Tony Nicklinson deserves sympathy but hard cases make bad law

A severely disabled man from Wiltshire is to ask the High Court to allow a doctor to end his life.

Tony Nicklinson, 57, is paralysed from the neck down after suffering a stroke in 2005.

He cannot speak or move anything except his head and eyes and communicates through nodding his head at letters on a perspex board or by using a computer which responds to eye movements.

The Melksham man, who has been married for 25 years and has two daughters, sums up his life as 'dull, miserable, demeaning, undignified and intolerable'.

His lawyers want a doctor actively ending his life to have a ‘common law defence of necessity’ against any possible murder charge.

A spokesman for law firm Bindmans, which represents him, confirmed he had issued proceedings in the High Court asking for declarations that it is lawful for a doctor to terminate his life, with his consent and with him making the decision with full mental capacity.

Earlier this year Nicklinson’s legal team asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to clarify the law on so-called mercy killing but the DPP made it clear there was no flexibility on the law and anyone who deliberately took someone's life would be charged with murder.

They are therefore trying this new route.

In English law, the defence of necessity recognises that there may be situations of such overwhelming urgency that a person must be allowed to respond by breaking the law. There have been very few cases in which this defence has succeeded. However, the Crown Prosecution Service tends to choose not to prosecute those cases where it believes potential defendants have acted reasonably in all the circumstances.

This defence was used in the early trial of Regina v. Dudley & Stephens (1884) 14 QBD 273 DC, where four shipwrecked sailors were cast adrift in a small boat without provisions. To save themselves, the three strongest decided to eat the fourth, the 17 year-old cabin boy. The court ruled that cannibalising the boy was not urgently necessary. Even though the cabin boy would almost certainly have died of natural causes, the sailors killed the boy intentionally and were guilty of murder. There was some degree of necessity arising from the threat of starvation but, at any moment, a ship could have sailed over the horizon to save them as, indeed, the three were rescued. Since they could never be sure that the killing was actually necessary from one minute to the next, the defence was denied. Cannibalism itself is not an offence so long as the death occurs naturally.

Dudley and Stephens were convicted of murder and sentenced to be hanged, however their sentence was later reduced to just six months in prison. The fourth man, Brooks, was not tried, as he had not participated in the murder. The principles from this case form the basis of the defence of necessity not being available for murder.

In order for the defence of necessity to hold sway there must be an urgent and immediate threat to life which creates a situation in which the defendant reasonably believes that a proportionate response to that threat is to break the law.

It is difficult to see how this defence might help Nicklinson who is severely disabled, has a reasonable life expectancy and is not facing any imminent emergency.

However, it is thought that Nicklinson’s lawyers are likely to base their arguments on comments about necessity in the 2001 conjoined twins case where the court ruled that the life of a seriously disabled baby (Mary) could be sacrificed in order that her sister (Jodie) could survive. (A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment) (No. 1) [2001] Fam 147).

In that case the Court of Appeal said that the doctrine of necessity was more elastic than it had been represented as being in the cabin boy case above.

The Human Rights Act also adds a new dimension.

Nicklinson has Article 8 rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (respect for his private life and family) which must be respected. His lawyers will no doubt argue that these rights cannot be respected unless he dies, and accordingly that the law of necessity needs to give a defence to a doctor who, in the act of respecting his rights, kills him.

However Article 8 also states that the right to respect for private life and family must in a democratic society be balanced with considerations of public safety, the prevention of crime, the protection of health and morals, and the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

The Murder Act is there in part to protect vulnerable people from exploitation and abuse by those who might have an interest, financial or otherwise, in their deaths. Any further removal of legal protection by creating exceptions for bringing prosecutions would encourage unscrupulous people to take liberties and would place more vulnerable people – those who are elderly, disabled, sick or depressed – under pressure to end their lives so as not impose a burden on family, carers or society.

We also need to realise that cases like Nicklinson’s are extremely rare and that hard cases make bad law. The overwhelming majority of people with severe disability – even with ‘locked-in syndrome’ – do not wish to die but rather want support to live. I have previously highlighted inspiring stories on this blog of people who with good support have been able to get to a position where they can see meaning and purpose in lives even in the face of substantial suffering. It is assisted living most want, not assisted dying.

We all accept that there are limits to choice. Even in a free democratic society there are boundaries to our autonomy. We are not entitled to exercise ‘freedoms’ that will endanger the reasonable freedoms of others. That is why we have laws. Every law limits choice and stops some people doing what they might desperately wish to do. This is in order to maintain protection for others.

The current law is clear and right and does not need fixing or further weakening. On the one hand the penalties it holds in reserve act as a powerful deterrent to exploitation and abuse. On the other hand it gives judges some discretion to temper justice with mercy when sentencing in hard cases. We should not be meddling with it.

It was therefore refreshing to see a spokesperson for the British Medical Association saying yesterday: ‘The BMA is opposed to assisted suicide and to doctors taking a role in any form of assisted dying. We support the current law and are not seeking any change in UK legislation on this issue.’
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It's What I Like

a perfect red lip

faux fur and cuffs

effortless-looking style

a single braid

ankle boots!

 fisherman sweater and white jeans in the winter

a pair of glasses used as an accessory

wrist candy

red lips (again!)

 a cat hoodie! i really want to buy one for Kitty but she would HATE IT! 
i'd end up with scratches and bite marks on every part of my body trying to get her into one.





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Kristen Stewart: Dining out in London!



Kristen Stewart on Food, Drink, and places in London!

Places
Question: Do you like Traditional pubs or Modern Gastropubs?
Kristen Stewart Answer:  Oh, traditional pubs, definitely.

Question: What’s your favorite London hangout?
Kristen Stewart:  I’ve had some really good roast dinners … the “Swan & Edgar” (name of restaurant) in Marylebone.

Food and Drink
Question: Do you prefer a Sausage sandwich or bacon butty?
Kristen Stewart:  Bacon butty. 

Question: How do you feel about beans on toast?
Kristen Stewart:  I love beans on toast.

Question: What do you like for dinner?
Kristen Stewart:  Chicken or lamb.

Question: What’s your pub drink?
Kristen Stewart:  It’s a pound

Question: How do you take your tea?
Kristen Stewart:  With milk and a little bit of honey

British and American Expressions

A hangout =  a place to relax, talk, eat, drink, to get together with people informally
(British/American Expression)

A bacon butty = bacon on a bun
(British Expression)

Modern Gastropubs = restaurant in a pub
(British/American Expression)

a pound = a drink that costs one pound to purchase in a pub
(British Expression)


 
Practice Idea
Kristen Stewart in London, has changed some of her American tastes to British tastes.  This interview style is short and brief to attain lots of information quickly.  Moreover, the questions are simple and not too ‘deep’ in nature.  This type of information is comfortable for everyone to talk about. Try this out with your friends.  It is a good and fun way to find fun and delicious differences in personal tastes and cultures.  Also, it is a nice way to practice or review questions concerning people’s preferences.
Have fun! And talk, talk, talk!

Speaking Style
Question 1: Do you like Traditional pubs or Modern Gastropubs?
Kristen Stewart Answer 1:  Oh, traditional pubs, definitely.

Question 2: Do you prefer a Sausage sandwich or bacon butty?
Kristen Stewart 2:  Bacon butty.

Question 3: How do you take your tea?
Kristen Stewart 3:  With milk and a little bit of honey.

Question 4: How do you feel about beans on toast?
Kristen Stewart 4:  I love beans on toast.

Question 5: What do you like for dinner?
Kristen Stewart 5:  Chicken or lamb.

Question 6: What’s your favorite London hangout?
Kristen Stewart 6:  I’ve had some really good roast dinners … the Swan & Edgar in Marylebone.


Practice Speaking Style

Question 1: Do you like pubs or nightclubs?
Kristen Stewart Answer 1:  Oh, nightclubs definitely.

Question 2: Do you prefer a burger or pizza?
Kristen Stewart 2:  Pizza.

Question 3: How do you like your coffee?
Kristen Stewart 3:  With a little bit of cream.

Question 4: How do you feel about sushi?
Kristen Stewart 4:  I love sushi.

Question 5: What do you like for breakfast?
Kristen Stewart 5:  Just toast and juice.

Question 6: What’s your favorite California hangout?
Kristen Stewart 6:  I’ve had some really good Italian dinners … Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica.


Twilight - Final Trailer



Snow White and the Huntsman - First Trailer


FEATURED LINK OF THE MONTH!
TEACH ENGLISH IN CHINA!





Enjoy and see you next week!




Alex
Celebrity English
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Oregon Governor orders that some state-sanctioned killing must stop

Earlier this week, in an emotional declaration (£), the Governor of the US state of Oregon, John Kitzhaber, said he would refuse to sanction any further executions.

Today he was strongly criticised (£) by a condemned man who called him a ‘coward’.

Gary Haugen (pictured), a double murderer, wants to be executed to protest at weaknesses in the justice system. He told The Statesman Journal that Kitzhaber had acted on his personal beliefs instead of carrying out the will of Oregon voters who reinstated the death penalty in 1984.

‘I feel he’s a paper cowboy,’ Haugen said. ‘He couldn’t pull the trigger.’

Haugen, 49, was sentenced to death for stabbing a fellow prisoner in 2007 while serving a life sentence for killing a former girlfriend’s mother 30 years ago. He was to have been executed on 6 December until Mr Kitzhaber intervened.

Haugen says he is considering legal action to fight the reprieve which lasts until the governor leaves office.

Interestingly, Oregon is one of only two states in the US which have legalised assisted suicide, also in response to a referendum.

But the Governor isn’t showing any signs of repealing that law.

John Smeaton today draws attention to a letter from Charles J. Bentz, a physician practising medicine in Oregon, published by Times Colonist, an on-line Canadian journal.

In brief, Dr Bentz’s patient, being treated for cancer, became depressed. Dr Bentz’s letter concludes: ‘In most jurisdictions, suicidal ideation is interpreted as a cry for help. In Oregon, the only help my patient got was a lethal prescription intended to kill him. Don't make Oregon’s mistake.’

So Oregon is left in the curious position of endorsing ‘state-sanctioned killing on request’ in some circumstances (ie. for vulnerable sick people) but opposing it for others (ie. for those guilty of murder)

Wouldn’t it be better just to stop all state-sanctioned killing?
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MDU warns that doctors who provide medical reports for patients seeking assisted suicide abroad could be prosecuted

The Medical Defence Union (MDU) in its latest advice to doctors (MDU Journal, Volume 27 issue 2 November 2011, Page 24) has published a case study to emphasise the point that doctors who supply medical records to patients who are intending to commit suicide could well be prosecuted.

In February 2010 the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) published his ‘Policy for Prosecutors in Respect of Cases of Encouraging or Assisting Suicide’

This lists 16 criteria which make prosecution more likely in any case of assisted suicide. One of these (14) is that ‘the suspect was acting in his or her capacity as a medical doctor, nurse, other healthcare professional, a professional carer [whether for payment or not], or as a person in authority, such as a prison officer, and the victim was in his or her care’

Encouraging or assisting a suicide is a crime carrying a discretionary custodial sentence of up to 14 years. The MDU’s case study reproduced below is largely accurate in its conclusions except that it misquotes the Suicide Act 1961, which was actually amended in 2010 by section 59 the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

The error is understandable given that the government hasn’t yet got around to amending the legislation on its own website even though the law was passed over two years ago!

In short, the words ‘aid, abet, procure or counsel’ have been updated to ‘encourage or assist’. The change was aimed at preventing the internet promotion of suicide.

Under the current law a person commits an offence ‘if (he/she) does an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another person, and the act was intended to encourage or assist suicide or an attempt at suicide’.

Regardless of the unintentional error the MDU’s advice is very clear and should leave doctors in no doubt about any attempt to assist suicide even by simply providing documentation to a patient.

Here is the case study (which is not as far as I can see available on the internet)

The Scene

A consultant in palliative care received a request for medical records from a patient with multiple sclerosis. The patient had previously expressed her wish to arrange an assisted suicide and had approached her GP for a medical report and insertion of a cannula. The GP had refused to comply with her request. This consultant was in no doubt as to the patient’s motivation for requesting her records and rang the MDU advice line to find out what the repercussions might be if he complied and the patient later committed suicide.

The advice

The MDU adviser confirmed the consultant’s belief that if he knowingly assists a patient in committing suicide, he would be committing a criminal offence.

A doctor could face a criminal investigation if alleged to have assisted a patient with the act, even if the assistance is in the form of advice to the patient. Even if criminal proceedings do not follow, the GMC may still decide to investigate the doctor’s fitness to practise. The member was therefore advised not to engage in discussion about this matter with the patient.

Section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 states: ‘A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the suicide of another, or an attempt by another to commit suicide, shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term on exceeding 14 years.’

Although the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided in the past that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute those who have assisted, for example, patients travelling to Switzerland to commit suicide, the decisions have been case-specific and do not change the legal position for doctors caring for a patient.

It should also be noted that while healthcare professionals must follow an advance decision if it is valid and applies to the particular circumstances when a competent patient wishes to refuse treatment, this is not the same thing as taking active steps to kill a patient. Although the Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides for patients to make a written statement requesting certain treatment of expressing a preference, such statements will certainly not legally require doctors to take active steps to bring about a patient’s death and indeed Section 62 of the Act specifically states that nothing in the Act is to be taken to affect the law relating to murder, manslaughter or assisted suicide.
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Wrapped



 cardigan - AA, jeggings - F21, t-shirt + ring - H & M, beanie - Zara, scarf - gift, shoes - Spring

This American Apparel cardigan has become my favorite sweater in my closet. I wear it at least 2 or 3 times a week. Okay, maybe four. It's so versatile, extremely comfortable and perfect for the cold weather by itself or under a long jacket. I highly recommend it! This time I wore it to run errands and schlep clothes around yesterday. Stylists do a lot of "schlepping" - pulling and picking up clothes at the wonderful stores that provide clothing for shoots, unloading and loading them at the location, then returning them the next day. It's the most un-glamorous part of the job but I don't mind it at all because it's part of the whole styling process and the clothes can make or break a shoot. They're incredibly important! I've been working on shoots every weekend this month and I can't wait to show you the photos when they're ready : ).
 
I hope you all had a great weekend! Anyone do any shopping on Black Friday? Did I? Is the Pope Catholic? ; ) Of course I did! I bought some Christmas gifts online and picked up a beautiful black patent clutch for myself at Banana Republic for 40% off! It was an early Christmas present to myself from myself Santa ; ). Ho, ho, ho.





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Assisted Suicide in the United States – overview of present position

Margaret Dore, a US attorney, has just published an excellent overview of the current status of assisted suicide laws in the United States on her blog ‘Choice is an Illusion’. I have reproduced the article below, but without the weblinks which are available on Dore’s site.

There are two states where physician-assisted suicide is legal: Oregon and Washington. In these states, statutes give criminal and civil immunity to doctors and others who participate in a qualified patient's suicide. Oregon's act was enacted via a ballot initiative in 1997. Washington's act was enacted via a ballot initiative in 2008 and went into effect in 2009. Washington's act is modeled on Oregon's act.

In Oregon and Washington, assisted-suicide laws apply to ‘terminal’ patients, defined in terms of having less than six months to live. Such persons are not necessarily dying. Consider, for example, Jeanette Hall, alive 11 years after her terminal diagnosis. More recent proposals to legalize assisted suicide have included people who are clearly not dying.

In Montana, Baxter v. State gives doctors who assist a patient's suicide a potential defense to prosecution for homicide. Baxter does not legalize assisted suicide by giving doctors or anyone else immunity from criminal and civil liability although proponents argue that this is the case. This year, a bill to reverse Baxter's potential defense was defeated. In Montana, the leading group against assisted suicide is Montanans Against Assisted Suicide & For Living with Dignity.

This year, Idaho enacted a statute strengthening its law against assisted suicide. This was after proponents falsely claimed that assisted suicide was already legal.

This year, bills to legalize physician-assisted suicide were defeated in Montana, Hawaii and New Hampshire. In Vermont, identical legalization bills were introduced in the House and Senate, but not put on for vote before the legislative session ended.

In Hawaii, where a bill to legalize assisted suicide was defeated this year as well as in prior years, proponents claim that assisted suicide is legal.

In Connecticut, a lawsuit to legalize physician-assisted suicide was dismissed in 2010.

In Massachusetts, there is a pending ballot initiative to enact an Oregon/Washington style act that applies to ‘terminal’ patients defined as having less than six months to live.

In the US, no assisted suicide/euthanasia law has ever made it through the scrutiny of a legislature despite more than 100 attempts.
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And Now, a Word from Our Monarch...


In apparently his first official proclamation that did not involve chicken soup, peanuts, or sushi, the Winter Monarch has requested that we all vote for him in the 5th Annual Mashable Awards, in which he is one of seven finalists nominated for "Must-Follow Athlete on Social Media." Which, as I mentioned previously, is KIND. OF. A. BIG. DEAL.

Mashable, a social media / news site, gets more than
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A Dazzling Display! Oh, and the Tree Was Nice, Too

Johnny performs Ave Maria at Union Square in San Francisco Friday evening as part of the Macy's Great Tree Lighting ceremony. Photo courtesy of the amazing Diana Dumbadse, who posted it to Johnny's fan page last night and whose photos are breathtaking works of art (and I speak from experience--I have one in my living room). Diana wrote: "What a turnout for the tree lighting 
in Union Square
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All Hail the Winter Monarch!

Johnny, the "Winter Monarch"--as he was described by NBC announcer Ann Curry--of the 85th Anniversary Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. His appearance prompted a huge outpouring of Twitter love, including this response:
Yes. An idea whose time has come. Completely clad in sparkles and fur.

This was by far the sparkliest Thanksgiving Day I have ever had in my life, thanks in no small part to
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Sister, Sister



Fashion Darlings Elle and Dakota Fanning, photographed by Terry Richardson. I like these girls. Not only do they have a great sense of style, they both seem to have a good head on their shoulders. Also, they're not famous from being on a reality show or because they're heiresses (hello Kardashians and Hiltons) they actually have talent! Let's just hope Hollywood doesn't taint them. Be good, kids.

I hope you all have a great weekend and for the Americans who are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, Happy Thanksgiving! Have a wonderful holiday! 





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Hospital kills ‘wrong’ twin in selective abortion – both babies now dead

Children with special needs can be a great challenge to care for but a tragic story from Australia this week demonstrates that the search for the perfect child can have devastating consequences.

Steven Ertelt in Melbourne relates the story on Life Site News (see also BBC)

A hospital in Australia is making news for having killed the ‘wrong’ twin in a selective abortion. The mother of the two babies had wanted to abort the baby who doctors said had little chance to live. But now, both babies are dead.

The Herald Sun newspaper reports that the unnamed woman from Victoria had already named her unborn children when doctors told her one of the unborn babies had a congenital heart defect that would require years of operations, assuming the baby survived long enough to have them.

The mother decided to have an abortion, terminating the life of one of her unborn children and allowing the other baby to live.

The newspaper indicates an ultrasound technician checked on the healthy baby before the abortion and determined that the child was in a separate amniotic sac from its sibling. However, the abortion, which took place last Tuesday afternoon, went awry and the wrong baby was injected with drugs meant to end his or her life.

After the mother was informed of the error, doctors did an emergency Cesarean section and the sick unborn baby was 'terminated' in a three-hour operation, the newspaper indicates.

A friend of the mother told the newspaper she is having a difficult time following the error.

“She went to the hospital with two babies and now she has none. And she had the heartache of giving birth to her sick baby. She’s traumatized,’ she said. ‘The hospital said it had followed correct procedure, but how could this happen? The ultrasound clinician said she checked three times before the termination because she didn’t want to make a mistake.’

The newspaper indicates the family is considering legal action.


Ertelt goes on to relate the stories of other similar cases around the world.

The story graphically illustrates the grim reality of the ‘search and destroy’ approach to unborn babies with special needs. Such procedures are now very common although very few involve twins.

It is interesting that the killing of an ‘unwanted’ child with special needs in the womb is regarded as ‘normal’ whilst the killing of a ‘wanted’ normal child is seen as a tragedy and worthy of international news coverage.

And yet if the ‘abnormal’ baby had actually been born, doctors would presumably have done everything possible to provide what treatment or care they could. After all the twins were at 32 weeks gestation, 8 weeks past the accepted threshold of viability. Instead however they ensured that it was not born alive by 'terminating it'.

Of course if the second ‘normal’ child had also been ‘unwanted’ then the story would not have warranted a mention. Abortion of ‘unwanted’ ‘normal’ babies takes place over 40 million times every year around the world.

The British Abortion Act 1967 currently allows abortion up until birth where there is a ‘substantial risk’ or a ‘serious handicap’ – so-called ground E - but this is currently interpreted very liberally indeed.

As I blogged previously, recently revealed statistics showed that between 2002 and 2010 there were 17,983 abortions in this category. The overwhelming majority of these were for conditions compatible with life outside the womb and 1,189 babies were aborted after 24 weeks, the accepted age of viability.

The 17,983 included 26 for babies with cleft lips or palates and another 27 with ‘congenital malformations of the ear, eye, face or neck’, which can include problems such as having glaucoma or being born with an ear missing.

Over the period 2002-2010 there were altogether 3,968 Down’s syndrome babies aborted and now 95% of all babies found to have Down’s syndrome before birth have their lives ended in this way.

Our society’s increasing obsession with celebrity status, physical perfection and high intelligence fuels the view that the lives of people with disabilities or genetic diseases are somehow less worth living.

By contrast the Christian view is that the life of every human individual, regardless of its intelligence, beauty, state of health or degree of disability is infinitely precious. A just and caring society is one where the strong make sacrifices for the weak, or in the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:2).

This story is a stark warning to recognise and resist the eugenic mindset. Our priorities should be to develop treatments and supportive measures for those with genetic disease; not to search them out and destroy them before birth.

Tragically, if this woman had not sought to intervene both her babies would probably still be alive, one needing further treatment and one not.
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Gratitude



to all who have rekindled me 
at different times in my life--

my family, 
my dearest friends, 
my fellow Johnny fans, 
Tara, 
Patti, 
Johnny, 
my children especially,
and Life itself: 

all of you continue to show me 
in a thousand different ways 
that we can dare to dream--
and to do, and to be, and to love--
more 
than we might ever 
have thought possible.

with gratitude
and love, always, 
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Robert Pattinson: Secret Guilty Pleasures

                                                                    Robert Pattinson


Question:  What are your guilty pleasures?
Robert Pattinson Answer:  If I could just cut out beer, that’s one thing. And I’m, like, a compulsive eater.  I’m going to be so fat when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.


We all have our bad habits.  Often we are secretive about them except with our friends.  Of course in Robert Pattinson’s case, he is a mega-star and is accustomed to sharing information in an interview situation. 


Guilty pleasure 1: beer
"If I could just cut out beer, that’s one thing."

Robert Pattinson wants to ‘cut out’ or stop drinking’ beer. 

To cut something out  = to stop doing something (common/informal 
                                                                                                                       expression)

This response is straight forward.  However, there is an unspoken
idea between the speaker and listener regarding this guilty pleasure:

If I could just cut out beer, _____________. That’s one thing.
                                           (Unspoken idea)    
If I could just cut out beer, I would be healthy. That’s one thing.

The listener can guess the result of ‘cutting out beer’ from the topic/idea of the question: ‘guilty pleasures’. Robert and the interviewer share this common knowledge without saying the idea of 'being healthy'.

Guilty pleasure 2: compulsive eating
"And I’m, like, a compulsive eater." 
Robert’s second guilty pleasure is ‘compulsive eating’.

like,  =  similar to/for example

Robert uses ‘like’ to introduce the 'compulsive eater' idea.   The word ‘like’ gives him time to think of an answer.  There is a pause in voice between ‘like’ and ‘a compulsive eater’.  The use of ‘like’ sounds casual.
 
Conversational Speaking Pattern and Practice

Answer:  If I could just cut out beer, that’s one thing. And I’m, like, a compulsive eater.  I’m going to be so fat when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

Ex. 1
If I could just cut out pop, that’s one thing.
And I’m, like, always eating ice cream.  I’m going to be so overweight when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

Ex. 2
If I could just cut out candy, that’s one thing.
And I’m, like, a chocoholic.  I’m going to be so chubby when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

Ex. 3
If I could just cut out smoking, that’s one thing.
And I’m, like, always playing video games online.  I’m going to be so out of shape when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

Ex. 4
If I could just cut out gambling, that’s one thing.
And I’m, like, a compulsive shopper.  I’m going to be so poor when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

Until next week enjoy the Robert Pattinson's fan sites and new movie trailers!




Robert Pattinson Fan sites:

Trailer One Breaking Dawn

 Trailer Two Breaking Dawn

 Trailer Water for Elephants



You have read this article Breaking Dawn / Celebrity English Alex / Conversation / Interview / Movie Star / Robert Pattinson / Secret Guilty Pleasures / Vampires / Water for Elephants / 사랑 / 外国人英語 / 英会話 with the title November 2011. You can bookmark this page URL https://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2011/11/robert-pattinson-secret-guilty-pleasures.html. Thanks!

Giveaway! Win 2 Tix to Parlour Magazine's Fashion Show!

Enter to win two tickets to Parlour Magazine's Dollhouse Fashion Show and Pop Up Store this Saturday at Edmonton City Center! Mode models will be strutting down the runway in designs by Sid Neigum, Genette Salgado and Malorie Urbanovitch and local retail stores Gravity Pope, Coup Boutique and Urban Fashion Group will be on hand if you're interested in some retail therapy ; ).

To enter leave a comment in the comment section with your email address. If you're a follower of Marie a la Mode on Blogger or Bloglovin' you'll get an extra entry! I'll choose the winner Thursday night and announce it on my facebook page. Good Luck!






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So Much Happy and Thanksgiving

Johnny in Sun Valley, July 2011. Please click twice for glorious full-size view.

Sometimes my life as a blogger is really really amazing. Entirely through no fault of my own.

Yesterday brought me two unexpected gifts from two extremely kind souls. First, someone very dear to me surprised me with an early Christmas present that has left me breathless with joy because it means we will be heading
You have read this article BTW we fans totally rock for getting him into the Mashable finals / Johnny Weir / thank you D thank you thank you thank you / the photo of him lying on the ice brings tears to my eyes / vote vote vote with the title November 2011. You can bookmark this page URL https://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2011/11/so-much-happy-and-thanksgiving.html. Thanks!

This Is What


Bloggers Janis, me and Caroline

Last Thursday night I braved the little blizzard we were having and drove my car white-knuckled all the way to 29 Armstrong on 104th St. downtown to take in an art show (titled 'This is What') and sale featuring paintings from Erin Elizabeth Ross and photographs by Aaron Pederson.






The Man himself, Aaron Pederson, standing in front of his black and whites

 Talented painter Erin Elizabeth Ross
 photo credit: caroline gault

Books for purchase at 29 Armstrong

How cool would this look on a wall at home?

Love these piggy banks! Wanted to take one home with me.

"Hmmm..which painting is my favorite?" Can I choose all of them? ; )

 Janis and Caroline standing in front of my favorite painting (I narrowed it down.)








The stylish crowd. (That's photographer Sam Moukhaiber giving the peace sign.)

The cutest older couple I ever did see! They were delighted I wanted to take their picture : ).

I hope you all had a great weekend! It was around -34 degrees C with the windchill Saturday and Sunday. BLOODY COLD!! So I tried my best to stay warm and keep my fingers from falling off when I had to make my way outside. Mission accomplished, I was able to type up this post! 





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A Virtual Cornu-Kaleido-Scopia of Red Carpet Photos (If That's a Thing)...

...To Make Up for the Fact That There Aren't Any Actualfax Kaleidoscope Photos.


Johnny on the red carpet last night at the Broadway premiere of "Seminar," starring Alan Rickman and Jerry O'Connell. May I just say: Wow. Photo via Wire Image. There's also a plethora of images from WENN, although they're watermarked to death in the same vigorously determined way that Alice used to stamp pretend
You have read this article "Kaleidoscope" is apparently code for some kind of top-secret need-to-know SWAT operation but we all desperately need to know specifically about the lamppost / he looks glowingly happy ♥ / Johnny Weir with the title November 2011. You can bookmark this page URL https://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2011/11/a-virtual-cornu-kaleido-scopia-of-red.html. Thanks!

David Brainerd – Reflections on the life and ministry of this great inspirer of missionaries

On a run this morning I listened again to John Piper’s excellent biography on the life of David Brainerd, widely known as the missionary to the American Indians.

I love Piper’s missionary biographies and listen to them again and again always picking up something new.

In this one Piper particularly recommends Jonathan Edward’s ‘Life of Dave Brainerd’ which he says has never been out of print, but the only copies I could find on the web were several hundred dollars each so I will have to give that a miss. The biography though is an inspiration in itself and well worth the listen (or read).

Piper begins as follows:

‘David Brainerd was born on April 20, 1718 in Haddam, Connecticut. That year John Wesley and Jonathan Edwards turned 14. Benjamin Franklin turned 12 and George Whitefield 3. The Great Awakening was just over the horizon and Brainerd would live through both waves of it in the mid thirties and early forties, then die of tuberculosis in Jonathan Edwards' house at the age of 29 on October 9, 1747.’

He then outlines how he was present at Yale University at the beginning of the Great Awakening when Whitefield visited. Later he was thrown out of the university for his part in it, but God turned this disappointment into 'His appointment'.

‘Brainerd preached to the Indians at the Forks of the Delaware for one year. But on June 19, 1745 he made his first preaching tour to the Indians at Crossweeksung, New Jersey. This was the place where God moved in amazing power and brought awakening and blessing to the Indians. Within a year there were 130 persons in his growing assembly of believers.’

He then sums up the impact he has had upon other great missionaries who followed:

‘It was a short life: twenty-nine years, five months and nineteen days. Only eight of those years as a believer, and only four of those as a missionary. Why has Brainerd's life made the impact that it has? One obvious reason is that Jonathan Edwards took the Diaries and published them as a Life of Brainerd in 1749. But why has this book never been out of print?

Why did John Wesley say, "Let every preacher read carefully over the 'Life of Brainerd'"? Why was it written of Henry Martyn that "perusing the life of David Brainerd, his soul was filled with a holy emulation of that extraordinary man; and after deep consideration and fervent prayer, he was at length fixed in a resolution to imitate his example"? Why did William Carey regard Edwards' Life of Brainerd as a sacred text? Why did Robert Morrison and Robert McCheyne of Scotland and John Mills of America and Frederick Schwartz of Germany and David Livingston of England and Andrew Murray of South Africa and Jim Elliot of modern America look upon Brainerd with a kind of awe and draw power from him the way they and countless others did?

Gideon Hawley, another missionary protégé of Jonathan Edwards spoke for hundreds when he wrote about his struggles as a missionary in 1753, “I need, greatly need something more than human to support me. I read my Bible and Mr. Brainerd’s Life, the only books I brought with me, and from them have a little support.”’


Piper speculates as to why Brainerd’s life had such an impact and asks specifically why reading about Brainerd has encouraged him to press on in the ministry and to strive for holiness and divine power and fruitfulness in his life.

He concludes that Brainerd’s life ‘is a vivid, powerful testimony to the truth that God can and does use weak, sick, discouraged, beat-down, lonely, struggling saints, who cry to him day and night, to accomplish amazing things for his glory’.

He then outlines the struggles Brainerd faced as follows, expanding on each in turn:

1. Brainerd struggled with almost constant sickness.
2. Brainerd struggled with relentlessly recurring depression.
3. Brainerd struggled with loneliness.
4. Brainerd struggled with immense external hardships.
5. Brainerd struggled with a bleak outlook on nature.
6. Brainerd struggled to love the Indians.
7. Brainerd struggled to stay true to his calling.

Piper concludes as follows:

‘I think the reason Brainerd's life has such powerful effects on people is that in spite of all his struggles he never gave up his faith or his ministry. He was consumed with a passion to finish his race and honor his Master and spread the kingdom and advance in personal holiness. It was this unswerving allegiance to the cause of Christ that makes the bleakness of his life glow with glory so that we can understand Henry Martyn when he wrote, as a student in Cambridge in 1802, “I long to be like him!”

Brainerd called his passion for more holiness and more usefulness a kind of “pleasing pain.” “When I really enjoy God, I feel my desires of him the more insatiable, and my thirstings after holiness the more unquenchable; ... Oh, for holiness! Oh, for more of God in my soul! Oh, this pleasing pain! It makes my soul press after God ... Oh, that I might not loiter on my heavenly journey!”’
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Johnny Marmalade

Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya Da Da.
Which is really all I can think of to say here.Photo tweeted by @TillieB-K,
who offered only this by way of explanation: 
"Cool day hanging at the ice center 
watching @johnnygweir @kurtbrowning and 
Nancy Kerrigan practice for the big show." 
Yes, I bet it was cool! So happy for you! 
WHAT. IS. THIS. SORCERY. HE'S. WEARING.

So I had this brief lovely post planned to
You have read this article Johnny Weir / Kaleidoscope / love Johnny and Sasha / magnolia wine / so much happy / this performance is going to be something special / voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir yeah it’s stuck in my head with the title November 2011. You can bookmark this page URL https://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2011/11/johnny-marmalade.html. Thanks!

‘Care Not Killing’ - Update on end of life issues

The Care Not Killing Alliance (CNK), representing over 40 organisations which promote palliative care and oppose euthanasia, has just published its November 2011 update on end of life issues.

I have reproduced the highlights below.


Falconer Commission

The Falconer Commission on ‘Assisted Dying’ is due to report in late November. The Commission has been suggested by Dignity in Dying (Formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society), paid for by one of its patrons and stacked full of euthanasia sympathisers by Lord Falconer's own admission. It is expected to recommend the legalisation of assisted suicide within ‘strict safeguards’ for those who are terminally ill.

CNK has written why the law should not be changed on either physician-assisted suicide (PAS) or voluntary euthanasia and about the background and bias of the Falconer Commission. At the commission’s launch on 30 November 2010 it was revealed that nine of the twelve commissioners were well-known names in the pro-legalisation lobby. The BMA has passed a five part motion undermining the commission’s credibility.

Philip Nitschke’s visit to Britain

CNK wrote to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, asking her to exercise her powers to prevent Philip Nitschke entering the UK. Nitschke is running a series of seminars instructing people how to commit suicide. He is on public record as supporting suicide for depressed people and teenagers.

Addressing suicide contagion

CNK recently responded to the Department of Health suicide consultation. Our submission argued that the new suicide prevention strategy for England should further consider the phenomenon of media-induced suicide contagion.

Royal College of Nursing guidance on assisted suicide requests from patients

The RCN guidance gave practical advice about how to address the topic sensitively, within the law and supporting the patient. The guidance addresses the different legal issues and was surprisingly good.

Students change minds in debate about ‘right to die’

CNK debated at University College London against the vice chair of Dignity in Dying. CNK Campaign Director Dr Peter Saunders explained that a change in the law was unnecessary and dangerous and that the present law works well in deterring exploitation whilst giving discretion to prosecutors in hard cases. By the end of the debate, initial strong support for the ‘right to die’ was heavily reduced to less than half of those present.

Times launches ‘Silver manifesto’ for elderly people

The Times (£) has launched a fifty point plan (£) to improve the lives of elderly people. Some of the suggestions were to run care homes like homes not hospitals, give older people a role in schools and make text on menus bigger.

Doctors provide analysis of Palliative care article

Dr John Wiles, CNK Chair and retired NHS Consultant in Palliative Medicine, challenged an article in the BMJ by Clare Dyer that asserted that the legalisation of assisted dying does not harm palliative care. Dr Wiles argued that the recent article from the European Association for Palliative Care did not reach that conclusion.

New evidence that Patients in ‘Permanent Vegetative State’ may be consciously aware

The Lancet has reported that a method of communicating with brain damaged patients in a permanent vegetative state has been discovered by scientists in the UK and Belgium. Out of sixteen patients diagnosed in the vegetative state, three could repeatedly and reliably respond to two distinct commands.

Keep Breathing: A novel by Adam Grace

A new novel about campaigning and euthanasia has been written by Adam Grace. The powerful and imaginative story is about Howard Mitchell, a pensioner who leads a national campaign against a government keen to introduce stringent euthanasia law.
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