Click for bigger.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Involuntary 'mirrored' movements reflection of gene mutation
When Andrée Marion brushes her teeth or combs her hair with one hand, her other one makes the same motion at the same time. When she fishes for change in her pocket with her left hand, the fingers on her right hand look like they are crawling.
Many members of her large Quebec family, including her 19-year-old son, make the same kind of involuntary mirror movements, and now Ms. Marion knows why. They have a rare genetic mutation that affects the development of the nervous system.
Normally, the right side of the brain directs the muscles on the left side of the body and vice versa. But in the case of family members with the mutation, the signals go to both sides, says the University of Montreal's Guy Rouleau, a senior member of the team of scientists that studied Ms. Marion's family.
The work on the genetically unusual Marions is an important step toward understanding how the human brain and body are wired in the womb and early infancy, says Dr. Rouleau, and may help shape future therapies that could involve using stem cells to replace or repair damaged brain cells and nerves.
Like most of the 11 affected members of her family, Ms. Marion has mirror movements in her fingers and hands. Three of her relatives, however, also get them in their toes and feet.
Sometimes she can override the movements – when she is typing with both hands, for example. Like the others in her family, she first saw it as quirk, nothing to ask a doctor about. Then one of her cousins, suffering from an unrelated problem, consulted a Montreal neurologist, who noticed the mirror movements and was intrigued to hear other family members also experienced them.
Full story here.
Many members of her large Quebec family, including her 19-year-old son, make the same kind of involuntary mirror movements, and now Ms. Marion knows why. They have a rare genetic mutation that affects the development of the nervous system.
Normally, the right side of the brain directs the muscles on the left side of the body and vice versa. But in the case of family members with the mutation, the signals go to both sides, says the University of Montreal's Guy Rouleau, a senior member of the team of scientists that studied Ms. Marion's family.
The work on the genetically unusual Marions is an important step toward understanding how the human brain and body are wired in the womb and early infancy, says Dr. Rouleau, and may help shape future therapies that could involve using stem cells to replace or repair damaged brain cells and nerves.
Like most of the 11 affected members of her family, Ms. Marion has mirror movements in her fingers and hands. Three of her relatives, however, also get them in their toes and feet.
Sometimes she can override the movements – when she is typing with both hands, for example. Like the others in her family, she first saw it as quirk, nothing to ask a doctor about. Then one of her cousins, suffering from an unrelated problem, consulted a Montreal neurologist, who noticed the mirror movements and was intrigued to hear other family members also experienced them.
Full story here.
Chihuahua helps save woman's life
Cheeka the Chihuahua knew something was wrong. "The dog woke me up. I looked all around, didn't see anything. I said, 'c'mon, let's go back to bed Cheeks' and she wouldn't go back to bed. She kept barking," said Ed McCollum of Gloucester who adopted Cheeka more than two years ago from the Cape Ann Animal Aid shelter. He says she's on medication for a liver illness and rarely barks.
McCollum explained Cheeka ran to a first floor window after running downstairs, which she never does alone, so he took her outside and she took him to an accident scene at the edge of his yard, a van on its side.
Inside the van was a woman, Mary Orlando, bleeding, pinned upside-down. "She didn't look good. She was having hard time breathing," said McCollum. He said he called 911 bringing rescuers to the scene in minutes.
She was taken to Beverly Hospital where she remains, but listed in good condition. "She could have been in there (in the van) all night long. Nobody even knew where the car was," said McCollum adding, Cheeka is such a good dog she would have dialed 911, if she could have, and let him keep sleeping.
With news video.
McCollum explained Cheeka ran to a first floor window after running downstairs, which she never does alone, so he took her outside and she took him to an accident scene at the edge of his yard, a van on its side.
Inside the van was a woman, Mary Orlando, bleeding, pinned upside-down. "She didn't look good. She was having hard time breathing," said McCollum. He said he called 911 bringing rescuers to the scene in minutes.
She was taken to Beverly Hospital where she remains, but listed in good condition. "She could have been in there (in the van) all night long. Nobody even knew where the car was," said McCollum adding, Cheeka is such a good dog she would have dialed 911, if she could have, and let him keep sleeping.
With news video.
Unpaid dog-waste removal firm returns woman's dog mess - and some
A dispute between a Bend dog owner and a dog waste removal service got more than a little messy this week, when The Bomb Squad went from collecting - to depositing. Melinda Hofmann, owner of The Bomb Squad dog waste pick-up service, tried to collect a $150 payment from Deborah Dillow on Monday night. When Dillow didn't answer the door, Hofmann went to her truck to write another notice - but she quickly changed her mind.
"I started to go back and write another note, but I just decided to give her poop back," Hofmann said on Wednesday. So then, from the back end of her truck, Hofmann started slinging faeces - 30 gallons of it, according to police - onto Dillow's front yard. Hofmann admitted she wasn't exactly thinking rationally at the time, but that didn't stop her. "Actually, once I started doing it, I kind of lost all rational thought together and I just got into this mode of emptying bags," she said. "And as I was flinging the poo all over her yard - it felt really good, and I just kept doing it."
Hofmann has been making a living picking up other people's dog poop for about 10 years. She said she has a loyal stable of clients, most of whom are good about paying their bills on time. Once in a while, though, she runs into folks who are late with payments, or don't pay at all - but rarely, she said.
On Monday night, Hofmann didn't stop tossing the poo until police arrived at the gross scene. "Very messy," police Sgt. Dan Ritchie said. "I would imagine it probably took the homeowners' quite some time to clean that mess up." Actually, it took hours - with the help of neighbours. Hofmann was taken away in handcuffs and charged with criminal trespassing, criminal mischief and offensive littering.
With news video.
"I started to go back and write another note, but I just decided to give her poop back," Hofmann said on Wednesday. So then, from the back end of her truck, Hofmann started slinging faeces - 30 gallons of it, according to police - onto Dillow's front yard. Hofmann admitted she wasn't exactly thinking rationally at the time, but that didn't stop her. "Actually, once I started doing it, I kind of lost all rational thought together and I just got into this mode of emptying bags," she said. "And as I was flinging the poo all over her yard - it felt really good, and I just kept doing it."
Hofmann has been making a living picking up other people's dog poop for about 10 years. She said she has a loyal stable of clients, most of whom are good about paying their bills on time. Once in a while, though, she runs into folks who are late with payments, or don't pay at all - but rarely, she said.
On Monday night, Hofmann didn't stop tossing the poo until police arrived at the gross scene. "Very messy," police Sgt. Dan Ritchie said. "I would imagine it probably took the homeowners' quite some time to clean that mess up." Actually, it took hours - with the help of neighbours. Hofmann was taken away in handcuffs and charged with criminal trespassing, criminal mischief and offensive littering.
With news video.
Uniformed officer allegedly caught smoking pot in patrol car
A Fort Worth police officer has been arrested and charged with possessing marijuana, tampering with evidence and is accused of also smoking marijuana while on duty and in uniform. Chief Jeff Halstead announced the arrest at a news conference. "As soon as I heard this information, as you can imagine, I was disgusted and I was furious," he said. Wesley Lamb, 34, was arrested on Wednesday morning following a tip from a Fort Worth resident that claimed the officer was seen smoking pot in a vehicle.
The accusation triggered an investigation by Chief Halstead's special investigation unit - which he created a year ago to tackle officers who break the law. "The more investigations that come to my desk the more resources I will deploy, because I will never ever tolerate that kind of behaviour," the Chief said. The investigation unit set up an undercover sting. An arrest warrant affidavit states that on Tuesday, April 27, Officer Lamb responded to a call from a Fort Worth citizen who found 86-grams of pot and wanted to turn in. But the "concerned citizen" was actually an undercover cop and the marijuana was from the FWPD property room.
The according affidavit goes on to explain that Lamb took possession of the marijuana, from an undercover police officer, went to his home and stayed inside for approximately 10 minutes. The report says Lamb was observed throughout his shift and at no time made a police report on the confiscated pot and never went to the property room.
After Lamb's shifted ended he allegedly moved his personal belongings, and the pot, into his personal vehicle. He was arrested before leaving police station property. Lamb is accused of possessing marijuana and tampering with evidence and after his arrest reportedly admitted to smoking marijuana while on duty.
With news video.
The accusation triggered an investigation by Chief Halstead's special investigation unit - which he created a year ago to tackle officers who break the law. "The more investigations that come to my desk the more resources I will deploy, because I will never ever tolerate that kind of behaviour," the Chief said. The investigation unit set up an undercover sting. An arrest warrant affidavit states that on Tuesday, April 27, Officer Lamb responded to a call from a Fort Worth citizen who found 86-grams of pot and wanted to turn in. But the "concerned citizen" was actually an undercover cop and the marijuana was from the FWPD property room.
The according affidavit goes on to explain that Lamb took possession of the marijuana, from an undercover police officer, went to his home and stayed inside for approximately 10 minutes. The report says Lamb was observed throughout his shift and at no time made a police report on the confiscated pot and never went to the property room.
After Lamb's shifted ended he allegedly moved his personal belongings, and the pot, into his personal vehicle. He was arrested before leaving police station property. Lamb is accused of possessing marijuana and tampering with evidence and after his arrest reportedly admitted to smoking marijuana while on duty.
With news video.
Man arrested for allegedly stealing pills from his mother's bra
A Memphis woman said she woke up before sunrise on Wednesday to find her son stealing her prescription medication, which she said she keeps in her bra to keep it away from him.
She tried to restrain her son, but he allegedly took the Xanax, according to a police affidavit. She called the police to her home on Victor in the Kingsbury neighbourhood. Officers said they found the son hiding under a neighbour's SUV.
Officers searched the son's bedroom and reported finding crack pipes, some pills, a needle, a spoon with methamphetamine on it and other drug paraphernalia.
When officers searched the son, Charlie Boyd, 28, they found 22 generic Xanax pills on him, including 15 wrapped in toilet paper stuck in his sock. Boyd was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was in jail Thursday with bond set at $40,000
She tried to restrain her son, but he allegedly took the Xanax, according to a police affidavit. She called the police to her home on Victor in the Kingsbury neighbourhood. Officers said they found the son hiding under a neighbour's SUV.
Officers searched the son's bedroom and reported finding crack pipes, some pills, a needle, a spoon with methamphetamine on it and other drug paraphernalia.
When officers searched the son, Charlie Boyd, 28, they found 22 generic Xanax pills on him, including 15 wrapped in toilet paper stuck in his sock. Boyd was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was in jail Thursday with bond set at $40,000
Pensioner fined €14,000 for 'ass bombing' pool
A pensioner from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate has reportedly been fined €14,000 for repeatedly doing Arschbomben, or “ass bombs,” the German equivalent of cannonballs, at a public swimming pool.
The retired 74-year-old teacher, identified as Axel G., appeared before the Alzey district court this week to appeal the fine for what is described as years of terrorising the local pool, where “ass bombs” are forbidden.
He was accused of scaring guests at the Wartberg Freibad with his splash-happy antics, hitting a woman over the head, sticking his tongue out, spitting in the water, and even dunking a 12-year-old girl underwater in 2006, causing her “mortal fear.”
The suntanned pensioner denied all of the explosive charges, but the pool security camera evidence worked against him, revealing footage of his “ass bombs.”
“The way you behave is really nothing to brag about,” Judge Rolf-Rainer Nebe said.
The court proceedings gave Axel G. a change of heart, though. He has withdrawn the appeal and decided to pay the fine, which reportedly included penalties for assaulting the girl, making false accusations and outstanding tax offences.
The retired 74-year-old teacher, identified as Axel G., appeared before the Alzey district court this week to appeal the fine for what is described as years of terrorising the local pool, where “ass bombs” are forbidden.
He was accused of scaring guests at the Wartberg Freibad with his splash-happy antics, hitting a woman over the head, sticking his tongue out, spitting in the water, and even dunking a 12-year-old girl underwater in 2006, causing her “mortal fear.”
The suntanned pensioner denied all of the explosive charges, but the pool security camera evidence worked against him, revealing footage of his “ass bombs.”
“The way you behave is really nothing to brag about,” Judge Rolf-Rainer Nebe said.
The court proceedings gave Axel G. a change of heart, though. He has withdrawn the appeal and decided to pay the fine, which reportedly included penalties for assaulting the girl, making false accusations and outstanding tax offences.
Teacher with rabbit phobia to sue 14-year-old for drawing bunny
A teacher with a phobia over rabbits is suing a 14-year-old pupil for compensation after she drew a bunny on the blackboard.
The teacher, from Vechta, Germany, says she was traumatised by the drawing, and claims the girl knew it would terrify her.
She had transferred to the school where a pupil from her former school had just become a pupil and told her new friends about the teacher's fear of rabbits. "We did it for fun and out of curiosity", one of the girls told the court, adding, "We wanted to see if she would really freak out."
School officials removed her from the class and now the teacher is seeking compensation for her terror and loss of earnings, her lawyer Manfred Bormann told the court. The case continues.
The teacher, from Vechta, Germany, says she was traumatised by the drawing, and claims the girl knew it would terrify her.
She had transferred to the school where a pupil from her former school had just become a pupil and told her new friends about the teacher's fear of rabbits. "We did it for fun and out of curiosity", one of the girls told the court, adding, "We wanted to see if she would really freak out."
School officials removed her from the class and now the teacher is seeking compensation for her terror and loss of earnings, her lawyer Manfred Bormann told the court. The case continues.
Surgeons extricate hot-sauce bottle from prison inmate
An inmate in a US state prison was hospitalized and needed emergency surgery to remove a hot-sauce bottle he apparently had used as a sex device. Taxpayers will end up paying the prisoner's medical bills, expected to run into the thousands of dollars.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction won't release the name of the inmate, citing federal regulations regarding the privacy of medical records. However, a report by the State Highway Patrol, which initially investigated the incident as a rape case, said an inmate at the Noble Correctional Facility in Caldwell was taken to Marietta General Hospital on Sunday evening after saying he had been sexually assaulted in the shower by another prisoner.
The injured inmate later acknowledged that he had not been assaulted, but on his own had inserted the hot-sauce bottle anally, sources said. "At this point, we don't believe there was a perpetrator involved in the incident," said prisons spokeswoman Julie Walburn.
However, sources said, surgery was required to remove the bottle. The inmate was hospitalized and was treated in the intensive-care unit. State officials frequently point out that the state is required by law to provide medical care for prisoners - even those who harm themselves.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction won't release the name of the inmate, citing federal regulations regarding the privacy of medical records. However, a report by the State Highway Patrol, which initially investigated the incident as a rape case, said an inmate at the Noble Correctional Facility in Caldwell was taken to Marietta General Hospital on Sunday evening after saying he had been sexually assaulted in the shower by another prisoner.
The injured inmate later acknowledged that he had not been assaulted, but on his own had inserted the hot-sauce bottle anally, sources said. "At this point, we don't believe there was a perpetrator involved in the incident," said prisons spokeswoman Julie Walburn.
However, sources said, surgery was required to remove the bottle. The inmate was hospitalized and was treated in the intensive-care unit. State officials frequently point out that the state is required by law to provide medical care for prisoners - even those who harm themselves.
Female sailor faces sex grope charge
Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Success is embroiled in an alcohol-fuelled sex scandal after a female sailor allegedly went on a binge in Singapore.
It is believed the woman went ashore during a port visit this month, got very drunk and began to publicly grope her male colleagues.
One of the men made an official complaint and the Australian Defence Force Investigation Service has launched an investigation.
Defence Force chief Angus Houston said the ADF Investigative Service was looking into the incident. "We take any instances of inappropriate behaviour seriously,'' he said.
It is believed the woman went ashore during a port visit this month, got very drunk and began to publicly grope her male colleagues.
One of the men made an official complaint and the Australian Defence Force Investigation Service has launched an investigation.
Defence Force chief Angus Houston said the ADF Investigative Service was looking into the incident. "We take any instances of inappropriate behaviour seriously,'' he said.
20,000 bees swarm on woman's washing
A beekeeper had to be called after a swarm of 20,000 bees attached themselves to an Australian woman's washing.
They made a bee line for some colourful pants and socks hanging on a washing line in Victoria, Australia.
Beekeeper Brian Gardiner, who was called to clear the insects, said the woman had been terrified when she saw the bees attached to one of her socks.
"She had gone out to bring the washing in and got the fright of her life," he said.
"When she rang me and described where the swarm was, I had to grab my camera."
Mr Gardiner said that bees swarm in the spring when their hives become overcrowded, forcing the queen bee to head out with some of her workers.
They made a bee line for some colourful pants and socks hanging on a washing line in Victoria, Australia.
Beekeeper Brian Gardiner, who was called to clear the insects, said the woman had been terrified when she saw the bees attached to one of her socks.
"She had gone out to bring the washing in and got the fright of her life," he said.
"When she rang me and described where the swarm was, I had to grab my camera."
Mr Gardiner said that bees swarm in the spring when their hives become overcrowded, forcing the queen bee to head out with some of her workers.
Man fined over sticky end for bear lured by doughnuts
A hunter in the American state of Pennsylvania has been fined nearly $7,000 (£4,569) for luring a bear to a sticky end with a trail of doughnuts. Charles Olsen enticed the large black bear into his gunsights with pastries and illegally shot it, police said.
Mr Olsen attracted the attention of the Game Commission when his truck, laden with sugary treats, was spotted on a road a week before bear season. The "pastry poacher" was found guilty of violating several game laws.
Mr Olsen was arrested last November when he attempted to register the bear, which weighed 707 lbs (a third of a tonne). It would have been the biggest trophy claimed during the state's three-day bear hunting season had it been killed legally.
The 39-year-old, of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, was rumbled when a Game Commission wildlife conservation officer spotted his truck loaded with pastries from a local shop and traced the licence number.
The officer, Cory Bentzoni said: "Being that we were so close to bear season, seeing that person drive by with an unusual amount of pastries was like watching an individual go down a row of parked vehicles testing each handle to see if it would open. Something just didn't seem right," he said.
Mr Olsen could also lose his hunting and trapping privileges for at least three years after Thursday's hearing.
Mr Olsen attracted the attention of the Game Commission when his truck, laden with sugary treats, was spotted on a road a week before bear season. The "pastry poacher" was found guilty of violating several game laws.
Mr Olsen was arrested last November when he attempted to register the bear, which weighed 707 lbs (a third of a tonne). It would have been the biggest trophy claimed during the state's three-day bear hunting season had it been killed legally.
The 39-year-old, of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, was rumbled when a Game Commission wildlife conservation officer spotted his truck loaded with pastries from a local shop and traced the licence number.
The officer, Cory Bentzoni said: "Being that we were so close to bear season, seeing that person drive by with an unusual amount of pastries was like watching an individual go down a row of parked vehicles testing each handle to see if it would open. Something just didn't seem right," he said.
Mr Olsen could also lose his hunting and trapping privileges for at least three years after Thursday's hearing.
Wildlife documentaries infringe animals' privacy
Wildlife documentary makers are infringing animals' rights to privacy by filming their most private and intimate moments, according to a new study. Footage of animals giving birth in their burrows or mating crosses an ethical line that film-makers should respect, according to Brett Mills, a lecturer in film studies at the University of East Anglia.
Mills compiled a report on animals' rights to privacy after reviewing scenes from the BBC's 2009 wildlife series "Nature's Great Events". Among the offending footage was film of a narwhal whale that appeared to have retreated from view beneath the Arctic ice sheet. "Instead of thinking we'll leave it alone, film-makers decide the only solution is to develop new technology so they can film it," Mills said.
"We have an assumption that humans have some right to privacy, so why do we not assume that for other species, particularly when they are engaging in behaviour that suggests they don't want to be seen?" In 2008 the BBC was inundated with complaints after Springwatch presenter Bill Oddie described an encounter between two beetles: "He crash-lands on top of a likely looking lady. There's a bit of luck! One thing's for sure: this boy is horny!"
Mills said filming such encounters with miniature cameras was a level of surveillance humans would most likely object to. "The key thing in most wildlife documentaries is filming those very private moments of mating or giving birth. Many of these activities, in the human realm, are considered deeply private, but with other species we don't recognise that," he said. Mills' report appears in the Journal of Media and Cultural Studies. Mills said that while it might seem odd to claim animals have a right to privacy, the idea should not be dismissed. "We can never really know if animals are giving consent, but they do often engage in forms of behaviour which suggest they'd rather not encounter humans," he said.
Mills compiled a report on animals' rights to privacy after reviewing scenes from the BBC's 2009 wildlife series "Nature's Great Events". Among the offending footage was film of a narwhal whale that appeared to have retreated from view beneath the Arctic ice sheet. "Instead of thinking we'll leave it alone, film-makers decide the only solution is to develop new technology so they can film it," Mills said.
"We have an assumption that humans have some right to privacy, so why do we not assume that for other species, particularly when they are engaging in behaviour that suggests they don't want to be seen?" In 2008 the BBC was inundated with complaints after Springwatch presenter Bill Oddie described an encounter between two beetles: "He crash-lands on top of a likely looking lady. There's a bit of luck! One thing's for sure: this boy is horny!"
Mills said filming such encounters with miniature cameras was a level of surveillance humans would most likely object to. "The key thing in most wildlife documentaries is filming those very private moments of mating or giving birth. Many of these activities, in the human realm, are considered deeply private, but with other species we don't recognise that," he said. Mills' report appears in the Journal of Media and Cultural Studies. Mills said that while it might seem odd to claim animals have a right to privacy, the idea should not be dismissed. "We can never really know if animals are giving consent, but they do often engage in forms of behaviour which suggest they'd rather not encounter humans," he said.
Kitten has 2½ inch needle removed from neck
This curious kitten had a lucky escape when she accidentally pounced on a darning needle. Her owner, Thomas Ward, first realised something was wrong when seven-month-old Marley started acting out of sorts.
He says: “We noticed Marley was much quieter than usual and then she started coughing. I could feel something poking out of the side of her neck, pushing against her skin but I had no idea what it was. At first I thought it might be a bone.”
Thomas’s local vet advised him to take her to The Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria, London. X-rays revealed the two and a half inch darning needle had pierced through the roof of Marley’s mouth right through the back of her neck.
It narrowly missed her jugular vein and windpipe and staff quickly operated to carefully pull the needle out. Marley has now recovered from her ordeal and Thomas says she’s back to her usual cheeky self.
He says: “We were very surprised when we saw how big the needle was and we have no idea where she got it from. The main thing is that she’s doing fine and she’s totally back to normal now.”
Blue Cross vet Julia Smith, who carried out the operation, said: “You can see on the X-ray that the needle had travelled right through the neck muscle, so she must have pounced on the needle with some force. The needle was close to her spine so she’s very lucky to have escaped without any permanent damage.”
There are more photos here.
He says: “We noticed Marley was much quieter than usual and then she started coughing. I could feel something poking out of the side of her neck, pushing against her skin but I had no idea what it was. At first I thought it might be a bone.”
Thomas’s local vet advised him to take her to The Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria, London. X-rays revealed the two and a half inch darning needle had pierced through the roof of Marley’s mouth right through the back of her neck.
It narrowly missed her jugular vein and windpipe and staff quickly operated to carefully pull the needle out. Marley has now recovered from her ordeal and Thomas says she’s back to her usual cheeky self.
He says: “We were very surprised when we saw how big the needle was and we have no idea where she got it from. The main thing is that she’s doing fine and she’s totally back to normal now.”
Blue Cross vet Julia Smith, who carried out the operation, said: “You can see on the X-ray that the needle had travelled right through the neck muscle, so she must have pounced on the needle with some force. The needle was close to her spine so she’s very lucky to have escaped without any permanent damage.”
There are more photos here.
Jesus flag banned for 'advertising Christianity'
Vicar Mark Binney has been banned from flying a flag of Jesus Christ outside his church because council officials reckon it advertises Christianity.
Rev Binney was threatened with a £1,000 fine as he did not receive planning permission to fly the pink flag at St Andrew's Church in Evesham, Worcestershire.
The 52-year-old had hoisted it up a 30ft pole outside the church to celebrate Holy Week at Easter, prompting a complaint from the public which led the council to take action.
He said he reckons the "appalling" move is part of a gradual erosion of Christianity in the UK.
"You see blatant advertising everywhere, especially at election time, where lots of people are completely flouting the law," the vicar added.
"But we can't display a flag for one week – the most holy week of the Christian year."
Rev Binney was threatened with a £1,000 fine as he did not receive planning permission to fly the pink flag at St Andrew's Church in Evesham, Worcestershire.
The 52-year-old had hoisted it up a 30ft pole outside the church to celebrate Holy Week at Easter, prompting a complaint from the public which led the council to take action.
He said he reckons the "appalling" move is part of a gradual erosion of Christianity in the UK.
"You see blatant advertising everywhere, especially at election time, where lots of people are completely flouting the law," the vicar added.
"But we can't display a flag for one week – the most holy week of the Christian year."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)