a "mandolin" shape.  The body of a Flemish Giant Rabbit is long and powerful, with relatively broad hindquarters.   Flemish Giant Rabbits weigh 15 pounds on average, though the biggest ones can weigh up to 22 lb, and the longest one on record (in fact, holding the record for the longest rabbit in the world of any kind), measured about 32 inches long. ARBA - The show standard minimum weight for a senior doe is 14 lb (about 6.4 kg), and the show standard minimum weight of a Senior buck is 13 lb (about 5.9 kg). The English Lop has a minimum ear span length, but the Flemish is the only breed where the standard specifies a minimum rabbit length.  This happens to be the same number as for the English Lop ear span: 21 inches.   Weight is at least 13 pounds on senior bucks and 14 pounds on senior does.  No maximum weight is specified, but some Flemish have pushed even to 20 pounds.  However, when judging the Flemish it is important to remember that big is good, but balanced is better.  Bone should be heavy, These are gentle giants. BRC - Bucks shall not be less than 4.974kg (11lb) and doe’s not less than 5.44kg (12lb). Size shall be considered irrespective of weight. FUR The fur of the Flemish Giant is known to be dense. When stroked to the head, the fur will roll back to its original position. The fur of the Flemish Giant is known to be glossy and dense. When stroked from the hindquarters to the head, the fur will roll back to its original position.  Coat & Condition should be a full short coat, firm in flesh and moderately thick. Color: The American Rabbit Breed Association (ARBA) standard recognized seven different colors for this breed: black, blue, fawn, sandy, light gray, steel gray, and white.  All are solid colors, as “broken patterns” are not recognized by the ARBA.  However, the color standards are different as defined by the BRC, mentioning only Dark Steel Gray. (BRC) Colour - Dark steel grey, with even or wavy ticking over the whole of the body, head, ears, chest and feet alike, except belly and under tail which shall be white, upon the surface of the fur. Any grey, steel, sandy or other shade on the belly or under tail, except a streak of grey in each groin, shall disqualify. AMPLIFICAITON OF COLOUR: The under should be blue at the base for a little more than a third of the length, then black, merging into a creamy, or bluish white ticking which may be again tipped with black.  In even ticked specimens, the mixture should show half grey and half black tipped hairs over half of the body, neck, face and ears, but may be interspersed with longer yet – black hairs, both even and wavy ticking being permissible. The whole should be uniform in colour.  The under parts to be white with blue under-colour. Tail should be ticked rather darker on top, white on the underside. Legs Their front legs will be very large, within proportion to their bodies, which will also be quite visible. However, their hind legs, while they are equally massive & very powerful, will not usually be as visible because they will be tucked up under their sides. BRC - Shall be in length proportionate to body, strong in bone, large and straight. Feet shall be velvety, dark and ticked. Ticking to show when coat rubbed back. Ears and Eyes The ears are around 8" (20cm) long, standing erect, there may be light rings around the eyes.   The ears large, and the standard actually calls for a reposeful expression in the eye.  Eyes shall be bold and dark brown in colour. Bucks and Does: Bucks have a broad, massive head in comparison to does, and can take 1.5 years to reach full maturity. Does may have a large, full, evenly carried dewlap (the fold of skin under their chins), and can take 1 year to reach their full maturity.  Does can take 1 year to reach their full maturity. Breeding season is in February. Flemish Giants do not handle heat well and therefore, pregnant rabbits do not do well during hot Summers. Babies are ready for new homes at 8 weeks or older. BRC and ARBA Although there are several differences of desired traits in this giant rabbit breed, the two most commonly used descriptions are that of the ARBA & the British Rabbit Counsel (BRC) Breed Standard’s of Perfection. Both standards state slight differences, from the American minimal weight standards for fully matured bucks at 13 pounds & 14 pound does, to the British standard of 11 pound bucks & 12 pound does. Other differences include body style, with the ARBA calling for a semi-arched mandolin shape & the BRC desiring longer, flat bodies. Otherwise, both state that heavy bone structure, mass, & thick, long ears, with bold eyes & dense, short fur that has a roll-back effect when brushing your hand across their backs in a back-to-front motion. BRC points:  1) Colour 30 points 2) Size & Weight 20 points 3) Body 15 points 4) Legs and Feet 15 points 5) Head & Ears 10 points 6) Coat & Condition 10 points Total 100 points INTERMEDIATE FLEMISH 1. To be judged to the Giant Standard 2. Age to be over 6 months old. 3. Weight - Buck to be less than 4.989kg (11lb). Doe to be under 5.443kg(12lb). Important Tips to Look for When Buying Show Stock: Big Flemish are desirable, but balance is even more important. Balance means well proportioned.  The head, ears, and legs should balance with the body. Long bodied rabbits should have longer heads, ears, and legs than a medium length rabbit.  Flemish giants should wide enough to not be too narrow.   Things to Avoid: Rabbits that are not balanced.  Pinched hindquarters, fat rabbits, narrow body.  Short body under 20 inches on seniors or lack of body arch is a disqualification.  Thin ears or weak ear base. Ears that turn over at the tip or are less than 5 1/2 inches are a disqualification.  Medium bone is a fault. Fine bone, short legs, cow hocks, flat feet, weak ankles (bending at the ankle affecting straightness of forelegs), and mismatched toenails are disqualifications. Thin, very short or very long fur or a soft coat. Care You should keep in mind that caring for a Flemish Giant differs from caring for smaller well-known rabbit breeds, this is of course mainly due to their larger size. Before getting started you will have to consider which of the different housing options would be the best solution. Due to its large size, the Flemish Giant needs substantial living quarters that provide ample opportunity for physical movement. The House Rabbit Society recommends keeping rabbits inside the home in a very large pen or room(s) in the home.  Larger dog crates are often more appropriate than traditional rabbit and small-pet cages, which tend to be smaller and shorter.  In the United States Department of Agriculture's standards for animal housing, rabbits over 12 pounds must have at least five square feet of floor space.  The size of appropriate living quarters increases with size of the rabbit.  You may wish to consider a custom made hutch, with a large door for the rabbit's access, or perhaps a dog crate would be better than a hutch.  They require a lot of space. Outdoor cages should be 5 feet by 3 feet ( 1.5 meters by 1 meter).  Cages must be in the shade so the rabbits do not overheat. Cages should be protected from wind using painter drop cloth. Cages should have plywood roofs to protect rabbits from rain and snow. The US dept of Agriculture standards for rabbits over 12 lbs (5.45 Kilos), advise at least 5 sq ft (.50 Sq Meters) of floor space for rabbits of such sizes and elsewhere you will find suggestions of minimum hutch sizes for large rabbits to be 14"High x 36" Depth x 48" Width (36x91x122 cm). This size allows the rabbit very little room and whatever you decide upon, just bear in mind the fully grown size can be from 14 to 20lbs (6.36 to 9.09 Kilos). Cages with incorrectly sized wire gauge bottoms (as opposed to small gauge wire or solid bottoms) can harm the feet of a Flemish Giant more so than smaller house rabbits due to their increased weight.  A resting board may be required to prevent sore hocks for a larger breed rabbit.  The Flemish Giant will require larger quantities of food compared to smaller breeds of domestic rabbits. Like some other short hair breeds of rabbits, the Flemish Giant will usually require mild attention to grooming due to its shorter hair. Shedding during the spring and fall transition periods tend to be the most dramatic, with smaller sheds often occurring in between. Care for the Flemish Giant is the same as with all rabbits but a rabbit of such size needs a lot of attention and handling from the beginning or a young age. Diet Flemish Giants can be fed like other rabbits, with the amount of food increased to match their larger size.  ARBA recommendations include hay and occasional treats. A high protein diet of 16% or more is needed for them to gain bone mass while growing and later when muscle mass develops.  Apples, cabbage or broccoli in small amounts can be given as treats and slowly increased.  A quarter apple per rabbit every other day for 3 weeks can be increased to a half apple after that.  Since Flemish Giants do not reach full size until they are 1.5 years old, they need to be fed a lot until then.  When females have babies and during winter, they need to be fed as much as they can eat, and given plenty of water. In supplementing a commercial diet, care must be taken to avoid excess protein, calories, and minerals such as salt and calcium, which in excess can cause kidney stones.  Overfeeding leading to obesity is a major health concern for both commercial and pet rabbits. The House Rabbit Society recommends 2 cups of chopped leafy vegetables per 6 pounds (3 kg) of body weight and no more than 2 tablespoons of fruit or carrots per 6 pounds of body weight daily. CARE OF THESE GENTLE GIANTS Because of their large size they are usually not bothered by cats, hawks or other small mammal prey.  Flemish Giants do not handle heat well.  They would need shade and a way to cool down. In hot cliamates, some people keep rabbits in a climate controlled environment with air conditioning in the Summer.  Flemish Giants are large rabbits that eat a lot. It is extremely important to have a good quality pellet food and plenty of hay daily.  IF you add a vegetable one day, and the bunny gets diarrhea, STOP IT IMMEDIATELY.  It is critical when a bunny gets diarrhea because they will dehydrate quickly.  Make sure they have plenty of clean water available at all times. Health The American Rabbit Breeders' Association (ARBA) recommends delaying breeding of female rabbits until they reach the senior weight range.  For Flemish Giants, this is 14 pounds, and a typical rabbit will reach this weight when they are about 9 months to one year.  A Flemish Giants can take up to 1.5 years to reach their maximum weight and a breeder should wait until the rabbit is slightly over a year old before breeding.  Females and males can become sexually mature at 4 months and 8 days.  Once the rabbits are 3 months old they should be keep in separate cages or put females with females and males with males.  If fighting occurs then they must be separated.  The breeding lifespan of a rabbit is variable.  Some breeders prefer not to have any more litters after the age of three years while others continue to produce quality litters for five to eight years.  The gestation period is between 28–31 days.  On average they give birth at 30–32 days. The Flemish Giant rabbit can produce large litters, usually between 5 and 12 in a litter. A nesting box filled with hay is given to the female as she prepares for birth.  After birth, clean out the hay, replace with some new hay, and check to see if babies are all alive.  Check box every day in case babies die and take them out. If the rabbit is not used to handling, then you will have big problems later on when, for example, you need to pick them up or examine them.  Rabbits of sizes similar to the Flemish Giant can be heavy to lift when fully grown. Because of their size, children are unlikely to hurt them by picking up or dropping them. They also get on well with other pets and can live easily with smaller rabbits, but you need to be careful with any introduction to smaller rabbits. Although they can cope with cold temperatures, they do not fare so well with the heat.  They must have exercise and it needs to be remembered that they will be more expensive to keep. They will eat a lot more than the smaller breeds, requiring more hay; they excrete more and need larger living accommodation. Larger rabbits can become high maintenance as they get older, though no more than a dog would. Uses Flemish are thought to have originally been used for fur & meat production.  However, it has since been realized that due to their large bone density, the meat to bone ratio is not the most ideal prospect available for such a purpose as meat production.  Instead, they are now primarily kept as pets and showmanship animals, as well as for 4H projects in the United States.  These gentle-giants are well-known for their easy-going, calm, docile nature.  Because of this, they make great pets for children and adults alike. Flemish Giants make excellent pets as they are calm, but heavy for most children to handle.  They eat at least .5 kg. or more food a day of dried rabbit pellets.  They expel a lot of waste.  Flemish Giants are not typically regarded as "meat" rabbits because much of the commercial rabbit market focuses on young rabbits, usually around 70 days of age.  At this time, Flemish Giants are developing bone mass rather than muscle.  However, when raised to roasting (under 6 months) and stewing (over 6 months) age, the size of the Flemish makes them desirable.  They are also often bred with other meat rabbit breeds, such as the New Zealand, to increase both meat-to-bone ratio and litter size. Due to the large amount of high protein food they consume and the cost of this food, the selling of the Flemish Giants for meat is not profitable; as buyers want to give just a few dollars per rabbit. Apart from being kept as a pet, the Flemish Giant is used for meat, fur, show, pet assisted therapy and education. 4-H and Show Flemish Giants, due to their uncomplicated grooming requirements and docile personalities, are used by 4-H programs throughout the United States as a starter rabbit for teaching children responsibility and care of farm animals and pets.  Another very popular youth program outside of 4-H that promotes responsible show breeding is the National Federation of Flemish Giant Breeders Youth Program.  Flemish Giants are the second oldest domesticated rabbit breed in the United States, following behind the now rare Belgian Hare, which we covered in last weeks episode. The Flemish these days is primarily a fancy breed, raised for show and pets.   People who first see them sometimes think these biggest ones must be meat rabbits, but Flemish consumes too much feed for the meat yield to be a very efficient commercial breed.  They have always had a strong following. Today the Flemish rabbit leads in number exhibited at all the principle shows and are sold at the highest prices recorded since the days of the ill-fated Belgian boom. Temperment/behavior Flemish Giants can be docile and tolerant of handling; frequent interaction with humans is a requirement for this to occur.  Flemish Giants, like all rabbits, can become fearful, and sometimes aggressive, if handled incorrectly or irresponsibly.  Their larger frame requires special attention paid to the spine alignment when handling a Flemish Giant, or any rabbit for that matter. Consequently, potential owners should consider these factors in addition to their size, level of food consumption, and substantial waste production before buying. It should be stressed though that proper handling of such large bunnies is very important- for your benefit as well as theirs. They do have very powerful hind legs, & when they feel threatened or scared, or are hurt, they can quickly inflict serious injury. Otherwise, due to the size of these bunnies, respectfully compared to that of a medium-sized dog, they require more money & time spent in caring for them than that of a smaller breed of rabbit. However, owning such a wonderful rabbit is well worth the investments to have one, or more.  Among other things, when considering becoming a Flemish Giant owner, it’s always best to learn all that you can before you buy. Each & every one of these gentle Giants has his or her own personality.  They are very inquisitive, and they are quite intelligent.  They will often stand up on their hind legs and stretch their bodies out so that they can see what is around them.  This is a common greeting as well, especially when they are buttering up their owner for a good ear-scratching or head-rub.  It also goes without saying that the more attention they get, the more they will want.  They will play with toys too, rolling them around by using their front paws or some nose-nudging, picking them up with their teeth, and most of the time will follow through by tossing it in true bunny-fashion.  If your big buddy is quite fond of you, or just in a playful mood, he may even bring his toy to you in the manner a dog would, when playing fetch.  However, they will also let you know when they are aggravated or upset, be it with you or for any number of other reasons.  This may be done by completely ignoring your greetings, turning their back to you and refusing to acknowledge that you even exist at that very minute, or if they are really ticked off, you can expect some loud thumping from those heavy hind feet and possibly adding in some grunting noises while they are demonstrating their unhappiness.  Although some Flemish are more vocal than others, they all do possess the ability and will, at some point, of making known their wide array of sounds. There are a few things that Flemish Giants do not tolerate very well.  First on their list is being picked up.  They become very nervous when they are picked up.  Therefore the importance of doing so correctly can not be stressed enough.  Picking them up is best done by lifting with both hands under midsection.  When that is not a possibility, pick them up swiftly, by the scruff (between the shoulder blades), and rapidly tuck them into position; be that onto a sturdy surface, or holding them in the manner of carrying a small human child, with their butt cradled in your arm and their front feet resting on your chest, or in a foot-ball type hold, where their head is tucked into the bend of your elbow, your arm snuggly holding their body against your stomach region while using your other hand to securely support around the rest of their massive body.  Once they know that they are secure and safe, they will relax and you can carry them around. Next, they do not like any loud noises, of any kind.  To them, this only means ones thing, danger is near! They will run, stomp, jump, scratch, and even bite without warning if they are really afraid.  Keep in mind that if these things happen to you, especially if you just brought your furry friend into your home, he is afraid and trying to protect him-self. Don’t take it as a personal attack against you in particular.  Brighter, happier days are just around the corner.  Be patient and be sure to give your Flemish the best possible care that you can. Flemish Giants are placid and laid-back, docile and tolerant by nature.  Because of this they do well with considerable handling, and are ideal for showing and as pets. Am intersting fact I uncovered about the breed is that the:  THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ONCE "INTERVIEWED" A FLEMISH GIANT. In 2010, the paper ran an "interview" with Herbie, Prospect Park Zoo’s 18-pound rabbit, to promote the zoo’s Live Encounters Program.  It was actually an interview with Denise McClean, the zoo’s director.  McClean revealed that Herbie was domestic and "probably would not be able to survive out in the wild on my own." In response to the question "Do you ever misbehave?" she said, "Flemish Giant rabbits have litters that run from five to 12 bunnies. If you left me with a female, you could end up with a whole lot of rabbits." Uses Rabbits tend to be bred for one of four things: meat, fur, show, or pet use.  Even though this is a large breed of rabbit, they are gentle and easily handled.  This makes them good for pets or show rabbits. Club Today, it is one of the more popular breeds at rabbit shows because of its unusually large size and its varying colors.  It is promoted by the National Federation of Flemish Giant Rabbit Breeders, which was formed in 1915.  The Flemish Giant has many nicknames, first and foremost the "Gentle Giant" for its uniquely docile personality and also the "universal rabbit" for its varied purposes as pet, show, breeding, meat and fur animal. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) maintains the breed standard for all of the recognized rabbit and cavy breeds for it's international membership.  Recognized breeds are eligible for Registration and Grand Champion recognition. The AMERICAN RABBIT BREEDERS ASSOCIATION, INC. is an organization dedicated to the promotion, development, and improvement of the domestic rabbit and cavy.  With over 30,000 members throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad, its members range from the pet owner with one rabbit or cavy to the breeder or commercial rabbit raiser with several hundred animals.  Each aspect of the rabbit and cavy industry, whether it be for fancy, as a pet, or for commercial value, is encouraged by the organization. The British Rabbit Council (BRC) is a British showing organization for rabbit breeders. Originally founded as The Beveren Club in 1918, its name first changed to British Fur Rabbit Society and finally to The British Rabbit Society. Today, the BRC among other things investigates rabbit diseases, maintains a catalog of rabbit breeds, and sets rules for about 1,000 rabbit shows annually in the UK. Owners of house rabbits are also encouraged to join the organization to learn how to care optimally for their pets. Both the ARBA and the BRC recognize the Flemish Giant Rabbit with slightly differing standards as discussed earlier. Have I Missed Anything? If you know something about the Flemish Giant breed standard, history or status of this rabbit, please let me know.   Do you have a story about this particular Breed?  What do you love about them?  Do you have any tips or tricks up your sleeve for what might make this breed happiest? Perhaps you're a breeder of this type of rabbit. Let me know, and maybe we can set up an interview? http://www.nffgrb.net/Articles/Origins.htm http://rabbitbreeders.us/flemish-giant-rabbits http://mentalfloss.com/article/62965/7-big-facts-about-flemish-giant-rabbit http://www.rabbitmatters.com/flemish-giant.html http://flemish-giant.com/ http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-breeds/flemish-giant-rabbit-breed-information/ http://www.raising-rabbits.com/flemish-giant-rabbits.html www.thebrc.org www.arba.net https://www.rarebreeds.co.nz/flemishgiants.html http://www.petrabbitinfo.com/flemishgiantrabbits.html www.nffgrb.com. https://gentlegiantrabbitry.com/about-us/ NEWS: United Airlines in fresh PR nightmare after rabbit set to be world’s biggest dies on UK flight http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/26/united-airlines-fresh-pr-nightmare-rabbit-set-worlds-biggest/ United Airlines is battling another PR nightmare after a rabbit destined to be the world’s biggest died on a flight from Britain to the US. The airline, which recently triggered a worldwide backlash after a passenger was forcibly removed from one of its flights, could now face legal action after the death of a valuable rabbit in the cargo section of a Boeing 767 from Heathrow to Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport. Simon, son of Darius the worlds largest rabbit who died during transit to the USA Measuring three-feet, Simon was expected to outgrow his father Darius, whose length of 4ft 4in made him the world's biggest bunny. The 10-month-old continental giant rabbit was reportedly being sent to his new celebrity owner, whose identity hasn’t been revealed.  “Simon had a vet’s check-up three hours before the flight and was fit as a fiddle,” breeder Annette Edwards, of Stoulton, Worcs, told The Sun. “Something very strange has happened and I want to know what. I’ve sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has happened before.” The animal was found dead when it arrived at O’Hare, the airport where passenger Dr David Dao was dragged off a United flight earlier this month. "We were saddened to hear this news,” a United Airlines spokeswoman said, according to the Mirror. "The safety and wellbeing of all the animals that travel with us is of the utmost importance to United Airlines and our PetSafe team. "We have been in contact with our customer and have offered assistance. We are reviewing this matter." Ms Edwards, a former glamour model whose rabbits are said to be hired out at £500 a time, and the new owner in the US are considering legal action, the Sun reported. Darius, the Guinness World Record holder for world’s biggest rabbit, weighs three-and-a-half stone and costs his owner about £2,400 per year in food alone. United Airlines is already facing a row over a passenger being taken off a plane at Chicago's O'Hare Airport His mother Alice held the record before him and Simon was expected to continue the family tradition. The most recent figures from the US Department of Transportation - dating from 2015 but released this February - show 35 animal deaths occurred during transit across 17 carriers in the States. United accounted for 14 animal deaths in that period with a further nine reported injured among the nearly 100,000 animals carried by the company. United Airlines is still trying to tackle the public relations disaster caused by Dr Dao’s removal from a Chicago to Louisville flight on April 9. Video recorded by other passengers showed the 69-year-old doctor being dragged down the aisle with blood on his face after refusing to give up his seat. The carrier has since apologised several times. Second wild rabbit tests positive for tularemia in Pueblo West http://www.koaa.com/story/35243351/second-wild-rabbit-tests-positive-for-tularemia-in-pueblo-west PUEBLO WEST - A second wild rabbit found in Pueblo West has tested positive for tularemia, according to health officials. This animal was found near Scarsboro Drive. The first animal was found before Friday, April 21 in the Kirkwood Drive area. Health officials do not believe either rabbit came into contact with people. Both animals were reportedly covered with ticks. Tularemia, also called rabbit fever, is known to be transmitted by ticks and deer fly bites. Rabbit fever, or tularemia, can spread to human and cause life-threatening fever.  Typical signs of infection in humans include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, chest pain, and coughing. Tularemia can be effectively treated with antibiotics, therefore should you have any of these early signs, see a doctor.   Dogs and cats can also contract tularemia by eating infected animals or through tick and deer fly bites. Signs to watch in your pet include fever, nasal and eye discharge, and skin sores. If you notice any of those signs it is recommended that you take your pet to a veterinarian promptly. Health officials recommend the following precautions to avoid the bacteria: · Avoid handling wild animals. · Leash your pets when outdoors and keep them away from dead animals. · When outdoors near places where wild rabbits or rodents are present, wear insect repellent containing DEET. · If a dead animal must be moved, avoid direct contact with it. Put on a repellent to protect yourself from its fleas or ticks, and use a shovel to scoop it up. Place it in a plastic bag and dispose in an outdoor trash receptacle. Wash your  hands with soap and water afterward. · Wear proper footwear outdoors where dead animals have been found. · Routinely use a tick and flea prevention treatment on pets. · Avoid mowing over dead animals. If you hunt, trap or skin animals, take additional steps: · Use impervious gloves when skinning or handling animals, especially rabbits. · Cook the meat of wild rabbits thoroughly to a temperature of 165°For higher. Rabbit club seeks participants http://www.prairieadvocate.com/2017/04/23/rabbit-club-seeks-participants/akghmaa/ by Prairie Advocate staff MOUNT CARROLL – The 4-H Rabbit SPIN Club is looking for members. Participants don’t have to be 4-H members, but must be from 8 to 18 years old by Sept. 1, 2016. Meetings are from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 8 and 21, June 6 and 26, and July 10, 24, and 31, at 610 E. Washington St. Participants will show their rabbits May 21 in Belvidere, and do not have to own a rabbit. Information will include field trips to professional rabbit shows and rabbit breeders, learning how to handle, feed, groom, and perform veterinary checks on a rabbit, and more. Current 4-H members can take part at no cost, while there is a $20 fee for non-4-Hers. Scholarships are available for new club members if needed. Email Leanne Rahn at lrahn@illinois.edu or call the Carroll County Extension Office at 815-244-9444 to register. Boy, 15, charged over hare coursing http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-39671721 A 15-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a hare coursing incident in Midlothian. The teenager was also charged in connection with a dishonesty offence that allegedly occurred at the same time on 31 March. He was further charged in connection with a separate hare coursing incident in the Pathhead area on 23 March. The boy is the second to be charged with the Dalkeith incident which took place on farmland. A report has been submitted to the Children's Reporter. Sgt Michele Lindsay, of Police Scotland, said: "We recognise the impact that hare coursing has on rural communities and remain committed to investigating all reports of this. "We are working with farmers to tackle this issue and patrols are being carried out as part of the rural crime initiative. "Anyone with information about hare coursing or rural crime is urged to speak to a local officer. More than 100 rabbits saved by Brother Wolf http://www.blueridgenow.com/news/20170420/more-than-100-rabbits-saved-by-brother-wolf LEICESTER — A nonprofit animal welfare organization in western North Carolina says it has rescued more than 120 rabbits from a home after getting a tip from the neighbor of a property owner. The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that Brother Wolf Animal Rescue initially took 60 animals from the property, and is in the process of spaying and neutering 60 more. Brother Wolf founder Denise Bitz said more than 30 rabbits were pregnant, resulting in 65 baby bunnies born while in the group’s care. Bitz said many of the rabbits came to Brother Wolf with medical concerns because of overcrowding and poor nutrition. She said several rabbits died. Bitz said the property owner realized she was in over her head, but didn’t have the funds to have the animals spayed and neutered Video of rabbit being hit against pole prompts Maypearl ISD to change curriculum https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2017/04/18/video-rabbit-hit-pole-prompts-maypearl-isd-change-curriculum Written by Claire Z. Cardona, Breaking News Producer The Maypearl Independent School District is changing the curriculum for one of its classes after a video surfaced that shows a junior high student killing a rabbit for a class assignment, KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported. The outdoor education elective at Maypearl Junior High School is focused on survival and life skills. Part of the class involves the "dispatching and harvesting of animals, cleaning of animals and the proper cooking techniques of the animals, and those kinds of things," Maypearl ISD Superintendent Richie Bowling told NBC5. In a video of the incident provided to the Waxahachie Daily Light, a seventh-grade student is instructed by her teacher to kill the rabbit. The student is seen swinging the rabbit into a metal pole. A few parents raised concerns about the animal being killed, and whether it was killed humanely. The school has since changed the curriculum so no more animals will be killed in the class, the station reported. "Our parents were given information prior to even signing up for the class and asking to be a part of it," Bowling told the station. "And my understanding of that is it lists every bit of that out, as far as dispatching animals, harvesting animals, and all the processes that go along with that." The student who filmed the video was given a three-day in-school suspension because of the school's cellphone policy, the Daily Light reported. In its guidelines for the implementation of agriculture education, the Texas Education Code expects students to discuss "livestock harvesting operations" as well as "describe wildlife harvest techniques and procedures." It does not mention an in-class demonstration, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Podcast from St Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church, Dalkeith, Scotland, for Palm Sunday

Short act of worship from St Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church, Dalkeith, Scotland

The Sunday Service Podcast comes from St Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church, Dalkeith. It is a short act of worship.

This week's podcast reflects on a week of 2 Common Weal meetings in Aberdeen and Leith and 2 Women for Independence meetings in Dalkeith and Edinburgh. The topic of the new women's prison in Inverclyde was raised and Lesley wrote about it in the Sunday Post. The petition started by the Edinburgh Women for Independence Group is here.   Finally we talked briefly about the changes to the BBC Radio Scotland schedule. There are some interesting local and international opportunities .

Mark McKenzie speaking to Margaret Miller and Dave Walker from the Dalkeith based veterans charity The Mark Wright Project http://www.themarkwrightproject.org.uk/