Black Country news and blogs Saturday 21 July 2018
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Three reasons to be cheerful! 
Dudley Zoo and Castle 21 Jul
There’ll be plenty of celebrating today as one of our heaviest animals, our youngest macaque and our newest arrival all share their birthdays.
Heatwave brings out history
Dudley Zoo and Castle 20 Jul
Mysterious markings in Dudley Castle’s courtyard may look like aliens have landed! But our history experts explain the scorching sunshine has produced crop marks indicating where buildings stood as far back as the 16 th century.
Tongue-in-cheek
Dudley Zoo and Castle 19 Jul
DZG’s animals have been getting into the spirit of National Stick Out Your Tongue Day! Just look at the efforts from some of our exotic collection towards the annual July 19 event...
Zombie alert!
Dudley Zoo and Castle 18 Jul
It’s just two weeks until Dudley Castle is transformed into an open air cinema showing the cult zombie movie Night of the Living Dead.
Talking animals
Dudley Zoo and Castle 17 Jul
Two DZG keepers took centre stage to share research findings and training techniques with zoo keepers from around the UK.
Darting into Dudley
Dudley Zoo and Castle 16 Jul
A Daimler Dart which competed in the famous Monte Carlo Rally is one of 90 classic cars rolling into Dudley Castle courtyard on Sunday.
Ha Full Disk – 15th July
Brierley Hill Solar 15 Jul
Other than the bright plage that forms the remains of ar12713 that we saw on a previous rotation the sun is essentially blank.
Second Rotation for Ex Active Region – AR12713 – 15th July
Brierley Hill Solar 15 Jul
Currently spotless and un-named as an active region, this bipolar patch of plage on the suns disk is the remains of active region which was heading towards the western limb of the sun on the 21st June.
Otters on the ball
Dudley Zoo and Castle 15 Jul
The men’s singles final will be in full swing at Wimbledon this afternoon but DZG otters are already on the ball! Our Asiatic short-clawed otter parents Buddy and Keyah and their littles ones have been enjoying a game of their own after keepers ...
A Blank Sun? 14th July
Brierley Hill Solar 14 Jul
Spaceweather says the sun is blank, there are no sunspots.
Active Region and Prom – 14th July
Brierley Hill Solar 14 Jul
A spotless active region shines brightly mid disk in this image taken with the 50mm double stack setup.
Happy Black Country Day!
Dudley Zoo and Castle 14 Jul
Black Country Day is ‘ere and we am set for a bostin’ time at Dudley Zoo.
Gift Wrapped
Jan's Craft Sport 13 Jul
For the new challenge at Colour Crazy Craft Challenge they are giving away blog candy, a great time to join in the fun.
Chimply the best!
Dudley Zoo and Castle 13 Jul
We’re celebrating the first World Chimpanzee Day tomorrow when visitors can get their hands on primate paintings by our seven gorgeous girls.
Ha Full Disk 11th July
Brierley Hill Solar 12 Jul
A virtually blank disk on wednesday, there has been the relics of an old active region that has rounded the sun on the eastern limb, and despite a small flare a day or so before it came into view there are no sunspots visible, just a region of ...
Testing time
Dudley Zoo and Castle 12 Jul
Tune in tonight to see DZG keepers munching on marmalade in a taste test for a hit BBC food show about cutting costs.
Happy 80th Pat
Dudley Zoo and Castle 11 Jul
We’ve put in a special phone call today to wish a lady born at Dudley Zoo exactly 80 years ago a very happy birthday.
Flying the RAF colours
Dudley Zoo and Castle 10 Jul
We’re proudly flying The RAF Ensign from Dudley Castle today – as a spectacular parade and flypast celebrates the force’s centenary.
Intergranular Regions With the Daystar Sodium Quark and the Airylab HaT – 7th July
Brierley Hill Solar 9 Jul
Inverting a conventional image taken with the Daystar Sodium Quark and the Airylab HaT reveals a little seen view of the sun; inter-granular regions, as the name suggests is the area between the solar granulation.
Solar Granulation with The Daystar Sodium Quark and Airylab HaT – 7th July
Brierley Hill Solar 9 Jul
The 203mm aperture Airylab HaT makes a good combinationwith the Daystar Sodium Quark as it's ERF passes the 589nm wavelength of this filter.
Blank Full Disks – 7th July
Brierley Hill Solar 9 Jul
It's not very often the sun is completely blank at both Ha and CaK wavelengths, but it was on saturday! Nothing to see at all as can be seen in both of these full disks...
Acorn Sprite
Un-bear-lievably well
Dudley Zoo and Castle 9 Jul
DZG’s black bear Inca – thought to be the oldest in the world – is doing un-bear-lievably well after sailing through her annual health check.
Keepers in training
Dudley Zoo and Castle 8 Jul
Our two latest apprentice keepers are settling in well to their on-site training and are wild about the work.
Turaco tot
Dudley Zoo and Castle 7 Jul
We’ve got baby news in our birds section where a red-crested turaco chick has hatched.
Illuminating anniversary
Dudley Zoo and Castle 6 Jul
Blue lights illuminated Dudley Castle overnight as we showed our support for the wonderful work of the NHS.
Pretty Floral
Jan's Craft Sport 5 Jul
It's time for the new monthly challenge at Crafting with an Attitude .
Fishy fun
Dudley Zoo and Castle 5 Jul
Actors in a stage comedy about fish factory workers p-p-picked up plenty of tips when they came to feed DZG’s penguin colony.
Keeping memories alive
Dudley Zoo and Castle 4 Jul
A former Dudley Zoo big cat keeper took a trip down memory lane after unearthing a glowing reference from when he left us 50 years ago.
All fired up for footy!
Dudley Zoo and Castle 3 Jul
Dudley Castle expert Amy Hickman is hoping the English strike force produce more shots tonight than our decommissioned Russian cannons.
More Features
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The Betrayal of a Nation
Blackheath Matters 10 Jul
Over two years ago, we the people of this United kingdom were given a vote.
School Council Visit to the Storehouse
Black Country Food Bank 3 Jul
We had the pleasure of showing The Ridge Primary School, Wollaston, Stourbridge around our warehouse.
The IBL and the left – response to Adam Ozanne’s overview of the UCU factions #ucu2018 #ourUCU
100 miles from the sea 14 Jun
(In pic: Pura Ariza (UCU left), Rob Goodfellow (IBL), Adam Ozanne (IBL), Dave Muritu (UCU left), pictured at the regions and nations meeting on the eve of UCU2018) Earlier today the IBL faction published their account of what happened at congress ...
Crisis? Transformation? Reflections on #UCU2018 #OurUCU
100 miles from the sea 14 Jun
It’s been a couple of chaotic weeks since UCU’s annual and most explosive yet congress was held in Manchester.
Modern Day Slavery Event
Black Country Food Bank 10 May
A big thank you to Khizra Dhindsa from West Midlands Police and James Henderson from Transforming Communities together for presenting up to date information about signs of modern day Slavery to our Foodbank volunteers.
Thank you Sainsbury’s
Black Country Food Bank 9 May
Thank you to the customers and staff at Sainsbury’s, Sandringham Way, Brierley Hill and Sainsbury’s, Reedswood, Walsall who held a collection day for us on Saturday 5th May 2018.
New Centre Opening in Tipton
Black Country Food Bank 23 Apr
Loving Hands, NTCOG Tipton, 2 Horseley Heath, DY4 7SA opens on Wednesday 25th April 11am-2pm Please go along if you have a Foodbank Voucher or if you would like to make a donation of food and toiletries.
FILM: We the uncivilized – Saturday 21st April
Transition Stourbridge 10 Apr
The film documents the search of a young couple to find a different way of living-to find community, meaning, and a way of living in harmony with the earth and raises questions about our so called ‘civilized’ ways of living and hence the title.
Foodbank Review 2017
Black Country Food Bank 28 Mar
Please have a look at our facts and figures for 2017.
Volunteers Christmas Meal
Black Country Food Bank 31 Jan
On Wednesday January 24th 2018 we held our ‘Volunteers Christmas Meal’.
Rowley, John Thomas
Brierley Hill Blog & Guide 20 Jun
Advertiser 18 Dec 1915 Advertiser 25 Dec 1915 BRIERLEY HILL SOLDIER’S DEATH.
Terror, being a man, and my son Ben
100 miles from the sea 4 Jun
I had my son in bed with me again last night because he was frightened.
River Stour Clean-up – Sunday 14th May
Transition Stourbridge 1 May
River Stour clean-up event Date: Sunday14th May Time: 10.15 for 10.30 Place: Still to be decided Other dates: June 11th, July 16th, August 20th Please email Rosanne for further information [email protected]
Abortion rights and the wider struggle: a call to arms
100 miles from the sea 28 Jan
In this week of unfolding dystopia, there is a lot going on.
To my 7 year old daughter on the day of #Womensmarch
100 miles from the sea 21 Jan
To my lovely baby You belong to you.
Further Ed is vital for a healthy democracy: 5 fatal flaws need changing to let it flourish
100 miles from the sea 17 Jan
I trained to teach in FE in 2004 and since then have had the privilege of sharing the journeys of hundreds of learners as they progress through college and on to bright futures.
Fight austerity, don’t scapegoat migrants: Midlands trades unionists respond to Coyne
100 miles from the sea 2 Jan
On Monday 2nd January, Unite West Midlands official Gerard Coyne addressed a Birmingham group of supporters as part of his campaign to take the Unite leadership from Len McCluskey.
Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Debate
Margot James MP: Conservative - Stourbridge 14 Dec
Margot James responds on behalf of the Government to a debate on corporate governance and social responsibility.
Business, Innovation and Skills Questions
Margot James MP: Conservative - Stourbridge 13 Dec
Margot James answers questions from MPs on subjects including the trends in the number of women on boards and support for the self-employed.
Retail Store Closure: Boxing Day
Margot James MP: Conservative - Stourbridge 13 Dec
Margot James responds to a Parliamentary debate resulting from an e-Petition on closure of retail stores on Boxing Day.
Transforming the Food System – A public talk and short film
Transition Stourbridge 8 Dec
Transforming the Food System – A public talk and short film You are warmly invited to an evening on ‘Transforming the Food System’.
Scottish Questions
Margot James MP: Conservative - Stourbridge 24 Nov
Margot James answers MPs’ questions relating the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in Scotland.
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions
Margot James MP: Conservative - Stourbridge 9 Nov
Margot James answers MPs’ questions in relation to counterfeit and substandard electrical goods, carbon monoxide alarms and opportunities for the development of small businesses.
Margot James responds to debate on workplace internships
Margot James MP: Conservative - Stourbridge 4 Nov
Margot James responds on behalf of the Government to the Second Reading of a Private Member’s Bill to ensure all workplace internships are paid the National Minimum Wage.
Margot James responds to a debate on the national living wage
Margot James MP: Conservative - Stourbridge 3 Nov
Margot James responds to a debate on the national living wage which has brought immense benefits and seen wages for the low paid rise more than twice as much as those on average or higher pay around the country.
MP’s Stourbridge Careers Evening less than 2 weeks away
Margot James MP: Conservative - Stourbridge 1 Nov
Local MP and Business Minister Margot James will be hosting her next ‘Aspirations Event’, a Careers Evening, on Friday 11th November at the Glasshouse College in Stourbridge.
Margot James responds to BHS debate
Margot James MP: Conservative - Stourbridge 20 Oct
Margot James responds to a Parliamentary Backbench Business Committee debate on the governance of British Home Stores.
Halloween happenings at Dudley Castle
The Birmingham Press 20 Oct
Chance to witness ghostly goings on at haunted venue.
Chef Evans, due process, and equality fights
100 miles from the sea 15 Oct
***Content warning – may be triggering in relation to sexual assault and rape*** I wanted to write something briefly on this in solidarity with the opening up of pain and frustration I have seen from lots and lots of women I admire and value and ...
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Springs Church, Gornal, collect 1 tonne of food! 
Black Country Food Bank 19 JulChurches support Black Country Foodbank quietly and consistently in the background.