Mr James has decided on using Optima at 11 point for his book so I reformatted the text and also included drop capitals for the chapter beginnings. The six images to be used in the book were then introduced into a separate word file with the same margins in readiness for insertion.
At Mrs Evan's Chinese Brush Painting class, I battled with fish. Strangely, the normal carp shape was the more difficult to master than that of the rotund Shubunkin. Unencumbered by dental pain this week, as the antibiotic appeared to have achieved its effect, I had more success and time this week to master the fish - at least in part.
Met up with Mr Cooper in the evening to discuss an evenings entertainment and education for the cub scouts. We explored a variety of options to play with light, using ubiquitous materials such as DVD disks.
Gadaffi's body and that of his son were buried at a secret location in the Libyan desert, to avoid his grave becoming a shrine or focal point for followers or opponents.
In Turkey, two days after the Earthquake, people are still being pulled out of the rubble alive. Over 400 dead so far and several hundred still missing.
Am now watching the luscious Joanna Lumley on her Greek Odyssey – Lovely!
Showing posts with label conflict. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conflict. Show all posts
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Noisy all night party in Country Park disrupts sleep.
Today began before going to sleep, because of a party. By 2 am, thinking about going to bed, the night was still disrupted by the boom, boom, boom of aloud music outside. It sounded as if it might be from Old School Lane, parallel to Fen Lane, so I put on some trainers, a jumper and coat and set out into the night.
The air was remarkably still, the gibbous moon still bright, as I set off up to Cole's Road to reach Old School lane. By the time I reached the junction, it was apparent that the music was coming from further South – the Community Centre.
Yet when I reached it, that too was not the source. It appeared to now be in the Country Park itself. Walking to the Centre buildings now a kilometer from home, I finally found the party in full swing in a Marquee on the decking overlooking the lake. Spanish music was playing loudly, accompanied by full throated singing and the shadows of the dancers played on the screens of the Marquee.
By now it was 2:30am and the fun had gone out of listening to the party – bed was calling. The South Cambs noise abatement site found on my mobile suggested no one was available on the phone and attempts to use the website registration were unsuccessful.
The non-emergency line to the police finally answered – it appeared that my call was the end of a long list of similar reports and that officers were at the scene.
Quiet descended.
But just before satisfaction could set in, the noise erupted again. Back home by 3am, the boom boom boom continued and another call to the police revealed that this was a foreign language school graduation party, expectged to finish in another hour or so – and that the police had no powers to do any more than ask for the party to quiet down.
Finally, sometime after 4am the noise abated.
It was after 5am before I got to sleep.
The air was remarkably still, the gibbous moon still bright, as I set off up to Cole's Road to reach Old School lane. By the time I reached the junction, it was apparent that the music was coming from further South – the Community Centre.
Yet when I reached it, that too was not the source. It appeared to now be in the Country Park itself. Walking to the Centre buildings now a kilometer from home, I finally found the party in full swing in a Marquee on the decking overlooking the lake. Spanish music was playing loudly, accompanied by full throated singing and the shadows of the dancers played on the screens of the Marquee.
By now it was 2:30am and the fun had gone out of listening to the party – bed was calling. The South Cambs noise abatement site found on my mobile suggested no one was available on the phone and attempts to use the website registration were unsuccessful.
The non-emergency line to the police finally answered – it appeared that my call was the end of a long list of similar reports and that officers were at the scene.
Quiet descended.
But just before satisfaction could set in, the noise erupted again. Back home by 3am, the boom boom boom continued and another call to the police revealed that this was a foreign language school graduation party, expectged to finish in another hour or so – and that the police had no powers to do any more than ask for the party to quiet down.
Finally, sometime after 4am the noise abated.
It was after 5am before I got to sleep.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Ely parking, crop smudging and child trafficking
Off to Ely for the pre-breakfast event “Business Support is Changing”. Arriving for a 7:30am reception, this meant that the parking in the all day car park had not yet started; anyone arriving before 8:30 had to leave the car park after 90 minutes.
After the meeting there was a bacon butty breakfast, to be followed by a consultation between the county council and interested businesses. The start of the consultation was briefly interrupted as the realisation set in that our cars were at risk of exceeding the 90 minute parking time. Indeed, a car park attendant was counting down the minutes and gave us a good natured good morning as we all dashed out to move our cars to another car park before returning.
The main message of the meeting was that business support was being dramatically pared down by the UK, whilst there was still free support from EU programs promoting cross border partnering between businesses.
After lunch and catching up with mail, I photographed the watercolour paintings that author Alan James wished to use in his book. The images were optimised for contrast and then both colour and grayscale versions saved.
The afternoon passed quickly with other work interspersed with an uncharacteristic number of Skype calls.
My mind was slightly disconnected by the early start and so some of the messages that I received took on separate meanings. A tweet by London's Mayor, Boris Johnson, “Mayor secures more than £11m to boost homeless hostels in London...” raised the spectre of a fleet of hostels without a home. A friend attending a meeting “Inspiring Entrepreneurs” was equally ambiguous.
Later that evening, watching “Midsommer Murders”, one of the key items was protection of apple blossom from frost damage by “smudging” - creating a protective smoke blanket to keep frost at bay.
A search revealed that smudging was indeed a possible method for frost protection as listed in an Ontario Factsheet. However there more successful methods that could be used, including using the downdraft of a helicopter to displace the cold air boundary close to the ground. Spreading lots of small heating units through out an orchard would also work - more so than fewer large heaters which would create counterproductive convection, drawing in colder air from the surroundings.
The other reason that I would also have thought that smudging was less adviseable is that if the smoke is generated by combustion, it will invariably contain significant amounts of ethlylene, a gas known for its ability to induce senescence of leaves and flowers. Indeed this ethylene effect had beenfirst seen when the first gas street lights were installed – causing damage to nearby trees.
The most horrific news story of the day was of Ugandan children being trafficked into the UK (several hundred a year) for abuse in black magic blood rituals. Apparently the perceived value of blood in rituals is rising.
After the meeting there was a bacon butty breakfast, to be followed by a consultation between the county council and interested businesses. The start of the consultation was briefly interrupted as the realisation set in that our cars were at risk of exceeding the 90 minute parking time. Indeed, a car park attendant was counting down the minutes and gave us a good natured good morning as we all dashed out to move our cars to another car park before returning.
The main message of the meeting was that business support was being dramatically pared down by the UK, whilst there was still free support from EU programs promoting cross border partnering between businesses.
After lunch and catching up with mail, I photographed the watercolour paintings that author Alan James wished to use in his book. The images were optimised for contrast and then both colour and grayscale versions saved.
The afternoon passed quickly with other work interspersed with an uncharacteristic number of Skype calls.
My mind was slightly disconnected by the early start and so some of the messages that I received took on separate meanings. A tweet by London's Mayor, Boris Johnson, “Mayor secures more than £11m to boost homeless hostels in London...” raised the spectre of a fleet of hostels without a home. A friend attending a meeting “Inspiring Entrepreneurs” was equally ambiguous.
Later that evening, watching “Midsommer Murders”, one of the key items was protection of apple blossom from frost damage by “smudging” - creating a protective smoke blanket to keep frost at bay.
A search revealed that smudging was indeed a possible method for frost protection as listed in an Ontario Factsheet. However there more successful methods that could be used, including using the downdraft of a helicopter to displace the cold air boundary close to the ground. Spreading lots of small heating units through out an orchard would also work - more so than fewer large heaters which would create counterproductive convection, drawing in colder air from the surroundings.
The other reason that I would also have thought that smudging was less adviseable is that if the smoke is generated by combustion, it will invariably contain significant amounts of ethlylene, a gas known for its ability to induce senescence of leaves and flowers. Indeed this ethylene effect had beenfirst seen when the first gas street lights were installed – causing damage to nearby trees.
The most horrific news story of the day was of Ugandan children being trafficked into the UK (several hundred a year) for abuse in black magic blood rituals. Apparently the perceived value of blood in rituals is rising.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Hedgetrimming gets out of hand
Today is the last “look after neighbours chicken day”, sadly without a last complimentary laid egg.
Our neighbour, Mr H. dropped by to quickly trim his hedge on our side of the garden this afternoon and was overtaken by the consequences of his helpful nature. Part of the hedge was overshadowed by a large elderberry. The initial idea was to trim off the obstructing branches. However, it appeared far more logical to remove the multi-stemmed and unwanted Elderberry in full. This in turn revealed the overhanging branches of a neighbours shrub. We finished the whole job two hours after begin and filled two large green bins with the chopped foliage and branches.
The news from Libya is of the National Transitional Council asserting its control over Tripoli, with the rebels gradually making their way to Sirt. Evidence was emerging of atrocities committed by the retreating old regime, with massacres of prisoners and deaths of hospital patients. The rebels themselves have also committed some of their own executions according to the Daily Mail reporter on scene.
Our neighbour, Mr H. dropped by to quickly trim his hedge on our side of the garden this afternoon and was overtaken by the consequences of his helpful nature. Part of the hedge was overshadowed by a large elderberry. The initial idea was to trim off the obstructing branches. However, it appeared far more logical to remove the multi-stemmed and unwanted Elderberry in full. This in turn revealed the overhanging branches of a neighbours shrub. We finished the whole job two hours after begin and filled two large green bins with the chopped foliage and branches.
The news from Libya is of the National Transitional Council asserting its control over Tripoli, with the rebels gradually making their way to Sirt. Evidence was emerging of atrocities committed by the retreating old regime, with massacres of prisoners and deaths of hospital patients. The rebels themselves have also committed some of their own executions according to the Daily Mail reporter on scene.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Humorous manuscript review
Checked out the registration details of the new car to be purchased and ensured insurance in place for switchover later in the week.
The rest of the day spent reviewing a manuscript. It is a very amusing biography of an accident prone teacher and porter. I managed to progress just over half way through today.
The news today from Libya was of the rebels having made significant inroads into Tripoli, with the last strongholds of Colonel still holding out in some quarters. Whilst last night there were some predictions of an early end, tonight there was a more realistic expectation that it might take more time, with some gains by rebels being lost in the city to Gadaffi troops.
The rest of the day spent reviewing a manuscript. It is a very amusing biography of an accident prone teacher and porter. I managed to progress just over half way through today.
The news today from Libya was of the rebels having made significant inroads into Tripoli, with the last strongholds of Colonel still holding out in some quarters. Whilst last night there were some predictions of an early end, tonight there was a more realistic expectation that it might take more time, with some gains by rebels being lost in the city to Gadaffi troops.
Saturday, 20 August 2011
New car, giant caterpillar and battles in Tripoli
Awoke surprised that there was no pain or stiffness in my legs despite the marathon cycle ride yesterday. I did not escape totally unscathed, as I soon found my backside still saddle sore when I sat down on a hard surface. I had had a migraine in the night, which disappeared by after treatment by midday.
Mrs T had discovered a possible car online, to replace our elderly vehicle, and after lunch we set off to Marshalls to try it out. Wheels grind slowly in our household, but today the car we tried, a Honda Jazz, appeared to be ideal and we progressed to initiating a purchase. As if acknowledging imminent retirement, the exhaust on our existing car came off some of its rubber rings, giving a rattle as we made out way back home.
Our neighbours had shown me a giant insect larva, some eight or more centimetres long. It was relatively smooth, white on the underside and dark brown on top, and was armed with a fierce set of manibles. My first thought yesterday was that it was a beetle larva, but an internet search did not find anything similar enough. Today, in a spare five minutes during cooking dinner, I took out my Collin's Guide to Insects and flicked through the image plates and almost immediately found an equivalent, the caterpillar of the Goat moth.
The Goat moth, Cossus cossus, is a large moth, with a wing span up to 96mm. It is so called because of the goat like smell of the caterpillar, which lives for up to five years boring in wood until emerging to pupate in the soil, hatching out in the following year.
In the evening, I watched the DVD version of Dune with Mr T. This was an extended version, as we found out by watching to the bitter end after three and a bit hours! Slow paced, it was still interesting and unintentionally amusing.
Turning on the news afterwards whilst writing up the day's events, I found it dominated by the potential advance of the rebels in Libya into the suburbs of Tripoli. The question is, are Colonel Gaddaffi's days numbered? Is he even still in the Capital?
Mrs T had discovered a possible car online, to replace our elderly vehicle, and after lunch we set off to Marshalls to try it out. Wheels grind slowly in our household, but today the car we tried, a Honda Jazz, appeared to be ideal and we progressed to initiating a purchase. As if acknowledging imminent retirement, the exhaust on our existing car came off some of its rubber rings, giving a rattle as we made out way back home.
Our neighbours had shown me a giant insect larva, some eight or more centimetres long. It was relatively smooth, white on the underside and dark brown on top, and was armed with a fierce set of manibles. My first thought yesterday was that it was a beetle larva, but an internet search did not find anything similar enough. Today, in a spare five minutes during cooking dinner, I took out my Collin's Guide to Insects and flicked through the image plates and almost immediately found an equivalent, the caterpillar of the Goat moth.
The Goat moth, Cossus cossus, is a large moth, with a wing span up to 96mm. It is so called because of the goat like smell of the caterpillar, which lives for up to five years boring in wood until emerging to pupate in the soil, hatching out in the following year.
In the evening, I watched the DVD version of Dune with Mr T. This was an extended version, as we found out by watching to the bitter end after three and a bit hours! Slow paced, it was still interesting and unintentionally amusing.
Turning on the news afterwards whilst writing up the day's events, I found it dominated by the potential advance of the rebels in Libya into the suburbs of Tripoli. The question is, are Colonel Gaddaffi's days numbered? Is he even still in the Capital?
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
A mundane day and the despicable rioting
A working day on the computer, interrupted by a consultation with MS Lockyer of the Currency Exchange with regards to arranging suitable safe money for travel on an impending trip to Egypt.
At the end of the day, a short Skype call by another author trying to format his text for Kindle. The call extended as the apparently simple task proved ever more difficult – for trivial reasons. I played on with the book later whist watching television until finding a suitable solution after a couple of hours.
In the news, the lumbering giant of justice was finally gaining speed as Magistrate courts in London and elsewhere began to haul the offenders in. 805 arrests have been made in London alone. Three deaths of people trying to protect property by a hit and run driver have added a very serious note to the days events.
The sickening site of “assistance” being offered to an injured Malaysian student, which turned into blatant casual robbery, has made one YouTube video go viral as the scene is spread through Facebook to winkle out the culprits.
The streets of UK cities are calmer tonight, perhaps in part by the onset of wet weather as much as policing.
At the end of the day, a short Skype call by another author trying to format his text for Kindle. The call extended as the apparently simple task proved ever more difficult – for trivial reasons. I played on with the book later whist watching television until finding a suitable solution after a couple of hours.
In the news, the lumbering giant of justice was finally gaining speed as Magistrate courts in London and elsewhere began to haul the offenders in. 805 arrests have been made in London alone. Three deaths of people trying to protect property by a hit and run driver have added a very serious note to the days events.
The sickening site of “assistance” being offered to an injured Malaysian student, which turned into blatant casual robbery, has made one YouTube video go viral as the scene is spread through Facebook to winkle out the culprits.
The streets of UK cities are calmer tonight, perhaps in part by the onset of wet weather as much as policing.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Lost in Suffolk and rioting spreading to other cities
This morning's news was of flare ups in Liverpool and Manchester. Everyone is waiting to see how the government ad police respond today.
Set off to meet with a new author, Alan James, in the depths of Suffolk, south of Bury St Edmunds. The satnav generously took me to highpoint prison, perhaps in anticipation of future misdemeanours. After some driving around unexpected blocked roads, I arrived half an hour late. Fortunately, my hosts were not unduly put out.
The following hours were busy in establishing some simple guidance on formatting the first manuscript and setting up file sharing, as well as finding a wealth of paintings that could be used to illustrate the book. Numerous cups of tea and a lunch later and it was almost 5pm before I departed, the route back being more straightforward.
Unfortunately I had missed an afternoon call, but the new client called back later with a request for some work on commenting on a text in the next week.
This evening, found myself suddenly committed to looking after some cats for the weekend and a chicken too, as well as volunteering for a cub scout activity lead later in the year.
A German video order had arrived and I settled down in anticipation to watch episode one of the cult German sci-fi TV series from 1966, “Raumpatrouille Orion” (Space patrol Orion); Black and white, with the best effects of the day in shaky spaceship models and examples of the future of dancing in the year 3000. Very enjoyable.
The financial markets had recovered after falls during the morning
With 16000 police descending on London, violence was present in Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Birmingham. Looters already active in daylight and cameramen attacked, with frightened women stranded due to the cancellation of buses and trains in the centre of Birmingham. London was relative quiet.
Car fires and shop looting and arson of stores appear to be the main activities captured on camera. Fortunately, plain stupidity is also apparent with some London looters tweeting or posting YouTube videos on their activities. Sadly, someone is already cashing in with London Riot T-Shirts.
In previous nights, much had been made of the use of social media to coordinate the looting and fast paced change of locations. Today, a positive alternative when social media were used to bring together a large group of volunteers who met in London to help clear up after the trouble.
Set off to meet with a new author, Alan James, in the depths of Suffolk, south of Bury St Edmunds. The satnav generously took me to highpoint prison, perhaps in anticipation of future misdemeanours. After some driving around unexpected blocked roads, I arrived half an hour late. Fortunately, my hosts were not unduly put out.
The following hours were busy in establishing some simple guidance on formatting the first manuscript and setting up file sharing, as well as finding a wealth of paintings that could be used to illustrate the book. Numerous cups of tea and a lunch later and it was almost 5pm before I departed, the route back being more straightforward.
Unfortunately I had missed an afternoon call, but the new client called back later with a request for some work on commenting on a text in the next week.
This evening, found myself suddenly committed to looking after some cats for the weekend and a chicken too, as well as volunteering for a cub scout activity lead later in the year.
A German video order had arrived and I settled down in anticipation to watch episode one of the cult German sci-fi TV series from 1966, “Raumpatrouille Orion” (Space patrol Orion); Black and white, with the best effects of the day in shaky spaceship models and examples of the future of dancing in the year 3000. Very enjoyable.
The financial markets had recovered after falls during the morning
With 16000 police descending on London, violence was present in Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Birmingham. Looters already active in daylight and cameramen attacked, with frightened women stranded due to the cancellation of buses and trains in the centre of Birmingham. London was relative quiet.
Car fires and shop looting and arson of stores appear to be the main activities captured on camera. Fortunately, plain stupidity is also apparent with some London looters tweeting or posting YouTube videos on their activities. Sadly, someone is already cashing in with London Riot T-Shirts.
In previous nights, much had been made of the use of social media to coordinate the looting and fast paced change of locations. Today, a positive alternative when social media were used to bring together a large group of volunteers who met in London to help clear up after the trouble.
Monday, 8 August 2011
Contrasting peaceful and safe London with rioting hotspots
The early morning start in the bathroom was interrupted by a mobile message informing me that the German delegates were stuck in their airport with a plane cancelled. Fortunately, by the time I was dressed, they had been able to board an alternative plane and so I found my self catching the five to eight bus to Waterbeach to travel to London on the train.
With the ticket machine not working, I had the pleasure of being served by a real ticket inspector whilst catching up with the i newspaper on the night's riots.
The underground announcements mentioned that Brixton station on the Victoria line was closed and when I sat down in the Cafe Grana in St James Park station, I found myself next to a television camera crew from ITN, taking a break before travelling on to Scotland Yard – apparently there had been problems in Brixton and a minor incident in Oxford Circus too.
The Herrn Juengst, Noll, Zawierucha and Koenig, with Ms Luetje arrived soon afterwards before we went to their first meeting with the National Trust at their London Offices in St Anne's Gate. A fascinating presentation and synergies in terms of information exchange and the possibility of cross border training.
Our next appointment was in a London Square with an architect responsible for the planning of a major façade renovation. The differences between project management in the UK and in Germany were illustrated and much useful advice obtained.
In the background there was the sound of a demonstration taking place, though it sounded like the peaceful shouting of slogans, distorted by the wind and unintelligible. I found out later that it was the Burma Campaign UK outside the German Embassy, in protest of Germany blocking the European Union's support for the establishment of a UN Burma inquiry.
Afterwards we had a tour of the actual work site, clambering up the scaffolding to view the top of the building, where plaster was coming away from the brickwork and the bricks themselves were disintegrating as well as in part being mortared with Thames mud. An interesting conundrum as the usual requirement for renovation of a listed building is replacement of like with like.
The German party had to make its way back to catch an evening flight from the airport. We parted at Hyde Park tube station as I forewent the delights of a crowded tube at rush hour and decided to wander in the direction of Kings Cross Station on foot, three miles away.
I was distracted in St James Park by one of the bike hire places as I attempted to hire a bicycle. Unfortunately, the unlocking code given could not be punched in as the number keys had been damaged, so I continued on foot.
Coming out onto Piccadilly, the noise of a passing police van with sirens howling and the more frequent presence of police on patrol made itself noticed. I diverted to one of the parallel back-streets with the thought of visiting Paxton and Whitfield for some Blue Stilton but the shop was being renovated, two workman taking a tea break when I glanced through the slightly ajar door.
From Piccadilly circus, I drifted into Chinatown, which was bustling with visitors and Chinese, accompanied by the tempting scent of oriental food wafting from some of the vendors.
Back on track briefly, I then wandered into Covent Garden, the streets were busy with tourists and sight seers and the suited visitors to the pubs spilling out onto the streets. By now it was just after 6pm, so I gave in and took the tube back to Kings Cross.
There was sufficient time to buy a tea and a sour-dough baguette with Mozzarella, rocket and tomatoes before catching the Kings Lynn train from Platform 4, garnering one of the last seats by a table.
Later that evening, the news was full of the troubles that had spread like wildfire to other parts of the capital – a major shop burning in Croyden, and trouble in Hackney and Peckham. Cars set alight in Lewisham and looting in Clapham. Flames in Woolwich. A separate incident had ignited in Birmingham.
Added to that, shares continued to tumble as the financial markets are still in turmoil.
With the ticket machine not working, I had the pleasure of being served by a real ticket inspector whilst catching up with the i newspaper on the night's riots.
The underground announcements mentioned that Brixton station on the Victoria line was closed and when I sat down in the Cafe Grana in St James Park station, I found myself next to a television camera crew from ITN, taking a break before travelling on to Scotland Yard – apparently there had been problems in Brixton and a minor incident in Oxford Circus too.
The Herrn Juengst, Noll, Zawierucha and Koenig, with Ms Luetje arrived soon afterwards before we went to their first meeting with the National Trust at their London Offices in St Anne's Gate. A fascinating presentation and synergies in terms of information exchange and the possibility of cross border training.
Our next appointment was in a London Square with an architect responsible for the planning of a major façade renovation. The differences between project management in the UK and in Germany were illustrated and much useful advice obtained.
In the background there was the sound of a demonstration taking place, though it sounded like the peaceful shouting of slogans, distorted by the wind and unintelligible. I found out later that it was the Burma Campaign UK outside the German Embassy, in protest of Germany blocking the European Union's support for the establishment of a UN Burma inquiry.
Afterwards we had a tour of the actual work site, clambering up the scaffolding to view the top of the building, where plaster was coming away from the brickwork and the bricks themselves were disintegrating as well as in part being mortared with Thames mud. An interesting conundrum as the usual requirement for renovation of a listed building is replacement of like with like.
The German party had to make its way back to catch an evening flight from the airport. We parted at Hyde Park tube station as I forewent the delights of a crowded tube at rush hour and decided to wander in the direction of Kings Cross Station on foot, three miles away.
I was distracted in St James Park by one of the bike hire places as I attempted to hire a bicycle. Unfortunately, the unlocking code given could not be punched in as the number keys had been damaged, so I continued on foot.
Coming out onto Piccadilly, the noise of a passing police van with sirens howling and the more frequent presence of police on patrol made itself noticed. I diverted to one of the parallel back-streets with the thought of visiting Paxton and Whitfield for some Blue Stilton but the shop was being renovated, two workman taking a tea break when I glanced through the slightly ajar door.
From Piccadilly circus, I drifted into Chinatown, which was bustling with visitors and Chinese, accompanied by the tempting scent of oriental food wafting from some of the vendors.
Back on track briefly, I then wandered into Covent Garden, the streets were busy with tourists and sight seers and the suited visitors to the pubs spilling out onto the streets. By now it was just after 6pm, so I gave in and took the tube back to Kings Cross.
There was sufficient time to buy a tea and a sour-dough baguette with Mozzarella, rocket and tomatoes before catching the Kings Lynn train from Platform 4, garnering one of the last seats by a table.
Later that evening, the news was full of the troubles that had spread like wildfire to other parts of the capital – a major shop burning in Croyden, and trouble in Hackney and Peckham. Cars set alight in Lewisham and looting in Clapham. Flames in Woolwich. A separate incident had ignited in Birmingham.
Added to that, shares continued to tumble as the financial markets are still in turmoil.
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Aftermath of Rioting
Sunday 7th August: On coming downstairs this morning caught up with the news from Tottenham. The riots had continued well into the night and the damage to shops, burning of flats above them and the looting was quite extensive. However the streets appeared to be under control and the sad task of slow recovery now had to begin.
Spent the rest of the day in more relaxed mode. In the evening we watched the film inception for the first time. The idea (using dreams and dreams within dreams as part of industrial espionage) story line, and effects were truly a cut above the general run of recent films. In fact it took a while afterwards to wind down again to reality.
Switching the news back on last thing at night found it awash with the aftermath of the Tottenham riots – the damage, the 28 injured police officers, the 55 arrests so far. A second flareup of car jacking, and skirmishes was ongoing in Enfield, further up north in London. However this appeared to involve a smaller group of around 100 in battles with the police.
Spent the rest of the day in more relaxed mode. In the evening we watched the film inception for the first time. The idea (using dreams and dreams within dreams as part of industrial espionage) story line, and effects were truly a cut above the general run of recent films. In fact it took a while afterwards to wind down again to reality.
Switching the news back on last thing at night found it awash with the aftermath of the Tottenham riots – the damage, the 28 injured police officers, the 55 arrests so far. A second flareup of car jacking, and skirmishes was ongoing in Enfield, further up north in London. However this appeared to involve a smaller group of around 100 in battles with the police.
Spring cleaning and the Tottenham Riots
Saturday, 5th August: We had a mini Spring clean, initiated my Mr T, which resulted in the disposal of a substantial collection of video cassettes. We ordered DVD replacements of the key films we wished to see again but of course the question is how long this technology will still be current before it is superceded.
The trip to the recycling centre was followed with a visit to Emmaus, near Landbeach. This charity, run by and for the homeless, runs a large store of second hand goods and furniture. We pottered around, looking for an alternative television cabinet. We did not find one, but I came away with a science fiction novel and Ms T. with a music CD. Again the latter being a technology in decline!
I spent a couple of hour in the afternoon going through all the photographs accumulated in the past weeks, in Germany and at Whipsnade. The blurred images were discarded and the remaining culled further to keep only those that were of particular interest.
This evening's news is dominated by the riots in Tottenham, London that have broken out at about 20:30h, when two police cars, a bus and a shop were set on fire and shop looting occurred. It began with a peaceful demonstration at 5 pm, which was prompted by the killing of a Tottenham man in a police shoot out during a failed arrest. By the early hours of the morning, there was still sporadic violence, with a BBC television crew being attacked and some equipment damaged.
The trip to the recycling centre was followed with a visit to Emmaus, near Landbeach. This charity, run by and for the homeless, runs a large store of second hand goods and furniture. We pottered around, looking for an alternative television cabinet. We did not find one, but I came away with a science fiction novel and Ms T. with a music CD. Again the latter being a technology in decline!
I spent a couple of hour in the afternoon going through all the photographs accumulated in the past weeks, in Germany and at Whipsnade. The blurred images were discarded and the remaining culled further to keep only those that were of particular interest.
This evening's news is dominated by the riots in Tottenham, London that have broken out at about 20:30h, when two police cars, a bus and a shop were set on fire and shop looting occurred. It began with a peaceful demonstration at 5 pm, which was prompted by the killing of a Tottenham man in a police shoot out during a failed arrest. By the early hours of the morning, there was still sporadic violence, with a BBC television crew being attacked and some equipment damaged.
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Strikes partially close schools and jelly fish fully close nuclear power station
More work on documents, translation for UK partners, interspersed with generation of a version of Mr Straus' logo suitable for Word documents. A telephone call also established that the printing of four photographs for my Open Studios as still proceeding according to plan, with delivery next week.
A short diversion was the e-mail conversation with S Jinks of the Creative Network re site design. I have submitted an application to join for the trivial annual sum of £25.
The rest of the day's work was directed to putting on paper the structure for the workshop that I will be presenting, on effective networking, at tomorrows HBN. Tomorrow morning will then be devoted to aspects of delivery.
The strike day by some teaching unions and other public sector unions was significant but remarkable for three reasons. Firstly, It was not supported by the Labour party. Second, it was less disruptive than anticipated and finally, there was none of the violence from small groups reported, that had been a feature of the major demonstration earlier in the year.
From a biologist's viewpoint, the interesting news was the disruption of two Scottish nuclear reactors at Torness Power Station, by a jelly fish swarm that clogged up the water intakes temporarily. It took a bit of a search on the internet to reveal that these were “moon” jelly fish or Aurelia aurita and that significant numbers had been washing up on Scottish beaches off East Lothian (http://scottishnatureboy.blogspot.com/2011/06/nature-wins-again-plankton-1-nuclear.html).
According to the British Marine Life Study Society (http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Moonjell.htm), the are incapable of stinging humans. A native coastal species, they regularly form large swarms in late summer, with the society recording two particularly large swarms in Shoreham harbour in 1999 and Loch Nevis in 2002.
A short diversion was the e-mail conversation with S Jinks of the Creative Network re site design. I have submitted an application to join for the trivial annual sum of £25.
The rest of the day's work was directed to putting on paper the structure for the workshop that I will be presenting, on effective networking, at tomorrows HBN. Tomorrow morning will then be devoted to aspects of delivery.
The strike day by some teaching unions and other public sector unions was significant but remarkable for three reasons. Firstly, It was not supported by the Labour party. Second, it was less disruptive than anticipated and finally, there was none of the violence from small groups reported, that had been a feature of the major demonstration earlier in the year.
From a biologist's viewpoint, the interesting news was the disruption of two Scottish nuclear reactors at Torness Power Station, by a jelly fish swarm that clogged up the water intakes temporarily. It took a bit of a search on the internet to reveal that these were “moon” jelly fish or Aurelia aurita and that significant numbers had been washing up on Scottish beaches off East Lothian (http://scottishnatureboy.blogspot.com/2011/06/nature-wins-again-plankton-1-nuclear.html).
According to the British Marine Life Study Society (http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Moonjell.htm), the are incapable of stinging humans. A native coastal species, they regularly form large swarms in late summer, with the society recording two particularly large swarms in Shoreham harbour in 1999 and Loch Nevis in 2002.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Document OCR and impending public sector strike
A circuitous series of tasks took up most of the day, starting with an initially simple task, converting photographs of a contract into readable text by OCR. This required installing up to date software, so a considerable amount of time was spent waiting for the installation to progress. Then a period of re familiarisation with the slightly different interface, and then at last the relatively quick task of conversion to text which could then be annotated with relevant translations.
The intervening time was however used productively in the preparation for the workshop on Effective Networking that I will be presenting on Friday.
The evening spent collating screen captures of file conversions into e-books.
The Greek government has, with the narrowest of margins, agreed to the adoption of the austerity measures to combat its national debt. According to Mr Preston, the Financial Correspondent of the BBC, this will permit a controlled collapse of the economy, as opposed to an anarchic one. From the broadcast pictures from Athens, the streets there are full of rioters and looters amongst the peaceful demonstrators.
In turn, the public sector unions are coming out in a day of action, initiated by proposed changes to their pension plans. Already tonight, some of the airport workers are not appearing for work, promising disruption to travellers. Tomorrow morning we will see how great the impact of strike action by teachers and lecturers is. Almost tempted to go to a school and help out!
The intervening time was however used productively in the preparation for the workshop on Effective Networking that I will be presenting on Friday.
The evening spent collating screen captures of file conversions into e-books.
The Greek government has, with the narrowest of margins, agreed to the adoption of the austerity measures to combat its national debt. According to Mr Preston, the Financial Correspondent of the BBC, this will permit a controlled collapse of the economy, as opposed to an anarchic one. From the broadcast pictures from Athens, the streets there are full of rioters and looters amongst the peaceful demonstrators.
In turn, the public sector unions are coming out in a day of action, initiated by proposed changes to their pension plans. Already tonight, some of the airport workers are not appearing for work, promising disruption to travellers. Tomorrow morning we will see how great the impact of strike action by teachers and lecturers is. Almost tempted to go to a school and help out!
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Positive turn to reconciliation after a shaky start and preparation for a workshop
A sixth day of waking with a migraine in the making and quelled.
I was prompted into a first and sharp response to another message by e-mail, a continuation of the debate mentioned on Tuesday, only to find that the subject of my ire was actually the first step in a more conciliatory approach by one of the protagonists.
A flurry of calls and e-mails was initiated throughout the wider circle of interested parties as well as between myself and the now offended letter writer. It did look however as there was a new mood to compromise and find an equitable route out of the conflict. There is a glimmer of hope.
A series of other calls and e-mails trickled in during the day relating to specific design work for Mr Straus' business cards. The afternoon was devoted to collating feedback from questions to UK contacts for a German client
With my workshop on networking effectively, for July 1st at the Huntingdonshire Business Network, just over a week away, I put in place two strands in support. Rather than just relying on what I though might be questions that attendees would like answering, I submitted a request for feedback from a variety of groups within the business social network LinkedIn, for their questions and opinions on networking effectively.
The second strand followed previous advice by Mr Howell, on using preset timed microblogs on Twitter. I chose a series of phrases and questions from my publicity text for the event and spread them, three to a working day (morning, midday and afternoon) starting today through to next Wednesday. Already, one friend kindly retweeted one of the first messages.
The writing of my e-book, on using free software to prepare e-books, is progressing. Last night I completed the intitial advice on formatting text whilst writing, with advice for experts, experienced digital writers and novices. Started the next session on reviewing and proof reading a manuscript.
I was prompted into a first and sharp response to another message by e-mail, a continuation of the debate mentioned on Tuesday, only to find that the subject of my ire was actually the first step in a more conciliatory approach by one of the protagonists.
A flurry of calls and e-mails was initiated throughout the wider circle of interested parties as well as between myself and the now offended letter writer. It did look however as there was a new mood to compromise and find an equitable route out of the conflict. There is a glimmer of hope.
A series of other calls and e-mails trickled in during the day relating to specific design work for Mr Straus' business cards. The afternoon was devoted to collating feedback from questions to UK contacts for a German client
With my workshop on networking effectively, for July 1st at the Huntingdonshire Business Network, just over a week away, I put in place two strands in support. Rather than just relying on what I though might be questions that attendees would like answering, I submitted a request for feedback from a variety of groups within the business social network LinkedIn, for their questions and opinions on networking effectively.
The second strand followed previous advice by Mr Howell, on using preset timed microblogs on Twitter. I chose a series of phrases and questions from my publicity text for the event and spread them, three to a working day (morning, midday and afternoon) starting today through to next Wednesday. Already, one friend kindly retweeted one of the first messages.
The writing of my e-book, on using free software to prepare e-books, is progressing. Last night I completed the intitial advice on formatting text whilst writing, with advice for experts, experienced digital writers and novices. Started the next session on reviewing and proof reading a manuscript.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
A morning of calls and three middle eastern conflicts in the news
A hectic morning of telephone calls, with potential and current collaborations.
My conversation with Mr Heker via Skype was interrupted twice, however we managed to pursue the possibility of another publication with a prestige journal in his field of expertise. The existing publications (see http://german-smile.info/Publishing/publishing.htm) now generating interest in both China and Russia.
The first interruption was from another business friend, Mr Burt of Jamy limited with news and also the opportunity to touch base about work for Mr Straus. The second call was from a Suffolk author, asking about the options for assistance with publication, which also digressed on the benefits of using pectin versus Jam sugar for strawberry jam making and on sourdough cultures.
A third and enjoyable call was to Mrs Maunders, a renowned botanical illustrator. Mrs Maunders had printed my photographs in the past and offered to do so this year; this call was to check whether this was still the case as I have four outstanding images for printing prior to framing for the Cambridge Open Studios. Fortunately, printing was possible – I now have to prepare the digital files to permit printing at the correct size.
The afternoon was spent in completing design work, for embroidery on corporate garments, name tags with two different affiliations for three people and a revamp of a business card design, again to be used as a template for three people.
The news is full of middle eastern conflicts, starting with planned troop withdrawals from Afghanistan over the next few years from the longest conflict that Britain has been involved in for a century or more. The cost of innocent lives – children and wives, through allied air attacks in Libya was also in the forefront of media interest. What is less visible is the overall level of casualties, which are now estimated around 10000 with at least 3000 being civilians. The brutal repression of the uprising in Syria also grips the media in a conflict where the the world is watching from the sidelines.
My conversation with Mr Heker via Skype was interrupted twice, however we managed to pursue the possibility of another publication with a prestige journal in his field of expertise. The existing publications (see http://german-smile.info/Publishing/publishing.htm) now generating interest in both China and Russia.
The first interruption was from another business friend, Mr Burt of Jamy limited with news and also the opportunity to touch base about work for Mr Straus. The second call was from a Suffolk author, asking about the options for assistance with publication, which also digressed on the benefits of using pectin versus Jam sugar for strawberry jam making and on sourdough cultures.
A third and enjoyable call was to Mrs Maunders, a renowned botanical illustrator. Mrs Maunders had printed my photographs in the past and offered to do so this year; this call was to check whether this was still the case as I have four outstanding images for printing prior to framing for the Cambridge Open Studios. Fortunately, printing was possible – I now have to prepare the digital files to permit printing at the correct size.
The afternoon was spent in completing design work, for embroidery on corporate garments, name tags with two different affiliations for three people and a revamp of a business card design, again to be used as a template for three people.
The news is full of middle eastern conflicts, starting with planned troop withdrawals from Afghanistan over the next few years from the longest conflict that Britain has been involved in for a century or more. The cost of innocent lives – children and wives, through allied air attacks in Libya was also in the forefront of media interest. What is less visible is the overall level of casualties, which are now estimated around 10000 with at least 3000 being civilians. The brutal repression of the uprising in Syria also grips the media in a conflict where the the world is watching from the sidelines.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
From mental washout, inevitable conflict to a positive delivery.
Washed out from a sudden onset of migraine overnight, plus sporadic attacks of hay-fever with the high pollen count.
The consequence of a severe migraine, even if countered with medication, is a curious state of mind. There is a sort of disconnection, impressions still come in via the senses but you look at them from an inner distance. Ironically, it is a good time to try to do cryptic crosswords as lateral connections come easier.
I called Ms Ekblom to see if she could stand in for me, as the representative of the Huntingdonshire Business Network, at the afternoon meeting of the Economic Skills and Prosperity Meeting, organised by Huntingdonshire District Council. Fortunately, she was able to oblige. In return, I offered to assist with a computing malfunction that she was experiencing. Of course, by virtue of having turned off the computer and having left it for a little while, the fault chose not to reveal itself, leaving us non the wiser as the the cause of the original erroneous behaviour.
My continuing work at the computer was interrupted by a call from a member from another group I'm associated with. A misunderstanding, a miscommunication, had, with incredible rapidity, exploded into full scale hostility between two members. I had seen the opening salvoes as electronic communications and, in my naivety, thought that the situation might still be in the early stages and salvageable. An hour or more later of separate telephone calls with the protagonists had shattered my illusions on the matter. It now only remains to watch from the sidelines over the coming days and weeks and see the sad spectacle play itself out, with the forlorn hope that the damage arising is limited in some form.
The positive event of the day was the arrival of a package from moo.com. This contained the postcards and greetings cards that Miss T. had prepared as an online order for me. These materials are further support for my upcoming open studio.
The consequence of a severe migraine, even if countered with medication, is a curious state of mind. There is a sort of disconnection, impressions still come in via the senses but you look at them from an inner distance. Ironically, it is a good time to try to do cryptic crosswords as lateral connections come easier.
I called Ms Ekblom to see if she could stand in for me, as the representative of the Huntingdonshire Business Network, at the afternoon meeting of the Economic Skills and Prosperity Meeting, organised by Huntingdonshire District Council. Fortunately, she was able to oblige. In return, I offered to assist with a computing malfunction that she was experiencing. Of course, by virtue of having turned off the computer and having left it for a little while, the fault chose not to reveal itself, leaving us non the wiser as the the cause of the original erroneous behaviour.
My continuing work at the computer was interrupted by a call from a member from another group I'm associated with. A misunderstanding, a miscommunication, had, with incredible rapidity, exploded into full scale hostility between two members. I had seen the opening salvoes as electronic communications and, in my naivety, thought that the situation might still be in the early stages and salvageable. An hour or more later of separate telephone calls with the protagonists had shattered my illusions on the matter. It now only remains to watch from the sidelines over the coming days and weeks and see the sad spectacle play itself out, with the forlorn hope that the damage arising is limited in some form.
The positive event of the day was the arrival of a package from moo.com. This contained the postcards and greetings cards that Miss T. had prepared as an online order for me. These materials are further support for my upcoming open studio.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Teaching book formatting and volcanically delayed Australian flights
Just a short note for the day.
Painted a quick Bamboo picture and made it a note to accompany some Cambridge Open Studios booklets, which were delivered to Mr Harper and his colleagues at BBC Cambridgeshire.
I drove onwards for a marathom meeting with Ms Lowry, to assist in setting up her computer and documents for her book. The objective was to make life simpler at this stage and enable a speedier formatting and publishing of her book.
Back home, Miss T used her computing skills to design postcards and greetings cards for my Cambridge Open Studio that I then ordered online.
Have progressed the writing of my own book on producing and publishing an e-book using available free software.
Chile's Puyehue volcano erupted more than a week ago and is now disrupting flights in Australia.
Syria continues its repressive suppression of dissent, causing refugees to flee to the border with Turkey.
Painted a quick Bamboo picture and made it a note to accompany some Cambridge Open Studios booklets, which were delivered to Mr Harper and his colleagues at BBC Cambridgeshire.
I drove onwards for a marathom meeting with Ms Lowry, to assist in setting up her computer and documents for her book. The objective was to make life simpler at this stage and enable a speedier formatting and publishing of her book.
Back home, Miss T used her computing skills to design postcards and greetings cards for my Cambridge Open Studio that I then ordered online.
Have progressed the writing of my own book on producing and publishing an e-book using available free software.
Chile's Puyehue volcano erupted more than a week ago and is now disrupting flights in Australia.
Syria continues its repressive suppression of dissent, causing refugees to flee to the border with Turkey.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
From heat acclimatization to disturbing war footage from 2007
Could not sleep, so returned to work for until 3am, which was sufficiently soporific to induce sleep upon my return to bed. Work for Mr Scholz completed and dispatched over the web, including an excellent recording of Mr Straus's exposition on the United Kingdom's beverage industry at the end of May.
In anticipation of a possible trip to Egypt later in the year, the fear is that the excessive heat there may cause problems without acclimatization. The incident sunlight and its radiant heat in my office certainly raised ambient temperature when the door was closed. This suggested a route to familiarisation with elevated temperatures; I found myself spending the afternoon at a balmy 27 degrees Centigrade on a partially clouded day. No doubt further opportunities will arise as the summer progresses.
The media are still full of the E. coli outbreak in Germany, with some degree of Schadenfreude, as the authorities there seem to bumble from identifying possible sources and then failing to provide evidence. Spain had now been discarded – after a collapse of its salad vegetable industry, a restaurant in Northern Germany and then a bean sprout factory were next. With salad vegetables now off the menu throughout most of Europe, it is the farmer who are taking the economic consequences in drastic losses in what should be their peak period. The news from the UK is that local grown vegetables and salads have not been affected and are safe.
Today saw the broadcast of the first of a series of programs compiled using cameras attached to soldiers helmets in the conflict in Afghanistan. It was gripping and moving to see young men in action in 2007, in a dangerous environment, and the traumatic impact and consequences of a death in battle on fellow soldiers and the family back in Britain. A battle that resulted in 23 deaths in total, 22 of them Taliban.
Volcanoes continue to make their impact worldwide, with the Chilean eruption disrupting flights in South America.
In anticipation of a possible trip to Egypt later in the year, the fear is that the excessive heat there may cause problems without acclimatization. The incident sunlight and its radiant heat in my office certainly raised ambient temperature when the door was closed. This suggested a route to familiarisation with elevated temperatures; I found myself spending the afternoon at a balmy 27 degrees Centigrade on a partially clouded day. No doubt further opportunities will arise as the summer progresses.
The media are still full of the E. coli outbreak in Germany, with some degree of Schadenfreude, as the authorities there seem to bumble from identifying possible sources and then failing to provide evidence. Spain had now been discarded – after a collapse of its salad vegetable industry, a restaurant in Northern Germany and then a bean sprout factory were next. With salad vegetables now off the menu throughout most of Europe, it is the farmer who are taking the economic consequences in drastic losses in what should be their peak period. The news from the UK is that local grown vegetables and salads have not been affected and are safe.
Today saw the broadcast of the first of a series of programs compiled using cameras attached to soldiers helmets in the conflict in Afghanistan. It was gripping and moving to see young men in action in 2007, in a dangerous environment, and the traumatic impact and consequences of a death in battle on fellow soldiers and the family back in Britain. A battle that resulted in 23 deaths in total, 22 of them Taliban.
Volcanoes continue to make their impact worldwide, with the Chilean eruption disrupting flights in South America.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Reports, Bin Laden moral dilemma and painting whales
At last, a day which was bereft of major distractions, other than those that procrastination could supply. Even that was thrust to one side, permitting me to go through the notes of My business tavels with Mr Ebert and complete a detailed visit report.
The two main items exercising the news pundits are the referendum on the adoption of alernative voting and the morality of the killing of Osama Bin Laden yesterday.
The weeks leading up to the referendum have been remarkable in the quiet voice of the Yes to Alternative Voting camp and the robust, extrememly personal, vitriolic No to Alternative Voting side. Exit polls are currently predicting a retention of the status quo, "First past the Poll" voting system.
The US conducted a daring helicopter raid into Pakistan a day or two ago, on a fortified large house and compound containing the face of Al Quida, Osama Bin Laden. The latter was shot and killed whilst resisting arrest, though unarmed, his body spirited away and buried at sea.
The initial public response has been delight at the success of the mission and the speedy removal of the demonised figure head, believed to be responsible for planning a number of terrorist acts including the bombing of the Twin Toweers in New York. The burial at sea preventing a physical grave that could act as a focus for martyrdom worship.
Today, undercurrents of disquiet were emerging; was this an execution? Was this action a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty? Should the body have been returned to the family for a proper burial?
The arguments were placed in stark relief on tonights Question Time, with Mr Douglas Murray bluntly taking the view that this was the right action and result and Lord Ashdown and Mrs Alibhai-Brown arguing that the true test of a democratic lawful state is to adhere to the law, even if it appears inconvenient in the short term.
My sympathies are with the latter view, no matter how heinous the crimes commited by a criminal are, as the Law should be paramount. In my opinion, if a state believes it can proceed without complying to the law in an extreme case such as this, what is there to prevent non-adherence to law in other situations.
The debate on moral issues on the television formed a backdrop to a lighter side, practicing Chinese brush painting of roses and sunflowers. Mrs T. requested an image of a small whale to use as a gift label as a further exercise.
The two main items exercising the news pundits are the referendum on the adoption of alernative voting and the morality of the killing of Osama Bin Laden yesterday.
The weeks leading up to the referendum have been remarkable in the quiet voice of the Yes to Alternative Voting camp and the robust, extrememly personal, vitriolic No to Alternative Voting side. Exit polls are currently predicting a retention of the status quo, "First past the Poll" voting system.
The US conducted a daring helicopter raid into Pakistan a day or two ago, on a fortified large house and compound containing the face of Al Quida, Osama Bin Laden. The latter was shot and killed whilst resisting arrest, though unarmed, his body spirited away and buried at sea.
The initial public response has been delight at the success of the mission and the speedy removal of the demonised figure head, believed to be responsible for planning a number of terrorist acts including the bombing of the Twin Toweers in New York. The burial at sea preventing a physical grave that could act as a focus for martyrdom worship.
Today, undercurrents of disquiet were emerging; was this an execution? Was this action a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty? Should the body have been returned to the family for a proper burial?
The arguments were placed in stark relief on tonights Question Time, with Mr Douglas Murray bluntly taking the view that this was the right action and result and Lord Ashdown and Mrs Alibhai-Brown arguing that the true test of a democratic lawful state is to adhere to the law, even if it appears inconvenient in the short term.
My sympathies are with the latter view, no matter how heinous the crimes commited by a criminal are, as the Law should be paramount. In my opinion, if a state believes it can proceed without complying to the law in an extreme case such as this, what is there to prevent non-adherence to law in other situations.
The debate on moral issues on the television formed a backdrop to a lighter side, practicing Chinese brush painting of roses and sunflowers. Mrs T. requested an image of a small whale to use as a gift label as a further exercise.
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Not exercising your vote, Misrata and cluster bombs
Today contained two contrasting attitudes towards the freedom of expression and effectively civil responsibility. The local radio show by Mr Harper attempted to inject some interest in the local elections due on the 5th May, yet when the inimitable Mr Dee went a-interviewing amongst the populace, a surprising number declared an intention not to vote.
I should of course rejoice, as my vote will have a correspondingly greater response, yet I am saddened by the apparent devaluation of an important right and role in our society. The freedoms that we take for granted are due in part by the democratic consensus that, ultimately, it is a vote that decides who represents us in local or national government.
The current siege of Misrata in Libya, with the accompanying deaths and destruction, borne primarily by the civilians trapped in the city, illustrates the other end of the spectrum - where people wish to have a voice and are being countered by guns.
The conflict is unlikely to decline in the near future with both the West introducing further weaponry, for example the remotely operated armed drones and "advisors" to the rebels on the ground, to the mounting evidence of the Libyan forces using cluster bombs.
Cluster bombs are comprised of a large container that has a multitude of small bomblets within. These are spread over a wider area. Their indiscriminate spread causes civilian casualties. With a significant proportion not exploding (5%), they remain a hazard long after any conflict.
Here in the United Kingdom, we have an ambiguous record. We have been involved in conflicts such as the Gulf War and action in Kosovo where cluster munitions have been used by our allies and UK arms manufacturers have apparently prduced cluster bombs within the UK. According to the Wikipedia article on cluster boms, the UK still has stocks of these weapons. The British Government has ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions, agreeing to ban their use, which is a great leap forward. Sadly, the major superpowers USA, China and Russia have not yet committed themselves in the same way.
I should of course rejoice, as my vote will have a correspondingly greater response, yet I am saddened by the apparent devaluation of an important right and role in our society. The freedoms that we take for granted are due in part by the democratic consensus that, ultimately, it is a vote that decides who represents us in local or national government.
The current siege of Misrata in Libya, with the accompanying deaths and destruction, borne primarily by the civilians trapped in the city, illustrates the other end of the spectrum - where people wish to have a voice and are being countered by guns.
The conflict is unlikely to decline in the near future with both the West introducing further weaponry, for example the remotely operated armed drones and "advisors" to the rebels on the ground, to the mounting evidence of the Libyan forces using cluster bombs.
Cluster bombs are comprised of a large container that has a multitude of small bomblets within. These are spread over a wider area. Their indiscriminate spread causes civilian casualties. With a significant proportion not exploding (5%), they remain a hazard long after any conflict.
Here in the United Kingdom, we have an ambiguous record. We have been involved in conflicts such as the Gulf War and action in Kosovo where cluster munitions have been used by our allies and UK arms manufacturers have apparently prduced cluster bombs within the UK. According to the Wikipedia article on cluster boms, the UK still has stocks of these weapons. The British Government has ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions, agreeing to ban their use, which is a great leap forward. Sadly, the major superpowers USA, China and Russia have not yet committed themselves in the same way.
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