tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59295076979609171282024-02-19T07:58:14.937+00:00Unitarian CommunicationsTips on blogging, websites, social media, usability and accessibility. <br>Highlighting Unitarian websites and blogs.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-33749180952229290392013-11-09T17:13:00.000+00:002013-11-09T17:13:10.100+00:00Blogging @ UCCN<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Led by Louise Rogers, a group of UCCN-ers chose to start blogging. In Louise's words, this is what we've been doing during the blogging workshop. And there may soon be a few more blogs out there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is a blog?</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blogs, or Web logs, are online journals that are updated frequently, sometimes <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>even daily. An update, (also called an entry or a post) is usually quite short, <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>perhaps just a few sentences, and readers can often respond to an entry online. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>People who write blogs are commonly called bloggers. Bloggers, tongue in cheek, call themselves and their blogs the blogosphere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/writing-a-good-blog.html">http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/writing-a-good-blog.html</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The difference between a blog and a website</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Public?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decide on a topic </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Personal profile</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Viewing Unitarian blogs </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do people like about some of these blogs?</span></h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snappy title</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A title that is understood and if not, an accessible explanation for the title</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visually attractive, not too busy, no strong image under the writing, not to detract from the writing. If images attached to posts they should be attractive - copyright-free from <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page</a> and <a href="http://creativecommons.org/">http://creativecommons.org/</a> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Style - not too much jargon and complex language, accessible style. An open and honest approach, not being too dogmatic.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Short pieces like poems which invite the reader to think.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What people don’t like</span></h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To many visuals, too busy, image beneath the text</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posts are too long</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Too many bees in their bonnets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Too much political and religious ranting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overly complex language, jargon and abbreviations that are not common (OK to use common abbreviations like OK and BBC)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Too long - not the place for sermons - consider setting up a personal website</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Issues</span></h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Confidentiality, writing about other people</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Archiving blogs which are not being added to </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For own blog</span></h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who is the audience?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do they want to know/what do you want to tell them? Information? Advice? Personal stories?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do they want this - words, pictures, podcasts, video?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How often will you blog? Once a week? Once a month?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How long will each post be?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will you allow comments and will you respond to these?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blog and blogposts</span></h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your blog will have a title</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each post will have a title - titles should offer a benefit, promise news or arouse curiosity.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do not have long, dense paragraphs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps have sub-headings?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bulleted lists</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can use contractions like don’t and can’t - this is not an English exam</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have an easy style</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use the word ‘you’ rather than ‘we’</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Explore different blog hosting services</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Setting up a blog </span></h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Google account. To get to your blog sign into your Google account, search fro blogger and your sites will become visible.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Privacy setting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lay-out, including gadgets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Design</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adding content - need to save it but until it is published it will not be viewed</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Copyright issues</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Links - use a gadget</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Polls - use a gadget</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Email new post alert - gadget</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time zone - language and formatting under Settings</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can write a post and set the time and date when it will be published </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Labels for pages - determine which labels you want and list them under post settings </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Promoting your blog</span></h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Linking to other sites e.g. UCCN, local congregation, districts</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Asking sites to link to your blog - as above</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Facebook and Twitter - can link via Blogger</span></li>
</ul>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08707843840239255554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-81591161963025033652012-10-18T20:20:00.000+01:002012-10-18T20:20:18.340+01:00New book on 18th century dissent<a href="http://johnissitt.blogspot.co.uk/p/agents-of-reason.html" style="background-color: #f79443; clear: right; color: #ff8e4d; float: right; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://johnissitt.blogspot.co.uk/p/agents-of-reason.html" style="background-color: #f79443; clear: right; color: #ff8e4d; float: right; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="OUT NOW from John Issitt" height="200" id="Image1_img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4ax58WjNqwiZbUIwEnVQxScTaAgqGhTAOr5p_Z7WM_0iSbRSEMgWuqTzfJ9oVuMLTg6qgPSyzJ6cKKTcU8feoZwf4SsR9UX_IRONco0kUfSy-b0iIu4TAZu-XmeBZSi-ih612mDWNzQ/s1600/aor.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="133" /> </a>
A new novel,<i> Agents of Reason</i>, by John Issitt, explores the life of Jeremiah Joyce, a dissenting minister in the 1790s.
<br />
<br />
Jeremiah was a London radical. He and his associates gave themselves to the cause of freedom - a cause that was always dangerous and compromised.<br />
<br />
When the Bastille fell in 1789, English radicals like Jeremiah saw the promise of freedom, but by early 1793 the French Revolution had turned into madness as Robespierre and the guillotine had produced a blood-bath.<br />
<br />
In England the fear that the revolution might spread across the channel provoked reactionary responses and the years of William Pitt’s terror began. Radicals were hunted down. Some found themselves in Botany Bay, others charged with sedition or treason, languishing in Newgate and the Tower.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-62147939137415572102012-07-27T13:15:00.000+01:002012-07-27T13:17:15.454+01:00A simple guide to social mediaHow to market your brand / book / website on social media:<br />
<br />
Set up a <b>Facebook </b>page and/or group where you will post regular news items (from your site and those of other relevant sites). Attract attention to it by posting it in other related Facebook groups (search in Groups for related keywords for your topic). Keep it updated regularly.<br />
<br />
Set up a <b>Twitter </b>feed where you will post regular news items (from your site and those of other relevant sites). Attract attention to it by following other similar Twitter accounts (search for related keywords for your topic) and retweet and reply to their tweets. Keep it updated regularly.<br />
<br />
Set up a <b>blog</b> where you will post regular blogposts about topical items in your subject area. Attract attention to it by adding other similar blogs to your blogroll (search for related keywords for your topic) and post comments on their blogs. Keep it updated regularly.<br />
<br />
If you don't "get" Twitter, there's a remarkably succinct and clear summary of what it is and how it works in today's <a href="http://t.co/wt4iuMhR">verdict on the Twitter joke trial</a>. (PDF)<br />
<br />
Using <a href="http://signup.hootsuite.com/pro/?ad=ga&gclid=CMaOiPXqubECFSgntAodXAsAIQ">HootSuite</a> (a paid service), you can also automatically send your blogposts to Twitter and Facebook.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-15679135207680150352012-01-09T21:29:00.000+00:002012-01-09T21:29:33.755+00:00Recommended reading<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unitarian-Life-Voices-Past-Present/dp/0853190763"><i>The Unitarian Life: Voices from the Past and Present</i></a> by Stephen Lingwood - a collection of pieces written by various Unitarians through the centuries; gives a good overview of Unitarian thought on many different topics. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Larger-View-Unitarians-World-Religions/dp/0853190747/"><i>The Larger View</i></a> by Vernon Marshall - the history of how Unitarianism became open to other faiths. </li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.derbyunitarians.org.uk/unitarian_whats_that.html">Unitarian - What's That?</a></i> by Cliff Reed - another overview, in the form of a Q & A </li>
<li><a href="http://ww.amazon.co.uk/Unitarians-Short-History-Leonard-Smith/dp/0955199204/">The Unitarians: A Short History</a> by Leonard Smith - gives history of development of Unitarianism (but omits the Earth Spirit strand and most of Transcendentalism)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Being-Together-Unitarians-Celebrate-Congregational/dp/0853190739/">Being Together: Unitarians Celebrate Congregational Life</a></i> - edited by Matthew F. Smith </li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unitarian-Perspectives-Contemporary-Social-Issues/dp/0853190690/">Unitarian Perspectives on Contemporary Social Issues</a></i> - edited by George Chryssides </li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unitarian-Perspectives-Contemporary-Religious-Thought/dp/0853190615/">Unitarian Perspective on Contemporary Religious Thought</a></i> - edited by George Chryssides</li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elements-Unitarianism-George-Chryssides/dp/1862042470/">Elements of Unitarianism</a></i> by George Chryssides - overview plus potted history. </li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chosen-Faith-Introduction-Unitarian-Universalism/dp/0807016179/">A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism</a></i> by John A Buehrens and Forrest Church. </li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Death-Journey-Through-Complete/dp/0807072931/">Love and Death: My Journey through The Valley of the Shadow</a></i> by Forrest Church </li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cathedral-World-Universalist-Theology/dp/0807006211/">The Cathedral of the World: A Universalist Theology</a></i> by Forrest Church </li>
</ul>
You can buy some of these from the <a href="http://www.unitarian.org.uk/info/books.shtml">UK Unitarian website</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Unitarian Engagement Groups and Small Group Ministry </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unitarianengagementgroups.org.uk/">Unitarian Engagement Groups</a> - How to start and facilitate groups<br />
<br />
<b>Unitarian Christianity </b><br />
<ul>
<li>David Doel, <i>The Man they called the Christ </i></li>
<li>David Doel, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/That-Glorious-Liberty-Psychodynamic-Meditation/dp/0853190453/">That Glorious Liberty</a></i> </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Unitarian Earth Spirit </b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.druidry.org/obod/druid-path/unitarian.html">Unitarianism and Druidry</a> by Alastair Bate</li>
<li><a href="http://heartofflame.blogspot.com/2011/04/earth-spirit-talk-at-unitarian-ga.html">Pagan and pantheist tendencies in Unitarianism</a> by Yvonne Aburrow</li>
</ul>Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-63456186511195376082011-10-05T17:02:00.001+01:002011-10-05T17:03:41.102+01:00Press coverage of same-sex marriage campaignScottish Unitarians participated in a press conference at the offices of the Scottish Youth Parliament in Edinburgh. The Scottish Youth Parliament has been campaigning alongside the Equality Network, LGBT Youth and NUS LGBT Campaign for marriage equality. Leaders and representatives from the Quakers, Liberal Judaism, Unitarians, Metropolitan Community Church and Pagan Federation want the law changed to allow them to preside over same-sex marriages. A 14-week consultation asks if marriage in Scotland should be allowed for homosexual people through a civil or religious ceremony.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Samesex-marriage-ban-denies-freedom.6844471.jp">Coverage in <i>The Scotsman</i></a> </li>
<li>There was a <a href="http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/faith-groups-unite-to-back-gay-weddings-1.1126547">good photograph of Rev Maud Robinson and Rabbi Mark Solomon of Liberal Judaism at the press conference</a> </li>
<li>A <a href="http://www.hawick-news.co.uk/news/scottish-headlines/faith_groups_in_same_sex_union_plea_1_1880021">Press Association article released before the event</a> was carried on several websites </li>
<li><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15082413">And from BBC Scotland</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://unitarianchiefofficer.blogspot.com/2011/09/implementation-of-civil-partnership.html">Derek McAuley's response</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<i>Derek McAuley</i>Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-12606070076668835172011-09-28T15:51:00.000+01:002011-09-28T15:51:29.704+01:00Sound systems for churchesI recently spotted this article, <i><a href="http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/interconnections/181804.shtml">Sound Systems for Better Sunday Worship</a></i> in <i>UU World</i> and notice that Oldham Unitarians have just installed a video screen. <br />
<br />
I thought it would be a good idea to improve sound systems in our chapels and churches, so I asked if there was a fund to support this.<br />
<br />
Apparently the Millennium Fund is still in existence and could be a source of funding support. It does cover “fittings, furniture and equipment following developmental work eg audio loop systems”
Any congregation interested in making an application should contact <a href="http://unitarianchiefofficer.blogspot.com/">Derek McAuley</a>.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-8855080987110220022011-09-22T14:58:00.000+01:002011-09-22T14:58:34.778+01:00UUCF on FacebookThe <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Unitarian-Universalist-Christian-Fellowship/193804890683263?sk=wall">Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship now has a Facebook page</a>.<br />
<br />
It's a great idea to have a Facebook page or group for your affinity group or society - that way, members can link together; you can raise awareness of your group and the issues you care about.<br />
<br />
I'm a member of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CUUPS/">CUUPs group (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) on Facebook</a>, and it has some quite active discussion topics.<br />
<br />
Because people see things in the Facebook feed, having a Facebook page boosts the numbers who are interested in your group - but only if you post things (comments and articles) regularly on your wall.<br />
<br />
Find out more about <a href="http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/unitariansocieties/">Unitarian societies</a> and <a href="http://www.uua.org/directory/organizations/index.php">UU societies</a>.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-4557947751130370882011-09-08T11:21:00.001+01:002011-09-08T14:17:20.630+01:00Welsh Unitarian Chapels open for European Heritage Days<b>Hen Dŷ Cwrdd, Alma Street, Trecynon, Aberdare</b><br />
10 Sep 10am talk and walk around three sites in Trecynon <br />
<br />
<b>Hen Dŷ Cwrdd Unitarian Chapel, Cefn Coed y Cymer</b><br />
10 Sep, 2pm-4.30pm; 11 Sep, 2.30pm-7pm (service, 6pm) <br />
<br />
<b>Yr Hen Gapel, Llwynrhydowen, Llandysul, Ceredigion</b><br />
18 Sep 3pm-6pm (talks and choir; refreshments at Alltyrodyn Arms)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unitarian.org.uk/news/110908.shtml#welshchurches">More details and photos of the Welsh churches</a>Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-4405757428388348062011-08-18T10:48:00.004+01:002011-08-18T11:02:12.329+01:00Introduction to social mediaReport by Sue Woolley<br />
<br />
<b>Lifespan Religious Education Conference 2011</b><br />
<b>Star Island, New Hampshire, 16 – 23 July 2011 </b><br />
<a href="http://unitariancommunications.blogspot.com/p/social-media-help.html#report"><b>Report on Social Media Workshop by Sue Woolley</b></a><br />
<br />
Thanks to the generosity of the Manchester Academy Trust and the Hibbert Trust, I was able to attend this conference. The basic structure of our own Hucklow Summer School is based on this Unitarian Universalist conference, so many elements were familiar to me: the morning devotions, the daily theme talk, the compulsory morning workshops, optional afternoon activities, and lantern-lit procession to evening worship.<br />
<br />
The morning workshop that I attended was led by the dynamic <b><a href="http://www.uugrowth.com">Peter Bowden</a></b>, who is a “church growth consultant and Unitarian Universalist change agent” (to quote himself) who has dedicated his life to helping UU congregations to understand social media and to use them effectively. His blog (which is well worth looking at) is <a href="http://www.uugrowth.com/">UU growth</a>. I am writing the workshop up without much comment, as the things he was telling us are just as relevant to Unitarian congregations in the UK as to UU congregations in the US, if not more so.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://unitariancommunications.blogspot.com/p/social-media-help.html#readmore">Read the rest of the report →</a>Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-11024743108348493412011-08-08T13:25:00.001+01:002011-08-08T15:56:23.598+01:00Reasonable contrast on web pagesFor accessibility reasons, it's best to have high contrast text on a non-patterned background.<br />
<br />
However, if you must have a fancy background, or you need a widget to turn off the styling of other people's sites, here's a neat bookmarklet that you can drag to your browser toolbar.<br />
<br />
<a href="javascript:(function(){var newSS, styles='* { background: white ! important; color: black !important } :link, :link * { color: #0000EE !important } :visited, :visited * { color: #551A8B !important }'; if(document.createStyleSheet) { document.createStyleSheet(%22javascript:'%22+styles+%22'%22); } else { newSS=document.createElement('link'); newSS.rel='stylesheet'; newSS.href='data:text/css,'+escape(styles); document.getElementsByTagName(%22head%22)[0].appendChild(newSS); } })();"><b>B on W</b></a><br />
<br />
(via <a href="http://www.456bereastreet.com/archive/200608/light_text_on_dark_background_vs_readability/">456 Berea Street</a>)<br />
<br />
There are also <a href="http://www.webtools.ca.gov/help/Accessibility.asp#Add-ons">browser add-ons for accessibility</a> that you can get to help you test the contrast of a page.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-41581266311025000972011-07-12T10:15:00.000+01:002011-07-12T10:15:28.522+01:00How to add a favicon to your blog<b>What's a favicon?</b><br />
In some browsers, it appears before the web address in the address bar; in others, it appears on the tab where your blog is displayed. It also appears next to the name of your blog if it is listed in someone else's blog-roll.<br />
<br />
<b>Making your favicon</b><br />
You will need a graphics package such as Gimp to do this.<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Find or create a square image - usually your logo. </li>
<li>Reduce it in size to 16 by 16 pixels.</li>
</ol><div><b>Adding your favicon</b></div><div><ol><li>Go to the design view in your blog (click on design at the top right)</li>
<li>Just underneath the heading "Add and arrange page elements" it says "favicon". </li>
<li>Click on the edit link next to favicon</li>
<li>Upload your newly-created square 16 x 16 image</li>
</ol></div>Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-52958138589673564722011-07-11T22:14:00.000+01:002011-07-11T22:14:11.316+01:00Darling Buds<a href="http://nellyhench.wordpress.com/">Darling Buds</a> is the blog of Nelly Hench, from Octagon Unitarian Chapel in Norwich. She blogs about life, spirituality, home education, church services and much more. She is also a fan of Julian of Norwich, it seems.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-4899463260573120392011-07-11T13:06:00.000+01:002011-07-11T13:06:51.538+01:00Sound SystemsJust saw this article in <i>UU World</i>: <a href="http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/interconnections/181804.shtml">Sound Systems for Better Sunday Worship</a><br />
<br />
It makes some good points about why proper sound and video systems help with a sense of community and inclusion.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-9304606690817548842011-07-08T10:22:00.000+01:002011-07-08T10:22:23.930+01:00Unitarian Society for Psychical StudiesThe <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/uspscon2011/home">Unitarian Society for Psychical Studies Annual Conference</a> is on 24th September at Warwick. Cost £17.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/uspscon2011/home" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="654" src="https://sites.google.com/site/uspscon2011/_/rsrc/1310108315753/home/SnapShot.jpg" width="463" /></a></div>Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-24363994582417060662011-07-04T07:13:00.001+01:002011-07-04T07:15:09.914+01:00LGBTQI Unitarians<a href="http://www.unitarian.org.uk/rainbow/">Rainbow, the group for LGBTQI Unitarians, now has a website</a>. It explains why there is a need for such a group, lists forthcoming events, and has a resources page with links to similar groups.<br />
<br />
It's great to see this group, though I hope it will soon become a national organisation, as there are LGBTQI people in other regions than London and the South-East. However, they do welcome people from other districts.<br />
<br />
Of course, there's nothing to stop LGBTQI people in other districts starting their own groups.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-71698022704013968452011-07-01T14:21:00.001+01:002011-07-01T14:26:50.811+01:00The Gospel and the ZodiacOldham Unitarian Chapel<br />
<br />
Saturday 9th July, 10.30 a.m. till 3.15 p.m.<br />
<br />
Speaker and author: Rev. Bill Darlison, will talk about his book, <i>The Gospel and the Zodiac</i>.<br />
<br />
In <i>The Gospel and the Zodiac</i>, Unitarian minister Bill Darlison demonstrates that the Gospel of Mark - considered the primary document of Christianity - is deliberately structured around the signs of the zodiac. Darlison argues that the Gospel was originally an esoteric rather than a historical text, and that its stories were never intended to be interpreted in a literal sense. Rather, they are dramatic representations of stages in spiritual development, and repositories of arcane wisdom.<br />
<br />
Light lunch and refreshments available.<br />
<br />
All are welcome!<br />
<br />
Ring to reserve your place: 0161 339 6740 (preferred) or just turn up.<br />
<br />
Location: King Street / Connaught Street, Oldham, OL8 1EB<br />
<br />
Details:<br />
<br />
10 am arrive for coffee / tea<br />
<br />
10.30 am presentation <i>The Gospel and the Zodiac</i><br />
<br />
12.30 pm lunch<br />
<br />
Afternoon Session<br />
<br />
1.30 pm <i>The Gospel and the Zodiac</i><br />
<br />
2.45 pm questions and discussion<br />
<br />
3.15 pm coffee / tea<br />
<br />
Close.<br />
<br />
If you could bring a copy of the Bible for reference to Mark's gospel it would be helpful to you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ukspirituality.org/eventView.cfm?eventID=100999383">Register for this event</a>Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-9665573943022563362011-06-29T15:39:00.000+01:002011-06-29T15:39:47.317+01:00Lesbian and Gay Foundation FaithbookThe <a href="http://www.lgf.org.uk/">Lesbian and Gay Foundation</a> have produced a booklet on faith and LGBT, wittily entitled <a href="http://www.lgf.org.uk/faithbook">Faithbook</a>.<br />
<br />
I was disappointed to see that it does not have a section on Unitarians, just a brief mention on page 43 in the listings section - and we are listed under Christian, which is not entirely accurate. This is a bit sad when <a href="http://t.co/51Rl0v0" title="Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people and the Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (PDF)">we have been LGBT-welcoming since 1970</a>. <br />
<br />
Nor is there a section on the <a href="http://t.co/tyS6ElS">Metropolitan Community Church</a> - which is weird when they are a major LGBT church.<br />
<br />
I was glad to see it included Wicca (but why no other Pagan traditions?).Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-21590124865778795552011-06-29T11:03:00.000+01:002011-06-29T11:03:19.449+01:00New Google tool - what do you love?<a href="http://www.wdyl.com/">What do you love?</a> brings together a variety of Google tools in one place to provide comprehensive information about a topic.<br />
<br />
I tried it with the search term <a href="http://www.wdyl.com/#unitarians">Unitarians</a> and it works quite well.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-76922415601556405032011-06-22T16:37:00.001+01:002011-06-22T16:38:19.316+01:00Oldham Unitarians Launch Campaign for Aslyum Seekers<img align="right" alt="Oldham Unitarians" height="212" hspace="5" src="http://www.unitarian.org.uk/news/images/asylum.png" vspace="5" width="312" /><br />
<br />
Members of Oldham Unitarian Chapel have launched a campaign to stop the deportation of two asylum seekers who are currently destitute and fear the consequences of being sent back to their own country.<br />
<br />
The launch took place at 12pm on June 12th following the Sunday morning service and included a photo opportunity<br />
<br />
The two refugees are: Abdoulaye Diabate from the Ivory Coast and Taha Ghasemi from Iran.<br />
<br />
Abdoulaye fled the Ivory Coast after experiencing imprisonment and torture in 2006. His sister was caught up in the violence and raped. He does not know if she is still alive.<br />
<br />
Taha Ghasemi is a member of the Kurdish Democratic Party who arrived in the United Kingdom in September 2006 following his imprisonment and torture at the hands of Iranian police and the security forces. As a known supporter of the Kurdish cause in Iran he faces immediate arrest and imprisonment should he be returned to Iran.<br />
<br />
The campaign for Abdoulaye and Taha will include petitions, letters to MPs and other activities.<br />
<br />
Both Abdoulaye and Taha are regular visitors to the Welcome Project sponsored by Oldham Unity. This voluntary support service for destitute asylum seekers takes place every Thursday at Oldham Baptist Church.<br />
<br />
A social event for asylum seekers and their families takes place at Oldham Unitarian Chapel on the last Saturday of each month.<br />
<br />
<h3>Media Links</h3><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://menmedia.co.uk/oldhamadvertiser/news/s/1423854_church-launches-bid-to-stop-asylum-seekers-from-being-deported" style="color: #114170;" target="_blank">Oldham Advertiser: Church launches bid to stop asylum seekers from being deported</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/print/57581">Oldham Chronicle</a></li>
</ul><br />
<em>Bob Pounder</em><br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.unitarian.org.uk/news/110622.shtml#oldham">GA Uni-News</a>Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-85557299650735283522011-06-14T17:32:00.000+01:002011-06-14T17:32:11.610+01:00A questioning blogRev Gill from Rochdale has started a blog called <a href="http://revgill.blogspot.com/">Living in the Question</a>. The name comes from a quote from Rainer Maria Rilke:<br />
<blockquote>'I want to beg you, as much as I can . . . to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves. . . . Do not seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.' -- Rainer Maria Rilke, <i>Letters to a Young Poet</i></blockquote><br />
I always enjoy reading her pieces in the Rochdale church newsletter, so I am sure that her blog will be equally full of gems!<br />
<br />
The title also reminds me of the character George in <i>Room with a View</i> by E M Forster, who paints a question mark on the door of his room. And of the quip about Unitarianism being the religion where all your answers are questioned!Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-50094589597103592402011-06-09T17:38:00.000+01:002011-06-09T17:38:00.393+01:00Religious civil partnership consultation<a href="http://www.unitarian.org.uk/news/110609.shtml#chiefofficer">Derek McAuley, Chief Officer, writes in the latest issue of GA Uni-News</a>:<br />
<blockquote>The deadline for responses to the Government's consultation paper on civil partnerships on religious premises is 23rd June 2011 and I would urge any congregation or individual wishing to respond to do so by this date.<br />
<br />
It is important, even at this stage in the legislative process, for our views to be heard. I shall be submitting a response on behalf of the General Assembly based on our agreed position and general principles of freedom and equality but others will be most welcome.<br />
<br />
I had the opportunity to meet with the civil servant conducting the consultation and we talked about the need to ensure that any proposals are practical and can be easily implemented. I indicated that I thought the cost of registration of £1500 for three years was excessive and that the comparison with secular commercial venues was invidious. We do not have the option of recouping the fee from sales of food and alcohol! Indicating the reality of finance for congregations may be useful in this debate.<br />
<br />
I have recently also spoken to Stonewall, the organisation who worked closely with Lord Alli to secure the amendment to the Equality Bill to permit religious premises to be registered for civil partnerships. The support that we, with the Quakers and Liberal Jews, gave to the amendment proved very persuasive to parliamentarians in the free votes on this measure. Hopefully my views will influence their response.<br />
<br />
We must ensure that this measure is implemented in a way that is effective and practical for our congregations. It is hoped that registrations can begin later this year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_act_2010/civil_partnership_consultation.aspx">Respond to the consultation paper</a><br />
<br />
Derek McAuley, Chief Officer </blockquote>Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-13672860374821797052011-06-09T17:30:00.000+01:002011-06-09T17:30:47.846+01:00New church websitesCongratulations to the following churches and chapels who now have shiny new websites.<br />
<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/bridport">Bridport</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/gloucester">Gloucester</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/ross">Ross-on-Wye</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/scarborough-uk">Scarborough</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/cheltenham">Cheltenham</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/stalybridge">Stalybridge</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/cardiff">Cardiff</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/chorley">Chorley</a></li>
</ul><div><br />
</div>Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-85452707365846881232011-06-06T14:27:00.001+01:002011-06-07T11:52:30.149+01:00The complexity of marriage lawThe subject of marriage and what is legal and what is not is getting increasingly more confusing, especially since a <a href="http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/06/02/first-same-sex-jewish-marriage-takes-place-in-manchester/">Liberal Jewish synagogue was in the news recently for performing a same-sex marriage</a> (which is recognised by Liberal Judaism but not by the state). Apparently Scotland is just about to begin a process of consultation about same-sex marriage. So here's a list of what is and is not currently legal:<br />
<br />
<b>Legal (permitted by law and recognised by the state)</b>:<br />
<ul><li>Opposite-sex church weddings (couple legally married and registered)</li>
<li>Same-sex civil partnerships in a register office / registered premises for weddings</li>
<li>Opposite-sex marriages in a register office / registered premises for weddings</li>
</ul><b>The law allows, but there's no mechanism for implementing:</b><br />
<ul><li>Religious civil partnerships (civil partnership ceremonies in a religious building)</li>
</ul><b>Not forbidden by law, but not recognised by the state</b><br />
<ul><li>same-sex blessings in a church / synagogue</li>
<li>same-sex marriages in a church / synagogue where the marriage is recognised by the church / synagogue but not by the state</li>
<li>Pagan handfastings (weddings) in England & Wales - both same and opposite sex</li>
<li>Pagan same-sex handfastings in Scotland</li>
<li>Blessings of polyamorous relationships</li>
</ul><b>Illegal (not permitted by law)</b>:<br />
<ul><li>Same-sex church weddings (couple legally married and registered)</li>
<li>Opposite-sex civil partnerships in a register office / registered premises for weddings</li>
<li>Same-sex marriages in a register office / registered premises for weddings</li>
<li>Marrying more than one person</li>
</ul>Another difficulty is that if a transsexual married to a person of the opposite sex to their original sex wants to change their birth certificate to reflect their new sex, they would have to divorce their partner (whereas if same sex marriage were legal, they could stay married).<br />
<br />
<b>Legal (permitted by law and recognised by the state) in Scotland only:</b><br />
<ul><li>Pagan opposite-sex handfastings where the celebrant says the required form of words (the same as for all other legal weddings)</li>
</ul>Have I missed anything?Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-5675042286166018562011-06-04T18:10:00.000+01:002011-06-04T18:10:52.504+01:00Systems for the hard of hearingIf your chapel or church does not have a proper system for users of hearing aids, or needs to replace its existing one, the best place to go for advice is the <a href="http://www.rnid.org.uk/" title="Royal National Institute for Deaf People">RNID</a>, who have a team of researchers reviewing <a href="http://www.rnid.org.uk/information_resources/productsandequipment/listening/">products for deaf and hard of hearing people</a>, including loop systems.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929507697960917128.post-11254064909072191472011-06-03T20:18:00.004+01:002011-06-03T20:53:26.727+01:00Bill Darlison on Walt Whitman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Walt_Whitman_edit_2.jpg/240px-Walt_Whitman_edit_2.jpg" width="161" alt="Walt Whitman" title="Walt Whitman" /></a></div>Bolton Unitarians have a <a href="http://www.bolton-unitarians.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103:walt-whitman-tribute-2011&catid=40:videos&Itemid=131">video of Rev Bill Darlison talking about Walt Whitman</a> - excellent. They also have <a href="http://www.bolton-unitarians.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100:videos&catid=40:videos&Itemid=131">videos of Stephen Lingwood's sermons</a>, which are always excellent (he posts them on his blog <a href="http://reigniteuk.blogspot.com/">Reignite</a> too).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman">Walt Whitman</a> (whilst not a Unitarian) was a key figure in the Transcendentalist movement, which emerged from 19th century Unitarianism.<br />
<br />
He was a complex person, believing in the abolition of slavery but disliking the abolitionist movement for its extreme methods, and not believing that African Americans should have the vote.<br />
<br />
He is chiefly remembered for his rhythmic poetry, which influenced later poets like Allen Ginsberg, and for his free and celebratory attitude to sexuality, both gay and straight.<br />
<br />
By watching the <a href="http://www.bolton-unitarians.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103:walt-whitman-tribute-2011&catid=40:videos&Itemid=131">video</a>, you can also find out the connection between Walt Whitman and Bolton.Yewtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.com0