The Force is strong for Jedi police! UK, England

Eight police officers serving with Scotland's largest force listed their official religion as Jedi in voluntary diversity forms, it has emerged.

Strathclyde Police said the officers and two of its civilian staff claimed to follow the faith, which features in the Star Wars movies.

The details were obtained in a Freedom of Information request by Jane's Police Review.
Strathclyde was the only force in the UK to admit it had Jedi officers.

In the Star Wars films, Jedi Knights such as Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda use the Force to battle the evil Darth Vader, who has strayed to the dark side.

Jane's Police Review editor Chris Herbert, who requested the information, said: "The Force appears to be strong in Strathclyde Police with their Jedi police officers and staff.

"Far from living a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, some members of the noble Jedi order have now chosen Glasgow and its surrounding streets as their home."

Provided voluntarily

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police confirmed: "At the time of the request, 10 (eight police officers and two police staff) had recorded their religion as Jedi."
She added that the force monitored "six strands of diversity" - age, disability, gender, race religion and belief, and sexual orientation.

The force said the information was provided voluntarily and securely stored.
About 390,000 people listed their religion as Jedi in the 2001 Census for England and Wales. In Scotland the figure was a reported 14,000.

The Office for National Statistics did not recognise it as a separate category, and incorporated followers of Jedi with the atheists.

Last year, brothers Barney and Daniel Jones founded the UK Church of the Jedi - which offered sermons on the Force, light sabre training, and meditation techniques.
Strathclyde Police employs 8,200 police officers and 2,800 civilian staff.

This is True: Winston Churchill's Breakfast Menu.

Winston Churchill wrote his own breakfast menu - including whisky and a cigar - on his last official flight to the US. The breakfast menu on the 1954 BOAC flight was not to the Prime Minister's liking so he wrote one out himself. He requested a two-course meal to be brought on two trays, reports the Daily Telegraph. In his own hand, Churchill ordered: "1st Tray. Poached egg, Toast, Jam, Butter, Coffee and milk, Jug of cold milk, Cold Chicken or Meat. "2nd Tray. Grapefruit, Sugar Bowl, Glass orange squash (ice), Whisky soda." He then added: "Wash hands, cigar." The menu was kept by the air steward and the item is now being sold along with press cuttings from the trip. The menu is expected to fetch up to £1,500 when it is sold at Mullock's auctioneers in Ludlow, Shropshire, on St George's Day. Auctioneer Richard Westwood-Brookes said: "This is one of the most remarkable pieces of Churchill memorabilia we have seen. "It shows what a hearty breakfast he ate and it was all washed down with a whisky, after which he smoked a cigar. "It is the type of indulgence we've come to associate with Churchill and it reassuring to know he ate so well in his 80th year."

True Story: Man shoots himself during "Watchmen" movie

Eugene (KMTR) – A man shot himself to death in a Eugene movie theater just after midnight Monday morning.

Police say about 10 patrons were in an auditorium at Regal Cinemas watching the movie “Watchmen.” About midway through the film some of the moviegoers told the manager they heard a “popping” noise like a gunshot. A 24-year-old man was found in the rear of the auditorium with a gunshot wound to the head.

Police say the man shot himself and was dead when they arrived.

The patron closest to the man was sitting two rows away.

Earth Hour Around the World : 2009, Auckland, New Zealand

More than 3,400 cities worldwide have taken part in Earth Hour, turning off their lights for one hour at 2030 local time in protest against climate change.
New Zealand was one of the first countries to take part. In Wellington, revellers turned the event into a celebration with a candle-lit concert.

Earth Hour 2009: Why it is important (Auckland, New Zealand, David Lim)

(Source: Philadelphia Science and Tech News Examiner)

On Saturday March 28 at 8:30 p.m., you can join a global call to action on climate change by participating in Earth Hour 2009.

Earth Hour 2009 is being promoted as the world’s first global election. Organizers at the World Wildlife Fund hope to reach a target of 1 billion “voters” who participate by switching off their lights. In this election, switching off your lights is a vote to promote awareness of climate change. These votes will be presented to world leaders at the United Nationals Climate Change Conference to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009.

By turning off the lights in your home at 8:30 p.m. (local time), your home will be celebrating alongside international landmarks such as the Shanghai Hong Kong New World Tower, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Sydney’s Opera House, CN Tower in Toronto and Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Casino.

According to Earth Hour Executive Director, Andy Ridley, “In 2007, Earth Hour was held in one city, Sydney. A year later, the number of cities had skyrocketed to 371.” Participation has smashed through expectations and is a global event with more than 2700 cities in 83 countries committed to participating as of Wednesday March 25.

The Nighttime Lights of the World image showing light sources in the United States.http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/49261main_usa_nightm.jpeOrganizers at the World Wildlife Fund are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. At this 15th meeting of the United Nationals’ Climate Change Convention, government officials, United Nations representatives, and observer organizations will meet to negotiate an update to the Kyoto Protocol.

Egypt’s First Lady, Her Excellency Madame Suzanne Mubarak, will be participating in Earth Hour and in Egypt the lights on the Sphinx and Great Pyramids of Giza will go out. “United together, we can and will make a difference. I am pleased to offer my support of Earth Hour and am encouraged by the World Wildlife Fund's sustainability initiatives. Earth Hour heightens awareness and brings hope to the preservation of our shared planet’s precious environment today and for generations to come.” Why does it matter?

For years, the only manmade object visible from space was the Great Wall of China. Humanity’s dependency on the conveniences provided by the ready availability of relatively cheap electricity, has changed with the concept of “light pollution.” Regardless of an individual’s personal view on the causes of climate change (global warming), the environment is continuing to change. Excessive release of artificial light is a symptom of excessive electrical usage.

The effects of light pollution can be observed when people try to view the night sky in urban areas and only see the brightest of the stars. These people stand in awe when they look up at the truly dark sky and see the multitude of stars present. From an ecological perspective, there is good evidence that light pollution contributes to the disruption of bird migrations and interferes with normal night behaviors of nocturnal animals.

Search Engine

Around the neigbourhood, Mt Roskill, Auckland, New Zealand

Experimental photo shooting using Nokia N82 on a lazy Sunday afternoon around the house, Mt Roskill, Auckland, New Zealand.

Smoking: The Fallas Festival, Valencia, Spain

A traditional satirical sculpture burns down during the last day of the Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain, on 19 March 2009. The 'Fallas', the name for a structure made of cardboard, wood or cork are exhibited in the streets of Valencia during the festival - and are then set on fire the last day. Source Photo: Diego Tuson/AFP