By Alexander Lawrie

A TALENTED musician has combined his love for guitar, mandolin and bandurria by building his own unique instrument – the Combuitar.

Benny Tetteh-Lartey has handcrafted the unusual device himself, and incorporated 18 strings and three necks into just one instrument.

Originally from Ghana, the musician, who is currently attracting huge interest from the film industry in Hollywood, is a cabinet maker to trade and makes all his own musical pieces.

The idea for the Combuitar is inspired by Tetteh-Lartey’s musical idol, folk legend Roy Williamson.

The original Corries Folk Trio star also built his own personal instruments, combining a mandolin and a guitar into the ‘combolin’.

Another version the late star put together was a combination of a guitar and a 12 string Spanish bandurria.

The musical oddities were originally put together as a way to combine the array of instruments The Corries used on stage.

Mr Tetteh-Lartey, 42, said: “Roy Williamson is one of my heroes, mainly because he was a fantastic musician who also made his own instruments. I’ve always loved the sound of his combolin and I thought I’d have a go at my own version.

“I must have put hundreds of hours into making the combuitar, and after a few tweaks here and there it is sounding really good. 

“I’ve played a couple of small gigs with it, and the audience reaction to the instrument has been amazing.

“Apart from a simple bass guitar I’ve never built an instrument before so, at first, I had to buy a book to learn the rudimentary skills.

“It looks quite big and cumbersome but it’s really quite light when you hold it, although I do have to sit down to play it.

Mr Tetteh-Lartey, from Loanhead, Midlothian, has had three record labels interested in his work recently including Columbia and Island, and the dad-of three is hoping one of them makes a move to sign him up.

He also managed to play a small set at the Chill Out tent at T in the Park after gatecrashing the stage a couple of years ago.

He said: “I’d been promised a set at T in the Park but a couple of days before it was due I was told it was off.

“I was livid and decided to go along to the festival anyway and just blag my way on stage. Nobody seemed to click that I shouldn’t be there, and after I finished I was invited back to play the following year.

“Maybe at next year’s festival I can thrill the crowd with my new combuitar.”

he was born march 28, 1975 in newport news virginia. before moving to midlothian, va in the early 80's he lived in poquoson, va.

he wrote and directed cult film, donnie darko. also, southland tales with sarah michelle gellar and the rock.

donnie darko is supposed to take place in a "crisp upper-middle-class Virginia suburb."

for more information:

• richard-kelly.net/index.php
• imdb.com/name/nm0446819/
• myspace.com/richardkellyofficial

Nick Clegg has yesterday signalled a change in resources, directing them at 50 constituencies in the UK where the Liberal Democrats are lying second to the Labour in Westminster elections.

Obviously, as current polls show the Labour Party support is there for the taking. Voters are jumping ship in England to the Conservatives and burning their bridges in Scotland en route to the SNP.

Nick Clegg's plan is simple. With the Liberal Democrats now taking on the Labour Party where it can, Labour is now subject to a three way squeeze.

And if Labour meets with electoral meltdown in 2010 as expected, the Conservatives, SNP and the Liberal Democrats all stand to make substantial gains.

The political map of the UK could look radically different after the next Westminster election, expected in the summer of 2010.

If the Liberal Democrat plan works the Labour Party might be finished as a political force for decades.

And thats even before the proposed date for the Independence referendum in Scotland!

There were a baker's dozen seats in Scotland where the Liberal Democrats placed behind Labour in 2005:

Edinburgh South
Aberdeen South
Edinburgh North and Leith
Glasgow North
Edinburgh East
East Lothian
Midlothian
Dunfermline and West Fife
Glasgow South
Glasgow North West
Glasgow Central
Rutherglen and Hamilton West
Paisley and Renfrewshire South

These seats above are ranked by their marginality by the result of 2005. The Liberal Democrats pulled off an excellent result in 2006 taking the Dunfermline and West Fife seat from Labour in a by-election.

If Nick Clegg's Labour attack is to be successful then we would expect at least some other seats to fall to the Liberal Democrats too.

Edinburgh South is the most marginal Scottish seat by the 2005 Westminster election result.

Edinburgh South:

2005:

LAB 33.23%
LIB 32.28%
CON 24.10%
SNP 6.17%
OTH 4.22%

Current electoral calculus prediction:

CON 28.70 %
SNP 23.09%
LAB 22.33%
LIB 22.00 %
OTH 3.87%

A Conservative gain.

As you can see the main beneficaries from Labour and Liberal Democrat vote collapse are the Conservatives and the SNP.

But on current form, there's really not a lot of difference between the four parties, making Edinburgh East a genuine four-way marginal come the next Westminster election.

It does show the problem for the Liberal Democrats though; their vote is also falling according to the polls. They need to arrest this decline for the plan to work in Scotland.

Take Aberdeen South for instance. 2005:

LAB 36.69%
LIB 33.45%
CON 17.14%
SNP 9.90%
OTH 2.81%

Electoral Calculus prediction:

SNP 26.73%
LAB 25.80%
LIB 23.17%
CON 21.71%
OTH 2.58%

A SNP gain.

Again the SNP are seen to rise spectularly, this time enough to take the seat.

But again, the votes look close, and Aberdeen South now looks a four-way marginal too.

The problem for the Liberal Democrats is to try and keep their vote share. If they manage to do that in these constituencies they'll have a good chance of taking a couple. Winning all these marginals though will take a lot of money; money that would be better spent on better bets where there is a straight Labour - Liberal Democrat fight based on current polling predictions.

But on current predictions by electoral calculus, the Lib Dems won't pick up any more seats in Scotland; indeed they will lose 3 seats (Argyll and Bute; Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk; Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk). That's even if they manage to keep Dunfermline and West Fife, or places like Gordon that recently turned SNP at Holyrood. This is a party who recently lost its deposit in Glasgow East, remember?

Trying to keep their vote is one problem. Trying to oust it from Labour voters is another.

The Telegraph has an article on the new Liberal Democrat strategy and a possible list of their fifty seats targeted.

The first Scottish seat on that list is Aberdeen South; as we've already seen its not as straightforward as it first appears. Just the Labour to Liberal Democrat swing doesn't take into account the soaring SNP vote.

No wonder Nick Clegg is campaigning for funds to fight these seats!

Just where is Michael Brown when you need him?

Samuel Little of Samuel Little Graphic Design and Donna Gregory, news editor of the Chesterfield Observer walked the "5K/2.5K Run/Walk for the Future" sponsored by the Lucy Corr Foundation on Saturday, July 19, 2008. The race started at 8 a.m. (EST) sharp, the heat was immense but fun was had by all. The runners ran in the sun while the walkers strolled through the scenic walking trail near the Chesterfield County Courthouse facilities. As you can see in the photo to the right, we both were prepared for the grueling 2.5K walk. Donna had a backpack with water and food for trip and I had a bottle of water ready and waiting to spring into action in case we passed out from heat exhaustion. After the race we drank water and ate oranges, bananas and granola bars to replenish our bodies from the grueling stroll on the walking trail. The race proceeds benefits the Lucy Corr Foundation.

FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS, Lucy Corr Village has distinguished itself by meeting the assisted living and long-term care needs of individuals in the Chesterfield County community. Now, Lucy Corr Village is expanding to meet the needs of today’s new generation of active, value-minded retirees with its new Springdale neighborhood. Springdale will offer cottages and apartments, along with the reassuring security of continuing care. Long recognized for exceptional service, this tradition will continue to grow as the community continues to grow. So, if you view retirement as a time that can be more fully enjoyed when you plan ahead for the future, consider a move to Lucy Corr Village. You’ll be going in the right direction.

Look for more county events in the Chesterfield Observer newspaper or online at chesterfieldobserver.com.

Samuel Little Graphic Design specializes in brochure design, publication design, and web site design in the Richmond metro area with it's headquarters in Midlothian, Virginia. Samuel Little Graphic Design also helps start up companies with marketing and branding which includes logo design, brochure design, business card design, stationary design, building signs, trade show booth posters and materials, web site design and development and much more.

Apparently, he had a wire cage behind the front seats of his truck. His truck had black-tinted windows and a large plywood board in the back window to keep[ the cage hidden. He said he wanted to control the girls, ages 2 and 5, so they wouldn't run away. Police later added that the girls did not live in the cage.

The children were turned over to the state child welfare agency and placed in foster care Monday.
Agency spokesman Kendall Marlowe said the department was investigating abuse allegations against the father, they had already previously found the mother neglectful and provided unspecified "supportive services" to the family.

Gonzalez will appear in court July 31 on charges of misdemeanor child endangerment. Cook County prosecutors were exploring Thursday whether the charge could be upgraded to a felony.

iNPLACENEWS

http://www.jamesriveradvisorycouncil.com/cleanup/cleanup.htm

But hold on, can we take this as a sign that the Liberal cause, at least in the central belt of Scotland? And what would that mean in the upcoming General Election if the Lib-Dems can't get their supports out and energised because of the mess they've made in their traditional powerhouse of local government? The number of marginal seats in Scotland with the Lib-Dems in strong second places, where they are likely to challenge a sitting Labour MP is a fair few. If there is any weakness in the party machine, especially when being compared to Labour, then both the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives are going to be ready to strike, decimating the seat counts for the former parties.

Of course there's no telling what damage to the perception of the Lib-Dems has happened thanks to their power sharing in the Scottish Parliament with Labour. Will there be a knock-on effect in an election to Westminster?

It's a tough time to be a Lib Dem just now, no matter where you are in the country.

At the northern end, the map marks a "proposed cycle link". One useful feature of Spokes maps is the ability to highlight improvements that could be made. This particular one was identified by Spokes members.

It's just a shame that the people who plan roads (this one has been on the go for at least ten years) aren't as aware of low cost measures that might encourage cycling and, perhaps, reduce the need for even more roads. Maybe that is why useful alternatives aren't investigated and provided...

Spokes has also made the covers of all its Newsletters and Bulletins available on-line. A fascinating snapshot of 30 years of campaigning. The summer 2008 edition will be the one hundredth! To mark this milestone, there will be an exhibition of the leaflets and other items in the Central Library on George IV Bridge.

So the school did a play on School House Rocks. I used to watch these when I was younger and I loved them!!!

The kids did a great job and I really enjoyed getting to watch it and not have to work!!!

Congrats to the School House Rocks - Live, Jr. Cast and Crew on a GREAT JOB!!!

Pics to come soon (when I get my laptop back)...

We have lots of services...

Good Friday
Friday, March 21 - 7 PM - Glen Allen Campus
Friday, March 21 - 7 PM - Internet Campus (www.rcc-impact.com)

Easter Services
Saturday, March 22 - 6 PM - Glen Allen Campus
Sunday, March 23 - 9 AM & 10:45 AM - Glen Allen Campus
Sunday, March 23 - 10:45 AM - Internet Campus (www.rcc-impact.com)
Sunday, March 23 - 11 AM - Midlothian Campus

That means a total of 7 Services from Friday to Sunday morning... I am super excited about doing these services... Be sure and check out our Internet Campus if you are not in the Richmond, VA Area...

Today the Scottish Government announced some details for "Scotland's local authorities to help create a series of 'sustainable travel demonstration communities' across the country". (In part a response to England's Cycling Demonstration Towns.)

The topic was the subject of a seminar in Edinburgh in December. City of Edinburgh Council was represented - as were various Edinburgh based organisations with an interest in 'sustainable transport'. The 'Scottish Demo Town' idea was announced a year before - in the National Transport Strategy.

There have been rumours that cities wouldn't be eligible because they are too big. But all (32) Scottish local authorities have been sent details and asked to consider areas/communities with populations up to 100,000. One place that might be chosen is Inverness (a city since 2001) with about half that number of people - and already involved in various cycle/sustainable transport initiatives.

For Edinburgh it would mean finding an area containing less than a fifth of its population. It could be the city centre which already has the highest concentration of cycling. However the aim of this initiative is that "communities would be a role model for others to follow, showcasing the very best methods available to encourage residents to use more environmentally-friendly forms of transport."

It might be better to look to the east of the city where there is already a reasonable network of walk/cycle paths - particularly the Innocent Path - and other paths gradually being improved. A suitable TDC could include some (or all of) Leith, Portobello, Craigmillar, Duddingston, Bingham.

The whole area is relatively flat (east of Arthur's Seat!) and includes parts that are being rebuilt or about to get significant new development - Brunstane/Newcraighall, Craigmillar/Greendykes, Lochend, Leith Docks.

The Scottish Government press release talks as though all the work will be done by local councils, but for this to really work in a place like Edinburgh (small towns will have a more established sense of community and travel to work areas) it's probably necessary to involve existing local groups. These could be 'interest' groups such as Greener Leith, PEDAL (Portobello) and Craigmillar Cycles as well as neighbourhood groups and Community Councils.

The Scottish Government is looking for "innovative ideas" (these are just a few of those suggested in the press release).

• Organised cycling and walking trips
• More pedestrian/cycle/walking only areas
• Improved conditions for walking, footpaths cleared of obstacles; better managed and maintained streets
• Improvement of green space
• Better use of public spaces to increase opportunities for recreational physical activity
• Free bus and train tickets encouraging residents to give it a try
• Maps explaining how to walk or cycle to a local shop, or even something as simple as a timetable for their nearest bus stop
• School and work place travel plans

Quite a lot of possibilities - but there's only £15m available over 3 years and only half a dozen places likely to be chosen. Edinburgh will need (and want) to make a good case.

This part of Edinburgh also joins both East Lothian and Midlothian. The new Queen Margaret University is just yards away from the border. Shawfair (the new community due to built with the involvement of Edinburgh and Midlothian Councils) is close by. Perhaps SEStran will take an interest in, and help with, the idea of Travel Demonstration Communities too.

Colin Howden, Director of TRANSform Scotland is supportive of this new initiative:

"This will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase how small-scale local transport projects can get people to switch to sustainable transport. The English scheme has proved very successful. Given the additional funding available in the Scottish scheme, there is no reason why this shouldn't deliver even better results.

"If Scotland is to achieve its ambitious climate change emission targets then the transport sector is going to have to play a large part. The sustainable travel towns will provide examples of how to bring about reductions in carbon emissions.

"We hope that many local authorities around Scotland will bring forward bids. It's important that we see a range of towns in both urban and rural areas take forward sustainable travel towns."

This might be a First Amendment fight Midlothian doesn't want to wage...

This Post Sponsored By:
Law Offices of Todd Phillippi
200 E. Main St.
Midlothian, TX 76065
972-723-9090

Hi, well I took a copy of that letter to mr.Ingram I guess it is, boy is he a very nasty person. As soon as he started reading the 1st line and seen shrodt mentioned he immediately started asking who wrote that letter & I told him my wife did, he said who in the rcaa helped her, and I said ( loudly) NO one. My wife wrote that & I typed it for her, then he said why don't you people just give up cause you will be annexed. I said I'm a country boy & plan to stay that why, then he said " When are you moving then." I said I'm not planning to, he said you'll have to. I said that is your opinion. He said he'd look at it later to determin if it would be printed. I said thank you and walked out.

Ingram wouldn't admit publicly to this, but he will - and does - slant his news coverage to fit his worldview (whereas I just report the truth no matter who it is about), and that's a shame. Midlothian shouldn't have to deal with such a overtly and covert biased "journalist."

http://www.cfarg.com/expenditures.html

Midlothian Councilman Fryer wrote quite a letter, missing little except the truth.

Truth: Referring to those with whom you disagree as “militant opponents” simply incites people and tries to get them off the real issues. Were these people carrying “assault” rifles while passing out the “anonymous” flyer? Did you see UFO’s prior to their presence? It appears it is you who is “stirring the political pot.” Could it be because you’re up for reelection this year and you admit you’ve changed your core values?

Truth: Section 7.8-2 of the Midlothian Building Code requires 90% - 95% masonry or equivalent material, depending upon the zoning. Section 7.8-1 defines masonry products, but not only are none of the ASTM specifications found on the HardiPlank™ website, that same website clearly states that HardiPlank™ is not “masonry.” (See http://cfarg.com/management.html for links.)

Truth: You condemn the use of the term “siding” on the flyer, yet that very description is used by the manufacturer for their product. (See http://cfarg.com/management.html for links.)

Truth: You say the HardiPlank™ was chosen to make it look like Hi-View Ranch. Why would you fashion a fire station to look like a ranch that is closed and is rumored to be scheduled to be razed?

Truth: You were correct when you said people should “stop being part of the problem” and “start being part of the solution.” It sounds as if you were a part of that solution over 10 years ago, before joining the “good ol’ boy club” known as the city council. You once knew the truth; find it again, or step down for someone who remembers.

http://www.americanchatter.com/states/TX/forumdisplay.php?s=0380529c2fcf858abb53555544abf19d&f=33

Check it out here...

www.youtube.com/user/riccomchurch

Still a little bit of work to do but it's coming along...

He's got a great idea: http://www.kenchambers.net

Here's what's going... What's going on...

Stage Move at the Church - been at the church until 11pm - 12am every night

Feeling Sick - I have had all the Flu like symptons other than cough but no Flu... I am better now (thank God!)...

RCC Midlo moving into new offices - PK and me are moving him in today!! Hooray!!!

New Series Beginning - the "Upward" series begins this Sunday... It's going to be good...

Planning for Easter - we got a slam dunk for Easter and the series after it...

Getting ready for FX this Sunday - meeting with the FX Team today/tomorrow... I love doing FXs and seeing all the kids so excited about church...

I'm out for now will post some updates and pictures later...

This story is great and you will really like it. Let me know what you think.

For those math majors out there, perhaps y'all can give some analysis.

First $ Figure=Appraised Value
Second $ Figure=Taxes Paid

6.13 ACRES SIBLEY WAYNE $550 10.07
12.91 ACRES SIBLEY WAYNE $1,160 21.24
0.973 ACRES SIBLEY WAYNE $5,150 124.17
4.892 ACRES SIBLEY WAYNE $590 14.23
7.6 ACRES SIBLEY WAYNE C $680 16.40
6 ACRES SIBLEY WAYNE C $159,000 2,737.79
$167,130 2,923.90
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]]> http://wildstorm.wordpress.com/?p=211 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:38:14 +0000 wildstorm http://wildstorm.wordpress.com/?p=211 Following a meeting in Arlington Texas, I drove back to Dallas and found myself in the wrong lane; one of those exit-only lanes and had no chance of changing.  Let's see where the road goes this beautiful Wednesday afternoon.   No map, no idea except that I was going South.  I wanted out of the Metroplex and in an interesting little town with something unique downtown. 

Midlothian is one of those towns.  Known as the cement capital of Texas, three of the largest cement factories are found right here in Midlothian ( Texas Escapes ). If you are wondering about the quality of air, a number of articles regarding air pollution have been written.

Driving around town, I found some most interesting shops and storefronts, and sides:

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