On this page you will find example material by members of Ferret4Media. Due to copyright most of the material is unpublished unless stated otherwise.

God was jailed for 9 months for exposing himself in a Californian coffee shop.

Enrique Silberg. 68, changed his name to "Ubiquitous Perpetuity God" when he emigrated to America from Cuba. Judge Lynn Taylor referred to Mr Silberg as "Mr God" during his court case.

Ubiquitious Perpetuity God said in his defence he exposed himself to women so they could "have some awareness of God." He has been arrested 18 times for offenses of a similar nature.

Court psychiatrist Dr Diane McEwen said, "God is too sick to be out in the streets."

A hold up in a Petrol Station ended in chaos when the would-be robber, attempting to open the till, pressed a petrol pump button, a court heard yesterday.

-------- -------- 31, unemployed, of Blyth, Northumberland, is accused of Attempted Robbery of the Garage in Blyth on February 22.

-------- allegedly visited the garage three times. On the third occasion he entered carrying a toy gun.

Prosecuting, Michael Hodson QC, told Newcastle Crown Court "This is a pathetic but otherwise serious allegation, it was ill thought out, virtually performed on the spur of the moment and such a way that he was bound to be caught."

------- has pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.

NEW SHOE DEPARTMENT

If you have seen a giant dog running around the store giving balloons and sweets to total strangers don’t worry, you haven’t been over-working.

The Hush Puppy is here for a week to promote Robbs' new Shoe Department.

Because the stock is now bought direct by Joplings you can choose from more brands and styles than ever before.

These include ''Kickers, Kays, RP Ellen, Wilford, Children's Clarks, Loake and Padders''.

The new ranges are already proving popular. Sales were up 40% on last year after only the first day. The more extensive Mens' department alone was up by 168%.

All existing staff happily transferred to the new department and have been thoroughly re-trained in the new brands and fitting procedures.

Manageress Jane H***** is enthusiastic that ''the new range is more suitable for Hexham.

''Robbs have made a massive investment into shoes and this shows their commitment to their customers.''

Employees with staff cards can now get 20% discount on items including reduced stock. The 10% vouchers start from Monday 2 March.

  BUTCHER IS ONE OF BRITAIN'S BEST

Robbs 'No.1 Choice' family butchers 'Arthur Temple' have become the first in the Tyne Valley to obtain 'Q Guild' status.

Members of the Guild of Q Butchers are Britain's best. They stand for 'Quality, Hygeine, Satisfaction, Service.'

Only around 500 of the 12,000 independent retail butchers in the UK have achieved this prestigious commendation. 103 rigorous tests have to be passed.

Arthur Temple butchers have been established for over 125 years and are suppliers to Greggs The Bakers.

Joplings' Managing Director Norman Smith will be making the presentation at 9:30 Thursday 26 March.

The work of one of the Northeast's most famous contributions to Art can be seen at the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle this month.

John Martin was born in 1789 in a farm cottage at East Landends, near Haydon Bridge. The youngest of five children his early life was humble until, at the age of 14, he went to Newcastle to be an apprentice to a coach painter. This lasted merely a year.

He left to become a pupil of Boniface Musso, an Italian painter living in the region. Martin studied under Musso (alongside John Dobson) until 1806 when he followed the Italian to London.

He worked decorating china in a factory during the day and studied his art at night. It paid off in 1816 when his first Historical Landscape painting "Joshua" was exhibited at the Royal Academy.

This first major work contained all the typical Martin features: Towering landscapes, massive fantastical architecture, low churning skies and tiny figures dwarfed by the sheer scale of their surroundings. His inspiration ws the landscape in which he grew up, especially Allendale Gorge and the Tyne Valley. In the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (1852) we see Lot's family escaping the burning cities. The raging fire at the centre of the painting was inspired by the furnaces Martin had seen along the Tyne.

At the height of his fame John Martin's paintings were known across Europe.  He received a gold medal at the Brussels Exhibition. One particular fan was Prince Leopald, later King, of Belgium. Martin was commissioned by the Prince and Princess Charlotte. Leopald was so impressed with his work that he made him a Knight and Martin, in return, named his son after the King.

Martin also made enemies. He was opposed to the Art Establishment in London which he believed had intentionally damaged his larger version of Clytie (1814) during the varnishing process and he had complained that his first exhibition Joshua had been hidden in an ante-room.

His fascination with dramatic Biblical representations continued with his illustrations of the Old Testament (1831-51) and Milton's creation poem Paradise Lost (1825). Other works include Belshazzar's Feast (1821), The Fall of Nineveh (1827/8) and trilogies on the Deluge (1826-40) and The Last Judgment (1851-4).

Many of John Martin's paintings have been lost or destroyed over the years, so you must catch this extensive collection while you can.